Posts Tagged ‘Blood Sugar Levels’

Heart Disease Prevention Tip-The Link Between Sugar and Heart Disease

Sunday, December 4th, 2011
This is a bowl of brown sugar.

Image via Wikipedia

Today’s heart disease prevention tip has to do with how damaging sugar can be to the heart. I am one who likes sugar, sometimes too much of it! If you are like me, then perhaps we need a wake up call about the importance of not over indulging with this product which can be found in so many foods. The following articles discuses the hidden dangers of sugar many of us may not be aware of.

Heart Disease Prevention Tip Number 2 – The Sugar/Heart Connection
By Beverly Batdorf

Does heart disease run in your family? Have you already been warned by your doctor to cut out fats and to get more exercise? Is your blood pressure high? How about your cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar levels? If these indicators are high, you are probably at risk for heart disease. Imagine what it would be like to return your heart to the healthy condition it was in 20, 30, or 40 years ago. You can, but first you need to learn what sugar is, and then learn how sugar affects triglycerides, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and lastly, cholesterol.

Before connecting the dots between heart disease and sugar, it is helpful to understand how sugar is made. Sugar is a substance made by extracting ALL the food elements from either sugar cane or sugar beets, which includes all the vital vitamins, minerals, fats, amino acids, protein, enzymes, and fiber. What is left is a chemical compound known to scientists as C12H22O11-sugar. It is interesting to note that cocaine is made in a similar fashion. It is also an extracted substance, taken from the coca plant – its chemical formula is C17H21NO4. Heroine, the extracted salt of morphine, is likewise formed by taking the opium plant, isolating first the morphine, and then treating the morphine with chemicals and water. Its formula is C17H17NO. All three of these substances are taken from food sources, but technically they are not foods. They are pure chemical compounds.

Because sugar has been stripped of all food elements, it is not recognized by the body as a food. Consequently, in order to be metabolized, it must steal vitamins and minerals from other parts of the body. Sugar is much worse than mere ‘empty calories’, because it depletes the body of essential nutrients, causing deficiencies. Calcium is taken from bones and teeth, and other vital minerals such as potassium, sodium, and magnesium are robbed also. Unless sufficiently replenished, the body eventually becomes depleted of the essential vitamins and minerals it needs to work effectually. The result is a depleted glandular system, sluggish organs, and weak blood.

One organ that is particularly affected by the intake of sugar is the liver. Sugar is stored in the liver in the form of glucose. When sugar is consumed in excess, the liver is strained, and expands like a balloon. When it is filled to capacity, it sends the excess glucose back to the bloodstream in the form of fatty acids or triglycerides. These fatty acids accumulate in the butt, thighs, and other noticeable places, and also find residence in organs such as the heart and kidneys. According to William Duffy in ‘Sugar Blues‘, these then (the heart and kidneys) “begin to slow down; finally their tissues degenerate and turn to fat. The whole body is affected by their reduced ability and abnormal blood pressure is created.”

Blood sugar problems set in when the body can no longer metabolize sugar effectively. In a state of health, the amount of glucose released into the bloodstream by the liver is regulated by the pancreas. Insulin is secreted to balance the sugar levels if they get too high. The problem arises when sugar is consumed too much and too often, and the body can no longer regulate and balance the amount of glucose in the blood. This results in either diabetes or hypoglycemia, both caused by excessive sugar intake. In the case of the diabetic, the intake of sugar causes an overload of glucose in the blood, which much be brought into balance by insulin. The injection of insulin causes a reaction just as strong in the other direction by dropping the levels of glucose in the blood. This constant barrage on the body is like being the object in the middle of a tug-of-war. First one way, and then the other, the object is pulled and dragged back and forth until it is worn out. So too will your adrenal glands become worn out if they have to constantly work to maintain this balance. Unless the diabetic and hypoglycemic restrict their intake of refined carbohydrates, especially sugar, their bodies will continue to wear down, and heart disease will be only a matter of time.

