Nitric Oxide and Cardiovascular Health!

If you want to improve your overall health, and the health of your loved ones, then you need to understand the relationship between nitric oxide and cardiovascular health.  It’s absolutely critical because you could not live without nitric oxide – the master signaling molecule of your entire cardiovascular system.
You’ve most likely never been counseled by your physician about the importance of nitric oxide and cardiovascular health.  Yet there is an overwhelming amount of research that validates the tremendous role nitric oxide plays in your body.  Here is just a sample of several prominent physicians and researchers with their comments about nitric oxide and cardiovascular health:

Dr. John Cooke – Director of Vascular Medicine at Stanford University and author of the book, The Cardiovascular Cure:

This book will introduce you to the magic that is inside your blood vessels.  It comes in the shape of a molecule, one of the simplest molecules found in nature. This molecule is nitric oxide, or NO, a substance so powerful that it can actually protect you from heart attack and stroke. Best of all, your body can make it on its own.  NO is your body’s own built-in, natural protection against heart disease.”

Dr. Louis J. Ignarro – 1998 Nobel Laureate in Medicine and author of the book, NO More Heart Disease:

Though NO’s structure is simple, nitric oxide is now regarded as the most significant molecule in the body, absolutely crucial to your well-being. I am convinced that nitric oxide can age-proof your cardiovascular system, keeping it much fitter than your chronological age would indicate.”

Repairing the damage wrought by cardiovascular disease without risky and often ineffective surgery had long been considered impossible.  I was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for making that thinking obsolete. Now we know we can reverse cardiovascular impairment naturally – with the body’s internally manufactured ‘wonder drug,’ nitric oxide.”

Dr. Jonathan S. Stamler – Professor of Medicine at Duke University Medical Center:

It does everything, everywhere. You cannot name a major cellular response or physiological effect in which [nitric oxide] is not implicated today. It’s involved in complex behavioral changes in the brain, airway relaxation, beating of the heart, dilation of blood vessels, regulation of intestinal movement, function of blood cells, the immune system, even how fingers and arms move.”

Three of the most prominent doctors in America all talking about the importance of nitric oxide and cardiovascular health.  How this amazing molecule plays such a significant role in your overall health.  The production of nitric oxide is a vital function of your endothelium, which lines all of your cardiovascular system.  In fact, the 1998 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to three American researchers who discovered how the endothelial cells produce nitric oxide from the amino acid L-Arginine.  Since its discovery much has been learned about nitric oxide.  For example:

  • Nitric oxide regulates the muscle tone of blood vessels to have a major impact on controlling blood pressure.
  • Nitric oxide stops blood platelet cells from grouping together in a clot to help prevent blockages in the blood vessels.
  • Nitric oxide controls the action of almost every orifice from swallowing to defecation.
  • Nitric oxide helps the immune system fight viral, bacterial and parasitic infections as well as tumors.
  • Nitric oxide causes penile erections by dilating blood vessels to help in erectile dysfunction.
  • Nitric oxide transmits messages between nerve cells.
  • Nitric oxide seems to be associated with the process of learning, memory, sleeping, feeling pain, and maybe even depression.
  • Nitric oxide has been shown to be a mediator in inflammation and rheumatism.
  • Nitric oxide promotes vascular reparative mechanisms when injury occurs.  It is one of the keys to reversing atherosclerosis.

To help you understand the significance of nitric oxide and cardiovascular health, let’s focus on two key cardiovascular issues.

Nitric Oxide and Cardiovascular Health – High Blood Pressure!

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 31.3 percent of the U.S. adult population has high blood pressure.  That represents almost one out of every three adults.  Add to this fact that another 25 percent of American adults have prehypertension – blood pressure numbers that are higher than normal, but not yet in the high blood pressure range – and you have over half the American adult population affected by this cardiovascular disease.

This represents a staggering cost in human life and a significant financial drain.  In 2006, high blood pressure was listed as the primary or contributing cause of death for 326,000 Americans.  The estimated cost in 2010 for health care services, medications, and missed days of work was $76.6 billion.

The typical treatment program for most people with high blood pressure can be a combination of diet, exercise, stress management techniques, and medication. For many who opt for the medication route, it’s estimated that 26 percent still do not have their hypertension under control. Since many medications also have some form of side effect it can be a frustrating journey trying to get your blood pressure under control.

Enhancing the body’s ability to produce nitric oxide is seldom considered yet Nobel Prize Laureate in Medicine Dr. Louis Ignarro makes the following statement regarding nitric oxide and cardiovascular health:

More effective than any other factor in the body, nitric oxide can dilate the smooth muscle of the blood vessels.  With this dilation, the vessels can relax and allow blood to flow easily through them – and quite possibly lower the blood pressure.”

Nitric oxide is the body’s most powerful vasodilator and causes the smooth muscle of the vascular wall to relax.  This regulates your blood pressure and the health of your endothelium controls this process.  Properly nourishing and repairing your endothelium so that it can properly produce nitric oxide is a natural way to help maintain normal blood pressure.

Nitric Oxide and Cardiovascular Health – Strokes and Heart Attacks!

When you have a blood clot that causes a blockage in the brain we call it a stroke and when that blockage occurs in the heart it’s called a heart attack. According to the American Heart Association’s website 87 percent of all strokes are ischemic strokes. An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot forms in the bloodstream.  This blood clot then lodges within an artery of the brain causing a blockage.  This blockage reduces the necessary blood flow to that section of the brain leading to damage or death to those brain cells.  The amount of damage determines the severity of the stroke.  This same scenario applies to your heart.  Add to this the following statistics:

  • 77% of Americans treated for a first stroke had high blood pressure!
  • 69% of Americans who experienced a first heart attack had high blood pressure!

As you can see the prevention of strokes and heart attacks really centers on addressing high blood pressure and reducing the potential for the formation of blood clots.  Your body does this naturally through nitric oxide – the master signaling molecule of your entire cardiovascular system. Nitric oxide causes two very specific events or reactions to occur.

