Category Archives: Heart Disease

RESVERATROL_RED GRAPES

An Unhealthy and Fattening Diet – Resveratrol Can Help

Foods rich with sauce and lots of butter and cream and pastries sweet with powdered sugar and having a texture that melts in your mouth. The French get to enjoy such a diet that many here in the United States would consider as an unhealthy and fattening diet. How can this be?

Many Americans think that eating like that would lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and/or high blood sugar. Well it does but why don’t the French suffer from these conditions? The French have way lower rates of Heart Disease than any other country in the world despite their fattening diet. With the type of foods they consume, why are they not developing these same health conditions that we here in the United States experience?

WHO_FRANCE

FRANCE IS #1, THE U.S. #38

France, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is the healthiest country in the world with Italy being in 2nd place. The United States is ranked in 38th place.

WHO_US

The WHO ranks 191 member countries based on their health systems and yes, France is #1, Italy is #2 and the U.S. is #38. All of Europe is ahead of the U.S. and so is Canada, much of the Middle East and some of South America.

THE FRENCH PARADOX

But how can France be #1 with that high fat diet? It is because of what has come to be known as the French Paradox. What is that? It has been known for quite some time and research has resurfaced again a few years ago, that Resveratrol which is found in Red Wine has a protective effect against the dangers of a high fat diet. Red wine, not white wine or rose wine, only Red Wine.

The French drink a lot of red wine and pretty much every day. I also know the Italians drink a lot too. I remember staying with family in Italy and at every Lunch and Dinner there was always a bottle or two of red wine on the table. Everyone was drinking it, even some of the children, just not as much as the adults.

WHERE DOES RESVERATROL COME FROM

Resveratrol is a potent, naturally occurring, phytonutrient, antioxidant compound that is found in high concentration in the skin of Red Grapes. Resveratrol can also be found in smaller amounts in other foods such as Peanuts, Blueberries, Cranberries, and in Dark Chocolate (not milk chocolate, which is actually not healthy). However the most abundant source of Resveratrol can be found in the root of the plant known as Japanese knotwood (Polygonum Cuspidatum), which is the Resveratrol that is used in all of the supplements sold.

Most of the excitement around Resveratrol comes from its chemical makeup and its effects on Sirtuin enzymes in the body. These particular enzymes play many different roles in overall health and longevity. Sirtuin enzymes create DNA repair while maintaining genome stability. They also reduce inflammation and protects against oxidative stress, which is why Resveratrol is an antioxidant.

RESVERATROL

WHY IS RESVERATROL SO GOOD

It has been known since the 1930s that calorie restriction reduces age-related diseases and increases lifespan which happens because this will turn on Sirtuin enzymes. Resveratrol does exactly the same thing, even if you are eating a high fat diet like the French.

Being that Resveratrol can turn on Sirtuin enzymes, along with its antioxidant properties, it has huge health benefits to the body. Resveratrol reduces the risk of cataracts, kidney dysfunction, inflammatory bowel disease, strokes, heart attacks, bone degeneration, memory loss, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Resveratrol protects against metabolic syndrome, increases insulin sensitivity, improves the function of your lungs, stimulates fat burning, increases exercise endurance, and stops fat storage. Resveratrol also helps with type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.

Yes all of those benefits of Resveratrol are impressive and explains why the French are the healthiest nation in the world despite their high fat diet, aka the French Paradox. However Resveratrol has been discovered lately to be extremely beneficial against many types of cancer including colon, lung, stomach, esophagus, liver, pancreas, breast, ovary, cervix, prostate, skin, thyroid, melanoma, leukemia, and lymphoma.

RED WINE

HOW TO CONSUME RESVERATROL

But before you go out and buy bushels of red grapes and cases of red wine just know that if you have any of the above health issues, starting to eat red grapes and drink red wine now will not give you much of a protective benefit. That being said you should still start consuming them but make sure you do it for almost every meal you have. The benefits of Resveratrol come from a cumulative buildup of Resveratrol in the body which explains the health benefits of drinking red wine for almost every meal from such a young age in both France and Italy.

