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Archive for the ‘Disease Prevention’ Category

With such an extensive number of heart diseases out there in the world, and the high volume of deaths each and every day, regardless of age or gender, it is no wonder that there is continual questioning of what cures heart disease.

Just to give you an idea of what you could potentially be up against, here’s a list, which is by no means extensive, of some of the more common forms:
Coronary artery disease Pulmonary heart disease Inflammatory heart disease Ischemic heart disease Heart valve disease Hypertensive heart disease Hereditary heart disease Congenital heart defect

This is a complex disease, and is becoming something of an epidemic throughout the world, with the dramatic increase in the number of deaths from the above list, and heart attacks and strokes.

It is only natural to seek a cure, and the only honest answer to what cures heart disease, is prevention.

There is no outright cure, but there are steps you can take to prevent it in the first instance, or if you suffer from heart disease, reversing it to a certain extent, and minimizing any further deterioration to your health.

You all know the saying “Prevention is better than cure”, well in the case of heart disease, this is certainly true. And one of the strongest links is high cholesterol.

The most common type of heart disease is blockages to the coronary arteries. These arteries provide essential nourishment to your heart muscle. A partial or full blockage will damage your heart muscle, and over time, your heart muscle may die, resulting in you having a heart attack.

Now while the scars caused by the damage cannot be reversed, the blockage in your coronary arteries can. And this can be achieved through managing your cholesterol levels, and your diet.

Cholesterol, despite getting a bit of a bad name, is actually needed by your body for essential functions, like hormone development and cell membrane protection.

Where your risk comes into play, is where your LDL cholesterol (bad) becomes too high, causing plaque to form within the lining of your arteries, resulting in blockages, and restricted blood flow to your heart and brain.

The outcome of course being a heart attack or stroke.

HDL cholesterol (good), will remove this added LDL from your arteries, and take it to your liver for eventual removal from your body. In order to keep this function working smoothly, your HDL levels must be kept high.

So in essence, what cures heart disease is low LDL and high HDL.

Some people have the misconception that simply lowering LDL is enough to prevent heart disease from developing. Unfortunately this is not the case. Low levels of HDL will also put you in danger of developing it and having a stroke or heart attack.

What cures heart disease is balanced cholesterol levels. Which is why taking statins (prescription cholesterol drugs) is not the answer, as they will only lower LDL, and will not help HDL levels.

And of course they have an array of dangerous side effects, from muscle pain and kidney problems to liver disease and heart failure.

The best way to manage your cholesterol levels is through your diet. Reduce foods that are high in saturated fats and trans fats, like animal products, dairy products, pre-packaged foods, fried foods and processed foods.

Eat more foods high in fiber, omega 3, and the good fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated). So things like fruits, whole grains, seeds, nuts, vegetables and fish, should regularly be on your menu.

When it comes to your heart, do not underestimate the power of fish oil. If you are averse to eating fish like salmon, tuna, mackerel or herring, then do yourself a favour, and invest in a good quality fish oil supplement.

Speaking of supplements, taking a cholesterol supplement, with natural ingredients like policosanol, lecithin, theaflavins and phytosterols, will lower LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, AND raise HDL.

These ingredients have stood the test of time, and deliver incredible results, and your heart will thank you for them. Remember, taking preventative measures is what cures heart disease, so take action, and protect yourself in every way possible.

If you are ready, to protect yourself against heart disease, heart attack or stroke, and achieve healthy, balanced cholesterol levels, then visit my website today, where I share what I personally successfully used, and continue to use, for brilliant cholesterol levels and fantastic heart health.

The four most common causes of death in America are not drunk drivers, violent killings, AIDS, or illegal drugs; they are:
Heart disease Cancer Stroke Chronic lower respiratory diseases Americans spent over $7,400 per person in 2007 for health care, the highest in the world, yet our life expectancy is ranked number 45. Japan, on the other hand, spent less than 40% of what we did but the life expectancy is ranked number three in the world!

As Americans continue to spend more on health care, the death rates from these chronic degenerative diseases keep going higher. The data reveals that countries that eat less processed foods and more natural foods have less diseases and a longer life span. Research studies have also shown that almost all of these chronic diseases can simply be prevented through diet and lifestyle changes.