High cholesterol is another indicator of heart disease, and also seems to be affected by sugar intake. In studies done by the American Medical Association, results showed that good cholesterol levels (HDL cholesterol) in those who consume 25% of their daily intake from sugar are only 1/3 as high as those who only consume an intake of 5% sugar. Even though cholesterol is manufactured from fats and not from sugar (as triglycerides are), there still is an apparent correlation between sugar and cholesterol. The alarming statistic is that the average American adult now consumes 22 tsp. of sugar /day. Average consumption for teenage boys is 34 tsp. /day. This is up to seven times the amount recommended by the American Heart Association, and is equivalent to being 25% or more of their daily average caloric intake.

Sugar depletes and deteriorates the body because it is not a natural food the body recognizes. It is a toxin, or poison. Dr.Henry Beiler believed that heart damage results from a toxic condition; i.e. – from a chemical disturbance of the body. He also said that “where the heart is not too badly damaged, recovery always follows after the chemical disturbance is removed.” Lowering sugar intake is a major step in that direction. Continuing a diet high in refined sugar is like playing with a time bomb that’s been set. Refined sugar is a NOT a food substance, and careless consumption will be costly.

Check my website, not only more for more information, but also for effective help for restoring the body back to a healthy condition. Live longer, and live well! http://www.haveahealthyheartnow.com

I inform people about some of the myths that are circulating concerning food as it relates to health, and provide suggestions that will dramatically increase the potential for living disease free. I am a wife, mother of five, and grandmother of six grand-daughters.

After reading this, I hope you have a better understanding of why sugar is a substance we should limit in our diets. This heart disease prevention tip may be tough for some to follow, but if one desires to have a healthy heart, it is best to carefully monitor their sugar intake.

To Your Heart’s Health
Monique

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Heart Patient Diet Plan – Why Garlic Helps Prevent Heart Disease

Sunday, December 19th, 2010
Allium sativum, Alliaceae, Garlic, bulbils; Ka...
Image via Wikipedia

For over 3,500 years people have recognized the amazing healing powers of garlic. Writings from ancient Egypt tell of garlic’s powerful healing properties with its ability to cure over 22 diseases. The Egyptians recognized that garlic was indispensable in healing those with heart disease, lethargy, and even tumors. Clay representations of garlic have been found in Egyptian tombs which represented their desire for good health during the afterlife.

Originating in Central Asia over 6,000 years ago, garlic as a healing and culinary herb spread to Asia, Africa, and Europe. Folklore tells of garlic’s ability to ward off the Evil Eye and even vampires. Sounds odd to us, but these were just some of the things that got the blame for illnesses. So garlic’s ability to ward off these evils may actually be closely associated with its health benefits.

Garlic is a potent herb. The smell comes from the sulfur compounds that also provide many of the health benefits. Areas of the world where garlic is used routinely have a much lower incidence of cardiovascular disease than Western countries, especially the United States, where heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women.

Although there is some conflicting data, some studies have shown that garlic helps normalize cholesterol levels. The allicin in crushed garlic is believed to stop the oxidation of LDL, a factor that leads to atherosclerosis. The antioxidant properties help protect blood vessels from the oxidative damage caused by free radicals, one of the main factors in atherosclerosis.

Garlic is also used to lower high blood pressure. Hypertension is one of the biggest risk factors in developing serious heart problems including heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. Garlic also thins the blood, helping it to flow freely. Another risk factor in heart disease is blood sugar levels that are too high. Garlic is effective in lowering blood sugar and aids in preventing late-onset diabetes.

There is a growing body of evidence that links bacteria responsible for periodontal disease to heart disease. Medical science has not determined yet the exact mechanism for this correlation, but there definitely is one. Garlic comes to the rescue again. One of the primary benefits of garlic is its strong antibacterial and anti-viral properties. The natural antibiotic nature of garlic helps the body fight infection. Whether it is periodontal disease, the flu, a cold or any other infectious illness, garlic has been shown to be as effective as many modern medications. Long used to fight serious diseases, it was utilized for typhoid, tuberculosis, and even the plague.

