No More Heart Disease » Nitric Oxide

Energy Production and Cardiovascular Health!

Dan Hammer — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 18:01:13 +0000

I was going through some storage bins over the weekend and came across this crazy drawing you see on the left. It’s from my biochemistry class in college. It represents energy production. It also has a direct application to cardiovascular health. In fact, once you understand it you will realize how important good circulation is to your health and your ability to produce energy.

It looks pretty confusing but let me help you understand it by asking you a very simple question:

If You Had a Stock Option That Paid You a Return of 2% or 36% Which Would You Choose?

Every person I’ve ever asked this question to always chooses 36%. Why? Because it returns a higher yield. Well, this is the difference in energy production between anaerobic respiration and aerobic respiration.

Anaerobic Respiration – Energy Production Without Oxygen!

The top half of this drawing represents the energy production achieved by anaerobic respiration. As your blood filters through the liver, glucose (blood sugar) is added to your blood stream. This is carried to your cells to be converted into energy. When your cell lacks oxygen it uses a chemical process called anaerobic respiration to convert the glucose into energy. It’s extremely inefficient and the net result is just 2 units of energy.

Plus it produces a byproduct called pyruvic acid. If oxygen is not present then the cell converts this pyruvic acid to lactic acid. This allows the cell to continue to produce a small quantity of energy. However, lactic acid is an irritant. It causes that burning sensation you feel when you’ve overused a muscle and it interferes with proper cell function.

The net result of anaerobic respiration is poor energy production and a large amount of waste material that disrupts the proper function of the cells, tissues, and organs.

Aerobic Respiration – Energy Production With Oxygen!

When oxygen is present the pyruvic acid will enter the mitochondria of your cells to be used in the Kreb’s cycle. (If you think this drawing is confusing and crazy you should see the drawing for the Kreb’s cycle.) Think of your mitochondria as an energy producing factory.

This process will take that one unit of glucose and convert it into 36 units of energy. This is 18 times more productive than anaerobic respiration. Plus, the waste products are carbon dioxide and water. You breath out carbon dioxide and you eliminate any excess water. Neither of these two waste products damage your cells, tissues, and organs.

While aerobic respiration can cause oxidative stress to cells, the net result is large energy production with waste material that is not disruptive to the proper functioning of your cells, tissues, and organs.

Government versus Private Sector

Some have even compared this process of energy production to the difference between government run programs and private sector programs. Anaerobic respiration, like the government, is very inefficient and produces only a small return on investment; 1 unit of glucose yields 2 units of energy with bureaucratic red tape that can clog and slow down the system.

Aerobic respiration, like the private sector, is very efficient and produces a large return on investment; 1 unit of glucose yields 36 units of energy with an assembly line that is highly productive but also needs proper maintenance to continue its accelerated production.

What Does All This Have To Do With Cardiovascular Health?

Your red blood cells carry oxygen to your tissues and cells. If your cardiovascular system is damaged by cholesterol, excess sugar that causes oxidative stress, plaque formations, and other contributing factors, then you begin to limit blood flow. This damage limits the delivery of oxygen and causes your cells to depend more on anaerobic respiration for their energy needs.

Because anaerobic respiration can’t keep up with the needs of the cells, the cells have to slow down. They become less efficient and sluggish in their job. Compound this with the waste products produced from anaerobic respiration and you have a cycle that leads to poor organ health and poor overall wellness.

The Key to Reversing This Cycle!

The key to reversing this degenerating cycle is to improve blood circulation by repairing the damage caused to the endothelial cells that line all of your cardiovascular system. As you improve the health of your endothelial cells they are able to properly produce nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is the master signaling molecule of the cardiovascular system. This means that nitric oxide is needed to properly regulate blood flow to the cells, tissues, and organs.

This dramatically improves blood flow, which then delivers more oxygen. More oxygen produces more energy and waste products that are easily transported away from the cells, tissues, and organs. The net result is improved organ function, improved energy, and a higher level of overall wellness.

By properly combining the amino acids L-arginine and L-citrulline with key antioxidants you can repair your endothelial cells and improve their ability to create nitric oxide. This has been clinically shown to improve circulation and reverse many cardiovascular health issues. It’s what makes the ProArgi-9 Plus product so effective in helping people improve their energy production and cardiovascular health.

It’s pretty amazing how improved blood flow to all your cells, tissues, and organs can make such a significant difference in your overall health. But, there is still one other factor we need to address. That factor is the need for antioxidants to help protect your cells when oxygen is used to create all this wonderful energy. We’ll talk about this in my next post.

Together we can work to save a million lives!

Dan Hammer

Dan Hammer is a Wellness Educator who has a background in biology, chemistry and exercise physiology. He used to run one of the largest health club operations in the Chicago area and has been helping people with their wellness issues for more than 25 years.

The information contained in this article is for general information purposes only and never as a substitute for professional medical advice or medical exam. The information contained in this article has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a qualified medical doctor.

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Can Heart Attacks Be Prevented?

Dan Hammer — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:02:10 +0000

When I wrote the title for this post I immediately thought of my father who passed away in 1987. He died of a massive heart attack. He died while on a fishing trip in Minnesota. He was sitting in the cabin with his friends eating his favorite snack. Popcorn loaded with butter. He died at the young age of 67.

Like his father who died of a heart attack and his mom who died of a heart attack, he followed their pathway. Was it genetics and heredity that caused this event? Or, was it lifestyle and food choices? Most likely a combination of both with a greater emphasis on food choices.