So, with the amount of processed foods that Americans eat on a regular basis (and definitely more than what the Japanese eat), are we depriving our bodies of certain nutrients found in natural foods that might help prevent us from these chronic diseases?

Lately, there has been a lot of talk about the benefits of antioxidants. In the following, we will look at what antioxidants are and their role in human health and disease prevention. We will also discuss the best way to get your antioxidant nutrients, be it diet or supplements.

What Causes Aging & Diseases?

More and more health science researchers have come to the conclusion that oxidation is the cause of cell damage and aging.

Oxidation is a chemical reaction where two or more substances interact, resulting in the loss of at least one electron. Examples of oxidation are a freshly cut apple turning brown, a bicycle fender becoming rusty, or a copper penny turning green.

Oxidation inside the body is introduced by stress, excessive sun exposure, environmental pollutants, cigarette smoke, alcohol, and unhealthy processed foods.

Oxidation creates free radicals that are highly unstable and reactive. Free radicals are atoms with unpaired electrons; they attack the nearest stable molecule (with paired electrons) to steal its electron. When the attacked molecule loses its electron, it becomes a free radical itself, hence, creating a chain reaction. Once the process is started, it can cascade and result in cell damage.

Your entire body, including your DNA, is under endless, daily assault from the free radicals. Excessive oxidation weakens the immune system, speeds up the aging process, and is linked to diseases such as Alzheimer’s, arthritis, many types of cancer, diabetes, eye diseases (age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma), heart disease, cirrhosis of the liver, and Parkinson’s disease.

Antioxidants Against Aging & Diseases

As nature always has a way to take care of itself, researchers found that antioxidants perform beneficial functions against free radicals:
Antioxidants block the process of oxidation by binding with free radicals and neutralizing their harmful effects, hence, shattering their destructive chain reaction of cell damage. Antioxidants scavenge the initiating radicals and destroy them before oxidation is set in motion. Hence, when your body has enough antioxidants to counteract the free radicals, aging is delayed and diseases caused by harmful free radicals are avoided.
Health Benefits Of Antioxidants

As stated before, antioxidants are nutrients that inhibit oxidation; they bind with free radicals and make them stable. Some antioxidants like catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase are produced within the body, while others have to be obtained from the diet. The following are some of the more commonly known antioxidants and their health benefits:

Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) is found in meats and vegetables such as red meats, liver, and Brewer’s yeast. ALA is a powerful antioxidant that helps regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels, reduces inflammation, detoxifies the body of heavy metal, and enhances the immune system. ALA also has the ability to regenerate other antioxidants such as vitamins C, E, glutathione, and coenzyme Q10. So, when your body has used up these antioxidants, if there is ALA around, it helps regenerate them.

Carotenoids (e.g. beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, and zeaxanthin) are the principal pigments responsible for the red, orange, yellow, and green colors of fruits and vegetables. Carotenoids help prevent night blindness, cataracts, macular degeneration, enhance immunity, protect against cancer formations, promote cardiovascular health, and relieve symptoms of both osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) or ubiquinone, is found in meats, fish, and vegetable oils, and is mostly made by your liver. CoQ10 has shown to benefit congestive heart failure, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, muscle weakness, chronic fatigue syndrome, breast cancer treatment, AZT/AIDS treatment, and type II diabetes. CoQ10 improves athletic endurance and increase energy levels.

Flavonoids are compounds abundantly found in fruits and vegetables (e.g. blueberry, ginger, onion, tea). Flavonoids have anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-tumor, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergenic effect. They can also widen blood vessels and prevent blood clots.

Glutathione Peroxidase (GSH) is the body’s most abundant natural antioxidant and is synthesized within the body cells. GSH protects the vision, boosts the immune system, helps turn carbohydrates into energy, and prevents the buildup of oxidized fats in arteries. It also plays an important role in detoxifying substances such as alcohol, pesticides, and drugs.

Resveratrol is an anti-inflammatory substance found in the stems, leaves, and skins of red grapes, and peanuts. Due to the fermenting process, a glass of red wine contains much more resveratrol than a glass of grape juice or a handful of peanuts. Resveratrol helps prevent blood clots by keeping blood vessels open and pliable, hence, lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease. It also discourages tumor growth and the development of colon cancer.

Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, is one of the most powerful and well-known antioxidants abundantly found in fruits and vegetables. It helps maintain healthy collagen in the skin, repair damaged tissue, promote healthy teeth and bones, and boost the immune system. Vitamin C functions as an anti-inflammatory and helps the body absorb iron. It combats free radical formation caused by pollution and cigarette smoke, and helps recycle oxidized vitamin E.

Vitamin E, or alpha-tocopherol, is a primary defender against oxidation. The best sources are nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils. It boosts the body’s immune system, helps ease respiratory problems, reduces the risk of heart disease, various types of cancer and cataracts, slows the progression of some neurological diseases, and is anti-inflammatory. Vitamin E recycles oxidized vitamin C and beta-carotene.

Food Sources Of Antioxidants

The best way to increase our antioxidant levels is to eat a diet rich in antioxidants. The body better absorbs antioxidants in foods and there is very little risk of overdosing. The following are six antioxidant-rich food groups and the examples given are the ones with the most antioxidants in their respective food groups:

Fruits: Apple, apricot, avocado, berries (blackberry, blueberry, cherry, cranberry, date, strawberry, raspberry), red grape (seed and skin), grapefruit, kiwi, lemon, orange, pineapple, plum, pomegranate, prune.

Legumes: Black bean, pinto bean, red kidney bean.

Nuts and Seeds: Cocoa, hazelnut, peanut, pecan, sunflower seed, walnut.

Spices: Cinnamon, cloves, oregano, tumeric.

Tea: White tea has the most antioxidants, followed by green tea and black tea.

Vegetables: Artichoke, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, garlic, ginger, kale, onion, parsley, peppers, pumpkin, red beets, red cabbage, spinach, tomato.

Do We Need Supplements?

Although the ideal source of nutrients is your diet, in modern times, supplements have become increasingly important for three reasons:
The American diet is high on processed foods and low on the nutrients available in natural, whole foods. Modern lifestyles, stress, and environmental pollutants have contributed to an increased need for supplemental nutrients. Intensive monoculture farming practices have depleted the soil of nutrients. Studies have shown that today’s produce contains fewer nutrients than the same fruits and vegetables 50 years ago, making supplements an essential component of a healthy diet. However, when it comes to antioxidant supplements, it is not advisable to take a mega dose of only one or two antioxidants. The reason is that the combinations of antioxidants work together like a balanced symphony. For example, Vitamin C and glutathione recycle oxidized Vitamin E, whereas, Vitamin E recycles oxidized Vitamin C and beta-carotene. Therefore, the key is not the quantity, but the blend. The whole gamut of antioxidants works together in a cycle to protect against all types of free radicals. No one antioxidant can do all of these.

Although there is no solid evidence that mega doses of a single antioxidant supplement are really harmful, it is common sense not to take too much of any one on its own. For this reason, you should consult a trained healthcare professional for the appropriate combination of antioxidants if you do choose to use supplements.

Super Foods

Last but not least, there are now many so-called super foods available on the market. Some of these super foods are processed foods that claim to have certain health benefits or disease-preventing properties. Read the ingredient labels carefully and watch out for other unhealthy ingredients such as sugar and additives.

Remember, super food is not a substitute for “real” food. The best source of antioxidants is still a natural, wholesome diet consisting of a variety of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds.

The American Heartworm Society has debate the existence and incident of feline heart disease alone with other pet health experts. Cats are infected with the worms when mosquito carrying heartworm larvae chooses the cat for a quick meal. The larvae gladly transfer to the new host and continue to develop as they move through the cat’s body. Three or four months later, the heartworm settles into the blood vessels and arteries of the cat and continues to develop. On average, heartworm larvae grow into sexually mature male and female worms in approximately 8 months in cats.

This varies slightly from canine heartworm disease where the worms become mature and able to breed after only months. Breeding adult worms introduce microfilariae into the host cat’s blood which are picked up by another mosquito bite which will spread the infection to other animals.

Feline heartworm disease is not as well known as the problem of heartworm disease in dogs. This may be due to the attitude of both pet owner and veterinarians that cats were not at risk of heart disease and the problem was confined to a low number of animals. That assumption has been challenged recently as studies indicate there may be many more instances of feline heartworm disease than previously thought.

Cats provide a resistant host for heartworm and some cats seem to have the ability to rid themselves of this infection spontaneously. This may the result of a strong immune response that kills the larvae before it can develop. Heartworms find it harder to thrive in the feline body than in canines. Cats usually have fewer of the parasites and those present are smaller. In cats, the heartworms live for only 2-3 years while in dogs 5-7 years is common.

