What are Mitochondria?

These are the energy factories of your cells and play a [...]]]> In researching information about endothelial cell health and function I stumbled across information regarding lipoic acid and cardiovascular health.  Sometimes referred to as alpha lipoic acid this vital “co-factor” for enzymatic reactions is critically important for optimizing energy conversion in your mitochondria.

What are Mitochondria?

These are the energy factories of your cells and play a huge role in the aging process. At least in theory.  First proposed in 1972 by Denman Harman, the mitochondrial theory on aging centers on accumulated damage to the DNA of mitochondria.  This leads to increased free radical stress coupled with a decrease in cellular energy production.

So how does this relate to lipoic acid and cardiovascular health?

Researchers have been working to delay mitochondrial aging through a variety of nutrients.  One of those nutrients is lipoic acid and the following benefits have been noted:

• Lipoic acid helps to optimize mitochondria function and reverses cell aging.
• Lipoic acid may help to prevent cardiovascular disease, obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetic complications.
• Lipoic acid protects against nerve and brain cell damage.

It was the “may help to prevent cardiovascular disease” that caught my attention.  Further investigation led me to a couple of important insights about lipoic acid and cardiovascular health.

The Connection Between Lipoic Acid and Cardiovascular Health!

One of the recent discoveries shows how lipoic acid enhances the effects of insulin.  This benefits glucose metabolism by lowering blood sugar levels. This has two potential effects on cardiovascular health.  First, it reduces the potential for oxidative stress or damage to the endothelium. Second, it reduces the potential for the pathological cross-linking of glucose and protein to form Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs).  These AGEs have been shown to accelerate many of the aging processes, especially those associated with cardiovascular disease.

Research is also showing how lipoic acid suppresses the production of inflammatory cell-signaling molecules. This helps to protect the endothelium, which lines all of your cardiovascular system, from plaque formations. It’s these plaque formations that lead to the disease process know as atherosclerosis.  Atherosclerosis results in the narrowing of the vascular opening, which leads to an increased risk for strokes and heart attacks.

The following risk factors lead to atherosclerosis:  high levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL or Bad Cholesterol), smoking, high blood sugar levels, and high blood pressure.  All of these factors cause direct damage to the endothelium leading to inflammation and the potential for plaque formations.

We’ve already seen how lipoic acid can help reduce high blood sugar levels to prevent oxidative damage to the endothelium. Research also shows how lipoic acid lowers total cholesterol and LDL or bad cholesterol. Both of these actions help to reduce the size and number of potential atherosclerotic plaque formations.

Additionally, lipoic acid enhances the effectiveness of endothelial nitric oxide synthase or eNOS.  That’s a long word for the enzyme that the endothelium uses to create nitric oxide – the master signaling molecule of your entire cardiovascular system.  Nitric oxide keeps blood platelet cells from sticking together to prevent strokes and heart attacks.  Nitric oxide also relaxes the smooth muscle of the vascular wall to keep your blood pressure in a normal range.  Thus, nitric oxide is the body’s natural pathway for the prevention of high blood pressure.

When you add it all up, lipoic acid’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipid-lowering capabilities make it an ideal nutritional supplement to help protect the endothelium while enhancing the endothelium’s ability to properly produce nitric oxide. All of this results in helping to improve blood flow while reducing the risk for cardiovascular disease.  This is why there is a deep connection between lipoic acid and cardiovascular health.

How to Supplement to Obtain the Benefits of Lipoic Acid and Cardiovascular Health!

The consumption of lipoic acid can occur naturally if we choose the right types of food.  If you’re looking for animal sources rich in lipoic acid then you need to choose those organs that are high in metabolic activity such as the heart, liver, and kidney.  I don’t know about you but I’ve never eaten any of these sources and I don’t ever want to.  If you’re not into organ consumption, then steak would be another good option but the leaner the cut the better.

Another alternative is to choose plant based sources like spinach, broccoli, tomato, garden peas, brussels sprouts, and rice bran. These are better food sources since they also help you with other antioxidant properties, which can make a big difference in the aging process.