Just like in 1987, as it is today, heart attacks and cardiovascular disease are still the number one killer of all people. So, the question is still the same:

Can Heart Attacks Be Prevented?

While the question remains the same the outcome can be significantly different!

Eleven years after my father’s death from a heart attack the 1998 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to three American researchers for their remarkable discovery of how the endothelial cells, which line all of your cardiovascular system, create nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is the master signaling molecule of the cardiovascular system and it has a huge impact on cardiovascular health.

One of those researchers who won the Nobel Prize in Medicine is Dr. Louis J. Ignarro. In his 2005 National Bestseller entitled NO More Heart Disease, Dr. Ignarro made the following statement:

“NO – as it is known by chemists – is produced by the body specifically to help keep arteries and veins free of the plaque that causes stroke and to maintain normal blood pressure by relaxing the arteries, thereby regulating the rate of blood flow and preventing coronaries. Nitric oxide is the body’s natural cardiovascular wonder drug.”

Even before Dr. Ignarro’s Nobel Prize there was an event taking place that has significantly moved the discoveries made in the lab to practical clinical results in humans.

Let me introduce you to Dr. J. Joseph Prendergast or Dr. Joe as he prefers to call himself. Dr. Joe is a leading endocrinologist from Palo Alto, CA and a nationally acclaimed expert on L-arginine therapy. L-arginine is the amino acid your endothelial cells use to create nitric oxide, the master signaling molecule of your cardiovascular system.

Since 1991, Dr. Joe has been personally using L-arginine and recommending it to his patients. Through his close personal association with Dr. John Cooke at the Stanford School of Medicine’s Cardiovascular Research Center, Dr. Joe has been able to incorporate cutting edge vascular research done in the lab into actual patient care. True clinical application that has benefited thousands of his patients and tens of thousands of people around the world.

Dr. Joe’s clinical application of proper L-arginine therapy has benefited over 7,000 of his own patients resulting in less than 1% patient hospital admissions in 17 years. This is a phenomenal record especially then you realize that 80% of his patients are diabetics who typically have hospital admissions for cardiovascular issues. Because of this remarkable record the American Diabetes Association awarded Dr. Joe the Father of the Year Award in 2008.

Dr. Joe is the product formulator of ProArgi-9 Plus and it causes me to ask the question:

Would my dad be alive today if he had access to ProArgi-9 Plus?

From all the clinical research I’ve seen and the people I’ve been able to help, I believe he would have greatly benefited from this product. It’s one of the reasons why I’m so passionate about ProArgi-9 Plus. I truly believe in this product and its ability to improve the cardiovascular health of every person.

To help you better understand how unique and powerful ProArgi-9 Plus is, I’ve created a webinar for you. Here is the link:

http://www.screencast.com/t/ZWY2MmYwOT

(Please note that the webinar presentation is 30 minutes long. Once you click on the arrow to start it, please give it 10-15 seconds to load. The remaining time is used to answer questions from those attending.)

Now you can understand why I believe so strongly in ProArgi-9 Plus. It is a remarkable product that has huge potential to benefit people. Especially those who have cardiovascular health issues.

Together we can work to save a million lives!

Dan Hammer

Dan Hammer has a background in biology, chemistry and exercise physiology. He used to run one of the largest health club operations in the Chicagoland area and has been helping people with their wellness issues for more than 25 years.

The information contained in this article is for general information purposes only and never as a substitute for professional medical advice or medical exam. The information contained in this article has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a qualified medical doctor.

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Food versus Supplementation for L-Arginine and L-Citrulline!

Dan Hammer — Sat, 08 May 2010 01:48:59 +0000

In my last post I showed you the amount of food you would need to consume to take in 5 grams of L-arginine, 1 gram of L-citrulline, and 400 micrograms of folic acid. Three key nutrients for cardiovascular health.

I’m using these quantities because most research shows that to receive a therapeutic benefit you would need to consume these amounts. L-arginine and L-citrulline are necessary for improved nitric oxide production. Folic acid is needed for proper red blood cell production and heart health. When people realize all the food they need to eat, and the limited menu they have to choose from, they begin to ask the question:

Is it better to get these critical nutrients through food or supplementation?

This video answers that question. Enjoy it and I’ll have some observations to make after you watch it:

Observation 1 - As you saw from the video there is a strong case for proper supplementation especially when you factor in calories, cost, and convenience. The cheapest meal you could consume was 12 ounces of black beans, 2.7 pounds of watermelon and 1 cup of Total cereal at a cost of $4.45. This meal would also bring 813 calories into your body.

Observation 2 – Instead of conventional food you had two other choices. Your first choice would be to go to your local health food store and purchase three supplements: L-Arginine, L-Citrulline and Folic Acid. While this is the least expensive way at $1.86 it also means taking 13 capsules per day. You would need to take 1 Folic Acid tablet, 2 L-Citrulline capsules, and 10 L-Arginine capsules.

Just remember, if you choose supplementation then make sure that you only use the natural “L” form of the amino acid and never the “D” or synthetic form. Additionally, make sure that the product uses “pharmaceutical grade” ingredients. This ensures that the ingredients meet exacting standards so that product quality and consistency is maintained from batch to batch. This is especially important for L-arginine products.

