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Heart Disease Treatment Tips-Top 5 Ways To Lower Cholesterol Naturally

Sunday, August 14th, 2011
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Everybody knows that high cholesterol can lead to heart disease. Everybody also knows that heart disease is a huge health problem in our society. If you currently have heart disease and are seeking effective heart disease treatment tips, one of the best things you can do is to lower your cholesterol. The following article till teach you 5 effective ways to lower your cholesterol naturally.

Natural Ways To Lower Cholesterol – 5 Natural Treatment Tips To Lower Cholesterol Quickly By Rafael Todorini

How long does it take to lower cholesterol? That is a question that seems to plague almost anyone who suffers from high cholesterol. If you’re suffering from high cholesterol, lowering your cholesterol level can never be fast enough; whether you’re seeking a natural way to lower cholesterol or via some other alternative treatment. According to an article by CNN in November 2006, “more than 70 million Americans live everyday with some form of heart disease.” And the number is expected to rise steadily over the next 10 years.

Heart disease is America’s number one killer and probably, the number one killer in the industrialized world. The myth being perpetuated that cholesterol is never high before the age 40 is exactly that – a myth. Don’t believe a word of it.

The facts necessitate a quick guide to lowering your cholesterol quickly – preferably opting for a natural and alternative treatment for high cholesterol.

But first … for some good news. Cholesterol … contrary to popular belief … is not the cause of heart disease. The inflammation of arteries does that. Heart attacks occur in people with normal cholesterol levels. That’s right. There’s a lot of misinformation being passed around that cholesterol is bad – that cholesterol is the cause of heart disease. That’s so far from the truth. In fact, your body needs cholesterol to stay healthy. Your body uses cholesterol to produce hormones, vitamin D and bile acids to digest fat. And the truth of the matter is – your body requires only a small amount of cholesterol in the blood to meet these needs.

So why should you worry about lowering your cholesterol levels and maintaining it preferably at less than 200mg./dl.? Because failure in doing so can lead to the inflammation of your arteries … and that is when cardiovascular events like heart attacks will occur. It’s only when you have too much cholesterol in your bloodstream (referred to as hypercholesterolemia) that problems start to arise. And this is where you need to pay attention. Because a high cholesterol level … let’s say … north of 250, can and will lead to problems such as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis clogs arteries including your coronary arteries (arteries that feed the heart) and if left unchecked overtime, will lead to heart disease like angina and heart attack.

This is why you need to lower your cholesterol level and why it’s so important to keep those levels in check. Statins such as Zocor and Lipitor may be powerful, cholesterol-lowering drugs and helps to some extent, but … whether you believe it or not … these can cause more damage (liver toxicity is a common side effect) than good to your body in the long run. You don’t need these ill-effects creeping into your life just as you’re about to kick back and enjoy your retirement.

Don’t get me wrong … I’m all for taking prescriptions drugs under doctor’s orders if no other alternatives are made available. I’m sure you’ll agree with that.

But I’m about to show you 5 tips you can go about lowering your unhealthy cholesterol levels without drugs right now – and fast!

Here’s how to lower your cholesterol the natural way:

Consume more “healthy” fats

You must have heard of monounsaturated fats. Usually found in some types of nuts like almonds and walnuts, olive oils, canola oils and avocados. These “healthy” fats lower “bad” cholesterol (LDLs – Low-Density Lipoproteins) but at the same time, help maintain the “good” cholesterol (HDLs – High-Density Lipoproteins).

Your doctor can vouch for the fact that consuming monounsaturated fat instead of saturated fat can lower your cholesterol levels quite drastically. You would have probably come across health advice about lowering cholesterol such as, “Replace whole milk with skim milk,” “Cut down on that refined sugar,” or “Dump butter for margarine.” Most of that information is true except for dumping butter for margarine. Margarine increases the bad cholesterol and even worse, lowers the good cholesterol – almost tripling the risk of a coronary heart disease.

