Alternative Health For All
Alternative Health For All
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In
today’s world, one has a 50% percent chance of dying from heart or
artery disease. You hear
stories of very fit men in their 40s leaving for home from work on a
Friday and dying of a heart attack that same weekend. People are
dying of heart attacks at younger and younger ages.
Heart disease in most cases, is completely preventable.
Many
cultures do not experience high incidence rates of strokes and heart
attacks, however in the U.S. over a million people die prematurely from
cardiovascular disease each year. Obviously something about our
lifestyle, diet, or environment contains elements to bring about this
epidemic. Did
you know heart disease is wrongly named? The main life-threatening
diseases are diseases of the arteries. Over a number of years a deposit
can start to form on the
artery walls called arterial plaque or atheroma. Atheroma means porridge
in Greek.. These porridge like plaque deposits, coupled with thicker
than normal blood containing clots, can lead to blockage in the artery
which stops the normal flow of blood. When this occurs the arteries that
feed the heart will not carry enough oxygen to the heart that is
normally fed by these arteries. The affected part of heart will then die
from the lack of oxygen. Thus
occurs a heart attack. If
a blockage occurs in the brain a part of brain may die, thus causing a
stroke. Arteries in the
brain are fragile, therefore strokes occur
because of an artery rupturing due to the blockage. This
is called a cerebral hemorrhage. The
first step to prevent heart disease is to minimize the factors that are
responsible for heart disease, such as arteriosclerosis( a form of
atheroma deposits). There is another problem called
arteriosclerosis, also known as the hardening of the arteries. Our
arteries are elastic, but they lose their elasticity and harden with
age. The preventative for
this is vitamin C. Our body
uses vitamin C to manufacture collagen, the intercellular gel that keeps
the skin and arteries vibrant and supple. The
blood pressure in the arteries that are referred to as
your systolic and diastolic blood pressure and should be 120
(systolic)/80 (diastolic), for all ages. If the arteries are blocked, or
the blood is clotting, the pressure increases, contributing to the risk
of heart attacks. Fortunately
there are several ways to lower ones blood pressure. The arteries are surrounded by a layer of muscle.
Unbalanced mineral contents such as sodium, calcium, magnesium or
potassium can increase the muscular pressure. By increasing the intake
of these minerals, and avoiding table salt you can make a substantial
improvement in your blood
pressure within weeks. Of
these minerals, magnesium is the most
important.
There is a strong association between magnesium deficiency and heart
attack. It is crucial to have your magnesium levels checked to
ensure that you have a healthy heart.
The next approach in improving your blood pressure is
blood thinning. Vitamin E is four times more effective than conventional
aspirin in thinning one’s blood. Vitamin E is vital to thinning the
blood and improving blood pressure. The omegas 3 fish oils EPA and DHA
also thin the blood, and in
combination with Vitamin E, are much safer and more effective than
aspirin. A
major risk with high blood pressure is the narrowing of the arteries
caused by arteriosclerosis. Vitamin C helps to stop arterial tissues from
hardening, another cause for high blood pressure. Antioxidants
and fish oil and lysine combined with Vitamin C are more effective than
drugs designated to lower blood pressure. Remember nutrient methods
address to the cause of the problem rather than symptoms. As
much as the old theories that high cholesterol is linked to heart
disease live on, many other studies have also found a rise in blood
cholesterol levels caused by eating eggs. Since high blood cholesterol
levels are associated with a high risk of coronary disease, it would
seem possible to assume that having a low cholesterol level is good
news. Not so, says a research done in Japan in over
6000 men. This study brought forward the theory that high
cholesterol levels are associated with cardiovascular disease, and low
levels of cholesterol are associated with strokes.
Also notable is that Eskimo
populations have one of the highest cholesterol diets in the world, yet
they have the lowest incidents of cardiovascular disease. Cholesterol
is a component of bile, the part that
is carried to the arteries by a lipoprotein(fat and protein) is
called LDL ( Low density lipoprotein). When a larger portion of
person’s cholesterol is combined with LDL, it is likely to be
deposited in the artery walls. Thus it is often referred to as “bad
cholesterol”. The other form of lipoprotein
is called HDL ( high density lipoprotein) and can take cholesterol out
of the arteries back to the liver for processing.
Not surprisingly, this is referred to as the “good cholesterol.
“ Multivitamins
and minerals are highly effective at achieving the ideal cholesterol
balance. Vitamin B3 (also
known as niacin) is highly effective at increasing HDL. Choose the
no-flush niacin, since high amounts of niacin can cause a flushing
effect. A
significant intake of Omega3 oil can also raise HDL and lower LDL. One
can achieve that by taking a good form of EPA fish oil supplement or
eating fish rich in Omega
3, like the Eskimos have in their diet. Since good cholesterol can be damaged by oxidation, it is important to also include antioxidants in your diet. They are protective for of your good cholesterol production, and decrease your exposure to oxidation. Low blood levels of beta-carotene, vitamin A, C, and E have repeatedly been shown to increase the risk of heart disease.
To find out what might be the best herb selections for you, please write us with your questions at: customersupport@alternativehealthforall.com Note: At anytime, all herbs are best used in periods of 2-3 weeks, and then break for one week. Pregnant or lactating women should consult their gynecologist or pediatrician before proceeding with any medical remedy, herbal or otherwise. Many herbs and drugs are not suitable for administering during pregnancy.
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