There are a lot of “nitric oxide” products in the marketplace. They are widely used by weight lifters to help them experience improved workouts and increased muscle mass. But, “nitric oxide” products are not to be played around with. It’s extremely important to know who the product formulator is and what experience they have in properly isolating L-arginine so that it can be effectively brought into your system.

It’s also important to know if the product you’re considering has any clinical studies associated with it. Clinical studies that can support its effectiveness in truly improving the health of your endothelial cells so that they can properly produce higher levels of nitric oxide.

Observation 3 – As you know I’m a firm believer in ProArgi-9 Plus. It’s your other choice. While it’s slightly more than the supplements, it does provide you with 9 additional ingredients all designed to help improve cardiovascular health. When compared to the food choices, it is $2.00 cheaper and significantly lower in calories. This allows me to properly support my cardiovascular system, especially my endothelial cells. It also allows me more flexibility in my diet for other healthy organic foods. While there are a handful of other good products in the marketplace, none have the clinical studies to support their effectiveness like ProArgi-9 Plus.

Observation 4 – I made a pitch for eating organic foods at the end of the video. While organic foods are certainly higher in cost than the store bought brands it’s worth the extra expense in helping improve liver function. As I shared in the video, every added “chemical ingredient” has to be processed by your liver, which takes away its ability to help your body in other needed areas. If you want to have your eyes opened to the food industry and how they manufacturer our food sources, then rent the DVD Food Inc. from your favorite rental source.

Well, I hope this video and post has been educational and beneficial in helping you see proper supplementation as a complement to making good food choices.

Together we can work to save a million lives!

Dan Hammer

Dan Hammer has a background in biology, chemistry and exercise physiology. He used to run one of the largest health club operations in the Chicagoland area and has been helping people with their wellness issues for more than 25 years.

The information contained in this article is for general information purposes only and never as a substitute for professional medical advice or medical exam. The information contained in this article has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a qualified medical doctor.

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What Foods Contain L-Arginine and L-Citrulline?

Dan Hammer — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 01:42:13 +0000

I’ve written many articles about the need for L-arginine and L-citrulline. How critical they are for nitric oxide production. How your endothelial cells use these two amino acids to create nitric oxide, the master signaling molecule of your cardiovascular system.

Quite frankly, you could not live without nitric oxide. It’s a critical molecule in many biological functions but especially for good cardiovascular health. So, I’m often asked:

What foods can I eat that contain L-arginine and L-citrulline?

To answer that question I went shopping, bought some foods and put together the following video. Enjoy the video and I’ll have some observations to make after you watch it:

In preparing this video I came across an excellent chart that lists food sources high in the amino acid L-arginine. I’ll provide you a link to this chart at the end of this article. It was an eye opener, even for me. It changed my thinking on dairy products and it even helped me to discover the reason why Rocky Balboa was able to beat Apollo Creed in the Rocky movies. Let’s start with some observations.

Observation 1 – Plant based foods are a better source of L-arginine then animal products. The chart I found lists the L-arginine content in 100 grams of food. 100 grams is just slightly less than a ¼ pound. You’ll note that if you wanted to get 1 gram of L-arginine or more in your diet, there are 15 choices for plant products but only 5 choices for animal products.

Observation 2 – So much of the literature recommends dairy products as a good source of L-arginine yet it’s listed last on the chart. You would have to drink 44 ounces or just slightly less than 1 ½ quarts of milk to get 1 gram of L-arginine. Not good for those who are lactose intolerant.

Observation 3 – Most research indicates that for you to receive a therapeutic benefit from L-arginine you need to consume at least 5 grams of this amino acid at one time. So I selected 6 food items from the list that I thought would be common food choices. I did the math conversations to look at how much food you would need to eat to take in 5 grams of L-arginine. I also looked at the number of calories and grams of fat it would bring into your body. Here’s what I discovered and what I based most of the above video on:

Peanuts – 6 oz / .36 lb = 918 calories and 70 g of fat

Beans – 12 oz / .75 lb = 338 calories and 1.5 g of fat

Tuna – 10 oz / .63 lb = 528 calories and 18 g of fat

Chicken Breast – 15 oz / .92 lb = 756 calories and 5 g of fat

Salmon – 15 oz / .92 lb = 865 calories and 42 g of fat

Eggs (Whole, Raw) – 21 oz / 1.34 lbs = 915 calories and 55 g of fat

Observation 4 – Now you can see why weight lifters choose beans, tuna, and chicken breasts as their primary source of protein. It provides them with the proper amount of L-arginine with the least number of calories and grams of fat. Even though peanuts have a higher concentration of L-arginine when you factor in calories and grams of fat it’s not the first choice if you need to watch you weight.

How Rocky Balboa Beat Apollo Creed!

Observation 5 – This is the Rocky Balboa observation. Go back and watch the first movie and compare Rocky’s diet to Apollo Creed’s. Remember the scene where Rocky cracks open about a half dozen eggs into a glass and then drinks them raw, yoke and all. Whether he realized it or not (and I’m sure he and Sylvester Stallone didn’t) he was loading his body with L-arginine to improve his blood flow. This maximized his workout program and improved his cardiovascular stamina.

Observation 6 – There is not much of a choice in foods for L-citrulline. Watermelon is your one and only good food choice. You can read my article, “The Need for L-Citrulline!” to get more information on this subject.

When people realize all the food they need to eat, and the limited menu they have to choose from, they begin to ask the question:

Is it better to get these critical amino acids through food or supplementation?