Nitric oxide keeps blood platelet cells from sticking together. This helps to prevent blood clots from occurring in the vascular system, thereby reducing the risk for strokes and heart attacks.

Nitric oxide is your body’s most powerful vasodilator to relax the smooth muscle of your vascular wall to properly control blood pressure. This improves blood flow and directly addresses the number one risk factor for strokes and heart attacks.  Additionally, your endothelium is a critical component in the regulation of your blood pressure by controlling the response of your vascular wall to the changing pressures within your cardiovascular system.

Nitric Oxide and Cardiovascular Health – Conclusion!

While there is much more that can be said about nitric oxide and cardiovascular health it is very evident that many of the cardiovascular issues facing the American population could be addressed through the proper production of nitric oxide.

Learning how to properly nourish, heal, and support your endothelium through proper nutritional supplementation, diet, and exercise would be a much more cost effective and life enhancing way then the current approach taken today.  As stated at the beginning of this article, nitric oxide is critical to your cardiovascular 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 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 about nitric oxide and cardiovascular health 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.

Endothelial Health Equals Cardiovascular Health!

When was the last time anyone ever asked you about your endothelial health?

NEVER!

It’s estimated that there are approximately 60,000 miles of blood vessels in the adult body.  These blood vessels include arteries, veins, and capillaries.  They are all protected by a microscopic inner lining of endothelial cells, which are commonly called the endothelium.  It’s important to note that these cells line the entire circulatory system from the inside of your heart all the way down to your smallest capillary.  When added up, the volume of these endothelial cells would cover the surface area of 4 to 8 tennis courts depending upon the size of the individual. That’s amazing since the endothelium is only one cell thick and can’t be seen by the human eye.

Once discovered the endothelium was classified as an inert membrane whose primary function was to keep the blood in the circulatory system and out of the body’s tissues and organs. Research over the last 25 years has shown that your endothelium is an active, multi-functional organ that plays a vital role in metabolic, immunologic, and cardiovascular health. Your endothelium is now considered to be the single largest secreting organ in the body.

Endothelial health is so important that the 1998 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to three American researchers who discovered how the endothelium converts the amino acid L-arginine into nitric oxide – the master signaling molecule of your entire cardiovascular system.

Endothelial Health and Its Life Enhancing Functions!

Because endothelial cells line every blood vessel they play an important role in the proper function of every organ in your body.  The following is a list of the known functions of the endothelium.  Each function plays an important role in endothelial health, cardiovascular health, and your overall wellness:

  • Angiogenesis – The formation of new capillaries is called angiogenesis and is regulated in part by the endothelium. Endothelial health is extremely important in wound healing.  It also plays a significant role in muscle creation and in the heart’s ability to develop collateral vessels.  These collateral vessels can help lessen the impact of a blood vessel blockage in the heart by providing alternative routes for blood flow.
  • Blood Flow – Your endothelium helps to facilitate blood flow. It does this by providing a smooth surface that inhibits platelet adhesion and clotting.  It also tries to inhibit foreign substances from adhering to its cellular wall, which can lead to plaque formations.  Large molecules like LDL (bad) cholesterol and/or toxic substances like nicotine damage the intercellular junctions between the endothelial cells allowing deposits to build up.  This causes the smooth and flexible lining of your blood vessels to become rough and hard to directly impact endothelial health.

It’s these plaque formations that are at the heart of atherosclerosis. As this process continues over time, the deposits or plaques become larger which narrows the interior of the blood vessel making it harder for blood to pass through.  This increases resistance to blood flow, which can cause your blood pressure to increase. The following factors can damage the endothelium and increase these formations:  smoking, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension or high blood pressure, and inflammation. Elevated homocysteine levels have also been associated with premature atherosclerosis and can effect endothelial health and function.

Atherosclerosis was once thought to be irreversible but new studies clearly show that when the proper biochemical environment is provided the injured endothelium can return to its undamaged state. Proper supplementation with L-arginine, the precursor for nitric oxide, has been shown to diminish lesion formation, reverse endothelial dysfunction, and lead to improved endothelial health.

  • Blood Clotting – The narrowing of your blood vessels also causes blood turbulence that can lead to the formation of blood clots.  These blood clots, if large enough or if they pass through too narrow of an opening, can eventually lodge themselves in a blood vessel causing a blockage. When this happens in the heart we call it a heart attack.  When it
    happens in the brain it is called a stroke.

The endothelial cells produce a molecule called nitric oxide, which inhibits platelet adhesion, activation, secretion and aggregation, and promotes platelet disaggregation. This is extremely important in preventing blood clots in the vascular system to lessen the risk for heart attacks and strokes. It’s also a critical factor in sickle cell anemia to help prevent sickle cells from adhering to each other and clinging to the vascular walls.  This helps to prevent blockages, which cause most of the pain and tissue damage associated with sickle cell anemia.

While using nitric oxide to prevent blood clotting, it’s interesting to note that the endothelial cells are also necessary for blood to clot. They synthesize the vitally important molecule called Factor VIII or von Willibrand’s Factor, which is essential for blood clotting.  Without this molecule a person could bleed to death from a simple scratch.

  • Blood pressure – Not only do the endothelial cells provide a dynamically-controlled structural barrier between the circulating blood and surrounding tissues and organs but they also produce signaling molecules that influence vasodilation and vasoconstriction. Vasodilation causes blood vessels to relax allowing for greater blood flow.  This reduces blood pressure. Vasoconstriction causes blood vessels to tighten reducing blood flow and causing blood pressure to increase.

It’s currently believed that the endothelial cells are the controlling factor in the regulation of blood pressure. They produce both nitric oxide, which is the most potent vasodilator, and Endothelin-1 the most potent vasoconstrictor. The proper production of nitric oxide is fundamental to maintaining normal blood pressures, which means that endothelial health is critical to helping you maintain normal blood pressures.

