Prevent Cardiovascular Complications of Diabetes!

Posted on March 16, 2011 by Dan Hammer

Diabetes has grown to epidemic proportions and so have the cardiovascular complications of diabetes. According to the most recent statistics (2011) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes. However, what makes this “America’s largest healthcare epidemic” is that 79 million Americans are in a pre-diabetic condition, where their blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

This means that 35% of the American population is either in a pre-diabetic or diabetic condition and this is creating an enormous health challenge. Even just being pre-diabetic raises a person’s risk for heart disease and stroke. High blood sugar causes oxidative stress or damage to your endothelium resulting in the following cardiovascular complications of diabetes:

Poor Circulation Leading to Lower-Limb Numbness and Amputations
Poor Kidney Function
Cardiovascular Disease
High Blood Pressure
Increased Potential for Strokes and Heart Attacks

Two Most Devastating Cardiovascular Complications of Diabetes!

While the cardiovascular complications of diabetes are staggering, there are two that pose the greatest risk to a person’s health and longevity. Statistics can change over time but these two have been pretty consistent. They are:

66% of Diabetics Have High Blood Pressure!
66% of Diabetics Die From a Heart Attack or Stroke!

Two-thirds of all diabetics are confronted with this daily reality. It is why Dr. J. Joseph Prendergast, a noted clinical expert in this area, made the following statement:

“Many people still think diabetes is a disease about sugar. It’s not the sugar! It’s the complications!”

Dr. Prendergast is not discounting the need to control your blood sugar. That’s critically important. What he’s trying to get people and the medical profession to understand is that unregulated glucose (blood sugar) causes high levels of oxidative stress, which directly damages the endothelium and its ability to properly produce nitric oxide – the master signaling molecule of your entire cardiovascular system. To prevent the cardiovascular complications of diabetes you must repair this damage, and any future damage, to the endothelium.

How to Address Cardiovascular Complications of Diabetes!

To address the cardiovascular complications of diabetes you must put in place a program to repair and properly nourish your endothelium. This program is in addition to learning how to control your blood sugar levels. Both are equally important. Unfortunately little is done in the area of endothelial cell health.

Why? Because most people have never heard of the endothelium and most physicians do not understand how to treat it. Briefly, your endothelium lines all of your cardiovascular system. It is only one-cell thick yet it regulates many of the functions of the cardiovascular system.

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

How Nitric Oxide Impacts Cardiovascular Complications of Diabetes!

Nitric oxide impacts cardiovascular complications of diabetes in two extremely specific ways. First, nitric oxide regulates the muscle tone of blood vessels to have a major impact on controlling blood pressure. In fact, nitric oxide is your body’s most powerful vasodilator. It causes the smooth muscle of your vascular wall to relax. This helps to reduce blood pressure by improving blood flow through the vascular system.

Since 66 percent of all diabetics have high blood pressure, by improving their ability to properly produce nitric oxide you can aid them in better regulating their blood pressure. Because high blood pressure is the major cause of a stroke you will also help them to substantially reduce this risk.

Second, nitric oxide keeps blood platelet cells from grouping together to form a clot. This helps to prevent heart attacks and strokes. According to Nobel Laureate in Medicine Dr. Louis J. Ignarro, nitric oxide:

“. . . is produced by the body specifically to help keeps 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 means that you can use proven and natural methods to address these two specific issues of cardiovascular complications of diabetes. Proper supplementation with therapeutic levels of the amino acids L-arginine and L-citrulline can have a profound effect on repairing and properly nourishing your endothelium for therapeutic increases in nitric oxide production. This would help millions of diabetics to reduce their risks for these cardiovascular complications of diabetes.

Additional Resources to Help You Understand How to Address the Cardiovascular Complications of Diabetes!

To help you better understand how the endothelium impacts your cardiovascular health, please click here.

To help you better understand how the endothelium controls blood pressure, please click here.

To help you better understand how nourishing and repairing your endothelium will improve its ability to properly improve nitric oxide, and how this directly impacts many of the cardiovascular complications of diabetes, please click here.

By directly putting into place a plan of action that will improve endothelial cell health and function, especially in the area of improved nitric oxide production, you can substantially reduce the risk for the two major cardiovascular complications of diabetes. If you found this information helpful then please share this on Facebook and Twitter.

Together we can work to save a million lives by helping to educate others about endothelial cell health and how therapeutic levels of nitric oxide can directly address the two greatest cardiovascular complications of diabetes.

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 cardiovascular 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.

How to Compare L-Arginine Supplements!

