Easy Chicken Tenders Food & Recipes
Food & Recipes

Easy Chicken Tenders

Food & Recipes

Say goodbye to those fatty, fried chicken tenders forever, and replace them with our healthier baked version. The kids will…

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7 Ways to Be More Confident in the Bedroom Love & Sex
Love & Sex

7 Ways to Be More Confident in the Bedroom

Love & Sex

A confidence boost in the bedroom means more pleasure and passion for both of you. Here are just a few…

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10 Ways to Prevent Obesity Moms
Moms

10 Ways to Prevent Obesity

Moms

It's National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and if it's time for a reality check about the kids, read on.

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Emergency! Does Your Child Know What to Do? Moms
Moms

Emergency! Does Your Child Know What to Do?

Moms

Are your kids prepared for life's emergencies, like knowing when to call 911? Learn how to get them ready and…

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Relaxation: As Simple as Breathing Horoscopes
Horoscopes

Relaxation: As Simple as Breathing

Horoscopes

Inhale, exhale. The ancient practice of reiki can do wonders for stress levels. Breathing is a big part of it…

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Can You Break His Bad Habits? Love & Relationships
Love & Relationships

Can You Break His Bad Habits?

Love & Relationships

From being a slob to eating junk food, everyone has bad habits. But can you break your partner of his?

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Hot Summer Workouts Diet & Fitness
Diet & Fitness

Hot Summer Workouts

Diet & Fitness

Keep your cool when it's sweltering outside. Here are some great summer workouts to keep your body moving.

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It's in the Cards! New Age
New Age

It's in the Cards!

New Age

Past, present and future – they're all in the cards. Tarot cards, that is. Here are some tips on what…

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Slow-Cooked Stuffed Peppers Food & Recipes
Food & Recipes

Slow-Cooked Stuffed Peppers

Food & Recipes

This dynamic dinner is sure to ring your bell. Your hungry loved ones will hardly have a beef with a…

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Playing Dress-up? Try These On Love & Relationships
Love & Relationships

Playing Dress-up? Try These On

Love & Relationships

Sometimes role-playing can spice up an otherwise ho-hum sex life. Here are a few ways to make things sexy.

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Easy Ways to Boost HDL

It's common knowledge that high cholesterol is a major health hazard. But how many people take into consideration good cholesterol? Good cholesterol, known as HDL, helps fight against heart disease. According to research, HDL cholesterol is made up of protein, lipids and cholesterol. The HDL drives out the LDL, also known as bad cholesterol. In men, healthy HDL levels range from 40 to 50 mg/dL; an average woman ranges from 50 to 60 mg/dL. An HDL cholesterol level of 60 mg/dL or higher seems to protect against heart disease. Progesterone, anabolic steroids and male sex hormones (such as testosterone) lower HDL cholesterol levels. Female sex hormones raise HDL levels. Here are some measures to increase your HDL: get 30-60 minutes of exercise on most days, maintain a healthy weight, quit smoking and avoid tobacco smoke when possible, eliminate trans fat, eat more soluble fiber, and increase your intake of monounsaturated fat.
Women should limit alcohol to one drink per day, and men should stick to up to two drinks a day. Reducing your level of triglycerides - a form of fat - helps raise HDL levels and reduce LDL. A normal level of triglycerides is 150 mg/dL or less. High levels can be attributed to obesity, smoking, excess alcohol consumption and physical inactivity. Another complication of high triglyceride levels is metabolic syndrome, which increases the risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other health conditions. See your doctor to get a blood test to determine your levels.