Don’t believe the TV ads and stay away from margarine. Dr. Allan Spreen calls margarine, “plastic butter.” And he has a point. Why? Because being hydrogenated, margarine is in fact one molecule away from actually being plastic – no kidding! To put it mildly, you’re actually about one molecule away from eating Tupperware. You’re more than welcome to carry out a simple test to prove this. All you have to do is leave a container of butter and a container of margarine out for a while and watch. It will only be a matter of time when you see flies hovering your container of butter – avoiding the margarine altogether. If it’s not good enough for flies, you know you’re in trouble!

Lower your intake of “bad” fat

Lowering cholesterol without drugs begins with this very important step – simply limit your consumption of saturated fat. Saturated fat is said to stimulate your liver to produce LDLs – or bad cholesterol that would simply clog up your arteries. According to Dr William Castelli, co-author of Good Fat, Bad Fat, he recommended that a smart diet to help lower cholesterol would take into consideration the amount of “bad” fat consumed per day – ideally being 20 grams a day. And that’s just for those who are healthy.

A good idea would be to simply check your food labels when grocery shopping to get a sense of how much fat grams will be going into your body at any given day. Make this a habit because a simple precautionary measure like this can mean a lot to your long-term health.

Also, take note of trans-fatty acids. The name probably already gives it away – it is another bad fat. Trans-fatty acids are chemically processed and will not only raise your total cholesterol levels but can also lower your HDLs. These acids are usually found in deep-fried fast foods, biscuits, shortenings and packaged pastries. They’re not usually indicated on food labels so be extra prudent about your food choices.

Get a blood test

You will want to get a blood test if you find yourself gaining weight, losing hair, feeling depressed, feeling more tired than usual, more sensitive to cold than usual and sudden stiffening of your joints. These could be symptoms of an underactive thyroid – medically termed as hypothyroidism. Diagnosing this condition with a blood test could nip the problem in the bud and save you from a rising cholesterol level.

While you’re at it, ask your doctor to check your homocysteine level as well. Recent studies are pointing towards homocysteine as a better predictor of cardiovascular events. And there is a connection between hypothyroidism, homocysteine and heart disease. If you have an underactive thyroid, this prevents the absorption of B vitamins – causing homocysteine levels to shoot up. The result is a 300 percent risk of a heart attack.

A good homocysteine level is under 8. Anything above that and your doctor should be able to prescribe you some supplements. These supplements would usually center around vitamins B2, B6, B12 and folate.

Can I have my eggs back?

Yes, you definitely can. According to the British Nutrition Foundation‘s Nutrition Bulletin, dietary cholesterol in eggs “has no clinically significant impact” on heart disease. In fact, eggs are such a rich source of nutrients that avoiding them could cause more damage than good to your health.

I mentioned homocysteine. Well, according to a study from Harvard Medical School, choline may be effective in managing homocysteine. And where is choline found? You guessed it. Eggs. In fact the best source of choline is egg yolks. But if you’re someone with elevated cholesterol or heart disease, you should check with your doctor about the number of eggs you can consume per week. Such cases are usually limited to two eggs per week.

Stop smoking and get moving!

Those are two obvious actions to take to keep your body in good working order. If you’re overweight, you can be sure that your HDL readings will be low. Shed the weight and watch your HDLs rise. It’s quite difficult to raise HDLs by dieting alone. You will need the combination of regular exercising and watching what you eat. Exercising helps in lowering your triglycerides (a blood fat linked to heart disease) as well. If you are serious about lowering your cholesterol levels, pay attention to triglycerides. Because apart from clogging up your coronary arteries, high triglycerides can lead to kidney disease and pancreatitis.

There is not much to be said about smoking that has not been said already. It’s just bad. Smoking depresses HDLs considerably. It is a cause of heart and blood-vessel disease and basically causes irreversible damage to your overall health. There are no two ways about it. Smoking kills.

Here is a rough checklist to monitor your cholesterol levels and as always, consult with your doctor.

LDLs

Keep it less than 130mg./dl. Anything above 160mg./dl. is high.

HDLS

The higher the better. 35mg./dl. or less increases the risk of heart-disease.

Triglycerides

Keep it less than 150mg./dl. Anything above 200mg./dl. is high.

Total cholesterol

This is the combined measure of all blood cholesterols. Keep this less than 200mg./dl. Anything above 240mg./dl. is high.

