Tag Archives: HDL

Natural Heart Disease Risk Reduction, Weight Loss

You can group cardiovascular disease into diverse groups.Some of these elements are not variant, like the inherited factors, as well as the factors connected to age and gender. There are other elements which are just as noteworthy, and perhaps more self-destructive, and these factors can interpose in the process of ameliorating your health.I am here accosting lifestyle factors, smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, a lack of exercise and obesity, as well as others..

Prior to starting up any diet or exercise syllabus, and I demand to be clear here, everyone needs to consult a physician, in order to ensure their capacities for physical exertion, and set up demarcations thereto.In addition, in order to find a fitting diet for your body type, I must accent the importance of the advice of a nutritionist. So, the message is established, think of your wellness now, do not forget to see your doctor. We are approaching obesity as a disease, as played off to a aesthetic circumstance, it is a global problem with people today. The presence of obesity leads in a more size able chance of heart disease or stroke, even given the absence of other risk elements. Obesity pressures the heart to run harder, as well as being identified in affiliation to coronary disease, high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure.

What can a person do, to counterbalance the position, when obesity is existing situation?As previously mentioned we should cover obesity as a disease and as one of the components that step-up the number of deaths from cardiovascular diseases. The same as any other disease, the original step towards remedy is the admittance of illness, look for medical care. After this gear up your life for a heartily diet, in conjunction with a daily routine of physical exercises that will render physical well being and augmented emotional balance on a daily basis.

And what is the solution? The first course of action is to combat risk factors with all plausible exertion.

I recommend following these 4 tips put forward by Isabel De Los Rios.

1. Quit Smoking. The practice of tobacco for smoking has been celebrated as a fundamental factor in heart disease, to a large extent due to chemical additives (not that I am suggesting the use of tobacco).The peril of a heart attack in a smoker is two times steeper than in a non-smoker. The presence of passive inhalation of tobacco also exposes individuals to a higher relative incidence of cardiovascular disease.There is evidence that smoking increases the levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) and depresses HDL (good cholesterol), accelerating the onset of atherosclerosis. That is, smoking is also directly contributing for the accumulation of fat in the walls of coronary arteries, bearing on the heart and blood vessels. The evidence has demonstrated that a person who is already inclined to high rates of cholesterol is increasing his/her risk of heart disease by smoking.

2. Walk, walk, walk. If getting time for a integrated exercise curriculum is just too much of a challenge right now, just start by walking. I have known many people who Have strengthened and reversed their severe heart conditions by getting outside and walking. If you can, find a scenic route there’s nothing more quieting than the outdoors. (I highly advocate whistling and singing while you walk. It creates for happy thoughts).

3. Calm down. By this I mean, do not stress about matters you do not Have to, or have command over.The most affirmative thing I did, other than eat healthy food, was to relax, and increase the playfulness.

4. Don’t start, again, don’t start a low fat diet.You can exacerbate a bad condition with misguided effort.Get rid of the saturated fats (hydrogenated oil and the like problematic oil in French fries and donuts) and eat heart-healthy fat, like coconut oil, olive oil, walnuts and whole eggs. And at the risk of sounding redundant, before you begin any program, consult your dietitian, and your MD. Good health! For further information on our programs, please Visit Us @ EliKen Health,.

Ginger – Powerful Antioxidant For Alzheimer’s, Cancer And Heart Disease

Not only is ginger (Zingiber officinale) one of the most popular of all the spices but is also of the top five antioxidant foods (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, July 2006). Numerous studies investigating ginger’s medicinal properties have also shown it to be effective in conditions such as motion sickness and the prevention and treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, inflammatory diseases and stomach ulcers.