In order to get quick health benefits of Resveratrol you must take supplements while increasing your consumption of red grapes and red wine. If you should get to the point where you are eating red grapes and drinking red wine every day, then you could stop taking the supplements if you want.

If you have any questions or comments on Resveratrol as well as to where to buy it or what is the best way to consume it, leave your questions below in the comments section and I will get right back to you.

Lower Cholesterol and Boost the Immune System

THE BENEFITS OF GROUND FLAXSEED

After hearing and reading all of the ways ground flaxseed can help the cardiovascular system as well as strengthen the immune system, I had to try it out for myself. While at my doctors one day I asked him, where can I buy ground flaxseed? He replied, practically anywhere that sells healthy foods or you can get it online. So I purchased some and I LOVE IT!

After 26 going on 27 years of avoiding all kinds of prescription medications, I have come to know how great Mother Nature’s own medicines can be. One of my favorite healthy foods is ground or milled flaxseed. Because I am someone who always tries to eat as organic as I possibly can, I buy USDA organic ground/milled flaxseed.

GROUND MILLED FLAXSEED

Ground flaxseed has many benefits which include helping to keep your cholesterol levels in the normal range as well as your blood pressure and blood sugar levels. It also boosts the strength of your immune system by killing free radicals before they can damage healthy cells. The lignans in ground flaxseed are powerful free radical scavengers.

Other benefits include: support for healthy eyes, lubrication of your joints by reducing inflammation throughout the body, moisturizing the skin inside and out, support for weight loss, keeps you regular, and helps to sharpen your mind.

HOW CAN FLAXSEED DO ALL THAT?

Flaxseed is Mother Nature’s most abundant source of essential fatty acids (EFAs). I’m sure you have heard of essential fatty acids before. One of the main reasons why Fish Oil is so good for the heart and cardiovascular system is because fish oil is rich in Omega-3 EFA. Well flaxseed also has omega-3 EFA but it also has the other two omega-6 and omega-9 EFAs.

I remember when I was little, and maybe you do too, my mother used to give me that nasty tasting Cod Liver Oil. Yuck! But cod liver oil is just one of the many different types of fish that fish oil comes from. I still take fish oil from time to time but I normally alternate between it and flaxseed oil.

However I prefer ground/milled flaxseed over flaxseed oil because the oil kind does not contain lignans which boost immune system strength nor does it contain fiber. Since I am always taking, drinking and eating things that boost my immune system during the fall and winter months I will always use ground flaxseed over flaxseed oil.

FLAXSEED OIL

Another good reason to use ground flaxseed during the colder months is because of its fiber, which flaxseed oil does not have. Since most of us do not exercise as much during the colder months and tend to eat more, consuming the fiber in ground flaxseed will help to keep weight gain under control. The fiber in flaxseed helps to promote a sense of fullness to help curb over eating and appetite.

HOW DO I USE GROUND FLAXSEED?

It is very easy to use. Just use a quarter cup every day. I like the taste of ground flaxseed. It has a mild but nutty flavor to it and I add it to many different types of foods. I sprinkle some in my morning cold or hot cereal, scrambled eggs or pancakes, and into yogurt or cottage cheese. I will also add it to any vegetable juice or smoothie, sprinkle it on top of vegetables or a salad, add it to soups, and meat or turkey loafs. I don’t think there is much that I haven’t tried adding it to except fruit juices, but maybe I’ll try that someday. One of my favorite juices to add it to is Low Sodium V8 Juice. See my Reviews page for the great heart health benefits of that mixture.

WHOLE FLAXSEED

STORAGE

I buy my ground/milled organic flaxseed in vacuum sealed re-sealable bags. However I have found that the flaxseed will last longer and stay fresher if I store it in my refrigerator after opening it. This helps to preserve the beneficial omega EFAs and oils. If you buy whole flaxseed and only grind a quarter cup every day, then placing the non-ground flaxseed in the refrigerator is not necessary.

If you have any questions or comments about flaxseed or flaxseed oil, please leave them below in the comments section. I will get back to you with a response within 24 hours.

How To Increase Energy – One Nutrient Does It All And More

REASONS FOR LACK OF ENERGY

Coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10 for short, is a fantastic antioxidant! Just like several other antioxidants, CoQ10 has many benefits. Do you want to know how to increase energy? Well not only does CoQ10 increase immune system strength but it mostly supports the energy of the heart muscle.