Although garlic supplements are an easy and less smelly way to get your garlic, adding high-quality garlic powder to recipes and sprinkling it on salads or sandwiches is an inexpensive and effective way to add garlic to your daily routine. Some of the benefits are lost with heat so add crushed garlic to soups and stews at the end of cooking.

Garlic can indeed help prevent heart problems. Make sure you include some in your diet each day!

To Your Heart’s Heatlh!
Monique Hawkins 540-858-2885 Skype: Monique371
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Heart Patient Diet Plan-How Garlic Can Help Prevent Heart Disease

Monday, December 13th, 2010
Allium sativum, Alliaceae, Garlic, bulbils; Ka...
Image via Wikipedia

For as long as 3,500 years, and probably much longer than that, people have recognized the amazing healing powers of garlic. Writings from ancient Egypt tell of garlic’s powerful healing properties with its ability to cure over 22 diseases. The Egyptians recognized that garlic was indispensable in healing those with heart disease, lethargy, and even tumors. Clay representations of garlic have been found in Egyptian tombs, to provide for good health during the afterlife.

Originating in Central Asia over 6,000 years ago, garlic as a healing and culinary herb spread to Asia, Africa, and Europe, primarily in the Mediterranean area. Folklore tells of garlic’s ability to ward off the Evil Eye and even vampires. Sounds odd to us, but these were just some of the things that got the blame for illnesses, so garlic’s ability to ward off these evils may actually be closely associated with its health benefits.

Garlic is a potent herb, the smell come from the sulfur compounds that also provide many of the health benefits. Areas of the world where garlic is used routinely have a much lower incidence of cardiovascular disease than Western countries, especially the United States, where heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women.

Although there is some conflicting data, some studies have shown that garlic helps normalize cholesterol levels. The allicin in crushed garlic is believed to stop the oxidation of LDL, a factor that leads to atherosclerosis. The antioxidant properties help protect blood vessels from the oxidative damage caused by free radicals, one of the main factors in atherosclerosis.

Garlic is also used to lower high blood pressure. Hypertension is one of the biggest risk factors in developing serious heart problems including heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. Garlic also thins the blood, helping it to flow freely. Another risk factor in heart disease is blood sugar levels that are too high. Garlic is effective in lowering blood sugar and aids in preventing late-onset diabetes.

There is a growing body of evidence that links bacteria responsible for periodontal disease to heart disease. Medical science has not determined yet the exact mechanism for this correlation, but there definitely is one. Garlic comes to the rescue again. One of the primary benefits of garlic is its strong antibacterial and anti-viral properties. The natural antibiotic nature of garlic helps the body fight infection. Whether it is periodontal disease, the flu, a cold or any other infectious illness, garlic has been shown to be as effective as many modern medications. Long used to fight serious diseases, it was utilized for typhoid, tuberculosis, and even the plague.

Although garlic supplements are an easy and less smelly way to ingest it, adding high-quality garlic powder to recipes and sprinkling it on salads or sandwiches is an inexpensive and effective way to add garlic to your daily routine. Some of the benefits are lost with heat so add crushed garlic to soups and stews at the end of cooking.

To Your Heart’s Health

Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885
mentormonique@gmail.com

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Heart attack symptoms women- Statistics Don’t Lie

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

Heart attack symptoms women, and the number of women who have heart disease is very problematic. It is very important for women to get educated and then take the right steps if they believe they are at risk.

Here is what the stats say about this dangerous disease and what you can do about.

Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885
Skype: Monique371

Women and Heart Disease – Statistics Don’t Lie
By Barb Hicks

The statistics for heart disease in women are astounding. Women comprise 60% of all heart attack related deaths in the US every year, and are more likely to die from heart disease than men. Women tend to ignore the early warning signs of impending heart attacks because the symptoms are often vague and can resemble other conditions. Consequently, women are apt to delay getting treatment for their symptoms because they do not recognize the signs and do not understand their risks.