Well, I’m putting the finishing touches on this video and will have it posted in a couple of days.

Together we can work to save a million lives!

Dan Hammer

P.S. Here is the URL for the chart I used in the information above:

http://www.dietaryfiberfood.com/larginine-high.php

The information contained in this article is for general information purposes only and never as a substitute for professional medical advice or medical exam. The information contained in this article has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a qualified medical doctor.

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ProArgi-9 Plus Instructions!

Dan Hammer — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 23:20:28 +0000

I’ve been asked by many of my clients and visitors to this website to put together a short video on ProArgi-9 Plus instructions. I’ve just completed this video. In it I go into detail on how to take this unique and remarkable product. A product designed to help repair the endothelial cells of your cardiovascular system; to improve their ability to properly produce nitric oxide over a long period of time.

If you remember from previous posts, nitric oxide is the master signaling molecule of the cardiovascular system. Additionally, nitric oxide is critical to other very important biological functions.

Here is the video. In addition to the ProArgi-9 Plus instructions I also answer several questions like:

How much ProArgi-9 Plus should you take?
When is the best time of day to take ProArgi-9 Plus? Mornings? Afternoon? Before you go to bed?
Can you take ProArgi-9 Plus with food?
Can athletes use ProArgi-9 Plus?
Does ProArgi-9 Plus interfere with medications?

I hope this video was helpful in understanding how to take ProArgi-9 Plus. Please feel free to share this information with family and friends.

To Order ProArgi-9 Plus!

If you’re interested in ordering ProArgi-9 Plus then please click on “Quick Order Page for ProArgi-9 Plus.” Once on the page I would ask you to “Bookmark” it so that you can conveniently return to it whenever you need to.

I absolutely believe in this product and have witnessed its amazing ability to improve the cardiovascular health of people. With that said I’m not a doctor and would never want to replace your physician or doctor. Instead, I want to work with you and your health care provider to make sure this is right for you. If you or your health care provider have any questions, then please email me or call me. My contact information is:

dan@agingnomore.com

630-936-8079

I will try to provide you and your health care provider with the information you need to make the best decision for you. Our goal is to help as many people as possible see significant improvements in their cardiovascular system so that they can enjoy a higher quality of life.

Together we can work to save a million lives!

Dan Hammer

Dan Hammer has a background in biology, chemistry and exercise physiology. He used to run one of the largest health club operations in the Chicagoland area and has been helping people with their wellness issues for more than 25 years.

The information contained in this article is for general information purposes only and never as a substitute for professional medical advice or medical exam. The information contained in this article has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a qualified medical doctor.

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The Need for L-Citrulline!

Dan Hammer — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 22:03:27 +0000

What’s a picture of a watermelon have to do with L-citrulline? I’ll answer that in a little bit. Let’s first start with nitric oxide and L-arginine.

So much of the buzz about improved nitric oxide production centers on L-arginine. Unfortunately, many forget about L-citrulline. While L-arginine is the main amino acid used by the endothelial cells to create nitric oxide, some feel that L-citrulline is actually more important for long term nitric oxide production and improved cardiovascular health.

I bring this to your attention because I’m in the process of developing an educational module designed to help those with sickle cell anemia. One complication for those who have sickle cell anemia is the negative effects of the enzyme arginase.

Arginase is an enzyme located primarily in the liver. It is used to help complete the fifth and final step in the urea cycle. This urea cycle helps your body dispose of harmful ammonia. It is also found in the kidneys and prostate. Some research indicates that arginase is located in the mitochondria of most cells. The mitochondria are the portions of your cells that produce the bulk of your energy.

Arginase and Circulation!

While arginase has a useful role in the body it can also play a negative role in circulation. Why? Because arginase destroys L-arginine. Your endothelial cells convert the amino acid L-arginine to nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is the master signaling molecule of your cardiovascular system. It regulates blood pressure, helps to improve blood flow, keeps blood platelet cells from sticking together, prevents LDL cholesterol from adhering to the vascular walls and is a factor in a host of other very important health issues.

Everyone carries arginase in their bloodstream which can have some affect on lowering nitric oxide production. This is a bigger problem in the African American community especially for those with sickle cell disease. Thankfully, your body has an alternative pathway that enables the endothelial cells to create nitric oxide. It’s through the amino acid L-citrulline.

How Important is L-citrulline?

Well, let me introduce you to Dr. Louis J. Ignarro to answer that question. Dr. Ignarro is the 1998 Nobel Laureate in Medicine. He, and two other American researchers, were awarded the Nobel Prize for their discovery of how the endothelial cells create nitric oxide (NO) from the essential amino acid L-arginine. In Dr. Ignarro’s book, NO More Heart Disease, he makes the following statement:

“My research shows that if you take only L-arginine, which is the dominant producer of NO, you will not receive the maximum benefit. I have found that by including the synergistic partner L-citrulline, your ability to boost NO production is greatly enhanced over the effects of L-arginine alone.”

Your endothelial cells use an alternative pathway to convert L-citrulline to nitric oxide. This helps bypass the arginase enzyme so that good nitric oxide production can be restored. Plus, L-citrulline provides a 24 to 36 hour window for enhanced nitric oxide production whereas L-arginine by itself usually only has a 30 minute to 2 hour window of enhanced nitric oxide production.

