Posts Tagged ‘Heart Problems’
Sunday, January 22nd, 2012
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Everybody knows there is a strong correlation between obesity and heart disease. Too many people in our western society are obese which can resulting in not only skyrocketing healthcare costs, but also bring on numerous other diseases, including heart disease.
The good news is that by making a commitment to change your eating habits and lifestyle habits, you can reach a healthy weight again and keep heart disease at bay. Here is how:
Obesity And Heart Disease: Know The Risks
By Maureen Hamilton
With so many people suffering from obesity these days, particularly in developed nations, it is important to understand the health risks surrounding excess weight gain. Obesity wreaks havoc on your physical body, and damages your mental state of mind; the cardiovascular problems associated with obesity affect both your physiological and neurological capacities, leading to issues like diabetes, depression, and most notably, heart disease. Heart disease is one of the most common and dangerous risks that obesity poses to people, so let’s take a closer look at the relationship between the two and what you can do to avoid engaging your body in this destructive relationship.
Obesity is defined as being overweight to the extent that a person’s BMI (Body Mass Index) is over 30. Obesity can be caused by genetic factors, such as a thyroid disorder, but it is most commonly caused by overeating, a lack of exercise, and a diet rooted in sugar, trans fat, and processed food consumption. A person suffering from obesity will have high levels of cholesterol and high blood pressure, the leading factors that cause heart disease. Additionally, obesity can cause sudden chest pains caused by a decrease in oxygen to the heart (angina) and has been known to cause sudden death from heart problems or stroke without signs or symptoms.
As evidenced above, obesity and heart disease and related and cause a serious threat to your health. The good news is that you have the ability to reduce the risk of these adverse effects now if you take your life back into your own hands and start developing healthier habits. Even if you are obese, changing your lifestyle to include exercise and healthy eating will decrease your chance for heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol; losing just 10% of your body weight will reduce these risks and get your heart back on track.
While heart problems and obesity can be caused by genetic factors, the ball is really in your court in terms of avoiding these dangerous health problems. You have the power to shape and control your eating and exercise habits-it is up to you to choose a healthy lifestyle and then make the commitment to live it day by day. Visit a nutritionist, make a healthy eating plan, join a gym or make an exercise plan on your own. All of these things will contribute to your overall health and sense of well-being, and will help you to avoid health problems that can impede on your enjoyment of life or even cut it short.
About the Author
Maureen Hamilton is an Integrated Neuro-Linguistic Programming Master Practitioner, Hypnotherapist and a Demartini Method Facilitator. Maureen has previously worked in many areas of health in Australia as well as overseas. Her health background includes training in general and midwifery nursing, mental health and children’s behavioural issues (including the effects of emotional trauma especially in children). Maureen is very much involved in promoting and assisting people to obtain optimal health and is absolutely committed to helping people to stop smoking and/or lose weight naturally using Hypnosis and NLP.
If you would like to find out more, visit http://masteryourlifepower.com and and talk to Maureen about your requirements.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6705864
Becoming healthy is up to you. Become educated and make the changes to fight obesity and avoid heart disease at all costs!
To Your Heart’s Health,
Monique Hawkins
Resources:
1. Most people love having clear arteries. Some people have just found out how to keep their heart arteries clear by taking a special vitamin called Vita Che. To learn more about this powerful supplement, visit Vita-Che-THE PRODUCT OF CHOICE FOR CIRCULATORY HEALTH! at http://tinyurl.com/d34e4yy
2. Forks Over Knives. Two doctors in this movie present, based on research, how going to a plant based diet can help reverse many diseases, including heart disease. To learn more http://www.forksoverknives.com/
3. The Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments of Congestive Heart Failure. You can make a difference. http://www.congestive-heart.com/
Tags: Bmi Body Mass Index, Body Mass Index, Cardiovascular Problems, Cause Heart Disease, Chest Pains, Circulatory Health, Congestive Heart Failure, Correlation, Destructive Relationship, Developed Nations, Diet Help, Diseases, Eating Habits, Excess Weight Gain, Food Consumption, Genetic Factors, Health Risks, Healthcare Costs, Healthy Heart, Heart Arteries, Heart Disease, Heart Failure, Heart Health, Heart Problems, High Blood Pressure, Knives, Lack Of Exercise, Lifestyle Habits, Many People, Maureen Hamilton, Monique, Obese, Obesity And Heart Disease, Problems Associated With Obesity, Processed Food, Thyroid Disorder, Two Doctors, Vita
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Sunday, November 13th, 2011
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For those who struggle with heart problems and/or who have heart surgery, it is crucial to follow a heart patient diet plan so the heart can heal.