This is just a snippet of what you will discover in The 60 Day Prescription Free Cholesterol Cure. To learn more natural ways to lowering cholesterol, visit http://mineyourmind.blogspot.com now to get the details and your health back on track!

Now’s your chance to dramatically lower your cholesterol, lead a healthier life and look and feel better without emptying your wallet on prescription drugs. Cut your risk of dying from a heart attack by half with simple, alternative but effective measures you can start implementing today! Get all the information you need about lowering your cholesterol naturally with the The 60 Day Prescription Free Cholesterol Cure at, http://mineyourmind.blogspot.com …

This article covered lots of very effective tips on how to lower your cholesterol naturally. If you follow this and other heart disease treatment tips, you will find yourself in much better health. Plus, your heart will be stronger!

To Your Success,
Monique Hawkins

http://www.mentormonique.com

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

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Heart Disease Diet Plan-12 Smart Eating Habits for a Strong Heart

Sunday, June 26th, 2011
A diet rich in soy and whey protein, found in ...

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It is unfortunate that in the United States today, more and more people are developing hypertension, having strokes and heart attacks, developing coronary disease, and many other illnesses. Much is due to popular errors regarding diet.

For those with heart problems and are looking for a heart disease diet plan that is easy to follow, these 12 healthy eating habits will not only develop a strong heart, but will also help you avoid many other illnesses.

Tip #1: Have your diet consist largely of fruits and vegetables prepared in a natural way that is tasty.

Tip#2:  To help prevent heart failure and obesity, use more whole grains such as 100% whole wheat break, rye bread, quinoa, oatmeal, etc.  Limit food prepared from refined white four such or bolted cornmeal.

Tip #3: Mix up your diet. Vary your diet in each meal, but don’t eat too many variations in one meal. Work on keeping your meals simple.

Tip #4: Eat sparingly of rich foods, keep your sugar intake to 3 teaspoons or less daily, salt to a half-tea spoon, and oil to 2 tablespoons. Avoid foods such as spices, greases, fried foods, baking powder and soda, and vinegar. If you like fruit juice and other concentrated foods, eat them in very small quantities.

Tip #5: Another good heart disease prevention and diet tip is to eat at the same mealtime daily and at least 5 hours apart. Your digestive functions work much more efficiently when you eat on a regular schedule.

Tip #6: Always eat a big breakfast and make it the biggest meal of your day. If you eat supper, keep it light (e.g. fruit and whole grains), and finish eating 2-3 hours before you retire for the night.

Tip #7: Don’t ever overeat.  In the United States, many of us do overeat and develop obesity and other heart problems. Eat all you need to maintain your health and enjoy your food, but don’t overdo it. Too much food dulls and depresses the mind, causes disease and fatigue, and will shorten your life overall.

Tip #8: Eat your food slowly. When you do this, you will increase your enjoyment and get more nutritional benefits from your food.

Tip #9: Drink plenty of water. However, do not drink with your meals or immediately before or after them.

Tip #10: Fast occasionally by skipping one to four meals. Fasting teaches you self-control and can be a good remedy for those who are too sedentary.

Tip#11: Do not eat between meals. This slows the digestion process and allows the food to ferment.

Tip #12: Try eating two meals a day. This can be good for those who are not only working on increasing their heart’s health, but who also need to eat fewer calories to lose weight. It is also good for those who are not very active.

These 12 heart healthy smart eating tips are simple enough for anyone to follow who is looking for an effective heart disease diet plan. What we eat and drink today will affect us in the future. So, by heeding these instructions, more than likely you can live a longer and healthier life!

 

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Heart Disease Prevention Plan Tip – How to Avoid The Silent Killer

Sunday, May 22nd, 2011

High blood pressure, just one form of cardiovascular disease, is dubbed “The Silent Killer” because there are no apparent symptoms until the disease is well advanced. However, it isn’t just hypertension that can silently sneak up on you. Cardiovascular disease encompasses all disorders of the circulatory system including the heart. Problems can range from dangerous blood clots to hardening of the arteries that cause heart attacks and strokes. Too many of these go completely undetected until it is too late.

