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PMI - Private Mortgage Insurance

Friday, February 9th, 2007

Private Mortgage Insurance

Unless they owners are insane, every business in the United States carries some form of insurance to protect against losses. The various lending institutions that issue home loans, equity lines and refinances to borrowers are no different. The insurance they carry is private mortgage insurance.

Private mortgage insurance protects a lending institution from losses if you default on your loan and a home goes into foreclosure. Essentially, the lending institution is going to be covered for any shortages between the cost of liquidating the home and the amount of the loan. This is of particular importance to a lender when the housing market pulls back from high valuations. In such a pull back, it is not uncommon to see the total mortgage balance exceed the value of the home. Obviously, this makes lenders uncomfortable.

PMI - Premiums

Most homeowners can wrap their minds around the need for private mortgage insurance. The grumbling starts, however, when they find out who has to pay for the insurance. Yep, the homeowner is on the hook. As the homeowner, you are paying for insurance that will protect the lender if you default. While this may not seem fair, keep in mind the lender is giving you a rather sizable chunk of money. If you are still grumbling, there is a way to avoid paying mortgage insurance.

20 Percent Down

If you take out a home loan, the 20 percent figure will come front and center in your mind. Why? 20 percent is a magic figure in the world of home loans and mortgages. If you make a down payment of 20 percent, you are not required to obtain or pay for private mortgage insurance. With PMI premiums running $1,000 or more a year, it makes sense to pay 20 percent as a down payment if at all possible.

What if you can’t scrape together 20 percent of the home value for the down payment? Well, you’re stuck paying PMI, but not forever. Once your equity in the home reaches 20 percent of the valuation, you can cancel the PMI. Keep a close on your equity as lending institutions are under no duty to tell you when the magic 20 percent figure is reached. Oddly, they almost never seem to remember!

PMI

Private mortgage insurance is expensive, but you can avoid it with a sizeable deposit. If you can’t come up with that chunk of change, try to keep in mind the beautiful home and investment the loan let you acquire.]]>

Powered Suits as Walking Aids

Thursday, February 8th, 2007

These suits are designed to work by supplementing the wearer’s own physical strength and can be used for everyday activities such as walking or for rehabilitation. Researchers from both industry and academia are continually improving their designs with the goal of making them available for practical use in care and rehabilitation situations.

Walking aids as a sort of powered suit are now being developed by a team of researchers in the University of Tsukuba, Japan, led by Professor Sankai Yoshiyuki. Two main components are featured in this suit. First, is a metal frame that externally supports the legs and has motor and sensors, attached, the second component is a regulator that is carried on the user’s back. The sensors affixed to the surface of the skin instantaneously pick up the faint electrical signals transmitted from the brain to the muscles, as the wearer starts to move. Then, it attempts to make the motor’s action complement the motion of the wearer. The weight is not much of a burden to the user since the heel section is in contact with the ground, though it’s about 23 kilograms.

This suit offers high hopes as a walking aid or rehabilitation tool for elderly or disabled individuals with reduced physical strength. This is because this lower-body suit provides support by moving in a manner that virtually duplicates the wearer’s will. The suit can also perform preprogrammed actions. This feature offers an array of potential applications, like sports training. In using this suit in this scenario, muscle signals from an elite athlete would first be input into the device. By doing this, users could directly experience the movements of the athlete once they put on the suit. This experience would help them get more out of their training. For boosting arm strength, Sankai and his team also plan to develop an upper-body suit. There are many useful potential applications upper-body suit.

Mitsui and Co., along with a group of small businesses in Ota Ward, Tokyo was attracted by Sankai and his team’s work on the suits. Tokyo is known as a hive of innovative business activity and the firms there agreed to cooperate with the University of Tsukuba in developing the suits to the next level. As of now, many other organizations, with the academia are involved in developing more types of power suits. -30-]]>

Prioritise Debt Repayments

Wednesday, February 7th, 2007

Here’s what to do. Compare the interest rate on each of your loans and repay those with the highest rate first. The only way to do this is to look at the rate of APR on each of your debts. That’s the only way to decide which debt is more expensive. If you’re unsure, check your loan agreement or ask the lender.

Then, it’s just a case of throwing everything you can at the debt with the highest APR (provided you can still make the minimum payments on your other debts).

Then move on to the next most expensive debt, and wipe it out. Then focus on the next most expensive, and the next, and the next, until you’re entirely debt free!

This means that you should normally aim to pay them off in the following order.

