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Everybody knows there is a strong correlation between obesity and heart disease. Too many people in our western society are obese which can resulting in not only skyrocketing healthcare costs, but also bring on numerous other diseases, including heart disease.

The good news is that by making a commitment to change your eating habits and lifestyle habits, you can reach a healthy weight again and keep heart disease at bay. Here is how:

Obesity And Heart Disease: Know The Risks
By Maureen Hamilton

With so many people suffering from obesity these days, particularly in developed nations, it is important to understand the health risks surrounding excess weight gain. Obesity wreaks havoc on your physical body, and damages your mental state of mind; the cardiovascular problems associated with obesity affect both your physiological and neurological capacities, leading to issues like diabetes, depression, and most notably, heart disease. Heart disease is one of the most common and dangerous risks that obesity poses to people, so let’s take a closer look at the relationship between the two and what you can do to avoid engaging your body in this destructive relationship.

Obesity is defined as being overweight to the extent that a person’s BMI (Body Mass Index) is over 30. Obesity can be caused by genetic factors, such as a thyroid disorder, but it is most commonly caused by overeating, a lack of exercise, and a diet rooted in sugar, trans fat, and processed food consumption. A person suffering from obesity will have high levels of cholesterol and high blood pressure, the leading factors that cause heart disease. Additionally, obesity can cause sudden chest pains caused by a decrease in oxygen to the heart (angina) and has been known to cause sudden death from heart problems or stroke without signs or symptoms.

As evidenced above, obesity and heart disease and related and cause a serious threat to your health. The good news is that you have the ability to reduce the risk of these adverse effects now if you take your life back into your own hands and start developing healthier habits. Even if you are obese, changing your lifestyle to include exercise and healthy eating will decrease your chance for heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol; losing just 10% of your body weight will reduce these risks and get your heart back on track.

While heart problems and obesity can be caused by genetic factors, the ball is really in your court in terms of avoiding these dangerous health problems. You have the power to shape and control your eating and exercise habits-it is up to you to choose a healthy lifestyle and then make the commitment to live it day by day. Visit a nutritionist, make a healthy eating plan, join a gym or make an exercise plan on your own. All of these things will contribute to your overall health and sense of well-being, and will help you to avoid health problems that can impede on your enjoyment of life or even cut it short.

About the Author

Maureen Hamilton is an Integrated Neuro-Linguistic Programming Master Practitioner, Hypnotherapist and a Demartini Method Facilitator. Maureen has previously worked in many areas of health in Australia as well as overseas. Her health background includes training in general and midwifery nursing, mental health and children’s behavioural issues (including the effects of emotional trauma especially in children). Maureen is very much involved in promoting and assisting people to obtain optimal health and is absolutely committed to helping people to stop smoking and/or lose weight naturally using Hypnosis and NLP.
If you would like to find out more, visit http://masteryourlifepower.com and and talk to Maureen about your requirements.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6705864

Becoming healthy is up to you. Become educated and make the changes to fight obesity and avoid heart disease at all costs!

To Your Heart’s Health,
Monique Hawkins

Resources:

1. Most people love having clear arteries. Some people have just found out how to keep their heart arteries clear by taking a special vitamin called Vita Che. To learn more about this powerful supplement, visit Vita-Che-THE PRODUCT OF CHOICE FOR CIRCULATORY HEALTH! at http://tinyurl.com/d34e4yy

2. Forks Over Knives. Two doctors in this movie present, based on research, how going to a plant based diet can help reverse many diseases, including heart disease. To learn more http://www.forksoverknives.com/

3. The Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments of Congestive Heart Failure. You can make a difference. http://www.congestive-heart.com/

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• Heart Disease Prevention Tip-4 Easy Steps to Cut Heart Disease Risk (moniquerhawkins.com)
• Obesity ‘direct heart disease risk’ (confused.com)
• What’s the Cause of Heart Disease? (lewrockwell.com)
• Eating for a Healthy Heart (bestjuicereviews.wordpress.com)
• Caring for the Heart (lighttothenationsblog.wordpress.com)
• Five Hidden Dangers of Obesity (preview) (scientificamerican.com)

For those who suffer from congestive heart failures, there are many heart failure treatments available to consider. Since congestive heart failure is so deadly in our country today, doctors have been been involved in on-going research to provide cutting edge treatments to their patients.

In today’s post, you will learn about treatments which show much promise to those suffering from congestive heart failure. It is my hope you will learn much and if you do have this disease, will be able to reverse it.

To Your Heart’s Health,
Monique Hawkins

Resources:

1. Most people love having clear arteries. Some people have just found out how to keep their heart arteries clear by taking a special vitamin called Vita Che. To learn more about this powerful supplement, visit Vita-Che-THE PRODUCT OF CHOICE FOR CIRCULATORY HEALTH! at http://tinyurl.com/d34e4yy

2. Forks Over Knives. Two doctors in this movie present, based on research, how going to a plant based diet can help reverse many diseases, including heart disease. To learn more http://www.forksoverknives.com/

3. The Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments of Congestive Heart Failure. You can make a difference. http://www.congestive-heart.com/

New Treatments to Aid Congestive Heart Failure
By Mark F Hargreaves

Heart disease is one of the deadliest killers in the world to date. Congestive heart failure, a condition found secondary to innumerable major cardiac diseases, possesses its own high mortality rate. Fifty percent of patients who are diagnosed with congestive heart failure will die within the five following years. Scientists and researchers have always had problems understanding the exact mechanisms of the disease, and to find a cure.