Consequences even for felines with immature heartworms can be devastating as the infection can result in pulmonary damage as the dying worms can block arteries and cause lung inflammation that resembles allergic reactions or asthma in symptoms. The syndrome is referred to as Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease. It’s to be expected that outdoor cats are at great risk yet many indoor cats can also be infected. Cats are susceptible at all ages from two month old kittens to senior cats with the average age of diagnosis or death being four years.

Cats are often not routinely tested for heartworm but the testing is becoming more common as part of annual exams. Symptoms of feline heartworm disease can be difficult to spot for the pet owner and can be divided in acute and chronic symptoms.

Acute Symptoms
* Convulsions
* Diarrhea/vomiting
* Blindness
* Collapse
* Temporary loss of consciousness
* Difficulty breathing
* Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat)
* Sudden death

Cats displaying acute symptoms often die before there is time for a diagnosis or treatment as the list above is often a symptom of organ failure.

Chronic symptoms
* Coughing
* Vomiting
* Weight loss
* Lethargy
* Loss of appetite
* Difficult breathing

Diagnosis of heartworm disease in cats can be difficult and negative results on tests are not always accurate. Some tests will only record the presence of adult female worms and not detect immature or male worms.

The risk for cats with heartworm disease is that there is no treatment available that will cure them of the infection. Some cats will recover spontaneously while others will require therapy with prednisone to relieve lung inflammation. In rare cases, surgery to extract heartworms has been successful in cases but is usually reserved for case where the heartworms obstruct blood flow to the heart or liver.

When it comes to feline heartworm disease, prevention is the key. This is relatively easy and cost effective today as products such as Revolution for Cats and Advantage Multi are simple topical spot on products that solve several problems that could affect your pet.

Revolution for cats battles ear mites, breaks the flea life cycle and prevents heartworm, too. This proven pet medication is available by prescription only and is approved by the FDA. The broad-spectrum parasiticide has a great record for safety and is available with prescription at discount pet med sites online. Advantage Multi from Bayer provides total protection from feline heartworm disease while it also controls ear mites, hookworm, roundworm and the common and ever present flea. Advantage Multi requires a prescription from a veterinarian. For pet owners who prefer heartworm prevention pet med that can be taken separately, Interceptor for cats promises protection against heartworm as well as hookworm, roundworm and whipworm which often affect felines.

In today’s world the efforts taken to eat healthy and provide a healthy lifestyle are dwindling. This is more evident in the most recent generations as children are becoming obese and having atrocious oral hygiene with such bad diets. This needs to be addressed and targeted by those who care for them as well as those who see these health risks become apparent. Proper oral care and weight management go hand in hand with heart disease prevention and general health. We do not want to outlive our children in this day and age when fast food and bad snacking habits are on the rise.

Children and Obesity

Many children around the world are feeling the impact of fast food and unhealthy eating habits. Obesity is a growing trend that will cause many different diseases and ailments that can be prevented by controlling and advocating diets that are rich in healthy foods. Diets that are balanced and well portioned for their growing bodies. Foods that are not nourishing will only cause inflation into obesity and create an addiction that is lifelong as well as detrimental to their health. In conjunction to heart disease, obesity lends its trend into complications such as diabetes, liver and kidney failure and weakened lung capacities. The bad diets and poor oral hygiene standards that these children are accustomed to also causes tooth decay and gum disease. When they are older, they will be missing teeth and opt to drinking sugar condensed drinks to satisfy their bad eating habits, only accelerating the degrading effects of diabetes and kidney and liver failure.

The Importance of Heart Health

There is no one on Earth who would want to submit themselves to a heart attack or other types of heart disease such as hypertension. These can simply be improved upon by using exercise as a tool to improve the strength of the heart and body. Eating a healthy diet also reduces the amount of plaque that builds up within arterial walls that can cause heart attacks and stroke. Keeping tabs on heart health is one of the main things you can do to extend your life well beyond the average life expectancy one hundred years ago.