Store cards, catalogue accounts and other hire purchase agreements
- Overdrafts
- Credit cards
- Personal loans/Car loan
- Mortgages and other secured borrowing

Get The Best Deal

Get the best loan deals that are available to minimise the interest that you pay.

Fact: It’s much easier to repay a loan with an interest rate of 5.9% APR than one set at 29.9% APR.

The less interest that you have to pay, the more you’ll have left to repay the amount originally borrowed.

Transfer each of your debts to as low a rate of interest as you can find. Transfer debts on your credit cards to a lower rate card. You might be able to find a card that gives zero percent interest on all balance transfers for 6 months. Likewise, why continue to pay 30% APR on your storecard debts, when you could transfer the balance to a credit card that charges a much lower rate.

But if you decide to do that, I’ve got two warnings for you. When you transfer debts from one of your plastic cards, destroy the old card immediately!

Avoid the urge to keep them, or before you know it both cards will be up to their limit, and you’ll be looking for an even lower rate just to keep up with the repayments.

And second, don’t waste these interest free periods. Just because you don’t have to pay interest for a while, don’t ease up on your efforts. Keep paying as much as you can to reduce the size of the debt.

Interest free periods are a golden opportunity to substantially reduce your debts. Don’t look on them as a ‘payment holiday’, or as an excuse to increase your spending.

by Stuart Laing

Copyright (c) http://www.icanhelpyougetoutofdebt.com]]>

Promoting your Fundraiser

Tuesday, February 6th, 2007

Press Releases are vitally are a great way to make the community aware of your event and it will also be good for your group image. Send out your first press release announcing that you are having a fundraising event, why you are having your event, include your target amount and what the money is going to be used for. You can have your newsletter distributed online for free on many sites. You may be wondering what good will that do if my fundraiser is local, but you never know who may be interested in sponsoring and supporting your fundraising efforts!

Also send out a press release after your fundraising event has ended and thank all those that participated, announce what you did with the money raised and give a brief description of the outcome and success of your fundraising event. The viral marketing and word of mouth you will receive is priceless!

Ask your volunteers to distribute flyers at laundry mats, supermarkets, day care centers, small businesses and the like. To attract small businesses you can add their name to your flyer or pamphlet so they also receive some attention for sponsoring and/or participating in your fundraising event.

Utilize online methods to helps spread the word of your upcoming fundraising event. Post on community message boards, if you have a website post it on there as well. You can also create business cards on your own computer to distribute just for this occasion. The more people you tell, the more people will be involved in your fundraising event.]]>

Pros And Cons Of Refinancing Loans

Monday, February 5th, 2007

How can you negotiate to get the best borrowing rate? First, it starts with a strong credit score. You can achieve this by paying your bills on time, cutting back on borrowing and maintaining a low loan balance by as much as 30% of your limit.

Moreover, by using the equity of your home in refinancing the existing loan, you gain two significant advantages. One, because you made your home the collateral, you will be able to secure a bigger loan, and second, your interest fees are tax deductible.

Which of the two types of refinancing should you consider? A home equity line of credit is a form of revolving credit, wherein your credit limits are the maximum amount you are entitled to borrow at any one time.

A second mortgage closed-end loan, on the other hand is a loan you where you receive all the funds once the loan contract has been signed. You repay the loan defined by a set amount over a fixed period of time.

You can make a better decision on which type of credit to choose by first gathering all the information you have available to you: theterms and conditions of the home equity credit line- derived from the annual percentage rate (APR), and the costs associated for securing the loan and prepayment penalty, if there is one. Then compare this data with the second mortgage APR, including any other charges presented in the financial papers.

The fees outlined below are some of the most common charges:

Loan Application Fee This fee is required for the initial processing of your loan request and for checking your financial and credit history, the house’s equity, and any other information that the lending institution finds valuable. In addition, if you are not borrowing from your original lender, you will have to submit documents concerning your present mortgage. Some of these items are common documents to submit: information about your current lender, outstanding mortgage balance, amount of your monthly payment, status of your property tax and any insurance payments.

Loan Origination Fees and Points. This fee is paid to the lender for evaluating and preparing your mortgage loan. A point refers to the prepaid finance charges imposed by the lender at closing to increase the lender’s yield beyond the stated interest rate on the mortgage note.

Escrowed Funds - funds set aside to for payment of taxes or insurance that is due.

Prepayment Penalty. This is the practice of a lending institution charging the borrower for an early pay off. Always check your contract to see if the clause exists.