The question by some may be is what exactly is a healthy heart diet? As it turns out, its a very simple diet to follow. Here is more on what you need to consider.
What Is a Healthy Heart Diet? By Chris L Castillo
Just what is a healthy heart diet? This is a question I asked a doctor friend of mine. His reply sounded a bit ambiguous to me. “A varied diet that contains adequate percentages of fruit and vegetables.” was what he said. Being me, I thought I would study on the subject a bit more as although I have two arms, legs, eyes and ears I only have the one heart and apparently it is important to make sure that it doesn’t stop beating.
It turns out that it is not as simple as eating just the same old fruits and vegetables repeatedly, rather it is a large range of different fruits and vegetables as part of one’s diet. The reason is that our human ancestors only had access to various fruits, vegetables, leaves and nuts in their correct seasons. This means that even as “modern man” our bodies are still pre-programmed to eat a great variety of different foods and not something like a monoculture as people that eat burgers and fries every day do. It is the same with meat, we should not really stick to the flesh from one animal as that was also fairly rarely done in the past. I know that native Americans ate a lot of buffalo but they also has access to different types of deer and birds too.
I do not propose leeching the tannins out of acorns to make them palatable or eating the roots of sea kale and rushes but I do advocate making use of a lot of the different varieties of fruits and vegetable available today. Using modern methods of growing we can get an extended season by keeping worthwhile plants under glass. Then we have to think about how far food travels and if we want to pay the price of contaminating the earth with exhaust fumes from jet aircraft from warmer climes or heating greenhouses in the far north. It turns out there is less pollution caused by flying runner beans from Kenya than there is from growing them under glass during the winter in Holland.
In conclusion then, I have learned that a healthy heart diet is one that includes a great variety of different fruits, vegetables, pulses, nuts and meat. All of these foods have different benefits for our bodies and we should therefore eat them all when they are available. Lastly, I know that wine and chocolate were not around for our forbears in Africa and Europe until comparatively recently but they too can be included in our diet to keep our hearts healthy.
For more tips on a healthy heart diet, visit here: http://healthyheartdiet4u.wordpress.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6545984
As one can see, a heart patient diet plan is pretty simple. The bigger issue may be making the commitment to change your lifestyle and eating habits so your heart can heal and become strong once more!
To Your Heart’s Health
Monique
Tags: Acorns, Burgers And Fries, Diet Plan, Different Foods, Doctor Friend, Eyes And Ears, Flesh, Fruit And Vegetables, Fruits And Vegetables, Fruits Vegetables, Healthy Heart, Heart Diet, Heart Patient Diet, Heart Problems, Heart Surgery, Human Ancestors, Modern Man, Monoculture, Percentages, Sea Kale, Wikipedia
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Monday, October 24th, 2011
Most individuals with heart problems who want to get well know that following a heart patient diet plan is going to be crucial to their health.
There are many diets to consider, one of which is called the “Cardic” diet. Following the diet appears to be quite simple and seems to make a difference in people’s heart health.
Have a try with it and test how it helps improve your heart health!
