Top 5 Lifestyle Changes For People With Heart Disease

In addition to taking a CoenzymeQ10 supplement, lifestyle changes can help reduce LDL cholesterol, enhance the cholesterol-lowering effect of medications, and possibly lower the amount of medication you might need.

1. Lose weight – losing as little as 5 to 10 pounds can make a difference
2. Eat a heart-healthy diet – consume more whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids
3. Exercise – just 30 minutes a day, every day – WALK!
4. Quit smoking – we know that smoking increases your risks of g so if you smoke, Stop
5. Moderate alcohol intake – moderate use of alcohol is associated with higher levels of HDL (good) cholesterol

Antioxidants Health Benefits

This is a short article by Dr. Edward Group done back in 2009. A good read if you want to know more about antioxidants and how beneficial they are to our health. You might also come to realize how practical it is to take supplements rather than complete the list of foods needed to accumulate enough antioxidants in a day.

Recently, you may have read or heard alot about antioxidants in conjunction with good health or avoiding diseases. Antioxidants have been getting great press lately, and rightfully so. But what are they? What do they do once inside our bodies? And how can we get more of them?

Well, firstly, let’s define what they are. Have you ever seen the bottom-feeder fish in a fish-tank, sucking up all the gunk and grime that is toxic for the rest of the fish? Think of antioxidants as molecular-sized, “free radical scavengers” in the fish-tank of your body.
Once an antioxidant finds its way into the body, mostly through the foods we eat, it slows down, or even prevents, the oxidation of other molecules. When molecules in the body oxidize, they can create free-radicals, or cellular bi-products. It is very normal to have these free-radicals in the body, but in excess, they can wreak havoc on our cellular structures.

Calcium Builds Bones, and More

Everyone knows that we all need calcium to build strong bones. What you may not be aware of is that calcium is necessary for much more than our skeletal health.

Calcium and Children’s Health

Calcium is essential to our body’s ability to function and our ability to think. The cardiovascular system and the nervous system both utilize calcium, and it’s also vital for blood clotting. And, of course, it’s directly related to keeping your bones strong. People who don’t get enough calcium are more likely to suffer from bone fractures and may develop osteoporosis as they age. They also risk having weaker teeth and tooth decay later in life.

Grape seed extract for cancer prevention?

Grape seed extract (Vitis vinifera) is a natural substance available in capsule and tablet form. It is usually sourced from grape seeds provided by wine manufacturers.

Uses for Grape Seed Extract

Since ancient Greece, various parts of the grape have been used for medicinal purposes. Grape seed extract is purported to help treat the following health problems:

• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• atherosclerosis
• poor circulation
• complications due to diabetes
• constipation
• gastrointestinal disorders
• constipation
• macular degeneration

Grape Seed Extract for Cancer Prevention

Proponents claim that grape seed extract can help protect against cancer. In laboratory studies, scientists have demonstrated that grape seed can help fight free radicals (chemical by-products known to cause DNA damage associated with cancer).

Want Six-pack abs? Eat these 10 Flat-Belly Foods

The sad truth: You can crunch yourself into a coma and still have ab flab. If you really want a sleek, sexy midriff, you've got to tweak your diet. All of the best waist-whittling foods contain fiber to banish bloat, antioxidants to boost your abs routine's effectiveness, and protein to help maintain a healthy metabolism. Here, the top 10 choices for flatter abs.

1. Almonds 
These delicious and versatile nuts contain filling protein and fiber, not to mention vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant. They're also a good source of magnesium, a mineral your body must have in order to produce energy, build and maintain muscle tissue, and regulate blood sugar. "A stable blood-sugar level helps prevent cravings that can lead to overeating and weight gain," says David Katz, MD, a professor at the Yale University School of Medicine. But what makes almonds most interesting is their ability to block calories. Research indicates that the composition of their cell walls may help reduce the absorption of all of their fat, making them an extra-lean nut.