Title Search and Insurance
This is meant to ensure you are receiving a “marketable title”. You may get a price break by opting to buy a combined lender/owner policy or “reissue” policy.

Finally, consider refinancing your current mortgage if the following seems applicable to you:

Are the savings to be generated from refinancing the loan significant? If your mortgage’s current interest rate is at least 2 percentage points higher than the prevailing market rate, then you should avail of a refinancing loan. For this is the acceptable safety margin, in balancing the costs of refinancing your mortgage against the savings.

What is considered an acceptable length of time to live in your house before you can realize significant savings? Some financial experts have determined three to five years. It doesn’t make much sense to realize 2 years into your home occupancy, and you will find a harder time finding a lender who will work with you.

Remember, the safe bet to consider before you opt to refinance is to do your financial research. A little due diligence goes a long way to big savings.]]>

Protect Your Property with a Landlord Guide

Sunday, February 4th, 2007

Being a landlord can be an extremely profitable business. There is a lot of money to be made by renting apartments or a home out to renters. However, this enterprise can quickly sour if your renters are unable to pay the rent each month or worse destroy your property. If you are either a landlord or are considering purchasing a property, it is important that you read up on how to be a landlord, and understand your rights. Landlord guides can help.

There are plenty of landlord guides, many found online in ebook form. You can easily understand how to rent your property using legal tools such as background checks, credit checks and criminal checks. These tools are just one way to protect yourself against renters that can possibly ruin your investment. You will also learn how to write a strong contract, understand your tenants legal rights and how to watch out for major pit falls. So if you are a landlord, look into a landlord guide to protect your investment.

More information on real estate can be found in http://www.home-00.info/real-estate/]]>

Protein and Endurance Sports

Saturday, February 3rd, 2007

To sustain effort and delay fatigue, the body needs an adequate supply of oxygen and fuel without accumulating waste products, acids or heat. Greater the intensity of the workout, greater is the efficiency required. The capacity of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, the fuel stores in the muscle, the hepatic and renal support systems must all expand exponentially to perform in endurance sports. If any of these prerequisites are not met, the internal milieu becomes uncomfortable. Metabolism slows down, to allow excretion of wastes, acids and heat, as fatigue sets in. The aerobic stress of endurance sports provides the necessary stimulus for growth and development. The body is ready to build. All that is needed are the building blocks-the Proteins.

Given an adequate and appropriate supply of proteins, the body remains in a state of positive nitrogen balance. Sufficient protein consumption, along with a high-energy diet also influences the carbohydrate and fat metabolism. In the well-fed state, with sufficient physical activity, dietary proteins stimulate the simultaneous release of the growth hormone and insulin. The combined hormonal influence redirects dietary carbohydrate and fat to the aerobic muscle fibers where they are stored as fuels for exhausting workouts. The consequent increase in muscle stores of glycogen and lipid allows sustained activity for a longer time. With enough proteins, the lean body mass, stamina and performance increase throughout the training program.

Proteins and amino acids also directly supply between 1 to 6 % of the energy needs during a workout. The proportion of energy derived from proteins increases with the intensity of the exercise. Given their role in bodybuilding, proteins are too important to be used as fuel and attempts should be made to minimize this percentage. Studies by Bowtell and Tarnopolsky, report that a high-energy (carbohydrate) diet, when combined with an ample protein intake and hydration, has a protein sparing effect under aerobic conditions. However, when the protein intake is inadequate, the high-energy diet fails to protect proteins from being used up as fuel. Therefore, endurance athletes need to ensure high levels of protein intake not only to supply amino acids for growth, but also to make sure that the amino acids don’t get burnt up as fuel.

Endurance athletes need proteins but do they need protein supplements? The answer, till recently, was negative for recreational and modest athletes. Protein supplements were advised only for professional athletes and for sportspersons with a diet deficient in proteins. However, these recommendations, based on a parameter called ‘nitrogen balance’, have often been questioned. Young and Bier propose that there exists a subtle state of protein deficiency, called the ‘accommodative’ state, where an inadequate protein intake is masked by the breakdown of body proteins. Measurements based on nitrogen balance do not take the accommodative state into account and are therefore are not accurate enough to calculate protein requirements. Mark Tarnopolsky, in a recent review on Protein Requirements in Endurance Athletes, also raises similar questions.