While risk factors remain the same for both men and women, compelling evidence suggests that women respond differently than men due to preconceived notions about heart disease, and do not seek treatment as early as they should. Women tend to be older with higher incidence of hypertension, higher cholesterol and blood sugar levels, but are less likely to be smokers. Women view heart disease as primarily a disease of men and never consider that their symptoms could be heart disease related. This could have dire repercussions should a heart attack ensue.

Women suffering heart attacks are more likely to experience shoulder and abdominal pain, as well as nausea, shortness of breath, and fatigue. These are symptoms that women generally do not associate with having a heart attack. They tend to blame their symptoms on something else entirely, denying themselves an opportunity to survive what could be a devastating heart attack event. The longer it takes to get treatment, the more likely hood of sustaining greater damage to the heart muscle itself.

Women who have had a heart attack report having symptoms in the weeks leading up to a heart attack, but never recognize its relationship to heart disease, putting themselves at risk for a second attack within five years after the first one.

It is curious to note that after arriving at the hospital emergency room, women may be confronted with a delay in validating that a heart attack has actually occurred. EKG testing has been found not to be consistent with what is considered to be classic symptoms of an attack on the heart, therefore, women are less likely to be admitted to the cardiac unit. In addition to this, women are less likely to receive life-saving thrombolytic medication as quickly as do men, thus statistically, women have a higher morality rate for heart attacks than men.

Barb Hicks is a featured health writer on Clivir.com – The Free Learning Community Site. She provides more information on Women Heart Disease and Hidden Heart Attack Signs in Women on Clivir.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Barb_Hicks

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Five Tips to Prevent Heart Disease

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

Are you steadily gaining weight as you eat more than you can burn off? On top of that, do you hate exercise and feel stress at work? If your answer is yes to either question, your risk of getting heart disease is two to four times higher than a normal healthy person. For the sake of your heart and well being, you need to take action quickly to reduce the risk.

Here are five steps that you can take to reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke.

1. Assess your risk level. If you have a family member with cardiovascular risk, your risk of getting heart disease will be higher. If you are a diabetic, your risk is also higher as high blood sugar levels are frequently associated with narrowing of blood vessels. If you are 40 or older, your risk will also increase considerably. The same goes for smokers. A cigarette a day has a dramatic reduction in your cardiovascular health in the long run.

2. Make positive changes to your diet. Your diet has a huge impact on your cardiovascular health. Limit your intake of foods with high calories or high sugar content. Reduce your intake of salt to less than six grams a day. At the same time, you should consume a variety of whole grain products, vegetables and fruits. You should also drink more water to flush toxins from your body.

3. Start an exercise program. If your lifestyle is primarily sedentary, your cardiovascular health is unlikely to be in optimum. You should engage in some form of physical activity for at least 30 minutes three to four times a week. Activities such as brisk walking, slow jogging, cycling and inline skating are very beneficial to your heart. Swimming is another excellent choice as it is a low impact exercise that works on your whole body and can do wonders for your heart.

4. Develop healthy stress relief habits. Stress is a major contributor to heart disease as it increases your blood pressure. There are many people who are stressed out without realizing it. Take time off each day to engage in activities that relax your mind and body. This can be listening to classical music, yoga workout or meditation. In fact, it can be as simple as reading a book you love. It is advisable to engage in stress relief activities on a daily basis.

5. Take note of these warning symptoms. The burning sensation in your chest may be an indication of an impending heart attack. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, tightness in the neck, jaw and chest area. Consult a doctor before these symptoms get worse.

Heart disease is a major cause of death in many developed countries. You can help to reduce the risk by following a healthy diet and regular exercise routine. Learning more about the various heart disease symptoms and other prevention methods can also help you to win the battle against heart diseases.

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