If you choose to use supplementation to obtain additional lipoic acid then make sure you use the “Right” form of lipoic acid.  Lipoic acid comes in what are termed “mirror image” forms labeled “R” and “S.” Only the “R” form is produced and used by the body. However, inexpensive chemical manufacturing will produce equal amounts of “R” and “S” lipoic acid, which is then packaged as either “R/S Lipoic Acid” or “Alpha Lipoic Acid.”

Product manufacturers now have newer precision techniques that allow for the pure “R” lipoic acid to be produced.  This has a much higher potency and in many cases it provides twice the active ingredient as you would find in alpha lipoic acid. If you decide to supplement then make sure that you choose a manufacturer that provides you with only the active “R” molecule. This will allow you to use a lower dose and get better results.

A growing trend among cardiac surgeons is the recommendation of lipoic acid and CoQ10 prior to surgery.  The thought process is that these two substances help to protect delicate blood vessels during the surgery.  The preliminary result has been improved physical and mental quality of life that can last up to a month or more after surgery. Hopefully, these same cardiac surgeons will begin to understand the importance of nourishing the endothelium with the amino acids L-arginine and L-citrulline for improved nitric oxide production and endothelial cell health. This is critically important since the endothelium is involved in wound healing.

If you want to reduce your risk for multiple cardiovascular risk factors then you need to seriously consider lipoic acid.  Not only can it be a benefit to cardiovascular health but emerging research shows it to be beneficial to diabetic health, brain health, and a potential anti-cancer help.  And, if you want more information on the connection between lipoic acid and cardiovascular health, then I please click here for an article written by the Healthy Fellow.

Together we can work to save a million lives by sharing this information about lipoic acid and cardiovascular 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 lipoic acid 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.

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 [...]]]> 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.

Vitamin D3 Model

Recent research continues to show the importance of Vitamin D but few understand the difference between vitamin D3 benefits over vitamin D2. 

Yes, there are two forms of vitamin D. Vitamin D2 is manufactured by plants or fungus and is typically used to fortified foods like milk, cereals, and juices. This form of [...]]]>

Vitamin D3 Model

Recent research continues to show the importance of Vitamin D but few understand the difference between vitamin D3 benefits over vitamin D2. 

Yes, there are two forms of vitamin D. Vitamin D2 is manufactured by plants or fungus and is typically used to fortified foods like milk, cereals, and juices. This form of vitamin D is called Ergocalciferol.  

Vitamin D3 is called Cholecalciferol and is synthesized by humans and animals from sunlight. When taken in supplement form it has a longer shelf life and is better for the human body. In a recently published study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, vitamin D3 was shown to be 87% more effective in raising vitamin D levels in the blood over vitamin D2. According to the lead researcher Dr. Robert Heaney (Creigton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska),  

“Given its greater potency, D3 should be the preferred treatment option when correcting vitamin D deficiency.” 

Their research showed that vitamin D3 produced significantly greater bioavailability and reserve storage than vitamin D2. 

Vitamin D3 Benefits 

As the body of scientific research continues to grow, the number of health benefits from vitamin D3 also grows. Here is a brief summary of some of the new vitamin D3 benefits: 

Helps to Maintain Calcium Balance in the Bloodstream – Vitally important to cardiovascular health is the proper maintenance of your blood calcium levels. This helps to prevent calcification of the vascular wall, which leads to arteriosclerosis. Additionally, your endothelial cells, which line all of your cardiovascular system, need calcium to be able to convert the amino acid L-arginine into nitric oxide – the master signaling molecule of your entire cardiovascular system.  

Helps in Blood Pressure Regulation – Recent studies have shown that vitamin D3 may decrease the risk for high blood pressure. This would make sense since proper blood calcium levels are needed to initiate the production of nitric oxide from L-arginine. Since nitric oxide is the body’s most powerful vasodilator, it is used to relax the vascular wall to help control blood pressure. 

Has a Role in Insulin Secretion – When conditions are right for increased insulin demand, vitamin D3 can play a pivotal part in insulin secretion.  

Boosts Your Immunity – Studies are showing vitamin D3 to be a potent immune system modulator to help enhance your immunity while helping to inhibit the development of autoimmunity.  