Epidemiological studies, by McKenzie and others, also suggest that the dietary protein intake of up to 20% of athletes may be below levels recommended for sedentary individuals. Then there is always the ambiguous quality and absorbability of a dietary protein. Just eating proteins in diet does not ensure that they will provide all the essential amino acids in adequate quantities. Given the vital role that proteins play in the metabolic and physiological response to aerobic stresses of endurance sports, and the uncertainties regarding dietary protein intake, a protein supplement like Profect®, can go a long way in improving performance.

Adequate training and a Profect diet will take endurance to its limits, to levels where aerobic metabolism stimulates the release of enkephalins, the human equivalent of opium. These enkephalins produce the natural high that is often referred to as the ‘flow’. As long as metabolism remains aerobic, the mind is flooded with enkephalins and the systems function in harmony. In ‘flow’ capacity seems endless and fatigue non-existent. Profect, the perfect protein supplement can do that for you.

About Protica

Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. Information on Protica is available at http://www.protica.com

You can also learn about Profect at http://www.profect.com

References

1. Tarnopolsky M.:Protein Requirements for Endurance Athletes Nutrition 200420:662– 668.

2. McKenzie S, Phillips SM, Carter SL, Lowther S, Gibala MJ, Tarnopolsky MA:Endurance exercise training attenuates leucine oxidation and BCOAD activation during exercise in humans. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2000278:E580

3.Bowtell JL, Leese GP, Smith K, et al. Effect of oral glucose on leucine turnover in human subjects at rest and during exercise at two levels of dietary protein.J Physiol 2000525(pt 1):271

4. Young VR, Bier DM, Pellett PL. A theoretical basis for increasing current estimates of the amino acid requirements in adult man, with experimental support. Am J Clin Nutr 198950:80

Copyright - Protica Research - http://www.protica.com]]>

Raise Your Metabolism

Friday, February 2nd, 2007

You may have heard terms thrown around such as anabolism and catabolism. These terms refer to actions that take place within your body. Contrary to popular belief, catabolism isn’t just the loss of muscle tissue. When you burn fat, you are catabolic - fortunately, the catabolism is taking place where you want it to.

Conversely, any time your body builds or stores (such as growth of muscle tissue or storage of fat) the process is called anabolic. Sculpting a lean physique means focusing on habits that promote catabolism of fat tissue and anabolism of muscle tissue.

One advantage to having a higher metabolism is that you can consume more food or exercise less to achieve the same results. A higher metabolism implies your body is expending more energy. Therefore, you can take on more energy in the form of food while maintaining your shape or even losing fat. While any one of the following techniques may only impact your metabolism a small bit, the cumulative effect can have a major impact.

The List

1. Train With Weights

Training with weights boosts your metabolism in a number of ways. Weight training itself has been shown to increase exercise post oxygen consumption (EPOC) - in other words, your metabolism may be raised for hours or even days after the session. Weight training is also the main way to stimulate the growth of muscle tissue.

Muscle tissue is metabolically active, so it requires calories even when at rest. Muscle tissue also helps increase the number of fat-burning enzymes and organelles in your body.

2. Supplement With Healthy Fats

Healthy fats are involved in the manufacture of hormones and repair of cell membranes in your body. With the right types of fats, your body can use these anabolically.

These processes require energy, so the fats may actually increase your metabolism despite the added calories you are consuming! You can add fats to your diet without increasing calories simply by increasing the percentage of calories from fats and then lowering the percentage of calories from carbohydrates or proteins.

3. Every Little Bit Counts

Believe it or not, simply changing some simple daily habits can have a huge impact on your metabolism. Do you play the game of driving around the parking lot for twenty minutes waiting for the perfect space to open? Instead, park at the edge of the parking lot and walk to your destination.

You’ll probably get there quicker, and burn some calories along the way. Other metabolism-boosting activities include standing instead of sitting, taking stairs instead of elevators, and even fidgeting!

4. Don’t Fear Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are not the enemy. Using the right types of carbohydrates can be a valuable tool for your metabolism.
For example, you may expend more calories consuming 20 grams of carbohydrate from lentils than 20 grams of carbohydrate from sugar. The lentils contain fiber and other nutrients that the body must work to extract, and therefore expends more energy. Look for fibrous, low-glycemic carbs and focus on unprocessed carbohydrates.

5. Fluctuate Calories

Zigzagging calories is by far one of the most effective methods for keeping your metabolism revved. Homeostasis is the action your body takes to “remain stable.” In other words, if you drop your calories, your body will try to slow your metabolism in order to keep things the same.