  • Specialized barrier function – Endothelial cells act as selective filters to regulate the passage of gases, fluids, and various molecules across their membranes.  For example, in the brain and retina the endothelial cells are tightly linked together to create a barrier that only allows selective molecules to pass through it.  In the liver, spleen, and bone marrow, the endothelial cells are loosely linked allowing for cellular trafficking between their intercellular gaps.  However, in the kidneys, endocrine glands, and intestinal villi, the endothelial cells have a different type of selective permeability to allow for efficient filtering, secretion, and absorption based on that organ’s function.

Endothelial health is also critical to the proper function of your immune system. Your white blood cells or leucocytes are produced in the bone marrow.  They travel through the blood stream where the endothelial cells facilitate their passage into your body’s tissue to allow them to destroy foreign agents or antigens.  This gate-keeping role varies for each organ system but is dependent upon endothelial health and function.

Endothelial Health Is Critically Important!

It’s amazing that a simple lining of cells on the interior walls of your blood vessels could have such a profound affect on your
cardiovascular health and overall wellness.  Yet that’s exactly the case with your endothelial cells.  Endothelial health is critical to your health and your body’s ability to produce nitric oxide – the master signaling molecule of your entire cardiovascular system.  When impaired, endothelial dysfunction has been linked to the following diseases:

  • Diabetes
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Arteriosclerosis
  • Heart Disease
  • Stroke
  • Hypertension
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Lupus
  • Scleroderma
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • ALS
  • Parkinson’s
  • Hypercoagulation of Blood, Thrombosis, Clotting Disorders
  • Renal Failure
  • Metabolic Syndrome including Abdominal Obesity and Insulin Resistance
  • Sleep Apnea
  • Glaucoma

That’s quite a list of diseases. Properly bringing in a good source of L-arginine, combined with good eating and lifestyle habits like those found in the Mediterranean diet, can help reverse damage to the endothelium and improve endothelial health. This means that your choices have a direct impact on endothelial health, which impacts cardiovascular health and all the diseases listed above.

It also means that you have the ability to prevent most of these diseases by focusing your attention on ways to improve your endothelial health and function. We’ll look at this in our next article especially as it applies to proper nitric oxide production.

Together we can work to save a million lives by concentrating on endothelial health!

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 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 about endothelial health has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent and disease without the supervision of a qualified medical doctor.

Cardiovascular Health for Women!

If you search cardiovascular health for women on Google you will obtain 17 million results.  Search breast health for women and you will obtain almost 41 million results.  Almost 2.5 times more results for breast health over cardiovascular health for women, yet American women are 4 to 6 times more likely to die of heart disease than of breast cancer.

This is not to say that breast cancer information isn’t important or to discount all the work done to bring this to the attention of our society.  It’s vitally important.

But so is targeted information for cardiovascular health for women.  This information is so important that it has the potential to save even more lives than any other health education program, especially when there is a natural solution.

Cardiovascular Health for Women Could Save Millions of Lives!

So I’m on a mission to educate women in this area.  A mission that has the potential to save millions of lives from the number one cause of death for both men and women worldwide.

As I was gathering information for this article I came across the following quote from Kofi Annan, the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize Winner:

When women thrive, all of society benefits, and succeeding generations are given a better start in life.”

What a profound and true statement.  Women are caregivers to their family, friends, and eventually to themselves.  I would like to educate you in this area of cardiovascular health for women so that you can take care of yourself as well as your family and friends. Together we can help save millions of lives from cardiovascular disease and illness. We can help them live vibrant and healthy lives by paying attention to the core problem of most cardiovascular disease.

I’ve always found the best place to start any journey is at the beginning.  We need to see where we are at to better understand where we need to go.  Here are some startling statistics from a wide variety of experts in the area of cardiovascular health for women.

According to FamilyDoctor.org:

  • Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women over 65 years of age.
  • Heart disease kills more women over 65 years of age than all cancers combined.

According to the Mayo Clinic:

  • Although heart disease is often thought of as a problem for men, more women than men die of heart disease each year.

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality:

  • Experts estimate that one in two women will die of heart disease or stroke, compared with one in 25 women who will die of breast cancer.

Cardiovascular Health for Women Starts With The Endothelium!

The message is clear.  It is time to pay attention to cardiovascular health for women.  Most people think we need to place our attention on heart health.  While this is important, it is not the root cause of most cardiovascular disease.  According to the American Heart Association 2004 Heart and Stroke Statistical Update, arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis accounted for nearly 75% of all deaths from heart disease.

Arteriosclerosis is hardening of the arteries.  Atherosclerosis is plaque formations building up inside the vascular system.  Cardiovascular health for women really centers on your vascular system more than your heart.  The key to your vascular system is the health of your endothelium.

What!  You’ve never heard of the ENDOTHELIUM!

It doesn’t surprise me since most people have never heard of this organ.  Yet the 1998 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to three American researches that discovered how this organ converts an amino acid called L-arginine into nitric oxide, which is the master signaling molecule for your entire cardiovascular system. You could not live without nitric oxide and it’s your endothelium that controls its production. Both are critically important if we are to achieve improvements in cardiovascular health for women.

Please join me for my next article as I help you discover this Nobel Prize Winning Science about an organ that actually controls most of your cardiovascular system.  It’s the key to saving a million lives.  It’s the organ that needs attention if improved cardiovascular health for women and their loved ones is to change the health of America and our world.

Together we can share how cardiovascular health for women could 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 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 about cardiovascular health for women 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.

Heart Disease Costs to Skyrocket!

According to the American Heart Association (January 24, 2011) heart disease costs are expected to triple in the next 20 years. This means that heart disease costs in the United States are projected to go from 273 billion to 818 billion. To put this into perspective this cost is equivalent to the 800 billion dollar TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) legislation pushed through Congress to help bail out the banks, insurance, and auto companies.  

For many Americans, TARP was a symbol of big government at its worst. For me, this projected increase in heart disease costs is a symbol of American health care at its worst. To help you understand what I’m going to say, please listen to this NBC News video discussing this issue of skyrocketing heart disease costs: 

http://topics.healthvideo.com/m/37359428/heart-disease-costs-to-skyrocket.htm#q=Heart+Disease+Costs+to+Skyrocket 

As this video points out the projected heart disease costs could change if new treatment programs are found. To further highlight this I like to share the following quote from Dr. Paul Heidenreich, an associate professor of medicine at Stanford Medical School and chair of the American Heart Association panel who issued this policy statement on heart disease costs: 

The burden of heart disease and stroke on the U.S. Health care system will be substantial and will limit our ability to care for the U.S. population unless we can take steps now to prevent cardiovascular disease.” 