Aids in Cell Differentiation – Cell differentiation is needed to help cells form for specific functions in your body. While cellular differentiation is needed for growth and wound healing, uncontrolled proliferation of cells can lead to cancer. The active form of vitamin D3 inhibits this proliferation and stimulates cell differentiation. 

Prevention of Osteoporosis – Vitamin D3 is recognized as the best form for balancing the amount of calcium and phosphorous within your bloodstream. This is essential for bone production and development.  

Vitamin D3 Benefits versus Toxicity 

There is an ongoing debate regarding vitamin D3 benefits versus toxicity resulting from vitamin D overdose. Because of this the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine has established a tolerable upper intake level of 2000 IU of vitamin D3. However, many research studies suggest that this upper intake level of 2000 IU is very conservative and that healthy people could increase their intake levels to 10,000 IU/day without side effects.  

If you have questions in this area, then work with your health care provider to find the vitamin D3 intake that will help to bring your blood concentrations of 25(OH)D, which is the circulating vitamin D metabolite that serves as the most frequently measured indicator of vitamin D status, into a healthy range.  

Vitamin D3 Benefits Increase Through the Method of Absorption 

If you are going to use vitamin D3 supplements to improve your vitamin D3 benefits then make sure that the product you use is either a spray or chewable supplement. This dramatically increases absorption over those supplements that you swallow. By using the spray or chewable supplements you will achieve better results in a shorter period of time. 

As you hear more and more research toting the health benefits of vitamin D, please make sure that you choose a supplement that contains vitamin D3 in a chewable form. You will improve both your absorption and effectiveness in raising this needed nutrient in your bloodstream.  

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 vitamin D3 benefits 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.

Recently Dr. Oz has emphasize the need for L-Arginine supplementation for improved cardiovascular health and overall wellness. Here is a recent video of both Dr. Oz and Dr. Mercola talking about how important L-Arginine is in maintaining the flexibility and integrity of the vascular system. Most of Dr. Oz and [...]]]>  

Dr. Oz on L-Arginine

Recently Dr. Oz has emphasize the need for L-Arginine supplementation for improved cardiovascular health and overall wellness. Here is a recent video of both Dr. Oz and Dr. Mercola talking about how important L-Arginine is in maintaining the flexibility and integrity of the vascular system. Most of Dr. Oz and his discussion on L-Arginine is in the second half of this video:

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/alternative-health-controversy-pt-3 

If you watched and listened to Dr. Oz and Dr. Mercola, they only talk about the essential amino acid L-Arginine. Technically they are correct from the standpoint of your endothelial cells using L-Arginine to create nitric oxide. Because nitric oxide relaxes the smooth muscle of the vascular wall to help maintain proper blood pressure, keeps blood platelet cells from sticking together to prevent heart attacks and stroke, and repairs the damage done to the endothelium to prevent atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis, what Dr. Oz tells us about L-Arginine is critically important. But there are some other ingredients that need to be part of the equation, especially if you want to create nitric oxide in sufficient amounts to be therapeutic to your cardiovascular system. 

Dr. Oz, L-Arginine, and an Additional Key Ingredient! 

One of those ingredients needs to be the amino acid L-Citrulline. L-Citrulline recycles L-Arginine to have a synergistic effect on extending the endothelium’s ability to properly produce nitric oxide. Here’s what I mean. 

If you consume a therapeutic level of L-Arginine you will typically get a 30 minute to 2 hour window of improved nitric oxide production resulting in a small window of improved circulation. 

What Dr. Oz doesn’t tell you is critically important. If you combine your L-Arginine with a therapeutic level of L-Citrulline then you will increase this window of improved nitric oxide production to a 24 to 36 hour window. That’s huge especially in helping to repair your endothelium so that you can heal your vascular wall for long term improvements in your circulation. 