Congestive heart failure begins as the cells in the heart die or stop working attributable to an event like a myocardial infarction (a heart attack) or ischemic heart disease. Whatever the cause, the heart is subsequently ineffective pumping blood throughout the body, resulting in the blood pooling in the organs and fluid building up in and around the lungs as sodium is unable to be adequately excreted, causing dyspnea that is the classic symptom of congestive heart failure.

Clinical research is being targeted at the treatment of the disease and the possibility of repairing the damaged cells in the heart. Current research is underway to measure new medications that would lend a hand in vasodilation, also as a calcium inhibitor that would not produce the higher incidence of cardiac arrhythmia seen with the medications currently on the market.

In the age of natural medicine, the power of the mind has been invoked in clinical trials to apply meditation and relaxation techniques to battle the tension on the heart that can be the breaking point for patients with congestive heart failure. Tension has been shown to negatively affect the body’s blood pressure forcing the heart to work harder and placing an undue amount of stress on a by this time feeble muscle.

The theory lies in the belief that by learning to maintain a low level of mental stress the heart will be less stressed and as a result less likely to fail completely, and the patient can be accorded a better prognosis.

Alongside the return to natural, holistic methods of treatment is an incredible advancement in clinical technology that was not available twenty or thirty years in the past. Scientists profess to have identified a set of altered genes that can cause a person to be more disposed to suffer from congestive heart failure and are using their current expertise of genes and the benefits of gene therapy in an effort to reverse the effect. In addition, medications to tamp down on the genes’ actions, like beta blockers and alpha-2 agonists are by this time available and being used in treatment programs.

Also being explored is the possibility of using stem cells to aid in correction of the damaged heart tissue. Clinical trials showed that patients in distress from congestive heart failure responded very favorably to an injection of their own stem cells into the heart, and while the exact means by which this causes improvement is as yet unknown. It is suspected that these cells either facilitate the growth of new vessels in the heart or act as a type of beacon, attracting the body’s own healing cells to the site of the harm and stimulating repair.

The possibility of growing healthy tissue from embryonic stem cells to be transplanted is also being explored, although the controversial nature of the employment of embryonic stem cells due to the compulsory destruction of the embryo makes this doubtful in the foreseeable future. Scientists have determined that adult stem cells just can’t provide an adequate supply of new cells to meet the needs of patients who have suffered from congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure is incredibly dangerous insofar as the body cannot reproduce the dead tissue cells in the heart; all the same, with modern advancements it is the longing of researchers everywhere to one day find a cure.

Mark has suffered with a congestive heart problem since 1994 and is now severely disabled. He maintains a website for anyone who wants information on congestive heart failure and heart disease in general. Visit http://www.congestive-heart.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1272320

Sometimes, it seems people are not paying much attention to the heart disease prevention tips which are readily available. I say this because coronary heart disease is running rampant in our western society. Millions die from this disease each year. This is unfortunate because heart disease is preventable if people are willing to make simple lifestyle changes.

Following are 3 easy heart prevention tips you can begin to use now to ensure you will have a healthy heart for life!

To Your Heart’s Health,
Monique Hawkins

P.S. Some people also like to keep their heart arteries clear by taking a special vitamin called Vita Che. To learn more about this powerful supplement, visit Vita-Che-THE PRODUCT OF CHOICE FOR CIRCULATORY HEALTH! at http://tinyurl.com/d34e4yy

Coronary Artery Disease Prevention Tips
By John L. Phillip

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) results in nearly 1 million deaths each year and millions more are living with this disease and the limitations which lead to an early demise. Coronary Artery Disease is avoidable and reversible by following a healthy diet and supplementing with targeted nutraceuticals. Amazingly, this information has been understood and implemented with demonstrated results for decades and yet CAD remains the leading cause of death in the US today.

Coronary Artery Disease is Caused by Poor Lifestyle Decisions

Coronary Artery Disease, or atherosclerosis is a progressive narrowing and hardening of the arteries which provide blood to the heart. Over the course of years and decades of poor dietary choices, external stress, lack of exercise and environmental pollutants, the normally flexible arteries begin to develop small cracks within the artery lining.

In an attempt to prevent blood from leaking through the cracks, the body uses its own patching mixture of minerals and oxidized fats to prevent blood loss. Cholesterol is essential for good health, and limiting production in the body by taking statins only leads to further health issues. Vibrant health is attained through healthy diet, exercise and stress reduction principles.

