Be your own valentine! As you think of all those wonderful treats for your sweetheart, think of about your own heart too. Heart attacks and strokes are responsible for almost 40 percent of North American deaths. The heart is merely not a pump – it reacts to every feeling and emotion, whether it is delight and excitement or frustration. Mental and emotional stress disrupts the emotional heart, whereas, a poor diet and absence of physical excises weakens the physical heart.
Taking time out for regular exercise strengthens the heart along with daily meditation, acupuncture, massage, prayer, yoga or relaxation.
A team of researchers at UC Irvine and a university in China has found that Acupuncture activates a group of nerve
cells called the endorphin system to lower blood pressure and treat some types of heart disease.
Nutrition also plays a role in a healthy heart. Heart healthy eating is a matter of balance. Simple food choices that you make every day can make a big difference. Eating a balanced diet with less saturated fat from red meats, more fresh fruits and vegetables, more fish, less sugar, more fiber and for many people, fewer total calories.
Supplements are also an important part of a healthy heart.
The natural form of vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol). 400 to 800 IU daily. Food sources of vitamin E include raw nuts and seeds, whole grains, egg yolks, wheat germ oil, flaxseed oil and leafy green vegetables.
Fish oils – 3,000 mg of fish oil daily has heart protective benefits. Food sources include mackerel, salmon, herring, sardines, sablefish (black cod), anchovies, and albacore tuna.
Coenzyme Q10 – Improvements in heart rate & blood pressure have been recorded within four weeks of taking 50 mg daily.
L-Carnitine, an amino acid has been shown to help normalize irregular heartbeat & abnormal heart function. 2,000 to
3,000 mg daily helps repair damage and strengthen the heart muscle in individuals who had suffered a heart attack.
Calcium & magnesium are companion minerals that play important roles in heart health. Magnesium deficiency can be
associated with a higher incidence of irregular heartbeat. 1,000 to 1,500 mg of calcium with a minimum of 750 to 1,000 mg of magnesium daily is recommended.
Folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6, taken in combination, help to reduce the heart-damaging effects of elevated homocysteine levels.
Garlic— Daily dosages of 800 mg of supplemental garlic powder for 12 weeks reportedly improve the symptoms of
coronary artery disease and improve the elasticity of the arteries. Garlic has also been shown to inhibit platelet stickiness and blood clotting.
Fibre – an optimal 40 grams of fibre are recommended daily from whole grains, legumes, flax, oats etc.
For more information on how to treat or prevent heart disease, please book an appointment today !