So, why are hypertension and other forms of circulatory problems referred to as silent? The consequences of cardiovascular disease are often dire and many of these occur without any noticeable warning.

Let’s look at blood pressure first. The causes of high blood pressure are complex and not completely understood. Some people are salt-sensitive and excess sodium in foods can quickly raise pressure, yet this is apparently not the case in other people. Prolonged stress can lead to problems, and temporary bouts of stress definitely the pressure rise. Kidney problems alter the body’s ability to regulate fluid levels and can lead to high blood pressure. On the other hand, high blood pressure can damage kidneys creating a vicious cycle. Hypertension damages arteries, eventually causing hardening of the arteries and all the problems that accompany it.

The problem is that all these conditions can go completely unnoticed for decades. Loss of kidney function isn’t symptomatic until it is as low as 10 percent of normal functioning. People don’t feel their arteries slowly clogging and they don’t notice any symptoms of high blood pressure until it is exceedingly high. When this happens, they may symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, and shortness of breath. It is important to have your blood pressure checked routinely.

Some people suffer from “White Coat Hypertension,” the stress of going to the doctor’s office causes a temporary the blood pressure spike. It’s best to try checking your blood pressure at one of the convenient machines at the grocery store or pharmacy. If problems are noted, then go see the doctor.

Uncontrolled pressure can lead to stroke, congestive heart failure, and heart attack. Again, symptoms sometimes don’t show up until the situation is critical. At least 25 percent of people who suffer a heart attack, they had no idea they had any form of cardiovascular disease.

What can be done to prevent these silent killers from sneaking up and threatening your life? Due to heart disease being a leading cause of death for both women and men, there is an abundance of information available to help people prevent or slow the progress of cardiovascular disease. Two of the most important things you can do is to eat a healthy diet and get routine exercise. Eating heart-healthy foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, cold water oily fish, and lean meats while avoiding saturated and trans fats are basic guidelines is crucial. Many delicious heart-healthy diets have been developed to prevent and treat heart disease.

Although health professionals have different ideas about the amount of exercise needed to show optimal benefits, all agree that routine exercise is a must do. Walking is one of the best forms of heart-healthy exercise. So grab your walking shoes and get that heart pumping!

You don’t have to develop cardiovascular disease. Follow the strategies listed above for a healthy heart!

To Your Heart’s Health
Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885
mentormonique@gmail.com
http://www.moniquehawkins.limuplus.com

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Heart Patient Diet Plan-Why Salt Is Dangerous for Heart Health

Sunday, April 17th, 2011

For those who are seeking to change their lifestyle after having heart problems, and desire to incorporate a healthy heart disease diet, beware of salt!

Even if you never pick up a salt shaker at the dinner table, you may be getting an unhealthy amount salt in your diet. An abundance of studies indicates that too much salt puts people at risk for not only heart disease, but also cancer, osteoporosis, obesity, diabetes and the health problems that accompany high blood pressure.

There is some controversy about salt’s role in raising blood pressure, but research indicates that at least half of the people with high blood pressure are salt sensitive. These people benefit greatly from reducing the amount of sodium in their diets. As for the other half who isn’t salt sensitive, reducing salt intake can help lower the risks for other problems that affect those who get too much sodium.

The evidence for negative health impacts is so great that the FDA is in the process of revising its sodium guidelines to encourage people to protect their heart and health. It is possible that the new recommendations will be as low as 1,500 mg of sodium daily, which is the equivalent of about two-thirds of a teaspoon of table salt. Prior to this revision, the recommendation was for less than 2,300 mg. Statistics show that Americans consume an average of 3,400 mg of sodium every day, a frighteningly high number.

High blood pressure is a complex problem that may have compound causes. It may not be as simple as just cutting salt in the diet but this is a great first step to take in taking control of managing your high blood pressure. It is well proven that high blood pressure increases the risk for heart attacks and stroke and causes damage to the blood vessels. This damage can lead to kidney failure and hardening of the arteries, both of which further raise blood pressure.