To Your Heart’s Health,
Monique
Cardiac Diet
By Fiona Dewitt
Cardiac diets are extensively used and prescribed in most hospitals for patients with heart disease, hypertension, myocardial infarction, hyperlipidemia, and dyslipidemia. A cardiac diet may be used as a part of a health regimen to either treat or prevent cardiovascular disease. It will typicallyconsist of foods that are classified as healthy because of their overwhelming nutritional advantages.
A cardiac diet will basically aim to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and fibre while lowering the consumption of fats and sodium which have both been prominently associated with the development of heart disease. This health plan is often adjusted in the long-term based on the goals of the diet or the patient’s diagnosis. After a patient has been treated using this diet recommendation he or she will normally be referred to a dietician who will help him or her to maintain this diet.
Generally a cardiac or “heart healthy” diet as it has been called may be administered with the objective of restricting the intake of fat, cholesterol, sodium, and sometimes caffeine. In most instances, it will follow the guidelines of the National Cholesterol Education Program which has issued the following recommendations:
Fiber 20-30 grams per day.
Trans fat “kept at a low intake.”
Carbohydrates 50-60% of daily calories.
Total fat 25-35% of daily calories.
Saturated fat less than 7% of daily calories.
Monounsaturated fats up to 20% of daily calories.
Polyunsaturated fats up to 10% of daily calories.
Cholesterol less than 200 milligrams per day.
Dietary fats, especially saturated and trans fats, may actually contribute to elevating an individual’s overall cholesterol levels, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and triglycerides which can encourage the development and accumulation of plaque within the blood vessel walls. This build-up of plaque will ultimately lead to a decrease in the size of the blood vessel lumen. Saturated fats are predominantly found in animal products. This kind of fat has been linked to an increase of low-density lipoprotein levels (LDL), which are strongly associated with a heightened risk of heart disease. Unsaturated fats differ from saturated fats because they have double bonds. They can be substituted in place of saturated fats and are preferred because they help lessen the LDL levels. Cardiac diets are also low sodium diets. Sodium has been found to increase blood pressure, and has an additional negative effect on the diuretic properties of certain medications. Sodium is generally restricted to 2,000-4,000 mg per day, in relation to the patients diagnosis and medical regimen. Many cardiac diets do not only restrict sodium and fats but also caffeine. This is enacted because caffeine is a stimulant and may affect the deteriorated condition of the heart.
Basically a cardiac diet considers both the advantages of restricting certain types of foods as well as improving the consumption of healthy foods and nutrients.
Please visit this link for more information on http://www.cardiacdiet.org
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fiona_Dewitt
Tags: Cardiac Diet, Cardic Diet, Cholesterol Education Program, Dewitt, Diet Plan, Dietician, Fruits And Vegetables, Health Plan, Health Regimen, Heart Disease, Heart Health, Heart Healthy Diet, Heart Patient Diet, Heart Problems, Hyperlipidemia, Monounsaturated Fats, Myocardial Infarction, National Cholesterol Education, Polyunsaturated Fats, Whole Grains
Posted in Heart Diet | 1 Comment »
Monday, October 17th, 2011
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For those who have encountered heart problems and need to go on a healthy heart patient diet to improve their heart’s health, one of the most important things which can be done is to carefully watch cholesterol levels. One way to do this is by following these 14 tips to get your cholesterol to acceptable levels. This in turn will greatly improve your heart’s health.
Follow these tips and you will be able to have a strong heart once again.
To Your Heart’s Health,
Monique
Heart Disease Prevention – How to Reduce Your Cholesterol Levels
By Mich D Veer
Doctors worldwide will tell you that cholesterol is one of the primary factors for heart diseases. Unhealthy levels of cholesterol in the blood can increase weight problems and probabilities of a heart attack.
Here are some easy tips that can be included in the daily life routine to help live a life free of cholesterol!
1. Follow a diet controlled by the expertise of a professional dietician / doctor.
2. One of the most effective and healthiest of all tips to control cholesterol is undoubtedly Exercising.
3. Why? Because Exercising increases the heart rate thereby improving the metabolism of the body allowing improved expulsion of harmful oils, detrimental to an individual’s health.