Eat a Healthy Diet to Prevent and Reverse Coronary Plaque

Following the Standard American Diet (SAD) which is packed with highly refined wheat, corn and sugar based carbohydrates leads directly to systemic inflammation throughout the body and micro-cracks in the lining of the arteries. High triglycerides and the plaque promoting small, dense LDL cholesterol particles in the blood are the end result.

The key to plaque prevention is to eat plenty of raw green leafy vegetables, seeds, nuts, healthy fats and lean proteins. Eliminate all processed, refined carbohydrates, sugars, wheat and corn products. This dietary plan will reduce the inflammation and high triglyceride levels which are the main cause of CAD, while halting further plaque progression in the arteries.

Nobel Prize Winning Chemist Discovers Plaque Reversal Cocktail

Dr. Linus Pauling was a chemist and winner of multiple Nobel Prize awards, and is best known for his work with Vitamin C. Pauling furthered his work to include two amino acids which work alongside Vitamin C, and are essential in the fight to prevent and treat CAD. Pauling found that Lysine and Proline, combined with Vitamin C creates a sticky substance which attaches to the foamy plaque deposits, ushering the deadly substance out of the coronary arteries.

This combination is known as the Pauling Therapy, and is currently used successfully by many people to eradicate plaque and reduce the incidence of coronary artery disease. Additionally, supplements such as niacin, Vitamin D and green tea extracts have therapeutic effects which cause regression of the plaque that leads to hardened arteries.

Coronary Artery Disease is devastating in terms of disability, loss of productive years and the burden placed on an already failing health system. We understand the root cause of this disease and also the proven natural therapy to prevent, halt and treat this affliction which many consider a death sentence. A proper diet which favors raw vegetables, nuts, seeds and lean proteins instead of the typical highly processed carbohydrate fare consumed my most people will produce life altering results. Further evidence shows that a regimen of specially targeted supplements can compliment a healthy lifestyle, leading to Coronary Artery Disease reversal and a lengthened lifespan.

Read More Expert Advice on Diet, Health and Nutrition

John Phillip is a Health Researcher and Author who writes regularly on the cutting edge use of diet, lifestyle modifications and targeted supplementation to enhance and improve the quality and length of life. Visit My Optimal Health Resource at myoptimalhealthresource.blogspot.com to continue reading the latest health news updates.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_L._Phillip

Almost one million people develop heart disease each year. Many die from it. The good news is there are heart disease prevention tips you can follow to decrease your risk of developing this deadly disease. Here are 4 easy step you can begin to follow now to cut heart disease by 80%.

Four Steps Cut Heart Disease Risk by Eighty Percent
By John L. Phillip

Nearly one million people fall victim to heart disease every year. The vast majority of these people are unaware that this devastating condition can be prevented with a natural approach to diet. Researchers from the European EPIC (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition) study have developed a plan that can reduce the risk of coronary artery disease by 81%.

Medical researchers understand that heart disease begins early in life and progresses to threaten life as we approach our senior years. The good news is that heart disease can be controlled and reversed by making simple changes to lifestyle and diet.

Drugs Can’t Fix Heart Disease

The typical patient diagnosed with heart disease is placed on a low fat diet and given a handful of medications including a statin. Statins cause muscle pain in 40% of those who take them and information from a study published in The Lancet journal confirms that this class of medication causes diabetes. Volumes of research confirm that high cholesterol is not the cause of heart disease, yet it remains a popular target of treatment because it’s easy to lower with drugs. Similarly, a low fat diet perpetuates and worsens heart disease as it triggers continual blood sugar surges and high triglycerides.

Correcting the Real Cause of Heart Disease

The results of the EPIC study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine demonstrate that changes in diet could lower the risk of a heart attack by 81% through inflammation reduction and lowering blood pressure. The study highlighted four dietary factors that result in heart disease.

Refined Carbohydrates, Grains and Sugar: Processed foods have become a staple in the typical diet. These foods are loaded with simple carbs that quickly break down to glucose and cause rapid blood sugar spikes. This eventually leads to insulin resistance and damages the delicate inner endothelial lining of the coronary arteries. Cut all breads, pasta, rice, sugary treats and any foods made with wheat (including whole grain) or corn.

Excess Omega-6 Vegetable Oils: Vegetable oils are stable at room temperature and are used in virtually all baked and processed foods to enhance flavor and increase shelf life. Excess amounts of vegetable fats trigger the release of inflammatory chemical messengers that increase oxidative stress and damage the vascular system. Don`t use vegetable oils for cooking and avoid all fried foods and corn fed meats.

Omega-3 Fat Deficiency: Our modern diet is virtually void of health-sustaining Omega-3 fats that have been a part of the human diet for countless generations. The proper ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fats is ideally 1:1. Experts agree that many people are closer to a 20:1 ratio. This creates an imbalance and promotes systemic inflammation. Include tuna, salmon, sardines, nuts and seeds to balance your fat ratio or include a high potency fish oil supplement.

Oxidative Stress: The normal course of breathing, eating and moving generates free radicals that can damage our genetic structure and cause LDL cholesterol to become oxidized. We can’t avoid the process entirely but we can include healthy quantities of fresh vegetables, berries and targeted supplements to negate the effects of free radicals on our heart and other organs.