Recent studies have indicated that those with high salt intake have increased calcium loss in the bones causing weakening and eventually osteoporosis. Other studies have shown that too much salt can increase insulin resistance, possibly leading to Type 2 diabetes. Certain cancers have even been linked to eating a diet overabundant in salty foods.

So what can you do to protect your heart by lowering sodium intake? First, be fully aware that salt is hidden in almost all processed foods. Without ever picking up the salt shaker and eating a normal diet of whole grains, salads, pasta with pre-made sauce, sandwiches, and flavored yogurt for a snack, daily sodium content can exceed 6,000mg.

Where is it all coming from? Even heart healthy foods seem to be packed with salt. The biggest culprits are pre-made soups, sauces, frozen foods, canned goods, and boxed meals. Read the nutrition label and ingredients, noticing how just one cup of soup or a half of a cup of spaghetti sauce can have one-third or more of the daily recommended amount of sodium. Read labels carefully, even labels of foods that you wouldn’t think have added sodium like diet pop. Look for salt and sodium in the ingredients.

A healthy heart disease diet means eating most meals at home and cooking from scratch. This way you can control the amount of salt in your diet. Season with pepper, garlic, herbs and spices and buy low-sodium products whenever possible.

Try a cleansing diet for a week to clear the excess sodium from your system and to reprogram your taste buds. You’ll be amazed at the difference you’ll see in not only your health, but your enjoyment of the subtle flavors of richly seasoned foods.

To Your Heart’s Health
Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885 anytime
Skype: Monique371

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Heart Disease Prevention Tip – How Pets Can Help Your Heart Stay Healthy

Sunday, March 20th, 2011

There are many heart disease tips out there today. But, are you aware of all the health benefits pets can provide their owners? Numerous studies have shown the pets bring lots of benefits to their owners including stress reduction, increased survival rates after heart attacks and the ability to improve blood pressure levels.

One study showed that of those who had experienced a heart attack, a significant difference in mortality rates could be seen between the groups who owned pets and those who didn’t. Pet owners had only a six percent rate of mortality in the year after suffering a heart attack while 28 percent of non-pet owners died within a year. Pretty astonishing!

A study concerning dental patients found that spending time watching the almost hypnotic movements of aquarium fish had real benefits. Not only did the patients tend to relax, they also had a drop in blood pressure. The same results have been found when people pet dogs.

Having an aquarium or a pet dog provides numerous opportunities during every day to spend a few minutes with your full attention on your pets, bringing your blood pressure down. It is well known that high blood pressure can be a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease including heart attacks and strokes. It can also lead to kidney function and vision loss. Although medications may be required, other methods of reducing blood pressure enhance the effects produced by medications alone.

Pets provide a type of emotional support that can be very healing. They love unconditionally and bring out their owners’ sense of caring for another being, focusing their attention and love on their wonderful companion. This relationship with a pet gives a sense of emotional safety and wellbeing that really can help healing begin.

Although it doe not seem to matter what type of pet a person has, birds, fish, reptiles, rabbits, and cats and dogs all bring the same benefits. An additional benefit of dogs is providing a good walking companion to get you out in the fresh air and walking several times a day. Be sure to choose a dog that is leash trained, or go together to an obedience class so the dog learns to walk well with you. Large dogs especially need to be trained to follow their owners’ lead, rather than taking the lead themselves. Both of you will experience the benefits of regular, gentle exercise!

Choose your pet wisely. Carefully consider your living space and lifestyle and pick a pet that will do well in your environment. All dogs need exercise every day so if you aren’t up to twice a day walks, pick a cat, a litter-trained rabbit, a perky bird or a lovely tank of fish. Even fish require regular maintenance of their living environment so be sure you can provide what your pet needs to keep them healthy and happy for a long time.

Modern medicine does not fully understand the reasons behind the significant effect that having a pet has on a person’s health, but they acknowledge that pets can prolong a person’s life and help the healing process. I think the majority of pet owners knew this already!

To Your Heart’s Health
Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885 anytime
Skype: Monique371

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Heart Disease Cause – The Dangers of Calcium Supplementation for Post-Menopausal Women

Sunday, January 23rd, 2011

Could calcium be one of the causes of heart disease? Well, a recent New Zealand study uncovered a startling connection between heart attacks and calcium supplementation in post-menopausal women. The study was a meta-analysis, looking at 15 different research trials with close to 12,000 participants.