This means that L-arginine can help start the process of nitric oxide production to improve circulation. Then the L-citrulline can take over to continue the improved nitric oxide production helping to maintain improved circulation.

Dr. Ignarro goes on to say, “Any supplement program that does not contain L-citrulline and antioxidants to augment the L-arginine – and most on the market do not – is missing out on a major piece of the potential of NO to improve your cardiovascular health.” This statement and the information I shared so far leads to two important questions:

What foods contain L-arginine and L-citrulline?

Is it better to get these critical amino acids through food or supplementation?

I’m preparing two new videos to help answers these questions and to visibly show you the best and most effective method for enhanced nitric oxide production. But the first question brings me back to the picture of the watermelon.

The Watermelon!

In March of 2007 there was a study published in the Journal of Nutrition. The article was entitled “Watermelon consumption increases plasma arginine concentrations in adults.” This article created a significant buzz on the internet because L-arginine is needed to produce nitric oxide which is needed for a male erection. In the media, watermelon became the new and natural Viagra. While this study didn’t examine the effects on male anatomy it did provide some very important information confirming the body’s ability to convert L-citrulline to L-arginine to improve nitric oxide production.

The study subjects were given either 780 grams (equivalent of 1 g of citrulline) of watermelon or 1560 grams (equivalent of 2 g of citrulline) of watermelon. The study lasted three weeks. At the end of the study the 780 grams of watermelon group saw a 12% increase in fasting plasma arginine concentrations. The 1560 grams of watermelon group saw a 22% increase when compared to a control group that received no watermelon.

This clearly shows that your body has an alternative pathway for creating the necessary L-arginine from the amino acid L-citrulline.

So, is eating watermelon an effective way to improve nitric oxide production?

Well, the 780 grams of watermelon is equal to 1.72 pounds. The 1560 grams of watermelon is equal to 3.43 pounds. That’s a lot of watermelon to eat even if you like it. Plus, it includes the rind, that thick green outer covering of the watermelon. I believe there’s an easier way to achieve an even better result. I’ll show you in one of my upcoming videos.

Together we can work to save a million lives!

Dan Hammer

Dan Hammer has a background in biology, chemistry and exercise physiology. He used to run one of the largest health club operations in the Chicagoland area and has been helping people with their wellness issues for more than 25 years.

The information contained in this article is for general information purposes only and never as a substitute for professional medical advice or medical exam. The information contained in this article has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a qualified medical doctor.

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Dr. J. Joseph Prendergast Video!

Dan Hammer — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:24:05 +0000

I came across this short but very interesting video of Dr. J. Joseph Prendergast. For those who don’t know Dr. Joe (as he prefers to call himself), he is the product formulator of ProArgi-9 Plus. Dr. Joe is Board Certified in Internal Medicine as well as Endocrinology and Metabolism. He is an expert in integrative L-arginine therapy and has been using this type of therapy in his practice since 1991.

Due to family heredity Dr. Joe was diagnosed at the age of 37 with severe atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. It was estimated that he had the cardiovascular system of an 80 year old individual. This led him on a quest to find a solution to his health problem. Using cutting edge research from Dr. John Cooke and Nobel Prize winning science from Dr. Louis Ignarro and others, Dr. Joe began to work on L-arginine / L-citrulline formulations; formulations that would positively impact the health of the endothelial cells and their ability to repair themselves and produce Nitric Oxide.

The results not only benefited Dr. Joe, by reversing his atherosclerosis, but also his patient population of diabetics who had been suffering from cardiovascular issues. Prior to his discoveries on how to effectively use L-arginine and L-citrulline, Dr. Joe use to refer many of his patients for by-pass surgery. Since becoming an expert in integrative L-arginine therapy this has changed dramatically. In fact, Dr. Joe makes the following statement in this video:

“. . . 80% of the people have diabetes and in 17 years we have had no problems with strokes, no problems with heart attacks, I’ve not even had any admissions in 17 years. So this is a striking example in how we can use this product for real power for health. . . “

I would ask you to think about that. Over the last 17 years Dr. Joe has had no admissions to the hospital for cardiovascular disease. This is remarkable when you consider that most of his patients are diabetics. It was so remarkable that the American Diabetes Association awarded Dr. Joe the Father of the Year award for 2008.

Please click on “ProArgi-9 Plus” below to view this video!

Please Note: This link takes a couple of seconds to load. Once it loads you have to click on the “play button” for it to start. It then takes a couple of seconds to play. Please be patient for what Dr. Joe has to say is well worth waiting for!

Thank you for taking the time to watch this short but powerful video. I’d like to leave you with one important question:

How would your life change if you where one of Dr. Joe’s patients, especially if you’re a diabetic?

I’ll let you answer that question privately. I want to thank Dr. Joe for taking his personal health challenge, combining it with cutting edge vascular research, Nobel Prize winning science, and proven clinical results to create ProArgi-9 Plus. A product that has helped both him and thousands of others improve their health.

Together we can work to save a million lives!

Dan Hammer

Dan Hammer has a background in biology, chemistry and exercise physiology. He used to run one of the largest health club operations in the Chicagoland area and has been helping people with their wellness issues for more than 25 years.

The information contained in this article is for general information purposes only and never as a substitute for professional medical advice or medical exam. The information contain in this article has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a qualified medical doctor.

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African Americans and Cardiovascular Disease!