The issue that upsets me the most is this idea that we have to discover some pharmaceutical treatment program to solve this crisis. The reality is: 

We Can Prevent Heart Disease Costs NOW!  

There are preventative steps that are natural and can make a substantial difference in reducing the risk for all forms of cardiovascular disease allowing us to make a major dent in heart disease costs. These preventative steps have Nobel Prize Winning Science from Dr. Louis J. Ignarro and cutting edge vascular research from Stanford Medical School through Dr. John Cooke.  

Heart Disease Costs Could be Substantially Reduced by a Natural Treatment Program That Already Exists! 

In 1998 the Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to three American researchers who discovered how your endothelium, which lines all of your cardiovascular system, converts the amino acid L-arginine into nitric oxide – the master signaling molecule of your entire cardiovascular system. Dr. Ignarro refers to nitric oxide as “the body’s natural cardiovascular wonder drug.”  

To help you understand the magnitude of the existing cardiovascular problem let me share the following statistics: 

  • Currently, 36.9 percent of Americans have some type of heart disease (high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and other conditions.)
  • By 2030 this number is expected to rise to 40.5 percent of the population.
  • The biggest increases are thought to be in heart failure (up 25 percent) and stroke (up 24.9 percent). 

You will note that in the above statistics all are affected by the health of your endothelium and its ability to properly produce nitric oxide. Here is why this is so important. Nitric oxide plays three critical roles in cardiovascular health and function. They are: 

  1. Nitric oxide keeps blood platelet cells from sticking together to prevent blockages that can lead to a stroke or heart attack.
  2. Nitric oxide is your body’s most powerful vasodilator to relax the smooth muscle of your vascular wall to properly regulate your blood pressure.
  3. Nitric oxide, when in sufficient quantities in the blood stream, repairs ongoing damage to the endothelial cells and can effectively reverse existing damage from plaque formations. 

As you can see, proper nitric oxide production achieved through the healthy function of your endothelium directly addresses most of the underlying causes of cardiovascular disease. You can directly repair and nourish your endothelium for improved nitric oxide production and do it naturally. 

Heart Disease Costs Could be Substantially Reduced With Existing Science! 

The American Heart Association continued their line of thinking with the following statement: 

Effective prevention strategies are needed if we are to limit the growing burden

of cardiovascular disease.”  

I’m here to tell you that those “effective prevention strategies” already exist. They are natural strategies that combine two amino acids in L-arginine and L-citrulline with a synergistic blend of antioxidants and nutrients that can help improve the function of the endothelium and turbo charge the effects of nitric oxide on cardiovascular health. This natural strategy can significantly reduce heart disease costs, substantially reduce cardiovascular risk factors, improve the quality of life for those with current cardiovascular issues, and prevent future generations from developing heart disease. 

Commenting on the American Heart Association’s policy statement, Dr. Gregg C. Fonarow, a professor of cardiology at the University of California (Los Angles) had this to say: 

Population-based strategies are urgently needed to improve cardiovascular health, prevent or delay the onset of cardiovascular disease, and help to address the projected rise in expenditures. Implementing effective health promotion and cardiovascular disease prevention needs to become a national priority.” 

I need your help to spread the word. I need your help to make this a national priority. I need your help to promote this information on Twitter and Facebook and other social platforms so that we can partner in this process to drastically reduce heart disease costs.  

Together we can work to save a million lives by helping to educate others about natural and clinically proven methods to repair and nourish the endothelium for improved nitric oxide production. Please join me by subscribing to my newsletter and sharing this vital information. Please click on this link for a clinically proven product that addresses endothelial cell health, which enables the endothelium to properly produce nitric oxide.  

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 about heart disease costs 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.

Alzheimer’s and Cardiovascular Disease Part 2!

Alzheimer's and Cardiovascular DiseaseAs we’ve seen from the previous post, there is a natural connection between Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease. In your skull is a 3 pound wonder that has 100 billion neurons sending each other electrical and chemical signals in an orchestrated pattern that creates memories and allows for learning. 

Each nerve cell communicates with many other neurons to form networks. These networks of neurons have special jobs. Some help us to see, hear, and breathe. Other networks are involved in thinking, learning, and remembering. To keep everything running requires large amounts of nutrients and oxygen.

It’s your cardiovascular system that will deliver the needed resources for brain function. If your circulation is compromised then you will compromise brain function. Maybe you’ve experienced first hand the emotional and financial costs of being a caregiver to a loved one who has Alzheimer’s or any other form of dementia. Although there are no current cures for Alzheimer’s, there are steps you can take to prevent this dreaded disease.  

How to Prevent Alzheimer’s and Cardiovascular Disease Naturally! 

In our previous post we examined how folic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, and beta carotene can significantly reduce your risks. In this video we’re going to look at Iron and the Mediterranean diet as part of the mix. Our goal is to give you a game plan for the prevention of Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease since they are strongly related. 

We’re also going to examine how cholesterol, diabetes, and aerobic exercise play a role in your cognitive health. After these videos were produced, we received the Health & Nutrition Letter Volume 10G from Tufts University. Their lead article was “Eat Like a Mediterranean to Protect Your Aging Brain.” The following two quotes will reinforce the information you are about to learn in this next video: 

In an updated analysis of that earlier study of 1,880 older New Yorkers, those who most closely followed a Mediterranean-style diet were at 40% lower risk of Alzheimer’s over 5.4 years than those with lowest adherence.” 

The new analysis also looked at physical activity, finding that participants with the highest level of activity were at 33% lower risk of Alzheimer’s than the least-active subjects. . . that the association of physical activity with Alzheimer’s disease risk was independent to that of the diet.” 