This means that you need both of these amino acids in sufficient quantities to truly obtain a benefit. To help you better understand this I’d like to provide two quotes from Dr. Louis J. Ignarro. Dr. Ignarro won the 1998 Nobel Prize in Medicine, along with two other American researchers, for discovering how your endothelium converts the essential amino acid L-Arginine into nitric oxide – the most powerful signaling molecule of your entire cardiovascular system. These quotes are taking from his 2005 bestseller NO More Heart Disease. 

“My research shows that L-arginine in doses smaller than 4 to 6 grams produces almost zero increase in NO, so it is in essence an ‘all or nothing’ proposition – you must receive the full dose of L-arginine.” 

“It is the synergy between the L-arginine (in a large enough dose), the L-citrulline, and the key antioxidants that creates dramatic increases in your body’s nitric oxide production. Without the proper combination of these nutrients, which so many other programs lack, you will receive little to no benefit from NO therapy.” 

Dr. Oz Doesn’t Tell You How Much L-Arginine to Use! 

While there is more I could say about additional ingredients, here are the two most important factors you need to consider in evaluating an L-Arginine product: 

1. Does it include L-Citrulline? If it doesn’t, then you are wasting your time and money.
2. Does it include sufficient amounts of both L-Arginine and L-Citrulline to create a synergistic and therapeutic benefit? According to Dr. Ignarro you need 4-6 grams of L-Arginine and 200 to 1000 mg of L-Citrulline to have a therapeutic effect. Anything less and you’re not going to get improved nitric oxide production. 

According to Dr. Ignarro, “Nitric oxide is the body’s natural cardiovascular wonder drug.” But for you to get a therapeutic effect to aid you in improving the health of your cardiovascular system, then you need to be taking both L-Arginine and L-Citrulline in sufficient quantities.  

There’s much more that could be said about the creation of nitric oxide; such as the need for Folic Acid and other antioxidants to enhance nitric oxide production over a long period leading to therapeutic benefits. I’ve prepared two videos to help you better understand this. My next post will highlight these two videos. The first video covers which foods will help you obtain L-Arginine, L-Citrulline, and Folic Acid since these three are critically important in helping your endothelium properly produce nitric oxide. The second video will cover whether it is better to get your L-Arginine, L-Citrulline, and Folic Acid through food or supplementation.

If you would like to order Dr. Ignarro’s book NO More Heart Disease then please click here!  

Together we can work to save a million lives by help to education others about what was said by Dr. Oz on L-Arginine but also including the other key nutrients for improved nitric oxide production! 

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 Dr. Oz on L-Arginine 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.

To make significant improvements in your high blood pressure you need to repair the organ that directly controls your blood pressure. Most people think that organ is your heart. It’s not. Instead, it’s an organ that most people have never heard of and most physicians never treat. Yet, the 1998 Nobel Prize in [...]]]>  

Nitric oxide regulates the muscular tone of your vascular system to directly impact high blood pressure. The name of the organ that produces nitric oxide is the endothelium.  

The repair and proper nourishment of your endothelium is critical to anyone who has high blood pressure! 

These two educational videos will help you understand the relationship between your endothelium, the creation of nitric oxide, and how this regulates and impacts your blood pressure.  

 You Can Prevent High Blood Pressure Naturally! 

There is a silent epidemic occurring in America. It all centers around high blood pressure. Currently, 1 in 3 American adults or approximately 70 million have some level of hypertension. High blood pressure is the 13^th largest cause of death in America. It’s the leading cause of stroke and a major factor in both cardiovascular disease and the complications associated with diabetes. 

According to the famous Framingham Heart Study, it’s estimated that a 55-year old person, with a normal blood pressure, has a 90 percent lifetime risk of getting high blood pressure. This directly impacts the Baby Boomer population. Every 8 seconds a Baby Boomer turns 65 years of age. Combine this with the Framingham Heart Study and Baby Boomers are on a direct pathway to high blood pressure. 

It’s also important to note that high blood pressure can be resolved without the need for prescription drugs, which carry many unwanted side effects. 

Our first educational video will help you better understand these high blood pressure issues:

High Blood Pressure and Endothelium Video 1

How Nitric Oxide Impacts High Blood Pressure!