Research has shown ginger to have effects against the following conditions:

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Two of ginger’s most important antioxidants, curcumin and gingerol, have been shown to inhibit and even reverse the deposition in the brain of the amyloid plaques that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, zingerone, another of ginger’s antioxidants, neutralizes the powerful oxidant, peroxynitrite, which has also been implicated as an aggravating factor in Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

CANCER

Several phytochemicals found in ginger have demonstrated strong anticancer activities in both laboratory and clinical studies. While ginger’s anti-tumorigenic effects have yet to be fully understood, they are thought to involve the following mechanisms:

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY: Cancer is often associated with inflammatory processes and ginger’s potent anti-inflammatory activity reduces the risk of inflammation-induced malignancy. Ginger is an effective COX-2 inhibitor, curtailing the activity of potentially damaging COX-2 enzymes, the overproduction of which may cause harm to several tissue types.

CANCER CELL DEATH: The pungent vanilloids, gingerol and paradol found in ginger, are very effective in killing cancer cells. They achieve this both by direct cytotoxic activity against the tumour and indirectly by inducing apoptosis in the cancer cells. Reducing tumour initiation and growth: The phytochemical zerumbone antagonises the processes of both tumour initiation and promotion. It does this by inducing antioxidant enzymes and by weakening the pro-inflammatory signalling pathways associated with communication between cancer cells.

PREVENTS DNA DAMAGE: Melatonin is an antioxidant produced by the body that is also found in some plants, such as ginger. It has the valuable property of being able to access most parts of the body, including brain and nervous tissue, and protects DNA against carcinogenic free-radical damage.

ANTIBACTERIAL: Ginger can eliminate all strains of Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria that are the principal cause of stomach cancer.

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND CHOLESTEROL

Ginger has been shown to lower dangerously high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, while raising the levels of beneficial HDL. These lipid-modulating effects are partly due to the inhibition of fat absorption from the intestines. In addition, ginger’s cardioprotective effects are enhanced by its ability to reduce platelet stickiness and in so doing further reduce the risk of heart attacks and thrombotic strokes.

ANIT-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES

Ginger’s long-valued role as a treatment for arthritis and other inflammatory conditions has now been substantiated by a number of scientific studies that show how it is involved in several anti-inflammatory mechanisms. It is a strong inhibitor of COX-2 enzymes, pro-inflammatory cytokines and prostaglandins that are all important components of the inflammatory response. Abnormal tissue inflammation occurs when an excess of prostaglandins, cytokines and COX-2 enzymes are released by cells in joint tissue. The more of these molecules that are released, the more inflammatory cells and chemicals are attracted to the joints where they cause pain and damage to the joint surfaces. These substances are integral to inflammatory mechanisms that can involve many tissue types, as well as the condition known as chronic systemic inflammation.

ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECTS

The hydrochloric acid found in the stomach is a powerful defence against ingested pathogens and rapidly destroys almost all organisms that are taken in with food. Helicobacter pylori, however, is an unusually resilient bacterial species that thrives in the hostile, extremely acidic environment of the stomach. Once established, this bacteria causes a range of problems including indigestion, esophagitis, gastritis, stomach and duodenal ulcers, and stomach cancer. Ginger has traditionally been used as a treatment for stomach ailments, and it has recently been shown to kill all nineteen pathogenic Helicobacter pylori species. The regular ingestion of ginger should help to kill these dangerous bacteria before they become established, and thereby pre-empt the need for antibiotics which destroy many valuable intestinal bacteria, in addition to their intended targets.

DIABETES

Although there has been relatively little investigation into the antidiabetic properties of ginger, promising early studies show that it can increase insulin sensitivity. This suggests that, in all likelihood, it is a valuable prophylactic spice against this disease.

OBESITY

Ginger has a dual antiobesity effect. The phytochemicals gingerol and shogaol increase the metabolic rate and thus help to “burn off” excessive fat and also suppress the absorption of calorie-dense dietary fats from the intestines.

ANTIOXIDANT EFFECTS

Ginger is a source of a large number of important antioxidants that, amongst other activities, reduce lipid oxidation by enhancing the activities of crucial internally produced antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutase. Melatonin, in particular, is not only a highly effective free-radical scavenger itself, but also stimulates production of the main antioxidant enzyme of the brain, glutathione peroxidase.

