The DiSanto's

Triglycerides...

Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood. They are a major source of energy and the most common type of fat in your body.

When you eat, your body uses the calories it needs for quick energy. Any extra calories are turned into triglycerides and stored in fat cells to be used later. The excess calories are stored as fat regardless of what kind of food you eat-fat, carbohydrate, or protein. If you regularly eat more calories than you burn, you may have high triglycerides.

In normal amounts, triglycerides are important to good health. When triglyceride levels are high, it is not clear whether these high levels directly increase your risk for heart disease. But high triglycerides are often part of a group of conditions called metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome is the combination of high blood pressure, high blood sugar, too much fat around the waist, low HDL ("good") cholesterol, and high triglycerides. This syndrome does increase your risk for heart disease as well as for diabetes and stroke.

Triglycerides are measured as part of a blood test that measures your cholesterol. Normal triglyceride levels are below 150. High levels are 200 or above.

What causes high triglycerides?

Conditions that may cause high triglycerides include:

* Obesity.
* Poorly controlled diabetes.
* An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
* Kidney disease.
* Regularly eating more calories than you burn.
* Drinking a lot of alcohol.

Certain medicines may also raise triglycerides. These medicines include:

* Tamoxifen.
* Steroids.
* Beta-blockers.
* Diuretics.
* Estrogen.
* Birth control pills.

Certain types of high cholesterol and high triglycerides are caused by genetics.
How can you lower your high triglycerides?

If you are overweight, losing weight may be the best way to lower triglycerides. You may be able to lower your triglycerides by eating fewer calories and increasing your activity. Other diet changes that might help include limiting fats and sugars, and limiting or not drinking alcohol.

If increasing your activity and watching calories do not work, you may also need medicine. Medicines called statins are commonly used to lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol. But drugs called nicotinic acid (or niacin) and fibrates seem to work better for lowering triglycerides. If you have high triglycerides, high LDL cholesterol, and low HDL ("good") cholesterol, you may take more than one type of medicine that lowers cholesterol.
klds on 07.03.09 @ 12:33 PM CST [link] [1 Comment]

Remembering and Honoring Those Touched By Cancer...

Relay For Life® offers the opportunity to remember people who have lost their lives to cancer and honor those who have won their battle. One of the most moving parts of the event is the Luminaria Ceremony.

As the sun sets over campsites and darkness falls, the night is brightened by the glow of illuminated bags called Luminaria, each of which has a special meaning. Some celebrate those who have battled cancer and have lived to tell their stories. Many remember the lives of those who have been lost to this terrible disease. All represent someone special who has been profoundly affected by cancer and the family and friends who continue to fight back in their honor.

Our family has remembered many...post yours here...
klds on 07.03.09 @ 12:11 PM CST [link] [4 Comments]

Relay for Life

Hi everyone! I am walking in the Relay for Life Cancer walk in Clyde on July 17th and was wondering if anyone would like to contribute toward the cause. The event is taking place at the end of Orchard Street and I am very excited to be able to participate. Nana has the hook ups to purchase luminary candles in remebrance of a friend /loved one. They may be purchased for $5. It is happening on the 17th so if you are interested i would appreciate hearing from you by then. Thanks so much for anything! Love to all!
kskkd on 06.30.09 @ 10:15 AM CST [link] [5 Comments]

Happy Birthday Kim...

Let's all wish Kim a very Happy Birthday!
klds on 06.26.09 @ 12:29 AM CST [link] [8 Comments]

Two more losses to cancer...

I watched her documentary- it was difficult- she was courageous but unfortunately we lost another one to cancer- hopefully soon we can find a cure. We can't keep losing our loved ones at such young ages.

klds on 06.25.09 @ 03:38 PM CST [link] [2 Comments]

SCORE...

"I'm 100% aggressive and scored 2 goals!"
Guess who her coach is...Kay wouldn't have it any other way- way to go Delaney!
klds on 06.24.09 @ 01:57 PM CST [link] [4 Comments]

And so it begins again...

I called Kay today- I could hear Delaney in the pool- only 70 degrees and swimming. A couple weeks back I called and she was in the pool and it was still freezing- this little fish just needs to be in the water!
klds on 06.23.09 @ 12:58 AM CST [link] [3 Comments]

The downfalls of the internet...

A lot of people are dishonest, hurtful and can't be trusted. As proof in this ad- several companies took our cookbook off our page and they are selling it. That means those people go to our site- what else can they steal? So I took down birthdays as I do not want people to have that information. I know it makes it a little more boring but I think it is safer. Makes you wonder if you should be doing this at all?
Edited:Link back up and password protected. All sites I found have been removed from the web- think the threat of legal action for stealing might have worked. I'm sure it's still out there but good lesson for all of us. Erin- can you password protect Kris's fitness book?
klds on 06.22.09 @ 01:04 AM CST [link] [10 Comments]