Try for: An ounce a day (about 23 almonds), with approximately 160 calories. An empty Altoids tin will hold your daily dose perfectly.

Dr. Oz's Top 15 Healthiest Foods

Find out which healthy staples Dr. Mehmet Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon, author and host of the Dr. Oz Show, recommends plus get tips on how to save at checkout.


Supermarket Staple #1: Tree Fruits (Apples, Pears) 

Why It's a Must Have: White fleshed fruits and veggies (such as apples and pears) have been shown to help reduce heart disease even more than their colored counterparts. "Apples are also rich in quercetin, a flavonoid with strong anti-inflammatory properties," says Erin Palinski, a registered dietitian and author of the Belly Fat Diet for Dummies. "The pectin found in the skin and the anti-aging polyphenols in apples help reduce artery and cell damage, and their fiber has also been linked with reduction of LDL-cholesterol and body weight." In fact, one Brazilian study published in the journal Nutrition found that women who ate three apples or three pears a day lost significantly more weight than those that ate the same amount of calories, but didn't consume the fruits.

Do the Master Cleanse

The Lemon Detox diet is a cleansing program and encourages only the intake of lemonade made from the following ingredients: lemons, pure maple syrup, cayenne pepper and water for a minimum of ten days only.

To create the mixture, mix the ingredients in the amount instructed by Burroughs and drink a minimum of at least six to twelve glasses of the concoction daily through out the day. Drink the lemonade whenever hunger pangs strike.

A laxative must be taken in the morning and then in the evening. Using a salt water flush instead of a morning laxative can also be availed of instead. However, be sure to observe at least three bowel movements in a day. This will ensure that the waste accumulated in the intestinal walls is totally removed.

Always enjoy the Master Cleanse lemonade drink fresh and do not subject it to microwave as doing so will minimize its effectiveness. For each successful day, the psychological need to eat is slowly overcome full, providing confidence and a sense of control that motivates the person undergoing the diet.

About the Master Cleanse

The Lemonade Detox diet first became effective, strangely, when its creator, Stanley Burroughs, recommended it for the healing of stomach ulcers. In his book "The Master Cleanser", he goes on to share how he first came to test the Master Cleanse diet on a patient who was suffering from ulcer for three years. Left with no other recourse, the patient approached Stanley who recommended that he undertake the cleanse. After eleven days, the patient was totally healed to the amazement of the doctors. Many other cases followed with same consistent and astounding results corrected within ten days. Of particular note also was that those undergoing the Master Cleanse also experienced a reduction in weight.

Four Must-Have Supplements in your Diet

There are dozens of different supplements on the market today, each produced by numerous different companies. With so many options, how can you tell which supplements are really helpful and which ones are just a waste of money?
In this article, you will read about the vitamin and mineral supplements that can really make a difference in your health.

1. Calcium
Many people around the world do not get enough calcium in their diets. Important for bone development and strength, dental health, muscle contractions and fluid balance, calcium is an essential part of any person's diet. Without proper calcium, bones can be deformed or become easily breakable, leading to osteoporosis and low bone density.

Because calcium is only really found in milk, sardines and other fish containing small edible bones, taking supplements can be very helpful.  It is recommended that children consume at least 1,300 mg calcium per day and adults need at least 1,000 mg calcium per day. Taking a 500 mg supplement once per day will help provide enough calcium in your diet.

Omega-3 is a possible cure for Leukemia

Scientists from the medical sciences division at Penn State University have discovered that a compound in fish oil appears to target leukemia stem cells and could lead to a cure for the disease. The compound is a natural extract from EPA, the Omega-3 fat component found most commonly in fish and fish oil supplements. Known as delta-12-protaglandin J3, or D12-PGJ3, the molecule is shown to target and kill the stem cells of chronic myelogenous leukemia, a common form of the disease. Extensive research from past studies has shown that Omega-3 fats are critical to cardiovascular and brain health. This new evidence supports the regular intake of EPA omega-3 fats to selectively kill leukemia-causing stem cells that could prevent and possibly even provide a cure for this devastating disease.