Long recommended as a way of preventing osteoporosis, calcium supplementation, according to this study, presents larger risks than benefits. The actual benefit for bone health is marginal, as bone is composed of a wide range of minerals not just calcium. Despite findings that confirm the minimal benefit of calcium supplementation to bone health in aging women, it has long been recommended as a way of preventing bone density loss and osteoporosis.

There is also conflicting information on the benefits of calcium in preventing vascular disease. Some studies have shown that calcium seems to protect the cardiovascular system while others point to calcium supplements increasing the rate of vascular calcification or hardening of the arteries. The most disturbing finding show that there may be an increase in myocardial infarction (MI), better known as heart attack, caused by blockage of the blood supply to the heart muscle in post-menopausal women taking at least 500mg of calcium a day as a supplement.

Researchers conducting the New Zealand study feel that the wisest choice in most cases would be the discontinuation of calcium supplementation, especially if the woman has an adequate dietary intake of calcium. Looking at the five studies in this meta-analysis, there was a 30% increase in heart attacks in the groups that took calcium supplements.

Some have questions about the conclusions made during the meta-analysis, including whether stomach upset and heartburn were being confused with actual heart attacks. The incidence of heart attacks was both self-reported and taken from medical and death records and the question was raised whether some of the self-reporting was incorrect. Although the incidence of myocardial infarction, or heart attacks, increased significantly with the calcium supplement groups, there was no corresponding increase in mortality rates, casting doubt on whether calcium is really a culprit in cardiovascular events.

Even with the questions, the researchers’ conclusion still stands that calcium is not the best remedy for preventing osteoporosis and may have serious side effects including an increased risk for cardiovascular problems in post-menopausal women.

More research needs to be done on both the effectiveness for calcium on bone fractures in women and on possible negative effects caused by supplementation. Until more is known, women want to know what to do right now to help protect their hearts and bones. Getting adequate dietary calcium seems to be the best answer. We’ll talk about the best ways to increase dietary calcium in an upcoming post.

It is well known that there are significant differences between heart problems in women and men. Why calcium supplements seem to pose a risk for women is simply an unknown at this time. The greatest risk seemed to be present for those who already get adequate dietary calcium.

To Your Heart’s Health
Monique Hawkins
mentormonique@gmail.com

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Heart Disease Causes-The Link Between Heart Disease and Calcium

Sunday, January 16th, 2011

This is very interesting! Calcium can be one of the heart disease causes? A recent New Zealand study uncovered a startling connection between heart attacks and calcium supplementation in post-menopausal women. The study was a meta-analysis, looking at 15 different research trials with close to 12,000 participants.

Long recommended as a way of preventing osteoporosis, calcium supplementation, according to this study, presents larger risks than benefits. The actual benefit for bone health is marginal, as bone is composed of a wide range of minerals not just calcium. Despite findings that confirm the minimal benefit of calcium supplementation to bone health in aging women, it has long been recommended as a way of preventing bone density loss and osteoporosis.

There is also conflicting information on the benefits of calcium in preventing vascular disease. Some studies have shown that calcium seems to protect the cardiovascular system while others point to calcium supplements increasing the rate of vascular calcification or hardening of the arteries. The most disturbing finding show that there may be an increase in myocardial infarction (MI), better known as heart attack, caused by blockage of the blood supply to the heart muscle in post-menopausal women taking at least 500mg of calcium a day as a supplement.

Researchers conducting the New Zealand study feel that the wisest choice in most cases would be the discontinuation of calcium supplementation, especially if the woman has an adequate dietary intake of calcium. Looking at the five studies in this meta-analysis, there was a 30% increase in heart attacks in the groups that took calcium supplements.

Some have questions about the conclusions made during the meta-analysis, including whether stomach upset and heartburn were being confused with actual heart attacks. The incidence of heart attacks was both self-reported and taken from medical and death records and the question was raised whether some of the self-reporting was incorrect. Although the incidence of myocardial infarction, or heart attacks, increased significantly with the calcium supplement groups, there was no corresponding increase in mortality rates, casting doubt on whether calcium is really a culprit in cardiovascular events.