This video will also introduce you to an organ in your cardiovascular system

that makes all the difference in the prevention of Alzheimer’s

and cardiovascular disease since they are strongly related:

 Alzheimer’s and Cardiovascular Disease Video 3

A Concise Game Plan to Prevent Alzheimer’s and Cardiovascular Disease Naturally! 

In this final video we’re going to put all the pieces together into a concise plan of action. You’re going to learn how: 

  • You need to repair and nourish your endothelial cells to improve their ability to properly produce nitric oxide – the master signaling molecule of your entire cardiovascular system!
  • The amino acids L-arginine and L-citrulline need to be part of your daily diet!
  • Green vegetables are key to improved brain health!
  • You need to consume at least 400 micrograms of folic acid on a daily basis.
  • Omega-3 fatty acids make such a difference!
  • A yearly physical can help you pay attention to your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and iron levels!
  • Exercise can improve brain function! 

Watch and listen as we help you focus this information into a powerful plan of action that everyone can do. This plan of action will significantly reduce the risk for Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease:

Alzheimer’s and Cardiovascular Disease Video 4

You Can Repair and Nourish Your Endothelium to Help Reduce the Risks for Alzheimer’s and Cardiovascular Disease! 

As our last video showed, here is your best plan of action: 

  • Take ProArgi-9 Plus on a Daily Basis!
  • Adopt a Mediterranean Diet Lifestyle!
  • Exercise at Least 3 Times per Week!
  • Get a Yearly Physical! 

Over the course of these four videos we have given you a lot of information and options for improving brain health and function. We have tried to simplify the information into a doable plan of action. One that has the potential to reduce your risk for Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease. The longer you apply this plan the greater the benefit. Now it’s up to you to make the difference in how you and your brain age. 

If you found the above videos helpful, then please share this information on Twitter and Facebook so that others can benefit. 

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 about Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease 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.

Alzheimer’s and Cardiovascular Disease Part 1!

 

Alzheimer's and Cardiovascular Disease

The connection between Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease is real. Learning about this connection also becomes the key to preventing both of these diseases.

The educational videos on this page (and in my next post) will help you understand this connection and provide you with a game plan for prevention!  

It’s normal to experience a loss of memory with age. What’s not normal is for this loss of memory to become so dysfunctional that it leads to dementia diseases like Alzheimer’s. Because of this Alzheimer’s has become the number one fear of the Baby Boomer population. That fear centers on experiencing the emotional, physical, and financial devastation of seeing a loved one suffer from this dreaded disease. 

Here’s the good news:  

There are steps you can take to prevent this sad reality for yourself and your loved ones! 

These educational videos will help you develop a simple but highly effective game plan for prevention. You really do have the power to make choices that will enhance your health and lower your risk.  

You Can Prevent Alzheimer’s and Cardiovascular Disease Naturally! 

FACT: One out of five people (20%) over 65 and 50% of people over age 85 are afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. Approximately 5.2 million Americans and 26.6 million people worldwide currently suffer with this disease. Sources: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Alzheimer’s Association. 

The other sad reality is that there is currently no known cure for Alzheimer’s. Once you have it it’s a progressively disabling disease that will result in death. 

Pretty depressing until you understand the following: 

The Cure Lies in Prevention! 

That’s right. You have the power to make a significant difference in how this disease affects you, as well as the people around you. There is enough research and clinical data to positively demonstrate that if you properly care for your cardiovascular system you will substantially reduce your risk for Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease. 

Our first educational video helps set the stage:

 Alzheimer’s and Cardiovascular Disease Video 1

The Connection Between Alzheimer’s and Cardiovascular Disease! 

Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disorder and is the most common form of dementia. More and more research is showing that there is a direct connection between Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease.  

This next video will help you understand the connection between your cardiovascular system and brain function. If your circulation is compromised then you will compromise brain function. They go hand-in-hand. To improve both we look at:

  • Antioxidants to Reduce Free Radical Damage!
  • The Need for Folate or Vitamin B9!
  • How Omega-3 Fatty Acids Lower the Risk of Alzheimer’s by 40 to 50 Percent!
  • The Need for Beta Carotene!

Our goal is to help you develop a cost effect, natural approach that can make a significant impact on all aspects of your overall wellness. Enjoy the video:

Alzheimer’s and Cardiovascular Disease Video 2

  

We’ll Continue This Series on Alzheimer’s and Cardiovascular Disease in Our Next Post! 

Folic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, and beta carotene have all been shown to significantly reduce your risks for both Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease. In our next post we will examine Iron and the Mediterranean diet as part of the mix. Our goal is to give you a game plan for the prevention of Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease since they are strongly related.  

While I cannot promise you that if you follow the plan of action outlined in my next post you will be free from these dreaded diseases, I do believe you will significantly reduce your risk. Not only can you lower your risk but you can also empower others to lower their risk for Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease as well.  

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 about Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease 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.

Elevated Blood Glucose and Cardiovascular Disease!

Elevated blood glucose is not just a problem for diabetics. As new evidence accumulates, it’s clear that aging individuals have elevated blood glucose levels leading to cardiovascular disease. This was demonstrated in a 22-year follow-up study of nearly 2,000 healthy non-diabetic men as reported in Diabetes Care. The authors reported that for those men with a fasting blood glucose level over 85 mg/dL there was a 40% increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease. 

While most physicians use the fasting blood glucose threshold of 100 mg/dL, this study clearly showed that even at this level there is a substantial increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease. According to the authors Bjornholt, Erikssen, and Aaser: 

. . . fasting blood glucose values in the upper normal range appears to be an important independent predictor of cardiovascular death in nondiabetic apparently healthy middle-aged men.” 

Where Does Elevated Blood Glucose Come From? 

Our body’s primary energy source is glucose. All cells use it. The body’s digestion of carbohydrate foods are the primary source of blood glucose. Unfortunately, the typical American diet is high in carbohydrate foods especially those with high glycemic values. The higher the glycemic value of a food source the quicker it’s absorbed to elevate your blood glucose level. According to Life Extension, “when after-meal glucose levels surge above 140 mg/dL, risks of virtually all degenerative diseases increase.” 