Do you or someone you know have high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol? Did you know that both high blood pressure and high cholesterol are not diseases per se? Simply put, they are symptoms and risk factors of Heart Disease. If you have high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol, you have Heart Disease.

CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE HAS IT WRONG

Conventional western medicine has got it backwards because it is built on selling prescription drugs, treating the symptoms and avoiding the causes when at all possible. I have two questions that I want you to ask yourself. Then answer the questions and see if it makes sense.

1. Would you rather take a high blood pressure and/or a high cholesterol prescription drug for the foreseeable future at a high cost to your finances and your quality of life? …OR…
2. Would you rather have your heart disease treated and eventually fixed so you will no longer have high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol?

I am someone who likes to use common sense whenever possible. Personally when I was asked those questions by my doctor many years ago I said yes to question two. It has always been my belief to fix the cause and not treat the symptoms and risk factors. If you were in a boat out in the ocean that had a leak in it, would you just bail water to maintain the least amount of water in the boat or would you try to fix the leak too?

HOW TO INCREASE ENERGY TO YOUR HEART

I addressed my heart disease through inexpensive and effective ways many years ago. I got rid of any elevated blood pressure levels by changing my diet, getting at least some exercise and taking certain nutritional supplements. These were not just antioxidants but they also work to keep your heart healthy as well.

COENZYME Q10

CoQ10 is one of those particular supplements. CoQ10, also known as Ubiquinone or Ubiquinol which is the more bio-active form of Ubiquinone CoQ10, works by giving energy at the cellular level. The power plants or engines of our cells are the mitochondria and CoQ10 acts like the spark plug for that engine. Also present in the mitochondria is Alpha Lipoic Acid which not only gives protection but also re-energizes CoQ10.

What part of the body benefits from CoQ10 the most? Your heart muscle does. CoQ10 basically energizes the heart muscle, it lowers blood pressure and it protects the heart against heart failure. Without adequate amounts of CoQ10 in you, your heart will start having problems, aka, heart disease. Congestive Heart Failure which simply put is your heart not having enough energy to beat, would and does respond very well to the use of Ubiquinol CoQ10.

UBIQUINONE. UBIQUINOL. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

CoQ10 has been around since the 1950s when it was discovered. It has been known since the 1970s, when clinical trials confirmed, that people with all types of heart disease will benefit from CoQ10. I am currently starting to only take the Ubiquinol version of CoQ10, mainly because my body will absorb more of it and more efficiently. When you reach your mid-40s, your body will not be able to convert Ubiquinone into Ubiquinol as easy as it did when you were younger.

HOW TO INCREASE ENERGY TO YOUR HEART

Fortunately science has made it possible to synthesize Ubiquinol from Ubiquinone, So as soon as my Ubiquinone CoQ10 runs out, I’ll be making the switch. There have been many articles written and talked about by some doctors recently on CoQ10. I remember watching the Dr. Oz Show back in January 2012 and he was touting its benefits. There is an article on Ubiquinol CoQ10 on his show’s website.

I personally take 200 mg of CoQ10 a day for general maintenance as well as a boost in immunity and in overall energy. I have a friend who is getting his heart disease under control and his doctor has him taking 600-800 mg of CoQ10 per day.

A COQ10 WARNING!

If you are taking any kind of a Statin cholesterol lowering drug like Lipitor, Torvast, Lescol, Mevacor, Pravachol, Crestor, Zorcor, Vytorin,… YOU MUST supplement with at least 300 mg of Ubiquinol CoQ10. The reason is because whatever CoQ10 you get from food is being blocked from doing any good by the Statin drug. Statin drugs block the HMG-CoA reductase pathway in all of your cells. This pathway is critical for the manufacture of not just cholesterol but other vital elements as well. CoQ10 is one of those important life giving elements that is blocked from being produced. As is mentioned above, the heart muscle needs adequate amounts of CoQ10 to continue beating without problems.

If you have any comments or questions about Ubiquinol CoQ10, please leave them in the comments section below and I will get back to you with a response.