Heart disease is the leading killer of people in western society. Most of these deaths can be prevented by following a natural diet and adopting a healthy lifestyle. Reduce your risk of death from heart disease by making these changes today and live to pass the word to your great grandchildren.

Read More Expert Advice on Diet, Health and Nutrition, and Download your Free Weight Loss EBook!

John Phillip is a Health Researcher and Author of ‘Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan’, a comprehensive EBook explaining how to use Diet, Exercise and Targeted Supplementation to naturally achieve your healthy Weight Loss goal. Visit http://myoptimalhealthresource.blogspot.com/ to download your Free 48 page copy.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_L._Phillip

These are easy heart disease prevention tips you can follow each day to cut your risk of heart disease by a whopping 80%. Some people also like to keep their arteries clear by taking a special vitamin called Vita Che. To learn more about this powerful supplement, visit Vita-Che-THE PRODUCT OF CHOICE FOR CIRCULATORY HEALTH! at http://tinyurl.com/d34e4yy

To Your Heart’s Health
Monique Hawkins

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• Increased Heart Rate at Rest May Predict Disease (livescience.com)
• Jump in Resting Heart Rate Might Signal Higher Death Risk (nlm.nih.gov)
• U.S. Heart Health: Lots of Room for Improvement (webmd.com)
• Kiddie Cholesterol (slate.com)
• Really? The Claim: Symptoms of Heart Disease Can Show Up in the Eyes (well.blogs.nytimes.com)

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There are many people who struggle with heart disease in our western society. The good news is there are many heart disease prevention tips you can incorporate in your life. Today’s heart disease prevention tip is all about cholesterol, the role it plays in your body, and problems which can develop when its in the excess.

Heart Disease – Number 1 Prevention Tip – Understanding Cholesterol
By Beverly Batdorf

Heart disease is the number one killer in America today. Yet prior to the 20th century, heart disease was hardly heard of. What has caused the difference? In this article, I’d like to share with you what I believe to be the #1 tip for preventing heart disease – it is UNDERSTANDING CHOLESTEROL. More specifically, learning what the role of cholesterol is in your body, understanding what it is that raises your cholesterol levels, and finally what you can do about it. When you learn these three things, you will better understand why heart disease is a 20/21st century problem that CAN be avoided.

Cholesterol is a fatty substance in your blood that is necessary for your body to function properly. It acts as a lubricant as well as a patching agent when the arterial walls become weak or flabby. Healthy cholesterol is also an anti-oxidant which helps rid your body of free radicals. In your digestive tract, cholesterol is a friend, not a foe. When cholesterol levels get low, the liver uses fats to make its own cholesterol so that your bloodstream has what it needs. There is actually a greater hazard having too little cholesterol than too much. Healthy cholesterol, that is.

So what makes cholesterol unhealthy? One very significant factor is the type of fats you eat. Your body can make healthy cholesterol out of healthy fats, but it cannot make healthy cholesterol out of unhealthy fats. So what constitutes a healthy fat?

Fats as they are found in nature are generally ‘healthy’. Fats that have been interfered with, particularly with high heat, are unhealthy. Most vegetable oils that are consumed today are processed using high heat. The heat makes the chemical bonds in the fats reactive, and they consequently change their molecular structure. When this type of reaction takes place, free radicals are formed.

In order to insure that you ingest the right kinds of fats, there are two things to keep in mind. The first is to make sure the oils you use are cold-pressed. This works as long as you are not going to heat the oil yourself. Unsaturated fats and oils as a rule break down when heated. So if you want to make a salad dressing, for example, a cold-pressed oil would be fine. If you need to heat your oil, as you would for baking, you would be better off buying a saturated oil such as coconut oil. Contrary to popular opinion, saturated oil is better to use in baking because the bonds in saturated oils are tight, and do not come apart as readily when exposed to high heat. In their chemical makeup, saturated oils have a full or complete saturation of electrons. Their outer rings are filled, and consequently do not react as quickly.

Be aware that deep frying gives you a double dosage of unhealthy fats. Most deep frying uses either polyunsaturated oils that are heat-processed, or hydrogenated oils, which have also been treated, not only with high heat, but high pressure and chemicals as well. Not only are the oils used bad to begin with, but when they are combined with starches in the deep frying process, the additional heat makes them even more radical.

These fats taken into your bodies do not make good cholesterol. In fact, they create free radicals which call on the good cholesterol to counteract it. These altered fats are also not the kind of fat that the liver needs to create more good cholesterol. The result of consuming these altered fats is a bloodstream that is depleted of good cholesterol, and abounding in bad cholesterol.

What can you do about it? Stop feeding your body the fats that will ultimately kill it. Use cold-pressed oils for your salad dressings, and saturated oils for baking. Contrary to public opinion, the saturated oils will not clog up your arteries. The Eskimos used to live on whale blubber, and never had an issue with heart disease until they were influenced to eat a more ‘civilized’ diet. As one notable physician has stated, “overeating of fats and oils, as long as they are in their natural state, cannot cause arterial disease.” Over-heated, and over-processed oils, however, can, and will.