The dangers from elevated blood glucose is so strong that the International Diabetes Federation has issued the following warning for non-diabetics who have elevated blood glucose levels above 140 mg/dL. You are at significant risk for: 

  • Retinal damage to the eye
  • Arterial blockage
  • Oxidative stress
  • Increased inflammation
  • Endothelial dysfunction
  • Reduced coronary blood flow
  • Increased cancer risk 

Of these 7 risk factors, the only one that does not have a cardiovascular component is cancer.  

As we age, our cellular sensitivity to insulin diminishes for a variety of reasons. This allows excess glucose to accumulate in our bloodstream. Excess glucose is converted to triglycerides that are stored as unwanted fat. Or, these triglycerides will accumulate in the bloodstream where they contribute to the formation of atherosclerotic plaque. Additionally, surplus glucose will react with your body’s proteins forming Advanced Glycation End products, which accelerates the aging process, causes chronic inflammation, and produces destructive free radicals. 

How Do You Combat Elevated Blood Glucose? 

Because digested carbohydrate foods are the primary source of blood glucose, the easiest way to combat elevated blood glucose is to reduce our calorie intake, especially foods that have high glycemic values. Learning how to consume a Mediterranean diet, with lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, and beans can be an excellent dietary option to consider. 

For those choosing not to reduce their excess caloric intake than you need to consider blocking calorie absorption either with natural supplements or medication. Four popular natural supplements that help reduce the impact of excess calorie intake are Propolmannan, Phaseolus Vulgaris, Invingia Gabonensis, and Green Tea Phytosome. These typically work by inhibiting the digestive enzymes used to break down carbohydrate and fatty foods. If you opt for a pharmaceutical drug then the anti-diabetic drug called Metformin seems to be your best option. Metformin has a long history of safe human use in helping to lower blood glucose. However, the dose of metformin varies considerably so you should work with your health care provider if you choose this option. 

You Must Repair the Damage of Elevated Blood Glucose! 

No matter the method you use to lower your elevated blood glucose levels, damage to the endothelium will occur. Whether this damage be from oxidative stress caused by blood glucose, glycation end products, or plaque formation leading to atherosclerosis you need to have in place an active program to repair and nourish your endothelial cells so that they can properly produce nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is the master signaling molecule of your entire cardiovascular system. It actively helps to repair the damage to the endothelium while keeping blood platelet cells from sticking together to form clots. 

When you properly repair the endothelium for improved nitric oxide production you improve blood circulation. This improves the body’s ability to use oxygen, which in turn improves the cells’ ability to properly use blood glucose in the production of energy.  

It’s amazing how important your endothelium is in preventing the damage caused by blood glucose as well as making sure that it is properly used. 

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 about elevated blood glucose 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.

Complications of Diabetes – Part 2!

Complications of DiabetesAs we learned in the previous article Complications of Diabetes – Part 1 there is a one-celled thick organ called the Endothelium that is constantly being damaged by high blood sugar levels. This damage to the endothelial cells reduces their ability to proper produce Nitric Oxide the master signaling molecule of your entire cardiovascular system.

Dr. J. Joseph Prendergast has pioneered a natural approach to repairing and nourishing your endothelium so that your endothelial cells can regain their ability to produce nitric oxide. This article will continue our video series to help you understand how you can take a proactive approach to reducing the complications of diabetes.

Nitric Oxide Can Dramatically Reduce The Complications of Diabetes!

If you want to improve your circulation, improve your kidney function, decrease your risk for cardiovascular disease, help bring your blood pressure back into a normal range, and lessen the potential for strokes and heart attacks, then you need to understand the importance of nitric oxide. Simply stated you could not live without nitric oxide. It is critical for proper cardiovascular function.

In his 2005 National Bestseller entitled NO More Heart Disease, Nobel Laureate Dr. Louis J. Ignarro made the following statement:

NO – as it is know 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.”

This video will help you understand how nitric oxide can directly address many of the complications of diabetes:

Addressing The Hidden Enemy That Can Compound the Complications of Diabetes!

There is a hidden enemy that can compound the complications of diabetes. This hidden enemy is seldom addressed but affects everyone – especially the African American community. This hidden enemy is an enzyme called arginase.

Arginase is used by your liver to help detoxify you. Unfortunately, arginase also destroys L-arginine. As you learned in a previous video, L-arginine is the primary amino acid used by your endothelial cells to create nitric oxide. This means that the enzyme arginase can reduce nitric oxide production by destroying L-arginine before it can be converted to nitric oxide.

Our next video will help you understand that your endothelial cells have an alternative pathway for the creation of nitric oxide. This alternative pathway centers on having an adequate supply of the other amino acid L-citrulline:

A Clinically Proven Natural Product and Alternative for Reducing the Complications of Diabetes!

Controlling blood sugar levels is vitally important for a diabetic. This has been the standard approach for most people with diabetes. However, this approach doesn’t address the damage caused by blood sugar to the endothelium. Dr. J. Joseph Prendergast has pioneered a second approach to addressing the complications of diabetes.

This second approach centers on the repair and proper nourishment of your endothelial cells. This approach allows them to heal and properly produce nitric oxide – the master signaling molecule of your entire cardiovascular system. Dr. Prendergast has been using this approach since 1991. He has combined Nobel Prize winning science with cutting edge vascular research out of Stanford School of Medicine’s Cardiovascular Research Center to develop a clinical application that has benefited thousands of his patients and tens of thousands of people around the world.

This final video highlights this natural approach. How Dr. Prendergast has combined L-arginine with L-citrulline and other heart healthy vitamins and nutrients resulting in no strokes, no heart attacks, and less than 1% hospital admissions for cardiovascular issues in over 7000 of his patients:

If you would like to try a clinically proven product that can repair your endothelial cells and improve their ability to properly produce nitric oxide, then you can order ProArgi-9 Plus by clicking here. I’ve set up an ordering system that offers you wholesale pricing with free shipping to those with US zip codes. Please click here for more information on ordering.