Ginger’s prominent role in traditional medical systems have been validated by contemporary research. As is the case with most spices, its preventive effects are enhanced when taken with other spices as there are synergistic effects between the medicinally active compounds that occur in this food group.

Obesity and Heart Disease

We only have to look at a Titian painting to recognize that at one point in the history of Western culture, fat was considered beautiful. Before the 20th Century, corpulence was touted as a sign of wealth and luxury, largely because most people were barely surviving on a meager existence.

Ironically, now in our era of affluence and plenty, we have to contend with the health and economic problems of obesity. We have a population in North America that is more than 55% overweight. More than 20% of those overweight are considered obese, a situation which proves to be an economic burden on our Health Care system because of the coronary risk factors associated with obesity. In 2004, total national health expenditure in the USA was $1.9 Trillion or $6,280 per person.

Why is obesity a risk factor for heart disease?

Among obese individuals, triglyceride levels are unusually high, while HDL levels tend to be low; both of these situations are risk factors for heart disease .A recent study involving tissues collected from autopsies of 3000 men (15-34 years old) who had died of external causes (not heart related) identified an association between obesity and coronary atherosclerosis.

Abdominal fat which characterizes obese individuals is also an area of concern. A study of 1300 Finnish men (42-60 years old) suggests that abdominal fat is an independent and major risk factor for coronary events. Several reasons have been suggested for this: a) stomach fat is continually released into the bloodstream in the form of artery-clogging fatty acids; b) abdominal fat also releases compounds that facilitate risk factors such as atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome and inflammation; c) abdominal fat initiates biochemical events that lead to insulin resistance, a precursor of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Obesity is often a precursor to metabolic syndrome, a dangerous health situation that is manifested through a cluster of symptomsexcess body fat, insulin resistance, low HDL cholesterol, high triglyceride levels and high blood pressureall risk factors for coronary events. People with metabolic syndrome release immune system messengers called cytokines into their bloodstream. Cytokines lead to a communication breakdown between body cells and insulin which leads to excessive insulin production by the pancreas, creating a situation that is a literal time bomb for heart disease . In addition, this excessive insulin production can raise fibrinogen concentrations in the bloodstream, thus allowing blood to clot more easily, a situation that is a direct risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.

Because of their size, obese individuals are more often than not sedentary in lifestyle. Inactivity in and of itself is also a coronary risk factor. Data from more than 88,000 women in the Nurses Health Study shows that a lean sedentary woman had 1.48 greater risks for coronary heart disease than a slightly heavier but physically active woman.

In Singapore Heart Disease Is Like Other Common Ailments

Coronary heart disease or atherosclerosis is a state in which the blood vessels responsible for supplying oxygen to the heart muscle, are blocked by gathering of plague. In the early stage of this disease, there is probably no symptom. That time the doctor, too, may be unable to detect it. But after duration of some years the disease may be fatal several times more and that can even cause sudden death due to the inability of the arteries to get blood enough to the muscle of the heart to maintain its functionality. Coronary heart disease is mentioned among the top most causes of death for women and men.

No sole cause is responsible for cardiovascular ailments. However, researchers and doctors have found out some particular risk factors that can enhance the risk of this type of diseases. Some of the vital risk factors include high cholesterol, family history, smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure. Though you can’t alter your family history, you can reduce your risk of coronary heart disease by restraining some of the few other risk factors.

There are seven key steps to reduce the risk of various heart diseases. They are as follows-

Doing physical exercise regularly
Lowering the total cholesterol level of the body
Quitting smoking
Taking a low-dose aspirin every day
Reducing dietary consumption of animal fats
Increasing the dietary consumption of whole grains and fresh fruits
Visiting doctor for a test of cholesterol and angiogram

Besides, some doctors think now that drinking moderated alcohol may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. The doctors now identify two distinct cholesterols good cholesterol or HDL and bad cholesterol or LDL. Analyzing the report of the blood cholesterol test, the doctor may suggest that one should increase the HDL cholesterol level and decrease the LDL cholesterol level.