Stay informed; understand how your heart and body work and how they work well! http://www.haveahealthyheartnow.com

I inform people about some of the myths that are circulating concerning food as it relates to health, and provide suggestions that will dramatically increase the potential for living disease free. Married for 33 years, I’m a mother of five, and have six grand-daughters.
http://haveahealthyheartnow.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverly_Batdorf

As you can see, it is very important to understand cholesterol and the role it plays in the body. It also important to understand what kinds of fats you should be consuming. If you follow the heart disease prevention tip outlined here, you should be able to keep your heart healthy!

To Your Heart’s Health
Monique Hawkins

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• Heart Patient Diet-14 Tips on Lowering Cholesterol Naturally (moniquerhawkins.com)
• Avocados, Good Fats & Heart Health (avocadocentral.com)
• Heart Disease Prevention Tip-The Link Between Sugar and Heart Disease (moniquerhawkins.com)
• Heart Disease Treatment Tips-Top 5 Ways To Lower Cholesterol Naturally (moniquerhawkins.com)
• Keeping cholesterol levels healthy (bupa.com.au)

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Today’s heart disease prevention tip has to do with how damaging sugar can be to the heart. I am one who likes sugar, sometimes too much of it! If you are like me, then perhaps we need a wake up call about the importance of not over indulging with this product which can be found in so many foods. The following articles discuses the hidden dangers of sugar many of us may not be aware of.

Heart Disease Prevention Tip Number 2 – The Sugar/Heart Connection
By Beverly Batdorf

Does heart disease run in your family? Have you already been warned by your doctor to cut out fats and to get more exercise? Is your blood pressure high? How about your cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar levels? If these indicators are high, you are probably at risk for heart disease. Imagine what it would be like to return your heart to the healthy condition it was in 20, 30, or 40 years ago. You can, but first you need to learn what sugar is, and then learn how sugar affects triglycerides, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and lastly, cholesterol.

Before connecting the dots between heart disease and sugar, it is helpful to understand how sugar is made. Sugar is a substance made by extracting ALL the food elements from either sugar cane or sugar beets, which includes all the vital vitamins, minerals, fats, amino acids, protein, enzymes, and fiber. What is left is a chemical compound known to scientists as C12H22O11-sugar. It is interesting to note that cocaine is made in a similar fashion. It is also an extracted substance, taken from the coca plant – its chemical formula is C17H21NO4. Heroine, the extracted salt of morphine, is likewise formed by taking the opium plant, isolating first the morphine, and then treating the morphine with chemicals and water. Its formula is C17H17NO. All three of these substances are taken from food sources, but technically they are not foods. They are pure chemical compounds.

Because sugar has been stripped of all food elements, it is not recognized by the body as a food. Consequently, in order to be metabolized, it must steal vitamins and minerals from other parts of the body. Sugar is much worse than mere ‘empty calories’, because it depletes the body of essential nutrients, causing deficiencies. Calcium is taken from bones and teeth, and other vital minerals such as potassium, sodium, and magnesium are robbed also. Unless sufficiently replenished, the body eventually becomes depleted of the essential vitamins and minerals it needs to work effectually. The result is a depleted glandular system, sluggish organs, and weak blood.

One organ that is particularly affected by the intake of sugar is the liver. Sugar is stored in the liver in the form of glucose. When sugar is consumed in excess, the liver is strained, and expands like a balloon. When it is filled to capacity, it sends the excess glucose back to the bloodstream in the form of fatty acids or triglycerides. These fatty acids accumulate in the butt, thighs, and other noticeable places, and also find residence in organs such as the heart and kidneys. According to William Duffy in ‘Sugar Blues‘, these then (the heart and kidneys) “begin to slow down; finally their tissues degenerate and turn to fat. The whole body is affected by their reduced ability and abnormal blood pressure is created.”

Blood sugar problems set in when the body can no longer metabolize sugar effectively. In a state of health, the amount of glucose released into the bloodstream by the liver is regulated by the pancreas. Insulin is secreted to balance the sugar levels if they get too high. The problem arises when sugar is consumed too much and too often, and the body can no longer regulate and balance the amount of glucose in the blood. This results in either diabetes or hypoglycemia, both caused by excessive sugar intake. In the case of the diabetic, the intake of sugar causes an overload of glucose in the blood, which much be brought into balance by insulin. The injection of insulin causes a reaction just as strong in the other direction by dropping the levels of glucose in the blood. This constant barrage on the body is like being the object in the middle of a tug-of-war. First one way, and then the other, the object is pulled and dragged back and forth until it is worn out. So too will your adrenal glands become worn out if they have to constantly work to maintain this balance. Unless the diabetic and hypoglycemic restrict their intake of refined carbohydrates, especially sugar, their bodies will continue to wear down, and heart disease will be only a matter of time.