If you found the above videos helpful, then please share this information on Twitter and Facebook so that others can benefit.

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 and videos about the complications of diabetes 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.

Complications of Diabetes – Part 1

 
 

Complications of Diabetes

Complications of Diabetes

Diabetes has grown to epidemic proportions. With this increase has come an increase in the complications of diabetes. Most of these complications center on poor cardiovascular health.

According to the June 26th issue of The Lancet, diabetes appears to double the risk of dying from a heart attack, stroke, or other heart conditions.

These series of videos will help you understand that it doesn’t have to be this way! Listen to this first video as I set the stage on helping you control the complications of diabetes.

 

The Complications of Diabetes Can be Dramatically Improved When You Understand This Approach!

It’s estimated that 23.5 million American adults have either Type I or Type II diabetes. High blood sugar causes damage to your cardiovascular system resulting in the complications of diabetes. These complications include poor circulation, poor kidney function, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and the increased potential for strokes and heart attacks. All are life threatening.

It doesn’t have to be this way and this video will help you begin to understand a natural approach pioneered by Dr. J. Joseph Prendergast. This approach has resulted in no strokes, no heart attacks, and less than 1% hospital admissions for cardiovascular issues in over 7,000 patients. What’s even more amazing is that 80% of these patients are diabetics. This video will introduce you to this approach:

To Reduce the Complications of Diabetes You Must Pay Attention to This Organ! 

Most people think that you must concentrate on your heart if you want to reduce the complications of diabetes. While your heart is critically important to your health, it’s not the key organ. The key organ that you must properly nourish and repair is your endothelium.

Most people have never heart of the endothelium yet this organ ultimately controls all of your cardiovascular system. It’s so important that the 1998 Nobel Prize in Medicine was award to three American researchers who discovered how this one-celled thick organ produces the master signaling molecule of your entire cardiovascular system. This video will help you better understand this critical organ:

Two Amino Acids are Key to Reducing the Complications of Diabetes! 

Before we can discuss nitric oxide we need to look at the two natural amino acids that your body needs on a daily basis. These two amino acids are L-arginine and L-citrulline. One is fairly common and one is not.

When properly repaired and nourished, your endothelial cells will convert these two amino acids into nitric oxide to help prevent the complications of diabetes. It’s important to note that by combining these two amino acids together you create a synergistic effect. This video will help you understand this process and which foods are good sources for these daily nutrients:

We’ll continue this video series on reducing the complications of diabetes in my next article. We will talk about how nitric oxide specifically addresses several health issues common to diabetics. One of the videos will examine the hidden enemy in your bloodstream that can cause additional problems for diabetes. I’ll show you a natural way to overcome this hidden enemy. Plus, we’ll look at a natural product that can make a huge difference in reducing the complications of diabetes.

If you found the above videos helpful, then please share this information on Twitter and Facebook so that others can benefit.

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 and videos about the complications of diabetes 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.

10 Major Risk Factors for Heart Disease!

Heart DiseaseFor the United States it is estimated that heart disease causes approximately 1.2 million heart attacks per year. More than 40 percent of those initial heart attacks will result in death. According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular disease results in 17.5 million deaths worldwide. Heart disease is the single greatest cause of death in both the United States and the world accounting for over half of all deaths.

Given this stark reality it is important to clearly know your major risk factors. According to the American Heart Association, there are 10 leading risk factors for heart disease. They are:

  • Age – According to mortuary tables, more than 83% of the people who die from heart disease are 65 or older.
  • Race – If you are African Americans, Mexican American, American Indian, native Hawaiian or Asian American then your risk is higher than the Caucasian community.
  • Sex – Men have both a greater risk of heart attack and having it at an earlier age than women. However, after menopause a woman’s death rate increases but not to the level of men.
  • Family History – There is a close association for heart disease if your parents or close relatives have some form of heart disease. The real question is whether it is genetic or lifestyle.
  • Smoking – Your risk for developing heart disease is two to four times greater than those who do not smoke.
  • High Blood Pressure – One out of every three Americans have high blood pressure. Not only does it increase your risk for heart attacks and kidney failure but it is the number one risk factor for stroke.
  • High Cholesterol – As your blood cholesterol increases so does your risk for heart disease. 
  • Diabetes – This disease seriously increases your risk for heart disease since approximately 65% of people with diabetes die from some form of cardiovascular disease. 
  • Sedentary Lifestyle – The greater your inactivity the greater your risk. 
  • Overweight/Obesity – There is a direct correlation with excess body fat, especially fat around the midsection, and the increased risk for heart disease and stroke even if there are no additional risk factors.     

4 Risk Factors of Heart Disease You Have No Control Over!

Age, race, sex, and family history are considered to be risk factors that you have no control over. While you can’t change any of them, I believe you can limit their effects on heart disease. For example:

Age – There can be a significant difference between your chronological age and your biological age. You can take steps to slow down the aging process and even turn back the biological age clock. My website www.Aging-No-More.com provides practical and effective ways to age youthfully.

Race – Certain population groups, like African Americans, have a much higher risk for heart disease than other groups. Part of this is lifestyle choices and part of this is genetics. Lifestyle choices can be changed and some genetic factors can be moderated to reduce your risk.

Sex – At one time men clearly dominated the area of heart disease. Not any more. Women have caught up with men. The rate of death for women from heart disease is 12 times that of breast cancer. So, is it gender or lifestyle that contributes to the risk of heart disease?

Family History – If your family history is because of genetics, then there is not much you can do except concentrate on the 6 key risk factors that you have control over. If your family history is because of lifestyle, then you have a tremendous opportunity to change this; which brings us to the rest of this article.

6 Major Risk Factors of Heart Disease That You Can Control!

I’ve ranked these 6 major risk factors for heart disease based on what I believe are the most important to address first. They are:

High Blood Pressure This is the most important area to gain control over. If you do not know what your current blood pressure reading is or if you have not had your blood pressure taken in the last 6 months, then get to a local pharmacist, health clinic, or qualified medical professional. Have them take your blood pressure. This will be your base line and will help to determine what your next step should be.

