Tag Archives: Heart Disease

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.

Lower LDL Cholesterol and the Risk for a Heart Disease.

Lower LDL Cholesterol and the Risk for a Heart Disease

High levels of LDL may not manifest symptoms. Hence, it may come as a shock to you if have your cholesterol level checked and your doctor tells you that your LDL cholesterol is so high. You should not live in fear because there are actually effective means to lower LDL cholesterol. You just need to stick with what your doctor advice you and you are going to be alright. There are many treatment methods to lower LDL cholesterol, but it can be accomplished even without medications. Cholesterol supplements are developed to help you lower your LDL cholesterol naturally.

Cholesterol should not be treated as an enemy. Our body makes cholesterol because it is a vital substance for many life processes. The body produces the amounts that are required to make hormones, cell membranes, protect our nerves and for other purposes. The excess levels of cholesterol come from our diet. Since cholesterol is needed only at certain amounts, exceeding those levels will the body may find it difficult to excrete it thereby causing health problems.

Lower LDL Cholesterol and Live Healthy

Cholesterol is needed for good health, but lower LDL cholesterol is the key to better health. Too much LDL cholesterol increases your risk for a heart disease and stroke. In fact, elevated levels of LDL cholesterol are directly linked to the development of atherosclerosis. Excess LDL cholesterol circulating in the blood would be deposited in the walls of the arteries over time. Buildup of cholesterol narrows that passageways of blood and thus blood pressure increases. Over time, the plaque (hardened cholesterol) may totally block the arteries and if the blocked artery supplies blood to the heart and brain, stroke occurs.

People with lower LDL cholesterol are protected from heart diseases. Without doubt, lower LDFL cholesterol is ideal. Lower LDL cholesterol allows the body to clear LDL from the blood faster. Body cells normally take up LDL cholesterol hence the levels of LDL in the blood is controlled. But wit excessive levels, the bodys ways to excrete LDL cholesterol would be overwhelmed. Apparently, the body needs assistance in eliminating excess LDL cholesterol as well the risk for heart diseases

How Does Vasacor Lower LDL Cholesterol?

The best way to lower LDL cholesterol is to lower it naturally. Vasacor cholesterol supplement is designed to lower LDL cholesterol naturally. If you are one of those people who have been diagnosed with high LDL cholesterol or you just want to protect your heart, Vasacor is right for you. The active ingredients contained in Vasacor works with the natural processes of the body to lower LDL cholesterol and maintain it at healthy levels. More importantly, Vasacor is safe and does not cause any adverse side effects. Now, you dont need to worry about future increase of LDL levels nor the risk for heart disease.

Not All High Cholesterol Foods Are Created Equal

Do you shudder at the thought of eating high cholesterol foods?

The idea of those thick greasy fried foods running through your bloodstream thickening your arteries can be anything short of repulsive. The media and advertisers are all on the same bandwagon to sell the consumer foods that are low in cholesterol and low in fat.

Even though its true that some high cholesterol foods may not be so good for you, please note that not all high cholesterol foods are created equal.

That means that there are some high cholesterol foods that may actually be good for your health and your heart as well.

I remember seeing many patients in my 28 years of practice who were trying to lose weight and went on a strictly low or no fat diet.

Sure they lost weight, but were they healthy?

Some showed signs of dry and scaly skin, some even had eczema, others complained of cycle irregularity (in women) and almost all had signs of fatigue.

When the cholesterol goes too low, the hormones become affected. The body needs healthy fats to maintain proper hormone levels, the nerves need fats for the myelin sheath (which covers the brain and spinal cord), and the body uses fat to metabolize the fat soluble vitamins A,D,E,and K.

Keeping this in mind, I still recommend staying away from the bad high cholesterol fats. For example, frying foods at 300 degrees Fahrenheit creates oxidation, damages the oils and depletes the vitamin content.
It is best to avoid fried foods altogether, but if you must eat fried, please follow these helpful tips:

1.Fry on a lower flame. It will take longer, but you will be doing less damage to the food.

2.Use oils such as olive oil and coconut oil. They tend to be more stable under high heat then corn oil or canola oil.

3.Sautee your foods. The added water helps prevent overheating of the oils.

On the other hand, foods that you always thought are bad for you may even be good. For example, eggs may not be so bad after all, including the yolks. Eggs are a complete food. In fact the whites are high in choline and lecithin which helps reduce homocysteine and break down cholesterol.

In 1999, JAMA reported a study done at Harvard University which concluded that eating 2 eggs a day does not cause a health concern. This is the conclusion of many other studies as well.
We tend to let ourselves get swept away with strong media advertising, and even health professionals tend to recommend low cholesterol diets. Heart Disease is the number one killer in the US today.
Anyone who wants to cure himself of heart disease goes on a low cholesterol diet, and yet the statistics have not changed in years. Look at the studies and you will see that heart disease is not caused by high cholesterol foods, but foods that cause inflammation in the blood vessels. Such foods are trans fats, such as margarine and hydrogenated oils. These are typically found in many cakes and crackers (even many whole wheat crackers), and cream cakes. Read the labels.
Low glycemic index foods such as sugar, and simple carbs and of course your junk foods such as donuts, muffins, fast foods, candy, and the list goes on.

Do your own research, but get many differing opinions. That way you can come up with your own conclusions and develop a diet that can lead you on the path to a healthy heart.