High cholesterol is another indicator of heart disease, and also seems to be affected by sugar intake. In studies done by the American Medical Association, results showed that good cholesterol levels (HDL cholesterol) in those who consume 25% of their daily intake from sugar are only 1/3 as high as those who only consume an intake of 5% sugar. Even though cholesterol is manufactured from fats and not from sugar (as triglycerides are), there still is an apparent correlation between sugar and cholesterol. The alarming statistic is that the average American adult now consumes 22 tsp. of sugar /day. Average consumption for teenage boys is 34 tsp. /day. This is up to seven times the amount recommended by the American Heart Association, and is equivalent to being 25% or more of their daily average caloric intake.

Sugar depletes and deteriorates the body because it is not a natural food the body recognizes. It is a toxin, or poison. Dr.Henry Beiler believed that heart damage results from a toxic condition; i.e. – from a chemical disturbance of the body. He also said that “where the heart is not too badly damaged, recovery always follows after the chemical disturbance is removed.” Lowering sugar intake is a major step in that direction. Continuing a diet high in refined sugar is like playing with a time bomb that’s been set. Refined sugar is a NOT a food substance, and careless consumption will be costly.

Check my website, not only more for more information, but also for effective help for restoring the body back to a healthy condition. Live longer, and live well! http://www.haveahealthyheartnow.com

I inform people about some of the myths that are circulating concerning food as it relates to health, and provide suggestions that will dramatically increase the potential for living disease free. I am a wife, mother of five, and grandmother of six grand-daughters.

After reading this, I hope you have a better understanding of why sugar is a substance we should limit in our diets. This heart disease prevention tip may be tough for some to follow, but if one desires to have a healthy heart, it is best to carefully monitor their sugar intake.

To Your Heart’s Health
Monique

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• Foods You Should Avoid (everydayhealth.com)
• Is a simple sugars diet good for heart disease (wiki.answers.com)
• Heart Disease: The Diabetes Connection (everydayhealth.com)
• The Facts on Heart Disease, Sodium, and Sugar (everydayhealth.com)
• To Eat or Not to Eat Sweets This Holiday Season? (totalfatsolution.com)
• Sugary Drinks Hurt Even Skinny Women’s Hearts (livescience.com)

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Unfortunately, in our Western society, more and more people experience heart failure. The good news is that there are heart failure treatments which can help a person’s heart heal. The treatments can be with medications, herbs, or a combination of both. Today, you will learn how Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) can help the heart heal.

Treatment of Heart Disease with Coenzyme Q10
By Greg Post

Since its discovery in the late 1950s Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has received much attention as a necessary compound for proper cellular function. It is the essential coenzyme necessary for the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) upon which all cellular functions depend. Without ATP our bodies cannot function properly. Without CoQ10, ATP cannot function. This connection has made CoQ10 a very important object of study in relation to chronic disease.

In many cases the presence of chronic disease is associated with inadequate levels of CoQ10. But no area of study has received more attention than the relation between CoQ10 and heart disease. That is because CoQ10 is believed to be of fundamental importance in cells with high metabolic demands such as cardiac cells. A further reason the connection of heart disease and CoQ10 has gained so much attention is because heart conditions of many kinds are associated with chronically low CoQ10 levels.

CoQ10 is highly concentrated in heart muscle cells because of their high energy requirements. Add this to the fact that heart disease is the number one killer in developed and developing countries and one can see why the bulk of scientific research on CoQ10 has been concerned with heart disease. Specifically, studies on congestive heart failure have demonstrated a strong correlation between the severity of heart failure and the degree of CoQ10 deficiency. The lower the levels of CoQ10 in the heart muscles the more severe the heart failure. If indeed CoQ10 deficiency is a primary cause of congestive heart failure then, in such cases, the remedy is simple and cost effective; CoQ10 supplementation.

Congestive heart failure is a condition where the heart does not pump effectively resulting in an accumulation of fluid in the lungs. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing when lying flat and leg or ankle swelling. Causes include chronic hypertension, cardiomyopathy (primary heart disease) and myocardial infarction (irreversible injury to heart muscles). Heart muscle strength is measure by the ejection fraction which is a measure of the fraction of blood pumped out of the heart with each beat. A low ejection fraction indicates a weak heart.

Several trials have been conducted involving patients with enlarged weak heart muscles of unknown causes. For those of you who like difficult phrases this condition (or variety of conditions) is known as idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. In these trials CoQ10 supplementation was compared to placebo effects. Standard treatments for heart failure were not discontinued. The results were measured by echocardiography (a diagnostic test which uses ultrasound waves to make images of the heart chambers, valves and surrounding structures).

The overall results of CoQ10 supplementation demonstrated a steady and continued improvement in heart function as well as steady and continued reduction in patient symptoms including fatigue, chest pains, palpitations and breathing difficulty. Patients with more establish and long-term cases showed gradual improvement but did not gain normal heart function. Patients with newer cases of heart failure demonstrated much more rapid improvement often returning to normal heart function.

Papers numbering in the hundreds from eight different symposia have been written and presented on the effects of CoQ10 on heart disease. International clinical studies have also been conducted in the United States, Japan, Germany, Italy and Sweden. Together these studies and the papers that have been derived from them demonstrate significant improvement in heart muscle function while causing no adverse effects.