Your blood pressure will be given to you in two numbers such as 110/70 mm Hg. Your systolic number is the first and highest number. If this number is 140 or above then you have high blood pressure! Your diastolic number is the second and lowest number. If this number is 90 or above then you have high blood pressure! And, if both numbers are above 140/90 then you have high blood pressure. The higher above this threshold the greater your health risk.

High blood pressure will damage your heart and your endothelial cells. Your endothelial cells are critical to cardiovascular health. They also play a major role in controlling your blood pressure because they produce a molecule called nitric oxide. Nitric oxide regulates the muscle tone of your blood vessels. The article 7 Natural Steps to Take the Hyper out of Hypertension! will provide you with some simple but key natural adjustments to help you control your blood pressure.

Smoking – I debated whether to place this first or second on the list. Smoking is equal to or greater than high blood pressure. But monitoring and controlling your blood pressure is certainly a lot easier for a person than to stop smoking. For this reason alone I put high blood pressure as the first and most important risk to address. Next is smoking.

Most people equate smoking with cancer. While this association is true smoking is also the number one risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. It is estimated that 40% of all cardiovascular deaths are due to smoking.

The carcinogenic components in tobacco damage the endothelial cells that line the walls of your arteries. This affects your body’s ability to produce nitric oxide, which in turn affects your blood pressure. The carbon monoxide from the burned tobacco interferes with the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. This increases your heart rate and can raise your systolic blood pressure. Smoking also constricts the blood vessels in your arms and legs. This increases the resistance to blood flow, which causes your diastolic blood pressure to increase.

I realize that 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.

Overweight/Obesity – The health risks from being overweight and/or obese have now equaled, and some feel overtaken, the health risks from smoking. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 66% of adults age 20 years and over are overweight with 32% clinically obese. That means that 2 out of every 3 people you meet are going to be overweight with half of them being obese. With this dangerous rise in excess fat weight there has been a rise in high blood pressure and an epidemic increase in diabetes.

Because so many people have tried and failed at dieting, they see this category as hopeless. Diets are by their very nature restrictive and unproductive for long term weight loss. So stop trying to diet. Learn how to apply weight management techniques that can have a profound effect on your health and blood pressure. Most people are only 250 calories per day away from stopping their weight gain. That’s the difference between a can of regular soda versus a glass of water. Or, a large order of French fries versus a small order of French fries. The article The Secret to Weight Loss!” can help you in this area.

Diabetes – The greater your percent body fat, the more out of balance your hormonal level will be and the harder it will be for your body to stabilize its blood sugar levels. Most people who get a good handle on their weight and their dietary choices will see a drastic improvement in their blood sugar levels to help prevent type II diabetes. This is not to say that diabetes by itself is not a health risk that shouldn’t be addressed except through diet. What I am saying is that the majority of those with adult onset type II diabetes could prevent and/or reverse the process if they lost the fat and ate a diet that supported the health of their body rather than satisfying their cravings.

Also, high blood sugar levels cause oxidative stress or damage to the endothelial cells. This results in most of the complications associated with diabetes. I’m preparing a series of videos to help you understand this area. Learning how to properly repair and nourish your endothelial cells to improve their ability to produce nitric oxide – the master signaling molecule of your cardiovascular system – is key to preventing heart disease for diabetics.

High Cholesterol – There are two main types of cholesterol that you and your doctor should be concerned about. Your total cholesterol reading is a composite of these two. They are high density cholesterol or HDL and low density cholesterol or LDL. Of the total cholesterol reading the LDL will be the higher amount. Unfortunately your LDL is what also harms your cardiovascular system. Your goal is to lower your bad cholesterol which is your LDL and raise the level of your good cholesterol which is your HDL.

Your LDL cholesterol damages the intercellular junctions between the endothelial cells allowing deposits to build up. This causes the smooth and flexible lining of your blood vessels to become rough and hard leading to the disease commonly called arteriosclerosis or atherosclerosis. As this process continues over time, the deposits or plaques become larger which narrows the interior of the blood vessel making it harder for blood to pass through. This increases resistance to blood flow, which can cause your blood pressure to increase.

The narrowing of your blood vessels also causes blood turbulence that can lead to the formation of blood clots. These blood clots, if large enough or if they pass through too narrow of an opening, can eventually lodge themselves in a blood vessel causing a blockage. When this happens in the heart we call it a heart attack. When it happens in the brain it is called a stroke.

A simple, but profound method to control your cholesterol is to make sure you consume an adequate amount of soluble fiber. Soluble fiber is found mainly in fruits, vegetables, dry beans, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. Soluble fiber not only lowers LDL cholesterol but also raises HDL cholesterol. One study examined this relationship between soluble fiber and the risk of heart disease. This study included 9,632 men and women over a 19 year period. It showed that consuming dry beans four times or more per week, compared with less than once a week, lowered the risk of heart disease by 22 percent.

Sedentary Lifestyle – You were designed to move and exercise. Properly applied exercise will strengthen your heart muscle, increase the diameter of the coronary arteries and improve your lung function. As the heart muscle is strengthened it usually improves the efficiency of its contraction. This results in a greater volume of blood being pushed out of the heart to improve blood flow.

Exercise can also improve capillary function and help to build additional capillary beds. This decreases resistance to blood flow to help lower your diastolic blood pressure. Most studies show that at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity done 3 to 5 days per week can have a positive effect on your cardiovascular health. If you are not currently exercising then please check with a qualified health professional before starting your exercise program.

Conclusion About Your Risk Factors For Heart Disease!

Your ability to reduce your risk factors for heart disease is a lot greater than what you may have previously thought. In today’s world of pharmaceutical advertising people get the general impression that they need to see their doctor for the right kind of pill to solve their health issue. This is not to say that medication doesn’t have an important application to your overall health. However, your food and lifestyle choices have more to do with your health and the quality of your life than any other factor. It is why your lifestyle choices can have such a profound effect on restoring your health and helping you reduce your risk factors for heart 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 about the 10 major risks factors for heart disease 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.