The research, currently being conducted on mice that exhibit metabolic characteristics similar to humans, shows that some metabolites of Omega-3 have the ability to selectively kill the leukemia-causing stem cells. Scientists determined that D12-PGJ3 kills cancer-causing stem cells in the mice's spleen and bone marrow. Specifically, it activates a gene known as p53 in the leukemia stem cell that programs the cells own death in a process called apoptosis.

Milk Thistle protects your heart, liver and brain

The liver is one of the most critical organs essential to human health. It serves more than 300 functions in the body to detoxify against chemical and environmental intrusions, and it promotes metabolic function as well. Silymarin is commonly known as milk thistle, and new science is emerging to validate the healing potential of this powerful plant. Publishing in the journal Hepatitis Monthly, researchers provide solid evidence that natural milk thistle extracts can halt and even reverse the effects of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), an affliction affecting as much as a third of the adult population. Supplementation with milk thistle will dramatically lower the risks associated with fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis and cognitive dysfunction.

NAFLD is a significant health concern that is growing at an unprecedented rate due to the obesity and diabetes epidemic currently gripping most western societies. The condition is caused in part by excess accumulation of fats (triglycerides) in the cellular matrix of the liver that results in suboptimal function of the organ. Left unchecked, the disease can result in cell injury and damage, in inflammation and ultimately in cirrhosis as the liver becomes less able to perform the multitude of tasks essential to life.

Omega-3 and Glucosamine for best bone health

Glucosamine has a virtual monopoly in the joint health market, but a recent study from Germany shows that glucosamine would be wise to make room for another joint health jewel: omega-3s.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been heralded for their health promoting properties for awhile now, primarily in the heart health realm, but also in the mental health and sexual health realm (i.e., studies have shown they can help treat depression and problems with low sperm count). With this latest study, omega-3s are proving to be a real jack of all trades.

The study, conducted by Dr. Joerg Gruenwald, founder and president of Analyze and Realize in Berlin, Germany, looked at approximately 180 people who had osteoarthritis in varying forms of severity. For a little more than six months, half the participants took a glucosamine-only supplement (i.e., 1,500 mg per day ), while the other half took a combined glucosamine/omega-3 supplement (i.e., 1,500 mg of glucosamine plus 444 mg of fish oil, half of which was pure omega-3).

Take better care of your bones

At least half of Americans over the age of 50 are at risk of developing osteoporosis, according to the Surgeon General of the United States. Ten million people already have the disease, and another 34 million are at risk, notes the same report. Calcium and other minerals and vitamins are important to bone health; however, not all forms of calcium areequal.

Bone loss begins around the age of 35 and continues throughout life. Osteoporosis occurs because of an inadequate amount of calcium intake or poor absorption. The body seeks the most accessible source for this important mineral and leeches calcium from your bones, causing the disease. Because calcium and other minerals are critical to healthy bone maintenance, it's important to diagnose the problem early and correct it through changes in diet and calcium supplementation. The question is, which calcium supplement provides the best protection and at what dosage?

Prevent Age-Related Macular Degeneration with Lutein and Zeaxanthin

Two chemical compounds in the carotenoid family may help protect against age-related blindness, according to a recent study published in the journal Archives of Ophthalmology.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are two carotenoid compounds, chemically related to beta-carotene, from which the body produces vitamin A. They are found in significant quantities in common foods including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, corn, eggs, kale, romaine lettuce, garden peas, spinach, turnip greens and zucchini.

Researchers studied 4,519 people who were between the ages of 60 and 80 when the study began, and monitored them for six years. The researchers analyzed the participants' diets and compared them with their development of age-related macular degeneration, an eye disease in which the center of the retina thins and atrophies, causing loss of vision in the center of the eye.


Macular degeneration is the most common cause of blindness among seniors, with approximately 1.2 million people in the United States currently suffering from the condition. The condition is believed to be irreversible by conventional medical experts, although many natural health followers have successfully halted the condition through nutritional therapies.