One particular area of study involves diastolic dysfunction which is one of the earliest signs of myocardial failure. Diastole is the phase of the cardiac cycle when the heart is filled with returning blood. Because this phase requires more cellular energy than the systolic phase (when the blood is pushed out of the heart) it is more dependent on CoQ10. Diastolic dysfunction is a stiffening of the heart muscle which naturally restricts the heart’s ability to pump. This condition is associated with many cardiac disorders. Hypertension is among these disorders. As the heart muscles become stiff there is often a corresponding rise in blood pressure. When the diastolic dysfunction is reversed, blood pressure tends to lower as well.

In one study involving 109 patients with hypertension, CoQ10 supplementation was added to normal hypertension treatments. In an average of 4.4 months 51% of the patients were able stop using at least one blood pressure lowering medication. Some were able to stop using up to three medications. Another study produced similar results. In that study 43% of 424 patients were able to stop using between one and three cardiovascular drugs because of CoQ10 supplementation.

These examples are just a drop in the bucket. Diastolic dysfunction (and by proxy, hypertension) includes only a small sampling of heart conditions that respond favorably to CoQ10 supplementation. Other areas of research show great promise for CoQ10 treatments. Among these are cancer and AIDS. But such conditions are beyond the scope of this essay. CoQ10 is essential to the proper functioning of all cell types. It is not surprising, therefore, to find a diverse number of diseases that respond favorably to CoQ10 supplementation. Since all metabolically active tissues are highly sensitive to CoQ10 deficiency, we can expect to see CoQ10 research expand to many other areas of chronic diseases.

Greg holds degrees in science, divinity and philosophy and is currently an I.T. developer.

http://www.optimal-heart-health.com/coq10.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/14240

As you can see, if you are a person who is seeking heart failure treatments that are natural alternatives, CQ10 can be a very effective and great way to help your heart become strong again.

To purchase the high quality CoQ10 Plus, a powerful antioxidant enriched with Vitamin E and delivered in a rice bran oil-based soft gel capsule—the best form, according to bioavailability studies, visit http://tinyurl.com/7se6goy

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For those who struggle with heart problems and/or who have heart surgery, it is crucial to follow a heart patient diet plan so the heart can heal.

The question by some may be is what exactly is a healthy heart diet? As it turns out, its a very simple diet to follow. Here is more on what you need to consider.

What Is a Healthy Heart Diet? By Chris L Castillo

Just what is a healthy heart diet? This is a question I asked a doctor friend of mine. His reply sounded a bit ambiguous to me. “A varied diet that contains adequate percentages of fruit and vegetables.” was what he said. Being me, I thought I would study on the subject a bit more as although I have two arms, legs, eyes and ears I only have the one heart and apparently it is important to make sure that it doesn’t stop beating.

It turns out that it is not as simple as eating just the same old fruits and vegetables repeatedly, rather it is a large range of different fruits and vegetables as part of one’s diet. The reason is that our human ancestors only had access to various fruits, vegetables, leaves and nuts in their correct seasons. This means that even as “modern man” our bodies are still pre-programmed to eat a great variety of different foods and not something like a monoculture as people that eat burgers and fries every day do. It is the same with meat, we should not really stick to the flesh from one animal as that was also fairly rarely done in the past. I know that native Americans ate a lot of buffalo but they also has access to different types of deer and birds too.

I do not propose leeching the tannins out of acorns to make them palatable or eating the roots of sea kale and rushes but I do advocate making use of a lot of the different varieties of fruits and vegetable available today. Using modern methods of growing we can get an extended season by keeping worthwhile plants under glass. Then we have to think about how far food travels and if we want to pay the price of contaminating the earth with exhaust fumes from jet aircraft from warmer climes or heating greenhouses in the far north. It turns out there is less pollution caused by flying runner beans from Kenya than there is from growing them under glass during the winter in Holland.

In conclusion then, I have learned that a healthy heart diet is one that includes a great variety of different fruits, vegetables, pulses, nuts and meat. All of these foods have different benefits for our bodies and we should therefore eat them all when they are available. Lastly, I know that wine and chocolate were not around for our forbears in Africa and Europe until comparatively recently but they too can be included in our diet to keep our hearts healthy.

For more tips on a healthy heart diet, visit here: http://healthyheartdiet4u.wordpress.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6545984

As one can see, a heart patient diet plan is pretty simple. The bigger issue may be making the commitment to change your lifestyle and eating habits so your heart can heal and become strong once more!

To Your Heart’s Health
Monique

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Most individuals with heart problems who want to get well know that following a heart patient diet plan is going to be crucial to their health.

There are many diets to consider, one of which is called the “Cardic” diet. Following the diet appears to be quite simple and seems to make a difference in people’s heart health.

Have a try with it and test how it helps improve your heart health!

To Your Heart’s Health,
Monique

Cardiac Diet
By Fiona Dewitt

Cardiac diets are extensively used and prescribed in most hospitals for patients with heart disease, hypertension, myocardial infarction, hyperlipidemia, and dyslipidemia. A cardiac diet may be used as a part of a health regimen to either treat or prevent cardiovascular disease. It will typicallyconsist of foods that are classified as healthy because of their overwhelming nutritional advantages.