Dan Hammer — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:28:45 +0000

Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of people worldwide. Unfortunately, it’s even worse for the African American community. There are several reasons for this and hopefully this article will help begin the process of changing this sad reality. To address these reasons I’ve broken this article into three parts: The Bad News, Several Underlining Causes, and Steps to Decrease Your Risk!

The Bad News!

It’s important for you to understand the depth of cardiovascular disease confronting the African American community. Below is a brief summary of the ailments that directly affect African Americans:

Diabetes. Type 2 diabetes has grown to epidemic proportions in the United States. People with diabetes have a greater risk for stroke, heart disease and circulatory issues. Most diabetes-related deaths are due to cardiovascular disease. Twice as many African Americans will develop diabetes when compared to the Caucasian community.
Erectile Dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction affects 50% of the male population over the age 40 and is even greater in the African American community.
Heart Disease. African American women in the age range of 25-44 have a 2.5 times greater risk of coronary heart disease and African American men have a 1.5 times greater risk than the Caucasian community.
High Blood Pressure. The number one risk factor for stroke is high blood pressure, and 1 out of every 3 African Americans suffers from this ailment. The American Heart Association estimates that 28% of African American adults and more than 66% of African Americans over the age of 60 have high blood pressure.
High Cholesterol Levels. High blood cholesterol is a significant risk factor for heart disease. Unfortunately 50% of African American men and 54% of women have too much cholesterol circulating in their blood stream.
Sickle Cell Anemia. It’s estimated that one in 12 African Americans has sickle cell trait and one out of every 400 births have sickle cell anemia.
Stroke. African Americans are twice as likely to die from a stroke as Caucasians. The rate of having their first stroke is almost doubled that of Caucasians. One half of all African American women will die from either a stroke or heart disease. For those with sickle cell anemia, 11% will have experienced a stroke by the age of 20.

That’s quite a list of ailments affecting African Americans. If you look closely at all seven health issues you will see that the common denominator is your cardiovascular system.

The key for reducing your health risk for these cardiovascular diseases is to make sure your cardiovascular system is as healthy as possible. This article will provide several steps to address this but before we do you need to understand some of the underlining causes of why cardiovascular disease is so prevalent in the African American community.

Several Underlining Causes!

Within your cardiovascular system there is one particular essential amino acid, one critical signaling molecule, one critical cellular structure and one detrimental enzyme that directly impact its overall health. They are:

L-arginine – Key Essential Amino Acid
Nitric Oxide – Key Signaling Molecule
Endothelial Cells – Key Cellular Structure
Arginase – Key Detrimental Enzyme

The first three keys of L-arginine, nitric oxide and endothelial cells are interrelated so we will examine them as a whole. The endothelial cells form the interior lining of all your blood vessels. These cells ultimately determine your cardiovascular health. One function of these endothelial cells is to take the essential amino acid L-arginine and convert it into the signaling molecule nitric oxide. Very simply, you couldn’t live without nitric oxide!

Nitric oxide is the master signaling molecule of the cardiovascular system. It regulates blood vessel tone and flexibility. Its production is completely dependent upon the health of your endothelial cells and an adequate supply of the essential amino acid L-arginine. Here are some of the benefits of nitric oxide:

Nitric oxide regulates the muscle tone of blood vessels to have a major impact on controlling blood pressure. This directly relates to high blood pressure.
Nitric oxide causes penile erections by dilating blood vessels. This directly relates to erectile dysfunction.
Nitric oxide prevents blood platelet cells from grouping together in a clot. This minimizes blockages in the blood vessels to reduce the risk for heart attacks, strokes and complications from sickle cell anemia.
Nitric oxide promotes vascular reparative mechanisms and is one of the keys to reversing atherosclerosis. This helps to reduce the damage caused by high cholesterol levels and assists in preventing the vascular complications of diabetes.

Nitric oxide is literally involved in all cells to help keep you fit and healthy. It’s important to understand that this interrelationship between the endothelial cells, L-arginine and nitric oxide production is common for all races.

What is not common is a genetic polymorphism inherent to the African American population. This genetic polymorphism causes African Americans to have higher levels of an enzyme called arginase in their blood stream. Arginase destroys L-arginine which is the main ingredient for creating nitric oxide in the body.

For the African American community, nitric oxide production is compromised on both sides of the equation!

On the front end, the enzyme arginase destroys L-arginine which interferes with the production of nitric oxide. On the back end, the health of your endothelial cells determines how much of the remaining L-arginine can be converted to nitric oxide. Unfortunately, your endothelial cells are damaged by high blood pressure, high sugar levels, high cholesterol, smoking, and oxidative stress. This damage reduces the production of nitric oxide which compounds the problem and increases the risk for cardiovascular disease.

Steps to Decrease Your Risk!

Given the above information there are several important steps to decreasing your risk for cardiovascular disease.

Step 1 – Monitor your blood pressure. High blood pressure damages your endothelial cells. If you do not know what your blood pressure is then you need to go to your doctor’s office, local pharmacy or health clinic and get your blood pressure taken. If you have high blood pressure, then you need to take steps to bring it back into a normal range. This is your first and most important step. It’s so important that the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program was established to exclusively address the issue of high blood pressure on a national level. For more information on participating barbershops, go to http://www.blackbarbershop.org/ .