The researchers found that among the fifth of participants with the highest consumption of foods containing lutein and zeaxanthin, the rate of macular degeneration was 35 percent lower than among the fifth with the lowest consumption.

"No clear associations with other nutrients were seen," the researchers wrote, emphasizing that the effect came only from lutein and zeaxanthin. Other associations tested included beta-carotene and vitamins C and E.

"Lutein and zeaxanthin may be considered as useful agents in food or supplement-based interventions designed to reduce the risk of [age-related macular degeneration]," they wrote.

While researchers believe there is probably a certain genetic predisposition to macular degeneration among certain people or ethnic groups, a person's risk can be exacerbated by factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high fat intake and obesity.

Original article: http://www.naturalnews.com/022483.html

Coenzyme Q10 can treat and prevent heart disease

Coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ10) is well known as a critical compound required by the body to facilitate normal breakdown of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) within cells into energy we need for metabolism and life itself. It should come as no surprise that this vital natural enzyme complex may hold the key to theprevention and reversal of many potentially life-threatening forms of cardiovascular disease.

Several research studies reveal that CoQ10 works at a cellular level to protect delicate DNA and reduce dangerous inflammatory levels that are closely linked to heart disease. Further evidence exists to explain how the coenzyme improves blood flow to the heart muscle and enhances vascular elasticity to prevent arterial stiffening, commonly referred to as 'hardening of the arteries'. Scientists have also found that CoQ10 lowers unhealthy levels of oxidized LDL cholesterol by modulating gene signals involved with cholesterol metabolism.

Researchers from Spain publishing in the journal Age found that supplementing CoQ10 while consuming a healthy Mediterranean diet lowered markers of DNA damage within cells and reduced systemic inflammation. The net effect of this human study was a dramatic reduction in biological markers associated with cardiovascular disease.

Grape Seed Extract Benefits

Used throughout Europe to prevent and treat a variety of health conditions, grape seed extract is a powerful antioxidant that can be used to benefit the body in many ways. Grape seed has antioxidant, antiallergenic, antihistamine, anti-inflammatory and immune boosting properties and it can be instrumental in helping the body fight viruses, allergens, and carcinogens.

Because of its antioxidant properties, grape seed extract is considered an anti-aging wonder. Antioxidants are the most important nutrients for the skin. The bioflavonoids in grape seed extract help strengthen and protect cell membranes from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Its antioxidant properties are considered to be stronger than those of vitamin C and Vitamin E. It helps to repair connective tissue while promoting skin enzyme activity. Grape seed extract aids wound healing by helping to regenerate damaged blood vessels and clearing harmful bacteria from the wound.

Lessen the Risk for: Breast Cancer

BREAST CANCER 
12% Average woman's risk
24% Risk if one parent had it

Women who inherit the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation have an increased risk of around 60 percent. If you have a family history of the disease, ask your doctor about taking a genetic test.

Reduce Your Risk 
Go virgin. As few as four alcoholic drinks a week can raise breast cancer risk by 15 percent; more than two a day shoots your chances up to 55 percent, says oncologist Wendy Chen, M.D., of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. To reduce your risk, stick to three (or fewer) boozy beverages each week.

Lessen the Risk for: Melanoma

MELANOMA
2% Average woman's risk
4% Risk if one parent had it

There are currently no genetic skin cancer tests widely available. But don't let the low percentages fool you: unprotected sun exposure can exponentially raise your innate odds.

Reduce Your Risk 
Indulge in dessert. You read that right. Munching up to two ounces of dark chocolate a day can shield your skin from oxidative damage caused by UV Ways, slimming your risk for skin cancer, says David Katz, M.D., director of the Yale university prevention Research center.

Lessen the Risk for: Heart Disease

The average woman's risk varies. But those whose parents had early heart disease are more than twice as likely to also suffer cardiac woes.