A cardiac diet will basically aim to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and fibre while lowering the consumption of fats and sodium which have both been prominently associated with the development of heart disease. This health plan is often adjusted in the long-term based on the goals of the diet or the patient’s diagnosis. After a patient has been treated using this diet recommendation he or she will normally be referred to a dietician who will help him or her to maintain this diet.

Generally a cardiac or “heart healthy” diet as it has been called may be administered with the objective of restricting the intake of fat, cholesterol, sodium, and sometimes caffeine. In most instances, it will follow the guidelines of the National Cholesterol Education Program which has issued the following recommendations:

Fiber 20-30 grams per day.

Trans fat “kept at a low intake.”

Carbohydrates 50-60% of daily calories.

Total fat 25-35% of daily calories.

Saturated fat less than 7% of daily calories.

Monounsaturated fats up to 20% of daily calories.

Polyunsaturated fats up to 10% of daily calories.

Cholesterol less than 200 milligrams per day.

Dietary fats, especially saturated and trans fats, may actually contribute to elevating an individual’s overall cholesterol levels, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and triglycerides which can encourage the development and accumulation of plaque within the blood vessel walls. This build-up of plaque will ultimately lead to a decrease in the size of the blood vessel lumen. Saturated fats are predominantly found in animal products. This kind of fat has been linked to an increase of low-density lipoprotein levels (LDL), which are strongly associated with a heightened risk of heart disease. Unsaturated fats differ from saturated fats because they have double bonds. They can be substituted in place of saturated fats and are preferred because they help lessen the LDL levels. Cardiac diets are also low sodium diets. Sodium has been found to increase blood pressure, and has an additional negative effect on the diuretic properties of certain medications. Sodium is generally restricted to 2,000-4,000 mg per day, in relation to the patients diagnosis and medical regimen. Many cardiac diets do not only restrict sodium and fats but also caffeine. This is enacted because caffeine is a stimulant and may affect the deteriorated condition of the heart.

Basically a cardiac diet considers both the advantages of restricting certain types of foods as well as improving the consumption of healthy foods and nutrients.

Please visit this link for more information on http://www.cardiacdiet.org

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fiona_Dewitt

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• 97SWTBHBNBS4 

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For those who have encountered heart problems and need to go on a healthy heart patient diet to improve their heart’s health, one of the most important things which can be done is to carefully watch cholesterol levels. One way to do this is by following these 14 tips to get your cholesterol to acceptable levels. This in turn will greatly improve your heart’s health.

Follow these tips and you will be able to have a strong heart once again.

To Your Heart’s Health,
Monique

Heart Disease Prevention – How to Reduce Your Cholesterol Levels
By Mich D Veer

Doctors worldwide will tell you that cholesterol is one of the primary factors for heart diseases. Unhealthy levels of cholesterol in the blood can increase weight problems and probabilities of a heart attack.

Here are some easy tips that can be included in the daily life routine to help live a life free of cholesterol!

1. Follow a diet controlled by the expertise of a professional dietician / doctor.

2. One of the most effective and healthiest of all tips to control cholesterol is undoubtedly Exercising.

3. Why? Because Exercising increases the heart rate thereby improving the metabolism of the body allowing improved expulsion of harmful oils, detrimental to an individual’s health.

4. The type of exercise to be done will depend largely on varied factors including medical history. The deciding factors also include age, gender and weight.

5. Needless to mention, those beginning exercising must first consult a physician and ensure safety in doing them.

6. Heart ailment patients might be advised against any rigorous exercises but could resort to simpler alternates like stretching, weight lifting, walking, etc.

7. If a physician allows some high impact exercises, participate mandatorily in swimming, running, bicycling, aerobics, etc.

8. Consult a doctor to sketch a fitness plan in detail and ensure adherence to the same with the guidance of a professional fitness trainer. Following the plan duly is in the hands of the patient!

9. Results of such plans normally become evident within a week or two. Very soon bad cholesterol will start getting reduced in the body, replaced with good cholesterol leading to a considerable reduction in the body weight.

10. Exercising has less or no side effects as compared to consuming drugs which potentially has a lot of side effects on the body.

11. Brisk walking in the early morning or just before going to your workplace is highly recommended to those who do not have time in their daily schedule to go to a gym.

12. Whenever exercising in any form or format, consuming lots of water is highly recommended as it helps a great deal.

13. This prevents the body from dehydration and repercussions thereby like exhaustion. For this, one doesn’t need to run up to the fountain time and again; instead carry a water bottle! While working on a machine or participating in a group activity, this really helps and moving from one place to another time and again really doesn’t help!

14. Some organizations these days encourage their people to walk up 1 or 2 flights of stairs, instead of using the elevators to go up & down only a few floors.

Lower Cholesterol definitely means lower probability of a heart ailment!

Learn more about how to lower your cholesterol at http://www.onlinereadersdigest.com/lower-cholesterol.html

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