According to the British Heart Foundation, heart disease is responsible for 167000 deaths per year in the UK – that’s 1 death every 3 minutes. In the USA 647000 people die every year, which is equivalent to 1 death every 37 seconds! Those at highest risk are:
- Smokers
- Those who have high blood pressure,
- Those with high blood cholesterol and/or diabetes
Good news - deaths from heart disease in the UK has fallen by almost half since the 1960’s, but it is still responsible for 27% of all UK deaths, and there is lots we can do to support the health of the heart. It is difficult to talk about heart disease without discussing cholesterol, so both are included here:
Nutrients that Support your Heart and Help Regulate Cholesterol Levels
Bromelain is a digestive enzyme from the core of pineapple, known to protect the heart. It facilitates detoxification of the liver and helps reduce the undesirable build-up of a substance known as fibrinogen, a substance that causes arterial blockage
GTF Chromium helps reduce the total cholesterol load, and increase the level of good cholesterol (HDL) while lowering the bad LDL cholesterol. This Glucose Tolerance Factor form of chromium is involved with the regulation of blood sugar levels and helps reduce stress and anxiety
Magnesium: Supports healthy cholesterol levels and helps lower elevated serum tryglicerides. Magnesium helps prevent many types of cardiovascular disease and promotes normal heart function, and helps reduce high blood pressure. According to the American Heart Journal, heart ailments are associated with magnesium deficiency
Essential Fats lower the production of some harmful substances in the liver, and are known to help produce the electrical flow necessary for regular heart-beats. Proper levels of essential fatty acids are required to transport oxygen throughout the body and a deficiency contributes to poor liver function and is associated with liver degeneration
Karoshil is a unique broad-spectrum formula containing a synergistic range of nutrients that help regulate normal heart function, especially where stress is a significant contributory factor. It stimulates the immune system and helps people cope with negative emotional states
Multi Antioxidant: The combination of the antioxidant Vitamins C and E, plus Zinc, Selenium and Co-Enzyme Q10 prevent free radical damage to healthy cells. Co-Q10 deficiency is common with sufferers of heart disease
Vitamin B Complex contains B vitamins that transport surplus cholesterol out of the body
Vitamin E elevates the function of good cholesterol (HDL) and helps prevent the harmful oxidation process of the less desirable (LDL) cholesterol
Statins: In the U.K. more than 10% of the general population over the age 65 takes at least eight prescription drugs every week. Taking multiple prescription drugs is known as polypharmacy and is common among the elderly, in particular those in nursing homes. A hidden danger of taking drugs with significant side effects, such as statins, is that one drug is often prescribed to mitigate the side effects of another, which in itself has its health risks
In 1987, Lovostatin was the first statin to be commercially used. A statin works by preventing a certain enzyme from carrying out its function in the body. Concerns over this drug include poor sleep patterns, behavioural issues, neuropathy and muscle pain
Co-Q10 Depletion: Statins deplete the body of co-enzyme Q10. This enzyme is essential for the health of the heart and for helping to manage heart failure. Co-Q10 is a potent antioxidant and we recommend it for people of all ages, not just those on medication or at higher risk of heart disease. Consider taking Co-Q10 as a cheap and effective insurance policy against heart disease
Cholesterol
Our main source of cholesterol is from animal products but we also manufacture this material. HDL (high density lipids) are regarded as good, and LDL (low density lipids) are regarded as bad. Correct balance between these two forms is essential to the heart and many other bodily functions. Approximately 30% of the body's Cholesterol is derived from the diet. In practice 50% of dietary Cholesterol is absorbed by the body, the remainder passes through the body unused and is excreted via the bile
Unnecessarily lowering cholesterol below optimum levels is considered harmful. Optimum cholesterol levels actually help us counteract excessive stress, support healthy skin are is also associated with a reduction in the incidence of depression
Positive Foods
Cereal grains oats, barley, barley grass, red yeast rice, whole brown rice, wheat grass
Vegetables celery, garlic, onions, sweet potatoes, green leaf cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, carrots, turnips, beetroot, globe artichoke, green peas
Fruits apples including pips, ripe bananas, pears, carob, avocado, cumquats, ripe pineapple (inc. central stalk), watermelon, bilberries
Teas, Herbs & Spices ginger tea, green tea, black teas, rosemary tea, Siberian ginseng tea, valerian tea, turmeric, chilli, basil, dill
Nuts & Seeds hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds (max. 12 per day), flax seed, fenugreek seeds, psyllium husks, celery seeds, sunflower seeds
Fungi Shiitake, Reishi, Oyster and Maitake mushrooms
Fish/ sea-food cod, tuna, wild salmon, oysters, clams
Dairy Live organic yoghurt
Fats Olive oil
Negative Foods
Refined carbohydrates, low-fat products, hydrogenated & trans-fats, rape-seed oil, margarine, battery eggs, white sugar (sucrose), excess garlic, artificial sweeteners, sulphates (preservative), tartrazine. Possible irritants include high intake of dietary fats, alcohol, caffeine drinks, coffee, chocolate, and salty foods. Reduce intake of dairy food, processed pork products and proteins from red meat