Even with the questions, the researchers’ conclusion still stands that calcium is not the best remedy for preventing osteoporosis and may have serious side effects including an increased risk for cardiovascular problems in post-menopausal women.

More research needs to be done on both the effectiveness for calcium on bone fractures in women and on possible negative effects caused by supplementation. Until more is known, women want to know what to do right now to help protect their hearts and bones. Getting adequate dietary calcium seems to be the best answer. We’ll talk about the best ways to increase dietary calcium in an upcoming post.

It is well known that there are significant differences between heart problems in women and men. Why calcium supplements seem to pose a risk for women is simply an unknown at this time. The greatest risk seemed to be present for those who already get adequate dietary calcium.

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Heart Patient Diet Plan-Why Avoiding Animal Products May Benefit Your Heart and Health

Sunday, November 7th, 2010

Avoiding animal products can be an important component of a heart patient’s diet plan. Please note that avoiding is the key word here, not eliminating animal products completely from your diet. Becoming a strict vegetarian takes a level of commitment that some just can’t face and may not even be necessary to achieve optimal heart health. For most people, cutting down on the amount of animal products and choosing any that you do consume wisely is sufficient to promote a healthy heart and entire cardiovascular system.

Why avoid animal products? The primary reason is that dietary cholesterol comes only from animal products. I always find it a bit humorous to see a bag of apples marked “a no cholesterol food,” maybe people just aren’t aware that cholesterol comes from animals! Studies have shown that eating a diet high in cholesterol damages the cardiovascular system and raises blood cholesterol levels. Some surprising studies show that even if blood cholesterol isn’t raised, people consuming more animal products have a higher incidence of death from heart attacks and strokes. One of the greatest risks to the heart is atherosclerosis, hardening of the arteries. Cholesterol seems to play a major role in the formation of plaque inside the arteries, causing narrowing of blood vessels and limiting the flow of blood. In addition to being bad for the heart, research has shown that diets high in meat and other animal products contribute to other diseases including certain cancers, osteoporosis, and digestive disorders.

In addition to the cholesterol found in animal products, they also have much higher fat content than their vegetable counterparts, increasing dietary calories. Slimming down can greatly benefit the heart; carrying less weight eases the burden on the heart. Did you know that fat has nine calories per gram while protein and carbohydrates have only four? Eating a lower-calorie diet high in vegetables, fruits, and whole-grains and getting adequate exercise has been shown to reverse the effects of heart disease.

Many people worry that they won’t get enough protein without eating meat. There are many ways to get all the essential amino acids without meat. The most recent studies have shown that each meal does not even need to have complete protein as long as it is gotten in the daily diet. Combining beans and whole grains is the perfect combination; by eating these together you get high-quality, complete protein. Many studies have shown that getting too much protein is actually bad for the health of the kidneys and liver. Damage to either of these organs leads to high blood pressure and other problems that eventually affect the heart.

Set a goal of eliminating meat and animal products except for fat-free milk and yogurt at least four days a week. If you can’t start with this, try just two, building to four over a month. Incredible, hearty vegetarian recipes are easy to find everywhere now. Try experimenting with one for tonight’s dinner and your heart will thank you!

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

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Heart Disease Diet Plan-Why Fish Oil Is Great For Your Heart

Sunday, October 31st, 2010

Study after study has shown that a diet high in cold water fish like salmon and herring is good for the cardiovascular system. Rather than being full of saturated fats, cold-water fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids that have a dramatic effect on the heart and circulatory system. Cutting the risk for heart attacks and strokes may be as simple as adding fish or fish oil supplements to the diet. Along with these benefits come many more. Omega-3 oils reduce the likelihood of heart attacks by several actions.

A recent study shows that the risk for a heart attack is lowered by a full 65% when people have a high fish intake. Omega-3 fatty acids thin the blood, making it flow more easily and lessening the risk of dangerous clots. They also are anti-inflammatory, reducing the risk for artery damage and resulting atherosclerosis. Another benefit is the regulatory action they have on the heart itself. They are believed to stabilize electric currents that control the heart beat, decreasing the likelihood of arrhythmia and episodes of rapid heart rate.