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Dan Hammer

L-Arginine supplements have long been a part of the world of body building and strength training. Just recently Dr. Oz has been talking about L-Arginine supplements for cardiovascular health. Because of this there is a growing interest in the general public about L-Arginine supplements. Unfortunately, not all of the correct information is being given to help consumers figure out how to choose the best L-Arginine Supplements to help them with their cardiovascular health.

This Video Provides Guidelines on How to Compare L-Arginine Supplements!

There are five key areas to consider when you’re choosing L-Arginine Supplements. They are: Ingredients, Price, Quality Assurance, Clinical Studies, and Guarantee. This video covers all five areas and will be a definitive guide for helping you choose the best in L-Arginine Supplements.

Properly Formulated L-Arginine Supplements Create Nitric Oxide!

The main reason for taking L-Arginine Supplements is to effectively create nitric oxide – the master signaling molecule of your entire cardiovascular system. As you learned in the video above your endothelium, which lines all of your cardiovascular system, is a multi-functioning organ. It’s involved in metabolic, immunologic, and cardiovascular functions. One of its primary functions is to properly produce nitric oxide.

Specific to your cardiovascular system, nitric oxide is critically important for the proper regulation of blood pressure, helps to prevent strokes and heart attacks by keeping blood platelet cells from sticking together, and helps to repair the endothelium to keep it healthy and free from plaque formations and calcification. For men, nitric oxide is needed for an erection. No nitric oxide no sex!

As this Nobel Prize winning information is finally reaching the general public there has been an ever increasing interest in L-Arginine supplements. But not all L-Arginine supplements are equally effective in creating nitric oxide.

Key Questions to Ask in Choosing L-Arginine Supplements!

If you want to improve the health of your endothelium and nourish it properly for improved nitric oxide production, then choosing your L-Arginine supplements is critical to helping you achieve positive results. Here are six key questions to ask in making your choice on L-Arginine supplements:

Does it include L-citrulline? If it doesn’t, then you’re wasting your time and money.
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.
What are the quality-control standards set by the manufacture? This is important to guarantee consistency and potency in the manufactured product.
Who is the product formulator and do they have experience in L-Arginine / L-Citrulline therapy?
Does the L-Arginine Supplement have any clinical studies to back up its effectiveness?
Does the L-Arginine Supplement offer a 100% Money Back Satisfaction Guarantee?

I hope this information on L-Arginine supplements will help you cut through the wild claims made by product manufacturers, because this area of natural health can help you improve your cardiovascular health.

It is important to note that Nobel Prize winning science has clearly shown nitric oxide to be the body’s natural cardiovascular wonder drug. Now it’s important to choose the L-Arginine supplements that will help you achieve the highest therapeutic benefit for your cardiovascular system.

Together we can work to save a million lives!

Dan Hammer

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 on how to compare L-arginine supplements 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.

Foods and Supplements for Nitric Oxide!

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Dan Hammer

Nitric Oxide Molecule

The latest health trend has been the emerging science of nitric oxide production.

While foods and supplements for nitric oxide production has been part of the body building world, it’s now becoming popular for cardiovascular health.

It’s about time!

The 1998 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to three American researchers who discovery on 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. Recently, Dr. Oz has been promoting L-Arginine supplementation has a key factor for improving cardiovascular health.

While L-arginine is critical to nitric oxide production, the amino acid L-citrulline is also extremely important. In fact, most nitric oxide researchers will tell you that L-Citrulline is equally, maybe in more important, than L-Arginine. The reason why is L-Citrulline recycles L-Arginine to have a synergistic effect on extending the endothelium’s ability to properly produce nitric oxide. Here’s the difference between L-Arginine alone versus the two in combination with each other:

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.
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 for long term improvements in your circulation.

Dr. Louis J. Ignarro, one of the 1998 Nobel Laureates in Medicine, established the following quantities needed for these two amino acids. 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. The following video will help you understand how much food this represents. It was originally done for our series on sickle cell anemia but it directly applies to this discussion.

Foods That Contain L-Arginine, L-Citrulline, and Folic Acid for the Creation of Nitric Oxide!

As you can see by the above video food brings with it a cost in both quantity and calories. The following video helps to take this information and compare it to the dollar cost of using supplementation to help create a therapeutic level of nitric oxide production.

Food vs. Supplementation for the Creation of Nitric Oxide!

Clearly supplementation is a more cost effective approach to addressing improved nitric oxide production. I’m in the process of preparing a new video to help you properly analyze this growing world of nitric oxide supplements. It will help you ask the right questions and look for the right information so that you can choose supplements that will give you great value and lead to real improvements to the cardiovascular system.

If you’re interested the product I highlighted at the end of the above video, then please check out ProArgi-9 Plus. It’s a clinically proven product that can repair and nourish the endothelium for improved nitric oxide production leading to significant cardiovascular improvements.