By zigzagging calories, you may be able to thwart this mechanism. Some people zigzag day by day - for example, if their target is 2000 calories, they’ll consume 1800 one day and 2200 the next. I prefer to consume low calories for a week or two, and then raise calories for a week, and then drop them again.

6. Increase Protein

Protein requires a complex chemical conversion by your body in order to be used as fuel. It takes up to 30% of the calories you consume to oxidize or use protein for energy.

For example, 100 calories of protein may take up to 30 calories to process. Therefore, increasing the percentage of calories in your diet that come from protein may help raise your metabolism.

7. Perform High Intensity Cardio

High intensity cardio, like weight training, takes you into the anaerobic zone of training. This, in turn, creates what is known as “oxygen debt.” Even when you have concluded your exercise, the body is processing waste and recovering from the activity - and therefore keeping your metabolism elevated.

8. Increase Frequency Of Eating

Most bodybuilders are aware of this technique. Consuming food triggers digestion, and digestion requires calories. By eating more frequent, smaller meals, you continuously supply your body with nutrients while forcing it to digest and break down the foods. This, in turn, can have the net effect of raising your metabolism.

9. Eat Whole Foods

The calories that you burn during digestion are due to the need for your body to break down the foods. Your body must extract the fiber and nutrients, take chains of molecules and chop them into smaller versions to absorb them into your bloodstream, and perform a variety of tasks in order to assimilate foods.

When foods are processed, much of this work is done for you. For example, processed flour is ground into small pieces that the body can digest more quickly. This means your blood sugar rises faster and your body expends fewer calories processing the flour.

Whole grains, on the other hand, pack more nutrients, are higher in fiber, and force the body to work harder to use them as energy. Another advantage to eating whole foods is that many of the nutrients in these foods - such as vitamins and minerals - are cofactors in metabolic processes that your body uses to burn fat and build muscle.

10. Drink Cold Water

This tip is probably overrated. Your body will expend more calories trying to raise cold water to the temperature of your body, but the exact amount is debatable. It stands to reason, however, that integrating this habit with the other habits listed above can contribute to the greater goal of raising your metabolism.

Conclusion

These are just a few habits you can embrace to start revving your metabolism right away. You may have heard stories about people who have lost dozens of pounds simply switching to diet soda or walking a few minutes each day. These are all small habits that contribute to a big difference over time.

In addition to raising your metabolism, you’ll want to manage the foods you do eat - in other words, keep from going overboard on calories - and focus on expending more calories through regular exercise.]]>

Rebuilding Your Finances After Divorce

Thursday, February 1st, 2007

However, more often than not, women find themselves in dire need of divorce help due to the fact that their male counterparts generally make more money and have more financial power than they do. This can be quite unfair, particularly when women usually gain custody of the children and naturally incur higher expenses.

After a divorce, a woman’s cost of living can increase dramatically, hence the reason why court-ordered alimony and child support payments most often go to women; even so, experts report that the average woman experiences a 45% decrease in her standard of living after going through a divorce. Meanwhile, the average man experiences a 15% improvement in his standard of living (Long Island University’s National Center for Women & Retirement Research).

Given these eye-opening statistics, it is no wonder that women are scouring the Internet for divorce information and divorce help. By learning how to get a divorce and by seeking divorce help, spouses who find themselves on the short end of the financial stick are finding ways to protect their assets and to live a reasonable life after divorce.]]>

Reduce Your Cholesterol Naturally

Wednesday, January 31st, 2007

* Reduce fat in your diet
Buy the leanest cuts of meat you can find. Regularly substitute poultry (without the skin) and fish for red meat. Both are lower in saturated fat. Switch to low fat cottage cheese and yogurt, reduced fat hard cheeses and skim or 1 percent milk.

* Eat no more than four egg yolks a week
An average egg yolk contains 213 milligrams of cholesterol!

* Eliminate fried foods
Don’t fry foods. Roast, bake, broil, grill or poach them instead. Use fat free marinades or basting with liquids like wine, tomato or lemon juice. Use olive or canola oils for sautיing or baking. Both are very low in saturated fat. Use diet, tub or squeeze margarines instead of regular. Watch for the term “hydrogenated,” which means some of the fat is saturated.

* Eat vegetables and complex carbohydrates Lowest fat foods of all are vegetables, fruits, grains (rice, barley and pasta), beans and legumes. Try substituting some of these for meat and high fat dairy products. Don’t douse your pasta with butter or your potato with sour cream. Use tomato base sauces instead of cream base. Use lemon juice, low sodium soy sauce or herbs to season vegetables. Make chili with extra beans and seasonings while leaving out the meat.