Damage done to the endothelium directly effects your body’s ability to produce nitric oxide – the master signaling molecule of your entire cardiovascular system. Because nitric oxide is an environmental pollutant and a dangerous free radical, most researchers discounted nitric oxide as having any affect on high blood pressure.

However, the 1998 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to three American researchers who discovered how your endothelial cells convert the essential amino acid L-arginine into nitric oxide. Nitric oxide relaxes the smooth muscle in your vascular wall to improve blood flow and regulate your blood pressure.

Our second educational video will help you better understand how nitric oxide regulates your blood pressure:

High Blood Pressure and Endothelium Video 2

We’ll Continue These Videos on High Blood Pressure in Our Next Post!

You must properly nourish and repair your endothelium if you want to improve your body’s ability to maintain a normal blood pressure and reduce your risk for cardiovascular issues. There are several key natural ingredients that can make a significant difference in the health of your endotheium and we’ll discuss these in the next post.

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 high blood pressure and the endothelium 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.

My friend Bert Middleton asked me to produce a series of videos on high altitude training specific to cardiovascular health and function. Why? Because he’s always looking for ways to improve his legs and lungs to get the most out of his mountain biking and powder skiing.

What I share [...]]]>

High Altitude Training for Mountain Biking

My friend Bert Middleton asked me to produce a series of videos on high altitude training specific to cardiovascular health and function. Why? Because he’s always looking for ways to improve his legs and lungs to get the most out of his mountain biking and powder skiing.

What I share in these videos also applies to every person because at the heart of all activity is your cardiovascular system. Foundational to your cardiovascular system is your endothelium. This one-celled organ lines all of your heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins. It ultimately determines the health of your entire circulation and plays a critical role in your overall health and wellness. 

Blood circulation and oxygenation is key to high altitude training. Bert is 52 and has seen a remarkable improvement in his high altitude sports. In his own words, 

“This blue powder has made a major impact on accelerating my recovery time so that I can mountain bike day after day without the fatigue that I used to experience. I can charge a lot harder and a lot longer before I come to the end of my strength and stamina on my mountain bike.” 

Bert is also seeing that this directly applies to his powder skiing now that the ski season has opened in the mountains of Colorado. If you’re looking to maximize your performance and recovery in mountain biking, snow skiing, or any type of high altitude sport, then watch and listen to these three videos. 

The One Critical Organ That Makes ALL the Difference in High Altitude Training! 

Most high altitude athletes concentrate on improving their heart and lung function. While these two organs are important, there is another organ that most never even consider in their training program. Yet, this one critical organ can make ALL the difference in your high altitude training. This organ is your endothelium!  

By properly repairing and nourishing this organ you can experience major improvements in your circulation resulting in: 

18 times more energy with less lactic acid production for quicker recovery! 

Interested?  

Then watch this video to learn how critical your endothelium is to high altitude training:

Learn How Nitric Oxide Maximizes Your High Altitude Training, Performance, and Recovery! 

As we shared in the previous video, your endothelial cells produce nitric oxide – the master signaling molecule of your entire cardiovascular system. This has a major impact on improving circulation and the ability of your blood stream to deliver needed oxygen and nutrients. 

Foundational to every high altitude training program is your ability to fuel muscle tissue with the oxygen and nutrients needed to sustain your efforts. 

In this next video we’ll discuss how nitric oxide maximizes cardiovascular function to deliver needed oxygen for significant energy production while limiting the negative effects of lactic acid. This enhances your performance and recovery in high altitude training:

The Daily Consumption of These Two Amino Acids Makes a Significant Difference in High Altitude Training! 

As you learned from the above video, your endothelium is critical to cardiovascular health. While your heart is important, it’s your endothelial cells and their ability to produce nitric oxide that truly controls the health of your cardiovascular system.  

In this next video, we’ll discuss the two natural amino acids that must be part of your daily diet. Both are important, but when properly taken together they make a significant difference in your high altitude training, performance, and recovery:

Can a Clinically Proven Product Significantly Impact Your High Altitude Training? 