Together we can work to save a million lives through the most cost effective method for the creation of nitric oxide!

Dan Hammer

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 foods and supplements for nitric oxide 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.

Dr. Oz on L-Arginine!

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Dan Hammer

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:

Does it include L-Citrulline? If it doesn’t, then you are wasting your time and money.
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

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.

22 Reasons You Should Supplement With L-Arginine!

Posted on February 20, 2011 by Dan Hammer

The 1998 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to 3 American researchers for their discovery of how your endothelium, which lines all of your cardiovascular system, converts the essential amino acid L-Arginine into Nitric Oxide – the master signaling molecule of your entire cardiovascular system. Since the discovery of this L-Arginine / Nitric Oxide connection there has been a frenzy of interest in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industry. This interest is now spilling over in the general population as Dr. Oz and others begin to emphasize the need for L-Arginine supplementation for improved cardiovascular health and overall wellness.

The effectiveness of L-Arginine as a therapeutic agent has been validated by over 10,000 scientific clinical studies and over 750,000 sites of documentation. The nitric oxide derived from L-Arginine is directly or indirectly implicated in practically every cellular response and health condition known. It specifically impacts your cardiovascular system, immune system, hormone function, and nerve function.

The Bottom Line is That You Could Not Live Without Nitric Oxide so L-Arginine Supplementation is Critical to Your Health!

Because of ongoing research, an exhaustive list of the possible applications of L-Arginine and Nitric Oxide is not possible at this time but the following 22 reasons have solid, scientific backing. These 22 reasons apply to both healthy individuals, as well as those whose health is compromised by cardiovascular risk factors. Because of the direct link between L-arginine and Nitric Oxide the two are interchangeable in the following list:

L-arginine is one thousand times more powerful than any naturally occurring antioxidant in the body. L-arginine’s antioxidant properties support various body systems and may protect against heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes, as well as slowing premature aging.
Nitric oxide offers wide-ranging cardiovascular support, including the control of blood pressure and plaque formation. Nitric oxide keeps arteries relaxed and pliable for normal blood pressure, preventing hypertension and angina.
Nitric oxide enhances memory, particularly long-term memory, and may help to reverse the effects of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Nitric oxide may help in the treatment and prevention of diabetes since many disease complications, including poor circulation and blindness, are vascular in nature. L-arginine is also found to regulate insulin secretion in the pancreas.
Nitric oxide enhances communication of messenger cells between nerves and the brain.
Nitric oxide may help improve immune function and fight bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections.
L-Arginine, through nitric oxide production, boosts human growth hormone (HGH) production, which has anti-aging properties.
Nitric oxide helps with cholesterol control by lowering serum and LDL cholesterol levels. It also helps to repair damage to the endothelium caused by LDL (Bad) cholesterol.
Nitric oxide enhances male sexual performance by treating vascular erectile dysfunction or ED.
Nitric oxide keeps blood platelet cells from sticking together to reduce the chance for blood clotting that could lead to a heart attack or stroke.
L-Arginine, through nitric oxide production, reduces pregnancy-related hypertension, a risk factor for both the expecting mother and the unborn child.
Nitric oxide can be useful in the treatment of asthma by opening pulmonary pathways for easier breathing and the treatment of lung disorders.
Nitric oxide helps to regulate the digestive process and relaxes hypertonic sphincter muscles, preventing and healing hemorrhoids.
L-arginine, through nitric oxide production, boosts lean muscle mass and preserves bone density by encouraging HGH production, which also leads to a reduction in fatty tissue. Because of this, it may be useful in weight management and strength training.
Nitric oxide can help offset cardiovascular and lung damage caused by tobacco use, since nitric oxide levels in smokers are less than half of those found in non-smokers.
Nitric oxide helps to accelerate wound healing and post surgery recovery. Research has shown it is useful in treating burn wounds and stimulates wound healing in the elderly.
L-arginine may be useful in enhancing athletic performance due to improved circulation and the ability to delivery more oxygen and nutrients to the working muscles and organs. This boosts exercise tolerance, improves lung function, and can stimulate HGH levels. This all helps to build lean muscle tissue while improving training, performance, and recovery in all types of exercise programs.
Nitric oxide may prevent and possibly reverse the effects of osteoporosis by positively affecting bone mass.
L-arginine, and its ability to create nitric oxide, has been used in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and to reduce the occurrence of ulcers, especially stress related, without affecting gastric acid production.
Nitric oxide may improve renal function and slow the progression of renal disease and age-related chronic renal failure. L-Arginine’s protective effect on the kidneys may also benefit those with diabetes.
Nitric oxide may be used to improve the function of the prostate.
Nitric oxide helps people with sickle cell anemia to prevent pain crises as well as recover quicker by helping to maintain proper blood flow.