Step 2 – Monitor your blood sugar and cholesterol levels. High sugar and cholesterol levels damage your endothelial cells. Diet is extremely important for both of these areas. One simple but highly effective step to stabilize your blood sugar levels and help your body naturally reduce its cholesterol levels is to increase your fiber intake. Including dry beans or legumes into your diet is a quick and delicious way to increase your fiber intake. In fact studies have shown that consuming dry beans four times or more per week, compared with less than once a week, lowered the risk of cardiovascular disease by 22 percent.

Step 3 – Stop smoking! Smoking damages your endothelial cells. This is a nasty habit that is extremely hard to break. Part of the process is having a motivation greater than the habit.

If your very life isn’t motivation enough, then maybe for the men your sex life is!

Your endothelial cells control your nitric oxide production. Your nitric oxide levels control an erection. No nitric oxide no sex! Every puff on your cigarette is destroying your endothelial cells which lowers your nitric oxide level and reduces your chances of having good sex.

Step 4 – Increase L-arginine intake! In addition to protecting your endothelial cells, you need to get an adequate intake of the essential amino acid L-arginine which is found in foods like milk, cheese, yogurt, meat, and other protein sources. Most people take in enough L-arginine to meet basic bodily needs. However, when your diet is poor and/or your stress level is high, then this essential amino acid will be lacking. Couple this with the enzyme arginase that destroys L-arginine and the potential risk for cardiovascular disease is increased.

Step 5 – Use L-citrulline to bypass Arginase! Your body will convert the amino acid L-citrulline into L-arginine to help maintain its production of nitric oxide. This process also helps to bypass the arginase enzyme since it has no effect on L-citrulline. Having a good supply of L-citrulline provides the body with a 24 to 36 hour window in the production of nitric oxide. This is important for all population groups but it’s critically important for African Americans especially those with sickle cell anemia. Unfortunately, L-citrulline is not prevalent in most foods we eat. Thus, supplementation is usually required.

Step 6 – Consider ProArgi-9 Plus! There is a clinically proven nutritional supplement called ProArgi-9 Plus which has the ability to bring in the proper balance of L-arginine and L-citrulline. This product also combines other heart healthy ingredients to significantly improve the health of the endothelial cells and their ability to properly produce nitric oxide. The most recent validation for this product is the remarkable results obtain for 33 congestive heart failure patients in the High Desert Heart Institute study.

Conclusion

You have the power to directly improve the health of your endothelial cells to significantly reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease. And, for those with sickle cell anemia, you can help to reduce your symptoms. It all centers on helping your endothelial cells function optimally, with an above average supply of L-arginine, and a way to bypass the arginase enzyme so that nitric oxide is properly produced. Improved production of nitric oxide is critical to helping African Americans decrease their risk for cardiovascular disease!

Together we can work to save a million lives!

Dan Hammer

Dan Hammer has a background in biology, chemistry and exercise physiology. He used to run one of the largest health club operations in the Chicagoland area and has been helping people with their wellness issues for more than 25 years.

The information contained in this article is for general information purposes only and never as a substitute for professional medical advice or medical exam. The information contain in this article has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a qualified medical doctor.

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Dealing With Erectile Dysfunction?!

Dan Hammer — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:45:56 +0000

I have chosen to use a question mark and an exclamation mark in the article’s title, dealing with erectile dysfunction, for a reason. For some men who have recently experienced problems in the bedroom, they’re not sure if they have erectile dysfunction or not. For them it’s a question mark that needs more time to determine its final outcome.

For other men they know that their erectile dysfunction is real and they are alarmed. They’re seeking answers to their problem and searching the internet for help. For them the exclamation is a sign of worry and concern.

Finally, there are men who have never had this problem or have found solutions that have corrected their problem and are no longer dealing with erectile dysfunction. For them the exclamation is a sign of relief.

If you’re dealing with erectile dysfunction or think that you might have a potential problem in this area, then one of the most important tools to help you is good, concise knowledge. Knowledge that can help you:

Understand that it’s a common problem for men over the age of 40.
Find the real underlying cause.
Develop a treatment program that can truly work for you.

This post is designed to help provide you with knowledge and a potential solution so that the question mark can become an exclamation mark based upon positive results.

The Facts about Dealing with Erectile Dysfunction!

Many men feel embarrassment so they typically try to hide the problem. They try to hide it from their partner. They try to hide it from their doctor. So the first thing you need to know is that dealing with erectile dysfunction is a common problem for men especially after the age of 40. Plus, the potential for this problem continues to increase as you get older.

Maybe not what you wanted to hear but it is truth.

The other part of the truth equation is that it doesn’t have to be this way. The health of your penis is tied to the health of your body. Many may see this as a simplistic answer but it is true for most men. It’s estimated that 70 percent of all erectile dysfunction is caused by a medical condition. Usually that medical condition centers on the health of your cardiovascular system. More specifically it centers on the endothelial cells that line all of your cardiovascular system and their ability to properly produce nitric oxide.