4. The type of exercise to be done will depend largely on varied factors including medical history. The deciding factors also include age, gender and weight.
5. Needless to mention, those beginning exercising must first consult a physician and ensure safety in doing them.
6. Heart ailment patients might be advised against any rigorous exercises but could resort to simpler alternates like stretching, weight lifting, walking, etc.
7. If a physician allows some high impact exercises, participate mandatorily in swimming, running, bicycling, aerobics, etc.
8. Consult a doctor to sketch a fitness plan in detail and ensure adherence to the same with the guidance of a professional fitness trainer. Following the plan duly is in the hands of the patient!
9. Results of such plans normally become evident within a week or two. Very soon bad cholesterol will start getting reduced in the body, replaced with good cholesterol leading to a considerable reduction in the body weight.
10. Exercising has less or no side effects as compared to consuming drugs which potentially has a lot of side effects on the body.
11. Brisk walking in the early morning or just before going to your workplace is highly recommended to those who do not have time in their daily schedule to go to a gym.
12. Whenever exercising in any form or format, consuming lots of water is highly recommended as it helps a great deal.
13. This prevents the body from dehydration and repercussions thereby like exhaustion. For this, one doesn’t need to run up to the fountain time and again; instead carry a water bottle! While working on a machine or participating in a group activity, this really helps and moving from one place to another time and again really doesn’t help!
14. Some organizations these days encourage their people to walk up 1 or 2 flights of stairs, instead of using the elevators to go up & down only a few floors.
Lower Cholesterol definitely means lower probability of a heart ailment!
Learn more about how to lower your cholesterol at http://www.onlinereadersdigest.com/lower-cholesterol.html
Tags: Acceptable Levels, Alternates, Cholesterol Levels, Dietician, Fitness Plan, Healthy Heart, Heart Ailment, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, Heart Disease Prevention, Heart Diseases, Heart Patient Diet, Heart Problems, Heart Rate, High Impact, Lowering Cholesterol, Medical History, Strong Heart, Weight Lifting, Wikipedia
Posted in Heart Diet | 1 Comment »
Sunday, September 4th, 2011
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For those who struggle with heart problems and desire to overcome them, learning to follow a heart patient diet plan is important. This does not have to be difficult. In fact, it can fairly easy if one is ready to take charge of their health and build up their heart.
Following are 3 easy heart patient diet tips to consider using for optimal health. Follow them and you heart will thank you for it!
To Your Optimal Health,
Monique Hawkins
Creating a Heart Healthy Diet Plan
By Matthew McAlpine
Heart disease runs in my family. In fact, based on the medical research, it runs in a lot of families. Some of the things I have learned over the years are that you can be in control and take preventative measures against heart disease. Many of the contributing factors of heart disease can be minimized with a heart healthy diet and a little daily exercise. Here are a few simple tips which will allow you to add foods to your daily diet that have been proven to help prevent heart disease.
1.) Probably the easiest step to start with is cutting certain foods out of your diet. This doesn’t mean you can no longer eat potato chips or other tasty snacks, it only means you have to become a little more educated about the TYPES of snacks you eat. Stay away from foods high in fat and cholesterol by checking the nutritional values on the labels. Many food producers today have come out with foods that are significantly lower in cholesterol, salt, and fat and a quick comparison of labels will help you find those. Try to use less butter and margarine and replace your cooking oil with canola or olive oil.
2.) Try to eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Some of the best sources for this are fish like salmon and tuna. Now if you are like me (and my children) you might not care much for fish! I have found a few recipes for lighter dishes like tuna salad, which my family enjoys. Since you probably don’t want to eat tuna salad every day, here are a few other foods high in omega-3 fatty acids. Almonds are a great choice and very versatile. Stay away from the salted or sweetened almonds. Try almond slivers tossed into a salad! There are also a few fish oil supplements on the market that can provide these essential omega-3′s in tablet form. I take a tablet with my daily vitamin.