That’s an Impressive List of Benefits for L-Arginine and Nitric Oxide!

According to Dr. Louis J. Ignarro, one of the three 1998 Nobel Laureates in Medicine, “Nitric oxide is the body’s natural cardiovascular wonder drug.” It is nice to see that his amazing discovery is finally getting the attention it deserves.

There’s much more that could be said about the creation of Nitric Oxide. Like the need for L-Citrulline and other antioxidants to enhance Nitric Oxide production over a long period leading to therapeutic benefits. We’ll save that for another post.

If you’re interested in a clinically proven product that can repair and nourish the endothelium for improved nitric oxide production leading to significant cardiovascular improvements, then please check out ProArgi-9 Plus from Synergy WorldWide. I highly recommend it.

Together we can work to save a million lives by helping others understand the importance of L-Arginine for proper cardiovascular health!

Dan Hammer

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 22 reasons why you should supplement with 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.

High Blood Pressure and Endothelium Part 2!

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Dan Hammer

High Blood Pressure

Learning how to properly repair and nourish your endothelium is foundational to helping you gain better control over your high blood pressure issues. The following statistics will help you understand why this is so critically important:

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!
74% of Americans with congestive heart failure have high blood pressure!
66% of Americans with diabetes have high blood pressure!

As you can see, high blood pressure needs to be paid attention to. It is why it’s so critically important to repair and nourish your endothelium to help it properly product nitric oxide – the master signaling molecule of your entire cardiovascular system.

Nitric oxide helps regulate blood pressure, keeps blood platelet cells from sticking together to form clots, and repairs the endothelium to reverse and prevent plaque formations and calcification of the vascular walls. It’s why Dr. Louis J. Ignarro, one of the three 1998 Nobel Laureates in Medicine, had this to say about nitric oxide,

“Nitric oxide can prevent, even reverse, heart disease and stroke!”

These two video will help you learn how to naturally repair your endothelium so that it can properly produce nitric oxide. Nitric oxide can aid you in maintaining normal blood pressure without medication or with significantly less medication.

These Key Nutrients Can Naturally Prevent High Blood Pressure!

Proper nutrition is key to nourishing your endothelium and aid it in the proper production of nitric oxide. In Dr. Ignarro’s 2005 bestselling book, NO More Heart Disease!, he outlined six key nutrients. They are:

L-arginine
L-citrulline
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Folic Acid
Alpha Lipoic Acid

In addition to these six nutrients, the following video also examines 5 additional nutrients that can have an impact on endothelial cell health and function. Together these 11 nutrients can help you naturally reduce your high blood pressure concerns.

Our third educational video will help you understand how several key nutrients can help you get a better handle on your high blood pressure issues:

High Blood Pressure and Endothelium Video 3

How ProArgi-9 Plus Can Help Those With High Blood Pressure!

Most vascular researchers will tell you that your endothelium plays a vital role in determining your blood pressure. In our last video we looked at eleven different nutrients that can provide a natural pathway towards reducing high blood pressure. Specific nutrients that have been shown to help repair and nourish the endothelium and improve its ability to properly produce nitric oxide – the master signaling molecule of your entire cardiovascular system and your body’s most potent vasodilator.

Many people try a piece meal approach by taking multiple supplements. Wouldn’t it be nice to have one supplement that incorporates most of the nutrients? This video discusses ProArgi-9 Plus which contains many of these nutrients and has been clinically proven to repair and nourish the endothelium for improved nitric oxide production.

Our fourth video will help you understand how ProArgi-9 Plus addresses high blood pressure:

High Blood Pressure and Endothelium Video 4

You Can Repair and Nourish Your Endothelium to Help Reduce the Risks for High Blood Pressure!

Over the course of these four videos we’ve given you a lot of information about how your endothelium and nitric oxide play a critical role in high blood pressure. If you or a loved one are experiencing the challenges of high blood pressure, then please share this information with your physician. Together you can implement a natural approach to help repair this critical organ and enhance your body’s ability to create nitric oxide. Work with your physician to monitor your progress and make adjustments in medications. Over time you can reduce, maybe even eliminate, many of your high blood pressure prescriptions.

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

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 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.

High Blood Pressure and Endothelium Part 1

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Dan Hammer

: High Blood Pressure

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 Medicine was awarded to three American researchers who discovered how this organ produces a gas called nitric oxide.

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

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.

Alzheimer’s and Cardiovascular Disease Part 2!

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Dan Hammer

As 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

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!

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Dan Hammer

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

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!

Posted on December 8, 2010 by Dan Hammer

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

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.