How can we detect the coronary artery disease? The coronary artery disease treatment entails various medical procedures. A good way to measure and diagnose the depth of coronary artery disease is the use of coronary angiography. It is exercised when a doctor suspects a person of having such a disease.

When the damage is caused, the body will initiate a healing process. The healing process leads the deposition of plagues at a place where the arteries are damaged. We should keep it in mind that building up of plague in the coronary arteries may begin in childhood. This plague can completely block or narrow few of the coronary arteries overtime. Finally, this condition reduces the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the muscles of the heart.

Prevention is better than cure. So, knowing the reasons of coronary heart disease is very essential. There is no substitute to early detection. Following the advice of the doctor is the best practice that we should obey to avoid few of the conditions of heart attack. Dr Lim of Singapore is a renowned heart specialist. She has a unique heart care clinic dedicated to the service of heart patients.

Dhea Can Prevent Heart Disease

If you’re 50 years old and want to avoid having a heart attack, lower your risk factors. A risk factor is anything that increases your risk of heart attack. The common ones are high cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, and inactivity. I always emphasize the importance of diet and exercise, and the reason for this is simple: It reduces your risk of having a heart attack.
Now, let’s discuss another risk factorlow levels of the hormone DHEA.
DHEA is used by your body to produce all other hormones, including testosterone, estrogen and progesterone. For reasons we don’t yet know, our production of DHEA declines as we get older, and as it drops, a host of diseases seem to come out of the woodwork, heart disease being one of them.
Low DHEA Levels Can Be a Predictor for Heart Disease
A retrospective study on heart patients found that a reduced blood level of DHEA is a specific and independent marker of heart disease. The DHEA levels of 49 male survivors of heart attacks were compared with those of 49 controls. The patients who had the heart attacks had significantly reduced DHEA levels. They remained low even when they were controlled for cholesterol, blood pressure and other risk factors.
Conventional doctors give patients drugs to lower blood cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and even to elevate a low HDL level. All of these drugs have major side effects, and it is not even proven that they reduce the risk of heart disease.
Whereas it has not been proven that elevating the DHEA level in the blood with supplemental hormone will prevent a heart attack, it is far safer and more reasonable than all the cholesterol-lowering drugs guzzled every day. Even though any physician can write a prescription for DHEA and any pharmacist can “compound” (put the hormone in a capsule) and dispense it to a patient, the only physicians who are doing this are the unconventional ones.
Why is there resistance to giving a perfectly safe, naturally occurring hormone that might ward off a heart attack? I cannot answer that, except to say that breakthroughs are simply ignored unless they happen to be a patented prescription drug.
Look for the Real Thing
There are several products on the market that are promoted as containing DHEA, but they don’t contain enough to have a measurable effect on your blood level. Additionally, many who promote the use of plant products often state that true DHEA is not available. That is obviously not true, because I have been prescribing it for many years. The prescription DHEA costs less than many of the drugs used to lower your cholesterol levelthe average cost for 50 mg per day is around $20 a month.
In the same way you measure your blood cholesterol level and blood triglyceride level, you should be measuring your DHEA level as well. If your DHEA is below the average range for your age, strongly consider supplementing with DHEA to bring your blood level up. The dose I use is 25 to 50 mg per day in women and 50 to 100 mg per day in men, while monitoring the DHEA sulfate levels.
DHEA strengthens many other aspects of your body, including brain function, energy level, and immune system. Heart disease is surely not the only condition you could be avoiding by supplementation with DHEA.
Reference:
Mitchell, LE et al. Evidence for an association between dehydroepiandosterone sulfate and nonfatal, premature myocardial infarction in males. Circulation, Jan. 1994;89:89-93.
For more information visit http://www.searchhearthealth.com