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CARDIOVASCULAR NUTRITION:
THE ROLE OF DIET AND THE
PREVENTION OF HEART DISEASE
Article by herbalist Dave
Hawkins, MH, CNC
With February being heart month, we are
reminded again that the statistics for heart disease in
America are staggering.
Over 60 million Americans suffer from
this potential debilitating degenerative disease.
Research is showing that heart disease can begin as
early as two years of age.
It
also causes over half of all deaths in the
United States. Why
is this happening? Dr. William Lee
Cowden, a cardiologist, states "The average American lifestyle,
combining too little exercise,
too much stress, and a diet of highly
refined processed foods often deficient in essential
nutrients, has rendered this nation's population especially
vulnerable to the ravages of heart ailments."
Conventional medicine believes that the answer to fighting
heart disease lies in treating the symptoms
such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels
with medications.
Expensive surgeries are performed more often;
and as a result, the medical cost for heart disease is at
an estimated $56 billion annually.
Although many of these methods are necessary,
especially when the disease has become life threatening,
we need to ask what can be done to prevent
this degenerative disease? Currently
many physicians are turning to preventive practices
using changes in diet, stress reduction, weight control, and
exercise as a means of reducing risk factors.
What exactly is heart disease and how does it begin?
It
is often described as a disease of the heart's blood
vessels. These vessels, the coronary arteries, supply
the heart with vital oxygen and nutrients. When blood flow
is restricted or blocked angina,
severe damage or death can occur. Of course,
we know this as a heart attack.
The
condition most likely to cause this problem is hardening
of the arteries, atherosclerosis, causing over
550,000 deaths annually. Many
other conditions of the heart exist such as congestive heart
failure, arrhythmias, angina, and various heart
muscle disorders. This is where supplementation of certain
vitamins and minerals can play an important role.
Before we discuss the role of nutrients, let's
address some dietary guidelines that have shown to improve
heart disease:
· Reduce animal foods (red meat and diary), all
refined sugars, tobacco and alcohol.
·
Use
unprocessed natural oils (olive, canola, or flax).
Avoid margarine and hydrogenated fats.
·
Reduce
overall fat intake (20% of overall daily caloric
intake)
·
Eliminate processed food laden with
preservatives and additives.
·
Eat at least 4-5 servings of fresh fruits and
vegetables daily.
·
Increase intake of fiber rich complex
carbohydrates (brown rice, whole wheat)
·
Buy
organic foods as much as possible.
·
Reduce
overall salt intake.
These lifestyle changes and, of course, a good
exercise program will do wonders for those suffering heart
disease.
Let's look at the role of specific nutritional and herbal
supplements that aid better heart functions.
Research has shown that these nutrients are vital
and aid normal functioning of the heart.
Let's start with the B vitamins. These have been shown to
reduce homocysteine levels, a substance that
contributes to cholesterol oxidation and used as a marker for heart
disease.
·
B 6 is needed for conversion of homocysteine.
Found in yeast, sunflower seeds, wheat germ, salmon, and beans.
·
B 12 a deficiency is associated with higher homocysteine
levels. Found in clams and oysters, and yeast.
·
Folic acid
is known to reduce homocysteine levels. Found in leafy
greens, wheat germ and oranges.
·
Vitamin E a fat soluble anti-oxidant. It
inhibits platelet aggregation and helps repair blood vessel lining.
The benefits of
Vitamin E have been know for a long time and it
has been heavily researched.
·
Vitamin C and flavonoid
complexes are required for collagen production and is
necessary to maintain blood vessel lining. It
also is a powerful anti-oxidant.
·
Co Q 10 is well-known nutrient associated with
the heart. It strengthens the heart muscle and
energizes the entire cardiovascular system. Shown to improve
patients with congestive heart failure. Also
another anti-oxidant.
·
Inositol
hexaniacinate has been
helpful with reducing cholesterol levels. This
is flush free niacin and can be taken in larger doses than
naicin.
Many minerals are essential for proper heart functioning.
The
four main minerals calcium, magnesium, sodium and
potassium are critically important.
When these are imbalance many conductive disturbances are
experienced such as angina and arrythmias.
·
Calcium
works with sodium to help aid the contraction
part of the heart pump. Thought to help reduce
cholesterol and to inhibit platelet aggregation.
Found in leafy greens, beans, tofu and low fat dairy products.
·
Magnesium helps to open arteries and relax the
heart pumping of blood. It helps
alleviate arrythmias,
prevent calcification of the vessels, lowers overall
cholesterol, raise HDL cholesterol, and inhibit
platelet aggregation. Found in nuts and seed, leafy greens, whole
grain breads and fish.
·
Potassium has been shown to rebalance the
higher sodium levels and aid in the reduction of high
blood pressure. This is found in many fresh fruits
(bananas) and many vegetables.
·
Selenium
is another anti-oxidant and is important for the
maintenance of the heartbeat as well as to reduce platelet
aggregation.
·
Chromium
role helps to lower cholesterol and triglycerides and
raise the HDL, the good cholesterol.
Some other nutrients that have shown to improve heart
function and prevent further damage are:
·
Taurine
is an amino acid (protein) that aids in
cholesterol management and with platelet aggregation
also helps regulate the beat.
·
Carnitine
another amino acid improves oxygen utilization and
aids with fat metabolism. Helpful with almost all
heart conditions.
·
Max EPA (omega 3 fatty acids) from fish oil
aid with reducing inflammation of artery walls
and inhibiting platelet aggregation.
Many plants have beneficial properties that help
prevent or reduce the symptoms of heart disease.
Let's begin with:
·
Garlic has
many cardiotonic properties
from reducing overall cholesterol, inhibits
platelet aggregation, and lowers blood pressure.
·
Ginger is anti-oxidant, has cholesterol
lowering activity, and lowers blood pressure.
·
Cayenne
Pepper is considered a vasodilator (open the blood
vessels), therefore, reducing blood pressure,
high flavonoid content helps vessel
wall integrity, and reduces plaquing
on arteries.
·
Gingko
Biloba helps regulate blood vessel
tone, is a
vasodilator and inhibits platelet aggregation.
·
Bilberry works with the integrity of the blood
vessel lining.
·
Hawthorn
Berry improves blood supply to
the heart, works as a mild ace inhibitor, increases the force of
contraction, strengthens heart muscle, lowers blood pressure and
helps those with angina.
·
Guggulipid
is a gum extract that helps to lower
cholesterol and triglycerides and increases HDL
cholesterol.
·
Coleus
Forskohlii is another plant
for high blood pressure, congestive heart
failure, and angina. It works as a vasodilator and for
platelet aggregation inhibition.
It
is quite obvious that much can be done to prevent heart
disease. It is important to become better
educated and to make lifestyle changes
that will reverse or help to eliminate cardiovascular disease.
This article just let's you know some of the research that is going
on to help prevent heart disease. There are many good books that
will give you in depth information concerning these supplements
mentioned. Dr. Dean Ornish's “Program
for Reversing Heart Disease” and “Reversing Heart Disease” by Dr.
Julian Whitaker are good places to
start. Remember that it is easier to prevent a disease than it is
to treat it once it has become chronic.
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