Cholesterol news

Los Alamitos Medical Center is offering free cholesterol screenings for American Heart Month. On Friday February 12 and Saturday February 13 from 8 am to noon. Screening will be held in the Total Care Pavilion at 3951 Katela Avenue. Call 800 548 5559 so staff will be on hand to make less waiting. Fasting is recommended.

Affordable Beverly Hills?

Another article in Sunset spotlighted relatively low cost options in Beverly Hills like the Crescent Hotel ($175 a night). Tour on the Beverly Hills Trolley cost $10, and other low cost amusements are the Celebrity Vault, the Paley Center for Media, and the Greystone Mansion, Anat B (boutique). Sprinkles cupcakes were mentioned as well as a manicure for $23 at Thibiant Beverly Hills. At the Avalon Hotel Beverly Hills, you can claim a poolside cabana if you order a drink before 5 pm, and the Luxe Hotel's Cafe Rodeo and Beverly Hilton Trader Vic's Lounge. Suggested restaurants are Nirvana, Brighton Coffee Shop, and LA Food Show Grill & Bar.

Big Fun in Little India

Sunset Magazine featured Artesia this month, reminding me of all the good restaurants out there. They pinpoint Pioneer Boulevard between State 91 and South Street at the heart of Little India. Some shops mentioned are Cottage Art and Sona Chaandi; restaurants: Rajdhani Indian Cuisine, Standard Sweets & Snacks, Ambala Sweets and Snacks, Udupi Palace, and India Restaurant

Cholesterol blues

I'm completing my second week of a low cholesterol diet and have only cheated three or four times. On the whole, I've enjoyed venturing into dietary choices I'd ordinarily avoid like cabbage and beets, but the low salt/no salt items are a challenge and eating out is a real nightmare. The goal is to have a HDL (the good cholesterol) level greater than 60 milligrams per deciliter, and a total cholesterol level of less than 200 milligrams per deciliter. The low cholesterol diet recommends consuming less than 200 mlligrams a day, 14 grams of saturated fat and 73 grams of total fat. My daily calorie intake should be about 2200 calories. I also read that garlic and green tea have been found to lower cholesterol levels in some studies. Sadly, I have decided to stay away from the Chocolate Festival this year. Too much temptation.

I Won!

Remember last week when I posted about Soylar Candles? Well, I won the drawing for a 6-pack of tea candles for posting here! They're the sweetest selection of pastel candles in a range of fragrances from vanilla to monkey farts. I haven't lighted it yet but I hope it's more banana than flatulence. I also ordered some elegant little candles in baby food jars for a baby shower gift. Anyway, it made my day to get that little package and I congratulate Irene Guoz, the owner of Soylar Candles. for running a green business with ingenious promotions AND a sense of humor.