Correcting Bad Eating Behaviors

There are no more facts that can justify eating healthier. The benefits of eating healthy far outweigh the benefits of eating unhealthy for sure. Many times, changing diet and incorporating exercise into the lifestyles of children, adults and elderly will prolong their lives as well as create a healthier environment in which their body can repair itself. Many people with type II diabetes can simply cure themselves from this disorder by controlling their eating habits with proper diets and incorporating exercise into their health routine. Everyone that takes part in exercising for health can feel the benefits and look great at the same time. This is an issue that needs to be addressed the world over and cannot be ignored if the humane race wishes to remain healthy.

Correcting Bad Oral Hygiene Behaviors

Many people simply do not perform oral hygiene measures because they do not know how. Owning just a toothbrush can be great, but you are not receiving the best benefits of maintaining a healthy environment for teeth and gums. Flossing is a major part of teeth cleansing that requires dexterity and targeted cleaning for increased efficiency of healthy gums and teeth. It removes plaque and debris that are stuck between teeth and gums. Using a tongue scraper also helps to remove bacteria and food from the tongue that accelerate the fouling of breath and mouth cleanliness. Using mouthwashes also helps to kill off bacteria and other microbes that cause damage to the teeth and can cause gum disease such as gingivitis.

Do you know why most MD would not tell you anything you ask about disease prevention?

In their years of training to be a physician, sad to say that they are not trained in this area but to cure diseases.

Not The Doctors Fault

It is not the doctor’s fault.

Your health-care situation is just like a highway. The medical and pharmaceutical industry is just like a rescue team in a dangerous high-speed highway, waiting for accident to happen.

While not being their responsibility to maintain good highway condition and putting up effective road signs, they can’t help you to prevent your health-care accident from happening.

It Is Your Responsibility

So it is your responsibility to take disease prevention steps and maintain good health care condition of your body like maintaining good road condition of a highway, which will ensure your journey on the health-care highway is not jeopardized by poor road conditions.

Anyway, it is your body that you can control to maintain good health condition. Many people still do not believe that good health condition and preventive measure is their responsibility and it is attainable without doctors’ intervention.

I am going to do my part here to give your the resources and knowledge that I know to you. It is up to you to learn, apply and take full responsibility to prevent disease and maintain healthy body.

You can get lots of the information from the expert in the field, which is available to you free on the Internet or by paying a small fee.

Some of the advice or reference you find require you to take some form of vitamin supplements, some require you to take disciplined actions or exercise.

When you decided to take vitamin to maintain optimal health, please remember that you need to take them consistently and regularly in order for you to reap the benefit of these supplements to prevent diseases.

Do Your Research

You ought to do your research carefully and thoroughly before taking your plunge to prevent disease naturally. From my own experience, I did my own research before using high quality and natural products to keep my general well being of my health. My own proactive research started a few years ago when I was advised to take Statin to lower my bad cholesterol level. However, contrary to the advice, I decided to take a non-drug treatment approach and I succeeded in bringing down my bad cholesterol level.

There other numerous experience from my family members who also used a non-drug approach to cure diseases like liver tumor and ovarian cyst.

There are more resource and information about disease prevention and medicine alternatives approach to preventing, treatment and cure of diseases on the Internet.

All of us know that for a healthy proper body, it is very important that the heart functions properly. We need to take care of the heart as one of the main causes for heart blockage and in severe cases; a heart attack is nothing but the substance cholesterol. We need to ensure that we take in a proper diet with the correct levels of cholesterol. This involves ensuring that there is a balance between Low Density Lipoprotein cholesterol or LDL and High Density Lipoprotein cholesterol or HDL. This helps in reducing the chances of a coronary artery disease occurring in the individual.

LDL Cholesterol is also known as bad cholesterol because it transports cholesterol to the arteries. The risk here is that there is every chance that it will get stored there by the arterial protoglycans. This will lead to the formation of plaques causing the condition called atherosclerosis and finally to coronary artery disease. HDL or High Density Lipoprotein cholesterol is also called good cholesterol because it has found that it can remove cholesterol from the arteries and take it back to the liver to be excreted or to be re-utilized.

Therefore, having more of HDL than LDL can mean that you are protected from having a heart attack and any other coronary disease. This also means that we should learn to control our diet in such a way that the intake comprises more of HDL cholesterol and not LDL cholesterol.

One should learn to have soy protein, almonds, plant sterol-enriched margarines and oats, psyllium, okra, and eggplant as they help in reducing the levels of LDL Cholesterol.