Scientists are currently working on identifying specific gene markers for heart disease, and some DNA tests are now on the market. But there isn't enough evidence yet to show those tests are reliable.

Reduce Your Risk 
Leave work on time. Heart disease risk is a shocking 67 percent higher among people who work 11 or more hours a day, according to a 2011 study. Logging excessive hours at the office could heighten stress, deprive you of exercise time, and increase the likelihood of unhealthy eating, which can take a toll on your ticker.

Lessen the Risk for: Depression

Recently, I've been worrying so much that I started breaking out everywhere and I couldn't even think straight. At one point, I thought I had depression even without going to the doctor. On doing a little research regarding depression, here's what I got:

DEPRESSION 

22% Average woman's risk 

40% Risk if one parent had it 

Though a recent study hinted at a genetic marker, there's no concrete test that reveals whether you'll get hit with the blues. 

Reduce Your Risk 

Swig some joe. Women who sipped two cups of coffee a day had a 15 percent lower risk for depression, according to a 2011 study. The key may lie in the caffeine, which could accelerate the release of mood-elevating hormones. 

Know the Right Foods for your Body

Q: I can't find the time to cook so I mostly eat packaged foods. How can I eat better?

A: Stock up on a mix of convenient, healthy fresh and packaged foods that don't need much prep. For breakfast, go for low-sugar cereals, skim milk (or your favorite milk alternative) and quick-cooking oatmeal. For lunch, dinner and snacks, buy fresh produce, whole-wheat bread, natural nut butters (peanut, almond, etc.), nonfat yogurt, precooked chicken breasts, frozen turkey and veggie burgers, microwavable pouches of brown rice, whole-wheat pasta, jarred marinara sauce, and frozen vegetables and fruits. Also, keep a stash of a few frozen entrées and canned soups, but look for ones that have short ingredient lists, are made from whole grains and have no more than 600 mg sodium, 4.5 g saturated fat, and of course 0 g trans fat.

Get the Best Sleep at Night

1. Make sleep a priority. Now, don't roll your eyes. If you want a better night's sleep, you have to get serious about it. Need convincing? A recent study found that when you're short on zzzs, you're also more likely to overreact to minor incidents, feel stressed out, and blow your top. Even worse, your physical health takes a hit, too. "Lack of sleep increases the risk for high blood pressure, depression and weight gain, the latter as a result of adverse effects on hormones that regulate appetite," says Andrew Weil, MD, Prevention advisory board member, founder and director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. 
2. Say no to coffee after noon. Your morning mug gets a pass, but guzzling it all day is a big no-no. Here's why: It's often said that caffeine has a half-life of about five hours--which means if you eat an early enough dinner, that after-supper cappuccino should be out of your system by bedtime, right? Unfortunately, that's not quite right. After seven hours, much of the stimulant will be gone from your system, depending on your sensitivity to it--but 25% of it could still be there. "It can also increase nighttime urination and otherwise adversely impact your sleep," says Dr. Weil. 

Tips on how to protect yourself from the sun

1. All skin types, colors, ages need sunscreen. More than 3.5 million people have skin cancer.

2. When your shadow is shorter than you, sunscreen is not enough. Get under the shade or wear protective clothing like a hat, long sleeved shirts or umbrellas.

3. Wear sunscreen daily even if you’re not in the beach. Eighty percent of UV rays can still pass through even on a cloudy day. Sand and water increases the sun's reflection by 25 percent.

10 Fitness Tips

1. Get real and be specific. Write down three or four realistic goals that you can stick to. For example, “I will try to lose one pound of body fat every week. I will walk for 30 minutes minimum five days a week.” Avoid fantasy-land goals that will only frustrate you.
2. Get prepared. Throw away all the junk, the processed, and the “bingeable” foods now and replace them with fresh, whole foods like lots of water and veggies. Buy a new pair of walking shoes and find some clothes in your closet you feel comfortable to walk in. During a lifestyle change, if you fail to plan, then you plan to fail!