Dr. Arthur Burnett, a Johns Hopkins urologist and leading nitric oxide researcher will clearly tell you that nitric oxide is the chemical messenger that produces erections and that without it there could be no natural erections. This is also echoed by the 1998 Nobel Laureate in Medicine Dr. Louis Ignarro who, with 2 other American researchers, discovered how the endothelial cells produce nitric oxide to dilate blood vessels. In Dr. Ignarro’s book NO More Heart Disease he makes the following two statements:

“By 1990, our experiments indicated that NO is also the chemical messenger responsible for penile erections. Nerves in the erectile tissues release NO, dilating the blood vessels and initiating erections.” – page 11

“For many years, men with erectile dysfunction were told that they suffered from a psychological dysfunction. Most physicians claimed ‘It’s in your head,’ since they felt impotence stemmed from performance anxiety or sexual disinterest. . . . My own research has shown that the erectile tissues of men with severe erectile dysfunction produce much less nitric oxide than men without this problem. Unless there is a way to increase their NO levels, erections simply are not going to be possible.” – pages 191 & 192

If you’re dealing with erectile dysfunction then you need to understand how to determine the root cause of your problem because erectile dysfunction is a symptom of an underlining health issue. Products like Viagra, Cialis and Levitra may help you with the symptom but they usually do not help you with the underlining cause of erectile dysfunction.

In my previous post on this issue I directed you to the article “Fixing Erectile Dysfunction!” This article helps you understand how male physiology, chemistry and the nervous system all work together to create an erection. And, it briefly discussed how to enhance the endothelial cells’ ability to produce nitric oxide.

Today, I would like to direct your attention to the article “Curing Erectile Dysfunction Naturally with L-arginine and Nitric Oxide!” This article will go into greater detail about one of the best methods for curing erectile dysfunction. That method is learning how to properly use L-arginine and L-citrulline to improve the production of nitric oxide and help to repair of your endothelial cells.

Men, I hope you find these articles helpful in dealing with erectile dysfunction. They are written with the goal of removing the worry and concern about this issue so that you can find a real solution to your underlining problem. No more questions marks, just an exclamation mark based upon positive results.

Together we can work to save a million lives!

Dan Hammer

Dan Hammer has a background in biology, chemistry and exercise physiology. He used to run one of the largest health club operations in the Chicagoland area and has been helping people with their wellness issues for more than 25 years.

The information contained in this article is for general information purposes only and never as a substitute for professional medical advice or medical exam. The information contain in this article has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a qualified medical doctor.

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Fixing Erectile Dysfunction!

Dan Hammer — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:33:14 +0000

What does a cell phone and lap top have to do with fixing erectile dysfunction? When they don’t work properly they cause emotional responses like:

Frustration, Anger, and Embarrassment!

In our high tech society we have become conditioned to expect our cell phone and lap top to work all the time and in all situations. When they don’t we become frustrated. We start looking for the instruction manual that we never bothered to read in the first place and when we can’t find it we become angry. Even when we do find it, the instructions are confusing and can accelerate our anger. When we finally take it into a Geek Squad we’re embarrassed to admit we didn’t have the technical knowhow to fix the problem.

For men with erectile dysfunction they can experience some of the same negative emotions. Like their cells phones and lap tops they expect their male anatomy to work all the time especially when the “time is right” as highlighted in the Cialis commercials.

When it doesn’t, confidence can be lost causing anxiety. With repeated failures this anxiety turns into frustration. And, when erectile dysfunction becomes chronic this frustration can become anger.

Often men who are having erectile problems feel embarrassment. He sees himself as the only one who has this problem. He worries that his partner will see him as a failure. He’s even embarrassed to bring it to the attention of his physician and may worry that there might be a more serious underlining problem.

So, how do you prevent these feelings from occurring?

Having the knowledge on how to fix the problem is the key!

Fortunately, the male organ is a whole lot easier to understand and fix then your cell phone and lap top. Having a proper understanding of erectile dysfunction is the first step in fixing erectile dysfunction. It’s more important than taking Viagra or any number of erectile dysfunctional drugs because it will help you determine the best long term solution to this symptom.

Notice I said “symptom” and not disease.

For the overwhelming majority of men who experience ED or Erectile Dysfunction it is a symptom of an underlining medical condition. Usually the medical condition centers on the cardiovascular system, the health of your endothelial cells, and their ability to properly produce nitric oxide.

To help the estimated 30 million American men who have some level of erectile dysfunction, I offer you two potential solutions to fixing erectile dysfunction. The first is an article posted on http://www.aging-no-more.com/ entitled simply “Fixing Erectile Dysfunction!” This article will help you understand how male physiology, chemistry and the nervous system all work together to create an erection. Click here to read the complete article.

Once you have a good understanding of erectile dysfunction, the second solution makes good sense because it offers a long-term natural solution for fixing the problem. Most researchers in this area believe that nitric oxide “can correct up to 90% of all penile dysfunction.”

The underlining problem is the insufficient production of nitric oxide to help start and maintain proper vasodilatation for an erection. The creation of nitric oxide occurs in the endothelial cells that line the blood vessels. The main nutrient for the creation of nitric oxide is an essential amino acid call L-arginine. By combining this with an adequate intake of L-citrulline many males have found that they don’t need to spend money on Viagra-like products to help them.

The second solution is a product called ProArgi-9 Plus. This product has been clinically shown to improve your cardiovascular system. It uses Nobel Prize winning science and cutting edge vascular research to properly bring L-arginine and L-citrulline into your body to heal the endothelial cells. This naturally produces adequate supplies of nitric oxide, and does it without side effects. All of which are important for fixing erectile dysfunction!

Together we can work to save a million lives!

Dan Hammer

Dan Hammer has a background in biology, chemistry and exercise physiology. He used to run one of the largest health club operations in the Chicagoland area and has been helping people with their wellness issues for more than 25 years.

The information contained in this article is for general information purposes only and never as a substitute for professional medical advice or medical exam. The information contain in this article has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a qualified medical doctor.

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