Not only do omega-3s protect the heart, they provide many more health benefits as well. The anti-inflammatory properties of fish oil are believed to have a protective action that decreases cancer risk. Two recent studies have shown that women between the ages of 50 and 76 shows a 32% decrease in the rate of breast cancer in the group that took fish oil supplements. This study followed the dietary habits of these women for six years. Another showed that those who either ate cold-water fish or took fish oil supplements had half the rate of colon cancer as the group who didn’t.

Another benefit is to the skin. Both acne and psoriasis improve with the addition of omega-3 rich fish oil supplements. Dry skin becomes softer and smoother with increased omega-3 in the diet.

A recent study published in the Journal of the American medical Association studied heart patients and found that those with the highest levels of fish oil intake also had a lower marker for cell aging. This study found that telomeres, associated with the chromosomes, showed less shortening in those with the high omega-3 levels. Shortened and damaged telomeres are believed to lead to premature aging of the cell and possibly cancerous growth.

Slowing the aging of cells, fish oils can prevent many degenerative diseases that are blamed on early cell death and damage. Adding cold-water fish to the diet or taking fish oil supplements can help prevent damage and disease in the cardiovascular system, helping to prevent heart attacks and strokes. The great thing about natural foods and supplements when compared to many pharmaceuticals, is their multiple beneficial actions on many parts of the body. Any illness causes strain on the heart and cardiovascular system, so fish oil and all its health benefits result in a healthier heart and a healthier you.


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Heart Attack Treatment Tip-Cayenne for the Heart

Sunday, July 25th, 2010
Green and red cubanelle peppers
Image via Wikipedia

These tiny, colorful hot pepper powerhouses really pack a punch. Not only do they add zing to your food but they have an absolute plethora of health benefits especially for the heart. Cayenne and other hot peppers are all members of the genus Capsicum and whether you choose cayenne, habanero, red Thai, or any of the other hot varieties, they all have amazing heart healthy properties. Anyone with a family history of cardiovascular disease or if they have heart disease themselves needs to add cayenne to the diet.

Cayenne doesn’t have just one heart healthy action; it has them all! It lowers blood pressure benefiting those with hypertension. This relieves the stress on the heart. High blood pressure makes the heart pump harder and harder, eventually wearing out the heart. It opens up the blood vessels almost instantly allowing blood to flow freely. In addition it fights cholesterol, cleaning the blood vessels of deposits that can lead to atherosclerosis. Cayenne helps bring nutrients and oxygen directly to the heart by opening up the coronary blood vessels, strengthening the heart muscle.

Cayenne strengthens every blood vessel in the body including tiny capillaries that bring nutrients and oxygen to every cell and remove the toxic waste products from the cells. Hot peppers even keep the blood from sticking together preventing dangerous clots. All of these actions help cayenne prevent heart attacks and strokes. Herbalists agree that hot peppers are the number one herb for the heart.

Studies show that cultures that consume a lot of hot peppers in their food have a much lower incidence of heart and cardiovascular disease. You can add peppers to food, make an instantly stimulating cup of hot cayenne tea, use high quality hot sauce on vegetables or in soups and stews, or take cayenne capsules.

Worried about ulcers? No need, cayenne actually has properties that heal ulcers! Loaded with nutrients and phytochemicals, cayenne is high in Vitamins A and C. Vitamin C is essential for the health of blood vessels. It strengthens vessel walls and is necessary for the body to produce collagen, the substance that keeps the cell walls flexible and supple. There are many stories of heart attacks and strokes being instantly stopped by cayenne. This is certainly not a substitute for medical attention but in an emergency situation before help arrive, a cup of hot water with cayenne, or even a tablespoon of hot sauce placed under the tongue can stop the heart attack.

 To Your Heart’s Health
Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885
mentormonique@gmail.com
Remember to sign up for my “You Deserve To Have A Healthy Heart” Newsletter!

P.S. For more information about Vita Che, the natural Roto Rooter for your arteries, visit this online nutrition store at http://699456.shopvitamark.com

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