* Lose weight
If you are overweight, the chances are almost 100
hat you have a problem with high cholesterol. You can lower your LDL and elevate your HDL just by dropping some pounds.

* Nuts to you!
Do you like nuts? If you do, sprinkle a few on your cereal, bake them into muffins or pancakes or add them to casseroles or stir-fries. Walnuts and almonds are especially good. Eating about three ounces of walnuts a day is shown to decrease blood cholesterol levels by 10ore than an already low fat, low cholesterol diet.

* Eat chocolate
Aha! All you chocoholics rejoice! Studies indicate that the fat in chocolate is stearic acid and has no effect on cholesterol levels. The chocolate does not increase LDL and could raise HDL a wee bit. But chocolate is still high in fat and calories so don’t go overboard.

* Drink fruit juices
Apparently some of the non-alcoholic ingredients in red wine raises HDL and suppresses the body from producing LDL. Purple grape juice works the same way. The LDL lowering effect of red wine and grape juice comes from a compound that grapes produce normally to resist mold. The darker the grape juice, the better. Grapefruit juice does the same thing and it may also help your body get rid of nasty plaque.

* Eat garlic
Cholesterol lowering effects of garlic have been demonstrated repeatedly in people with normal and high cholesterol. Eat all the garlic you can. It also seems to raise the HDL levels as well. If you are worried about the odor, take the tablets instead.

* Take niacin - carefully
It is proven effective for lowering LDL and raising HDL. It is also one of the cheapest drugs available for lowering cholesterol. But, without medical supervision it may not be totally safe. A dose high enough to lower cholesterol can cause extremely high blood sugar or liver damage.

* Take vitamin E
Studies indicate that vitamin E may have a positive impact on lowering cholesterol when taken in fairly large quantities - up to 800 IU per day. This is more than you can get from your diet alone. Larger amounts do not seem to cause any harm. Further studies showed that even amounts of just 25 IU per day helps in preventing LDL from sticking to blood vessel walls. That amount is only slightly higher than the recommended daily amount (RDA) of 12 to 15 IU. It’s interesting to note that even that small amount has an impact on preventing that hardening of the arteries.

* Take Calcium
One study indicates that when 56 people took a calcium carbonate supplement, their total cholesterol went down 4 percent and their HDL increased 4 percent. That was taking a dosage of 400 milligrams of calcium three times a day with no harmful effects reported. That does refer to calcium carbonate.

* Take Vitamin C
It is the number one immune system booster and also drives up HDL. A study of people who took more than 60 milligrams of vitamin C per day (60 milligrams is the RDA) had highest HDL levels.

* Fill up on fiber
As little as three grams per day of fiber from oat bran or oatmeal can be effective. There are other sources of fiber as well such as barley, beans, peas and many other vegetables. Pectin, which is found in fruits like apples and prunes, reduces cholesterol even better than oat bran, as does psyllium which is the fiber you find in many breakfast cereals and bulk laxatives.

* Quit smoking
Smoking promotes the development of atherosclerosis. Tobacco smoke is actually more damaging to the heart than the lungs. Smokers have a higher chance of having a heart attack (three times greater than nonsmokers) and a greater risk of dying of the attack (twenty one times greater than nonsmokers.) Even if you have smoked for years, stopping now can still immediately help combat the development of atherosclerosis.

* Reduce sugar intake
Many people don’t realize that sugar affects cholesterol and definitely affects triglycerides. Sugar stimulates insulin production, which in turn increases triglycerides. Men in particular, seem to be sensitive to this effect from sugar. The mineral chromium which helps to stabilize blood sugar, can also raise the level of HDL. 100 mcg of chromium three times daily can help to improve your cholesterol levels.

* Exercise regularly
There is positive evidence that exercise can lower LDL cholesterol and boost HDL cholesterol. Both aerobic exercise such as walking, jogging, swimming, bicycling and cross country skiing and strength training like lifting weights or using weight machines all promote the improvement of cholesterol levels.

* Eliminate caffeine
We Americans definitely have a love affair with our coffee! People who drink large amounts of caffeine (more than 6 cups a day) are far more prone to elevated cholesterol. That connection does not hold for tea drinkers. Limit your coffee intake to no more than one cup a day and eliminate caffeinated sodas entirely.]]>






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