I believe it can. Just as ProArgi 9 Plus has benefited the cardiovascular system of thousands of patients who have cardiovascular challenges, it can also benefit the cardiovascular system of high altitude athletes. The repair and nourishment of your endothelial cells to help them properly produce nitric oxide will improve circulation. Improved circulation results in your body’s ability to work at a much higher aerobic base to create more energy for all types of high altitude training programs.  

Additionally, you will experience less lactic acid production, which is detrimental to all high altitude sports.  

Just as Bert Middleton found, this powerful blue powder called ProArgi 9 Plus can be used to enhance your high altitude training, performance, and recovery. It will also become a key factor in improving your overall health. 

As I said in the beginning, if you apply the information shared in these videos, then I guarantee you’re going to see significant improvements in all phases of your high altitude training. You’re going to experience: 

• Accelerated Recovery Times!
• Greater Strength and Stamina!
• Greater Lung Function and Oxygen Delivery!
• Significantly More Energy Production!
• Reduced Lactic Acid Formation! 

I firmly believe the product ProArgi 9 Plus, formulated by Dr. J. Joseph Prendergast, could be a real benefit to you. It’s why I’ve chosen to endorse this product and offer it to those who want to make a significant difference in their high attitude training.

If you would like to try ProArgi 9 Plus, with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, then please Click Here! 

Together, we can help you see significant improvements in your high altitude training, performance, and recovery so that you can maximize your investment in your high altitude sport. 

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 high altitude training 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

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.

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 26^th 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.

Here is a medical fact that few physicians know and even fewer in the general population have ever heard about. As you age your endothelial cells, which line all of your cardiovascular system, [...]]]> Atherosclerosis involves the calcification of your vascular tissue. Osteoporosis involves the decalcification of bone tissue. Could there be a link between the two?

Here is a medical fact that few physicians know and even fewer in the general population have ever heard about. As you age your endothelial cells, which line all of your cardiovascular system, can turn into bone cells. They are known as osteoblasts and they normally regulate bone formation.

This discovery was originally made in 1993. Since this discovery research has shown a link between atherosclerosis and osteoporosis. Those with atherosclerosis typically also have weaker, more brittle bone with an increased risk for fracture. Those with osteoporosis typically exhibit hardening of the arteries or atherosclerotic calcification leading to atherosclerosis.

To date the precise biological mechanisms behind the transformation of endothelial cells into osteoblasts, or bone-forming cells, is not fully understood. What is understood is the key role Vitamins D and K play in ensuring that calcium is properly used in bone formation while at the same time preventing the pathological calcification of your arteries.

These two nutrients operate synergistically to combat osteoporosis and atherosclerosis.

Vitamin D and Its Role in Atherosclerosis!

Most people know about the role Vitamin D plays in healthy bone structure and function. What most people do not know is how important Vitamin D is to cardiovascular health. Here is a short list:

• Vitamin D inhibits vascular calcification, which can lead to atherosclerosis.
• Vitamin D deficiencies are associated with hypertension, diabetes, increased thickness of the carotid artery, heart attack, and stroke.
• Below normal levels of vitamin D is also implicated in congestive heart failure.

We’ll examine the function of Vitamin D and cardiovascular health in a future article.

Vitamin K and Its Role in Atherosclerosis!

Most people have never heard of Vitamin K yet it plays a critical role in stimulating new bone formation. Without the proper amount of Vitamin K in your system, your body cannot properly bind calcium and phosphorus to form the matrix necessary to produce and maintain solid, well-mineralized bone.

While the presence of Vitamin K is critical for bone formation, it is also necessary to protect against the calcification of the vascular system.

We’ll examine this function of Vitamin K and cardiovascular health in a future article.

Atherosclerosis and Osteoporosis!

Two age-related diseases are atherosclerosis and osteoporosis. While there are many contributing factors to the progression of each of these two diseases, medical science has now been able to establish a direct link between them. That direct link points to deficiencies of both Vitamin D and Vitamin K. Research has clearly shown that these two vitamins work synergistically to facilitate bone mineralization leading to strong and healthy bones. At the same time they work synergistically to prevent calcium deposits from accumulating in your vascular system leading to atherosclerosis.

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 atherosclerosis and osteoporosis 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.