3.) Fruits and vegetables should already be a major part of your healthy diet, but they are especially important for a healthy heart! Try to eat a variety of these, as each one can provide different benefits. For example, oranges are high in vitamin C which helps bolster the immune system and is an excellent anti-oxidant. Tomatoes and carrots contain magnesium and potassium which can help lower blood pressure. Fruits and vegetables are probably the easiest to implement into your daily diet since they can be used as a replacement for many unhealthy snack foods! My family enjoys fresh cut fruits like apple slices and equally enjoy carrot sticks and celery sticks for a snack.
There are many ways to implement the above foods into your diet. A little research on nutritional labels and a little creativity is all it takes to start eating for a healthy heart!
Thank you for taking time to read my article! If you would like to browse other resources on health, diet, and fitness, visit us on the web at [http://www.route33inc.com]
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_McAlpine
Tags: 3 Fatty Acids, Canola, Cooking Oil, Diet Tips, Food Producers, Healthy Diet Plan, Healthy Heart, Heart Disease, Heart Healthy Diet, Heart Healthy Diet Plan, Heart Patient Diet, Heart Problems, Mcalpine, Nutritional Values, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Optimal Health, Potato Chips, Preventative Measures, Tasty Snacks, Tuna Salad
Posted in Heart Diet | 1 Comment »
Sunday, July 17th, 2011
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The best way to prevent heart problems in the future is to begin now by keeping your heart healthy. It’s actually pretty easy to do if are willing to make a commitment.
I just was reading a recent article about what a healthy heart diet plan looks like along with a couple of easy things a person can do to include it in their lifestyle. Below are a few brief excerpts from the article.
What Does A Healthy Heart Diet Consist Of And What Health Benefits Will You Gain By Following One?
By Mary Ruddy
To keep the body working, you need to have a healthy heart. It is the main organ of the body and when your heart is not functioning well, it means that your health is at risk. In America, diseases related to the heart are a leading cause of death. In fact, a healthy heart diet can prevent all of these things from happening.
Taking good care of yourself especially with what you are eating can result in a healthy heart. Below you are about to find out on what comprises a healthy heart diet.
Exercise is one of the essentials for a healthy heart. It is through exercise that you maintain normal heart function and burn excess fats that can cause cholesterol build up blocking your arteries.
Getting into a regular exercise regimen guarantees a healthy lifestyle and of course a healthy heart.
With regard to your exercise regimen, different bodies require different exercise regimens; therefore, you need to consult your fitness instructor on what is the appropriate exercise regimen for you.
When you need to lose weight because of excess fat, which is a risk factor for cholesterol build up, your goal in exercising is really to lose that excess fat.
On the other hand, the counterpart of exercise is a healthy heart diet. It is essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Surprisingly, a person who maintains a healthy diet will not be susceptible to heart disease even when they age. Avoiding cholesterol-rich foods is the first thing that you need to do.
There was lots of other good things in this article you will want to take a look at. To read the article in its entirety, go to http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Does-A-Healthy-Heart-Diet-Consist-Of-And-What-Health-Benefits-Will-You-Gain-By-Following-One?&id=5512808
Monique Hawkins
Tags: Arteries, Diet Exercise, Diet Plan, Excess Fats, Exercise Regimen, Fitness Instructor, Health Benefits, Healthy Diet, Healthy Heart, Healthy Lifestyle, Heart Diet, Heart Disease, Heart Health, Heart Patient Diet, Heart Problems, Keeping Your Heart, Leading Cause Of Death, Normal Heart Function, Recent Article, Risk Factor
Posted in Heart Diet | 2 Comments »
Sunday, June 26th, 2011
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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!
