February is a month with heart. It is a great month to show some love ❤ to your loved one’s with a valentine, and the perfect time to talk about the heart (and cardiovascular health). Since 1963, the American Heart Association (AHA), in congress with the Office of the President of the United States, has declared February as Heart Month. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S.
Research has shown the risk of heart disease can be reduced or even prevented by taking steps to reduce risk factors.
What is Heart Disease?
• Arterial wall weakened— build up of fat and cholesterol
• Stiffens and clogs the arteries
• Causes elevated blood pressure
• This inflammation—from over-acid conditions causes
• Arterial plaque, which can literally starve the heart muscle of oxygen and cause a heart attack!
CARDIOVASCULAR SUPPORT:
1. Omega 3 – great for inflammation, helps to keep cell membranes fluid and flexible.*
2. Capsicum – supports healthy circulation and normalizes blood flow.*
3. CoQ10 – Decreases the proliferation of free radicals, supporting a healthy immune system. *Co-Q10 helps promote maintenance of normal cardiovascular function and is a coenzyme that is essential for enzymes to function in the body.*
4. Hawthorn Berries – help enhance heart muscle function and provide circulatory system support.*
5. Red Yeast Rice – helps support the production of good cholesterol in the liver and offers support to the circulatory system.*
6. Serratiopeptidase – A proteolytic (protein digesting) enzyme with potent fibrinolytic activity which may support healthy fibrin concentrations.* It has been clinically shown to thin secretions from the mucus membranes, and also promotes normal recovery after physical stress, boosting energy levels.*
7. Nattokinase – A fibrinolytic enzyme that can help to maintain normal blood viscosity and normal cardiovascular health.* Like Serrapeptase, Nattokinase can support healthy fibrin concentrations.* It has antioxidant effects that may be beneficial to promote normal prostate health, and aids in the elimination of free radicals.*
8. Other Enzymes – Lipase (digests fats), Protease (digests proteins), and Amla.*
9. Magnesium – Promotes a healthy cardiovascular system, and is essential for cell repair, hormones and a regular heartbeat.* Magnesium helps reduce effects of increased stress.*
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. For all conditions or illnesses, see a licensed healthcare professional for a full evaluation, diagnosis or treatment plan.
DIETARY CONSIDERATIONS:
Forks over Knives: The Plant-Based Way to Health by Gene Stone and T. Colin Campbell
What if one simple change could save you from heart disease, diabetes, and cancer? A small circle of impassioned doctors and researchers outline their findings in a documentary “Forks over Knives.” Their answer? Go Vegan! Eat a whole-foods, plant- based diet it could save your life. In his book “Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease,” Dr. Caldwell Esselstyne explained that eating meat, dairy, and oils injures the lining of our blood vessels, causing heart disease, heart attack, or stroke. In “The China Study,” Dr. Colin Campbell revealed how cancer and heart disease skyrockets when eating meat and dairy is the norm and plummet when a traditional plant-based diet persists. Now, as “Forks Over Knives” is introducing more people than ever before to the plant-based way to health, their research provides the information you need to adopt and maintain a plant-based diet.
The other school of thought is the Blood Type Diet: Cardiovascular Disease: Fight it with the Blood Type Diet by Peter D’Adamo
Blood Type has been shown to directly influence the viscosity (thickness) of the blood, which has powerful implications with regard to circulation. While the Blood Type Diet closely correlates to the Forks over Knives diet for Blood Types A and AB. You may be surprised to learn what Dr. D’Adamo discovered about Blood Types O and B. Plus Dr D’Adamo points out a cholesterol paradox: The conventional argument is that high-protein diets cannot be heart healthy since they are high in cholesterol. According to the National Institute of Health’s own statistics, about one-third of heart attacks occur in people over age eighty and in half of those cases, the victims have normal blood cholesterol.
Dr D’Adamo found that in Blood Type O, animal protein increases levels of alkaline phosphatase. Without protein, they do not gain the benefits of the specialized fat-busting enzymes in their intestines. So, for O’s who are at risk for cardiovascular disease, Dr D’Adamo recommends that their diets consists of almost twice as much lean, organic, grass fed red meat than the average O. And grains and starches have a very pronounced effect on increasing body fat, raising triglycerides, and promoting insulin resistance – thus increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease for O’s. For B’s the emphasis is more on eating higher amounts of lean, organic lamb and mutton and avoiding grains and chicken which interfere with fat metabolism, therefore increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease.
Whatever route you choose to go, it’s always important to consult your physician before starting any diet. And in my opinion…organic is best!
Healing can occur naturally in the body if it is given what it truly needs. Eli English is a Certified Naturopath Coach and owner of The Herb Shop By The Square in Marietta, Georgia. She uses homeopathy, herbs and biofeedback to help reduce stress, detoxify, manage pain, improve mental abilities and enhance the quality of life. Eli English’s goal is to empower through coaching so you can make informed decisions about your own life and health care. The level of attention, personalization and passion for natural health that Eli provides is unlike any other. More information about Eli English here.
Thank you for this info, Eli! This hits home as my dad is a 2 yr survivor. xx