Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
New research suggests that iron may have a protective effect against heart disease, which could pave the way for new treatments in the future. What is Heart Disease? Cardiovascular Disease (CVD), known as heart disease, is related to Atherosclerosis, a condition that develops when plaque …
What is Coronary Artery Disease? Coronary artery disease (also known as ischemic heart disease) occurs when cholesterol plaque builds up in arteries inside the heart stiffening them and reducing the volume of blood supplied to the heart muscle. It includes a group of diseases that …
In April of 2016, scientists from Cardiff University and Cultech Ltd set out to research the benefits of combining three ingredients – marine fish oil, cocoa extract and phytosterols – “as a means of preventing atherosclerosis, or “furring” of the arteries.”
According to Science Daily, atherosclerosis is a major cause of heart disease that kills approximately one individual every 34 seconds and is responsible for about a third of all deaths worldwide.
Published in the journal PLOS ONE, researchers found that combining these three ingredients helped “inhibit key processes associated with the progression of atherosclerosis”. Dr. Dipak Ramji from Cardiff University’s School of Biosciences, co-author of the study, reported, “A variety of active food ingredients have been shown to impart beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease. The study found, in cell-based models, that combining the three ingredients could, potentially, help halt the progression of atherosclerosis. The challenge now is to take our finding and examine whether they translate into humans.”
Fish Oil
The oils from fatty fish supply amazing health benefits. It’s true – fish is “brain food”. The key component in fish oil is their EPA-DHA (Omega-3) fatty acid content. Fish oils benefit every aspect of brain health, from mood regulation all the way to possible prevention of severe brain problems like stroke and dementia. They also support heart and circulation health, protect your vision, help maintain the digestive tract, and offer support for the kidneys, joints, lungs, and essentially every other tissue in your body. They improve and control immune function, support detoxification, adjust blood pressure and heart rate, and maintain lung function. In short, you cannot do without them – at least not for long.
For more information on Fish Oil, read Nicole Crane’s “Move Over Fish Oil! There’s a New Omega 3 in Town, and Its Name is Krill by Nicole Crane, B.S., NTP” by clicking here.
Cocoa
Chocolate in its natural form (without the additives) includes essential minerals such as magnesium, calcium, iron and zinc, as well as the Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C, E and pantothenic acid. It has polyphenols similar to those found in wine that offer excellent antioxidant protection. These beneficial antioxidants increase circulation to the brain and heart, improving healthy blood flow. They also help to reduce the blood’s clotting function, potentially decreasing your risk of blood and cardiovascular related health issues. Together, these agents help improve various areas of health such as circulation, energy and mood. Flavonols appear to be the substances in cocoa that are responsible for boosting heart health and keeping blood pressure in the normal range. These substances appear to improve the bioavailability of nitric oxide from the cells that line the inner wall of blood vessels.
For more information on Cocoa, read Nicole Crane’s “Cocoa: A Sweet Treat for Your Heart and Brain” by clicking here.
Phytosterols
Phytosterols, or plant sterols, are naturally occurring white-powder phytochemicals found in plants. Phytosterols are plant fats that are alcohol-soluble, but are insoluble in water. Phytosterols provide the raw materials needed for the body to manufacture hormones, thus they are beneficial to people with many types of health challenges. It can be difficult to intake a substantial amount of Phytosterols without supplementation. As Phytosterols often occur naturally in high-fat foods, many health-conscious consumers will intentionally bypass those foods. Others on a vegetarian diet may intake a higher amount of Phytosterols, but can still benefit from supplementation.
Based on evidence collected from scores of studies involving thousands of individuals, supplementing with at least 1.3 grams of plant phytosterol esters daily as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, is suggested to significantly lower cholesterol levels. For the past fifty years, phytosterol esters have been studied in many different population groups under many circumstances and they have consistently lowered cholesterol in these individuals. Because of this, many public health authorities are beginning to include phytosterol esters as part of their recommendations.
For more information on Phytosterols, read Jerry Hickey, R. Ph’s article titled, “Simple Solutions for Cardiovascular Health” by clicking here.
Scientists hope that further research will give rise to additional successful projects in the future.
Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160425095352.htm
In a report published by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), officials estimate that 3 out of 4 adults in the United States have a predicted “heart age” older than their chronological age, which increases their risk of heart attack and stroke. Your …
Photo by Neha Deshmukh on Unsplash Now here’s something we can toast to! It’s well-known that consumption of red wine has great health benefits, but recent studies show that other alcoholic beverages in moderation might boost your overall health, too. The Study In a recent …
Heart disease sufferers – read closely! New guidelines have recently been released that may put another 13 million people on prescription statin medications to treat heart disease. The traditional guidelines that were used in the past to diagnose heart conditions have been “widened”, meaning that if you weren’t previously prescribed cholesterol medication during your last doctor visit, the story may change at your next appointment.
According to the data, which was based on heart disease risk factors and heart disease rates among 3,773 people in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2005 – 2010, 56 million Americans between the ages of 40 years old and 75 years old would be eligible for statins. With the previous guidelines, only 43.2 million people were given this drug. The new guidelines now aim to add another 13 million people to the roster of those on statin medications.
It’s interesting to note that most of these newly-prescribed patients, even those who do not have a history of heart disease, would be given the medication as “precautionary standard” to reduce the risk a potential heart attack.
This new development leads to the ongoing debate on preventative measures and taking medications that you may not necessarily need. Are you doing more harm for your body if you take drugs to “prevent” something that may be unlikely to even happen at all? Speak with your doctor before starting or changing your current prescription drug regimen.
Under the new guidelines, if a person’s risk of developing heart disease in the next 10 years is 7.5% or higher, they might benefit from taking a statin. It is still too soon to confirm if prescribing these extra 13 million people statin medications will actually end up saving the predicted half-million lives. The amount of people who will be prescribed statins to prevent heart disease is being tracked right now.
You need for specific nutrients increase if you are current taking statin drugs, according to Jerry Hickey, R. Ph. Prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs can cause potentially serious nutrient depletions. In the case of statin drugs, be aware that Coenzyme Q10 may become depleted. Ubiquinol is the most technologically advanced form of Coenzyme Q10. It is all-natural and exactly the same as the CoQ10 that your body creates naturally when you are young and healthy. CoQ10 is the spark plug that allows every cell in the body make and utilize energy from the calories consumed through the diet. Taking Ubiquinol can improve metabolism and overall efficiency, turning back the clock of an aging body. When you are young and healthy, you make the same version of Coenzyme Q10, known as Ubiquinol. But with age, or in the case of a serious health condition, this ability gradually reduces. Our Ubiquinol is made in the United States from a natural fermentation process.
Source: http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/19/health/time-cholesterol-statins/index.html?hpt=he_c2