Summary
The human heart, which beats roughly 100,000 times each day and circulates roughly six quarts of blood through the body three times per minute, is central to physical well-being, yet is prone to a number of ailments, such as hypertension, heart attacks, and angina. In fact, cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of adults in the United States.
But the right lifestyle choices can help prevent or control cardiovascular troubles. By avoiding cigarette smoke, eating whole foods, exercising regularly, and getting tested regularly (especially if heart disease is a family problem) for elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, and elevated triglyceride and homocysteine levels, you should be able to significantly decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Original source:
http://www.metropulse.com/articles/2005/15_17/new_health.shtml
Details
An adult heart is approximately the size of two fists and is central to our well-being and quality of life.
When I ponder my heart and its health, it almost scares me because as important as the heart is, it is prone to a multitude of ailments such as angina, hypertension and heart attacks.
Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of adults in this country, more than cancer or pitbulls.
Both first-and second-hand smoke are damaging and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Increase consumption of whole foods and avoid processed foods, particularly those high in hydrogenated oils.
Get tested for high blood pressure and elevated levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and homocysteine, especially if heart disease runs on the family.
High LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels have been linked in multiple studies as a risk factor in heart disease.
Red Yeast Rice Extract (a traditional Chinese food and herbal remedy) has shown a promise for lowering cholesterol levels (and triglycerides levels as well).
This nutrient inhibits HMG-CoA, the enzyme responsible for making cholesterol, and its chemical composition is similar to the "statin" drugs that are prescribed to treat high cholesterol.
Niacin is a B vitamin and the first vitamin to be recognized as having cholesterol-lowering properties.
It's advisable to take a non-flush niacin, as regular niacin can produce uncomfortable facial and body flushing.
A food that has been shown to lower cholesterol is soy protein, especially from fermented sources like tempeh and miso.
Both potassium and calcium are recognized for their blood pressure-lowering qualities, but potassium supplements should not be taken if one is taking potassium-sparing diuretics.
Low doses of folic acid, B6 and B12 have been shown to reduce homocysteine levels.
About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health researcher, author and award-winning journalist with a passion for sharing empowering information to help improve personal and planetary health He is a prolific writer and has published thousands of articles, interviews, reports and consumer guides, and he has authored and published several downloadable personal preparedness courses including a downloadable course focused on safety and self defense. Adams is an independent journalist with strong ethics who does not get paid to write articles about any product or company. In 2010, Adams created TV.NaturalNews.com, a natural living video sharing site featuring thousands of user videos on foods, fitness, green living and more. He also founded an environmentally-friendly online retailer called BetterLifeGoods.com that uses retail profits to help support consumer advocacy programs. He's also the founder and CEO of a well known email mail merge software developer whose software, 'Email Marketing Director,' currently runs the NaturalNews email subscriptions. Adams is currently the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit, and enjoys outdoor activities, nature photography, Pilates and martial arts training. He's also author of numerous health books published by Truth Publishing and is the creator of several consumer-oriented grassroots campaigns, including the Spam. Don't Buy It! campaign, and the free downloadable Honest Food Guide. He also created the free reference sites HerbReference.com and HealingFoodReference.com. Adams believes in free speech, free access to nutritional supplements and the ending of corporate control over medicines, genes and seeds. Known as the 'Health Ranger,' Adams' personal health statistics and mission statements are located at www.HealthRanger.org
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Sunday, May 22, 2005
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