Checking the Numbers ... Again

Even though I’ve been pretty faithful to lowering my cholesterol naturally with lifestyle changes rather than medication you never really know until the numbers are in. Last Thursday I had blood taken to check my cholesterol and on Tuesday I returned to my doctor’s office for the results. Why is it when I feel I did all the right things I was a bit nervous to receive the results? Well, I needn’t have worried ... my numbers are all within the normal range and I was thrilled!

When writing my blog I do not always follow my own advice! But you knew that, didn’t you? I’m sharing that because none of us is perfect - pizza happens! Poor choices happen! Cravings happen! But, it’s OK ... you’ll get back on track.

Knowing my numbers are in the normal range does not give me permission to return to my previous bad habits, but rather embrace my success by continuing my plan. So, I celebrated my numbers with a spinach/cranberry/apple/pecan salad with bleu cheese and a pomegranate dressing and a chunk (yeah, I just ripped off a piece) Ciabatta bread with a homemade dipping oil. Need the recipe for the salad and/or bread dipping oil?

Fresh Spinach Salad with Cranberries and More
    Put a good handful of fresh spinach (or lettuce combination if you prefer) on a plate, sprinkle with some dried cranberries, ½ chunked green apple and ½ chunked red apple, a sprinkling of bleu cheese (I use the low fat bleu cheese), roasted pecans, drizzle some pomegranate or raspberry vinaigrette and enjoy. I have also added sliced avocado and/or fresh orange pieces. It’s a beautiful salad that tastes great, too!

Olive Oil Dipping Sauce for Ciabatta Bread
    •    1/2 cup olive oil
    •    1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
    •    1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
    •    1 tablespoon fresh chopped basil leaves
    •    2 cloves garlic, pressed
    •    ½ teaspoon salt
    •    1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients. Serve in shallow bowls or small plates with Ciabatta or other Italian bread. My family likes to just rip a chunk off the loaf ... try it, it’s fun.

I do a good bit of research, both in the library and on the Internet. One of the books I am currently reading is“The Tao of Pooh” by Benjamin Hoff where I read the following bit that sums disease up for me ... A saying from the area of Chinese medicine: “One disease, long life; no disease, short life.” In other words, those who know what’s wrong with them and take care of themselves accordingly will tend to live a lot longer than those who consider themselves perfectly healthy and neglect their weaknesses. So, in that sense at least, a Weakness of some sort can do you a big favor if you acknowledge that it’s there.

How true is that? If you have high cholesterol (a weakness) own it ... embrace it ... but don’t let it define you ... I don't want to hear, "Oh, there's Elizabeth, she has (or had) high cholesterol" but rather, "Oh, there’s Elizabeth, she lives a good and healthy life!"

To wrap it up this week, I happened on a post right here on Everyday Health - which is not uncommon. Here Joy Bauer lists ten healthy foods that won’t break the bank.

Bon Appetit!