Tags: Cornmeal, Coronary Disease, Diet Plan, Diet Tip, Fried Foods, Fruits And Vegetables, Good Heart, Healthy Eating Habits, Heart Attacks, Heart Disease Prevention, Heart Failure, Heart Problems, Mealtime, Rye Bread, Small Quantities, Strong Heart, Sugar Intake, Tea Spoon, Whole Grains, Whole Wheat
Posted in Heart Diet | 1 Comment »
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
Tags: Cardiovascular Disease, Causes Of High Blood Pressure, Circulatory Problems, Disorders Of The Circulatory System, Excess Sodium, Going To The Doctor, Hardening Of The Arteries, Heart Attacks, Heart Disease Prevention, Heart Problems, High Blood Pressure, Kidney Problems, Loss Of Kidney Function, Prevention Plan, Prolonged Stress, Shortness Of Breath, Silent Killer, Symptoms Of High Blood Pressure, Vicious Cycle, White Coat Hypertension
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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
Tags: Blood Vessels, Diet Plan, Dinner Table, Hardening Of The Arteries, Health Impacts, Health Problems, Healthy Heart, Heart Attacks, Heart Disease, Heart Health, Heart Patient Diet, Heart Problems, Heart Stroke, High Blood Pressure, Kidney Failure, Negative Health, Salt Intake, Salt Shaker, Sodium, Table Salt
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Friday, March 11th, 2011
Recent research is finding a strong link between the health of your teeth, gums, and your cardiovascular health. Although this idea appears rather odd at first glance, there seems to be a connection between gum and tooth disease and the condition of your arteries. Studies have looked at the correlation of the presence of gingivitis, gum disease, and the presence of hardening of the arteries and found that in many patients, when one is present, so is the other.
Medical researchers don’t know yet whether one causes the other and if it does, which one causes the other. What they do know is that the presence of tooth and gum disease can be an early indicator of cardiovascular problems. It seems that the same bacteria may be responsible for both atherosclerosis, hardening of the arteries, and gum disease. How this connection works is the mystery.
One study looked at over 600 patients who had no identified heart problems and found that those with particular bacteria in the mouth were more likely to have atherosclerosis in the main artery in the neck. The carotid artery is the one that takes oxygenated blood to the brain. When it becomes clogged, strokes can occur.
Atherosclerosis develops when fatty deposits build up in the arteries, often accompanied by the same bacteria that cause problems in the mouth. When arteries become clogged, the blood supply to vital organs including the heart and brain occur. This can lead to heart attack or stroke.
Medical professionals are unsure of the process involved in plaque formation in the arteries but believe one culprit could be the body’s own reaction to the bacteria circulating in the blood stream. Inflammation is the body’s natural reaction to disease causing bacteria and infection. The swelling that accompanies inflammation may further decrease the diameter of the artery, slowing blood passage even more and possibly causing clots to form.
The big question raised by the resent research is whether better oral hygiene can help prevent cardiovascular problems. No one is sure of the answer, but the consensus is that taking better care of your mouth just may improve heart health, so why not increase flossing and tooth brushing?
While researchers are attempting to discover the mechanisms behind the connection between heart health and dental health, it certainly can’t hurt to add good dental hygiene to your daily routine. Don’t forget to address heart healthy diet and exercise; brushing your teeth doesn’t mean you can revert to eating a fast food diet while sitting on the couch all day!
Eating right and increasing movement in your daily routine also help your immune system function optimally. This may be one of the keys to reducing the bacteria population that can damage your gums, teeth and cardiovascular system.
To Your Heart’s Health
Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885 anytime
Skype: Monique371
Tags: Bacteria In The Mouth, Blood Stream, Blood Supply, Cardiovascular Health, Cardiovascular Problems, Carotid Artery, Disease Causing Bacteria, Fatty Deposits, First Glance, Gum Disease, Gums, Hardening Of The Arteries, Heart Attack, Heart Health, Heart Problems, Main Artery, Medical Researchers, Plaque Formation, Tooth Disease, Vital Organs
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