Lifestyle choices will often dictate level of heart health

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.

• 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.