What You Must Know About Heart Disease

Here are some lifesaving facts about the number one killer of women.

Each year some 88,000 women ages 45 to 64 have a heart attack -- which is why knowing how to protect yourself is crucial. It's time to separate the rumors from the facts about this deadly disease -- and lower your risk now.

True or False?

The telltale sign of a heart attack is crushing pain in your chest.

False. Up to 70 percent of female heart attack victims experience no chest pain at all. More common symptoms include nausea or vomiting; cold sweats; shortness of breath; a heartburnlike pain; light-headedness or fainting; and pain in the jaw, throat, back or arm that won't go away. You may also notice unusual fatigue and have problems sleeping. "If routine things like climbing the stairs now take you twice as long to do or leave you out of breath, see your doctor," says cardiologist Nieca Goldberg, M.D., author of The Women's Healthy Heart Program.

True or False?

Body Mass Index is the best way to predict whether you'll have a heart attack.

False. Waist-to-hip ratio may be a better gauge, says a recent study published in the journal Lancet. To find out your ratio, divide your waist measurement in inches by your hip measurement. For women, 0.85 or above means you're at risk of having a heart attack. The higher the number, the higher the risk.

True or False?

Drinking alcohol can help lower your risk.

True -- but only in moderation. Having one alcoholic beverage a day (12 oz. of beer, 4 oz. of wine or 1 oz. of liquor) can decrease your heart disease risk by up to 40 percent. Why that's so: Alcohol is thought to slightly increase good cholesterol, and it also contains resveratrol, a substance that helps prevent blood clots. (Teetotalers, take heart: You can get similar benefits by drinking red or purple grape juice.) For optimum health, choose red wine; it's high in flavonoids, antioxidants that protect heart cells from damage. Warning: Drinking more than what's recommended can raise blood pressure.

True or False?

An aspirin a day keeps a heart attack away.

False. Aspirin lowers the risk of heart attack for those who've already had one, but it doesn't do much to prevent first-time attacks.

True or False?

If a product is labeled "heart-healthy," it will improve your heart health.

False. As long as manufacturers don't claim that a food prevents or treats a specific disease or condition, phrases such as "heart-healthy" or "heart-smart" can pop up anywhere, says Bonnie Liebman, R.D., director of nutrition at the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington, DC. "However, if a food touts an ability to lower cholesterol or fight heart disease, the claim is backed by good evidence and has been approved by the FDA." Yoplait's Heart Healthy Yogurt, Benecol margarine and Nature Valley Healthy Heart Granola Bars all contain plant sterols, extracts that inhibit the absorption of cholesterol in the body. Aim for 0.8 g of sterols each day -- about two (6 oz.) yogurts, 1 tbsp. of Benecol or two granola bars.

True or False?

A little chocolate helps your heart.

True -- but only dark chocolate. It's rich in flavonoids, which also lower blood pressure. "It's still best for your health -- and waistline -- to have chocolate only as a treat and instead choose healthier flavonoid-rich snacks such as apples, raspberries or green tea," says Goldberg.

True or False?

Not catching enough z's can harm your heart.

True. Women who sleep five hours or less a night are 30 percent more likely to have heart disease, according to research from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. But snoozing more than nine hours often can be a bad sign, too. The connection: Insomniacs are often tense, while oversleepers tend to be depressed. These psychological stressors have been linked to high blood pressure and higher levels of cholesterol, insulin and cortisol (a stress hormone), says Sharonne Hayes, M.D., director of the Mayo Clinic Women's Heart Clinic in Rochester, MN. Have sleep issues? Talk to your doctor so you -- and your heart -- can rest easier.

P.S. protect your HEART by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.



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Sulfonylureas for Diabetes increase risk of Heart Disease and Death, Study finds

Sulfonylureas, the first family of oral drugs used for treating type 2 diabetes, increase the risk of death from all causes by as much as 61% compared with the newer drug metformin, British researchers have found. Some researchers have suspected that the drugs carry an increased risk, but the new study reported online in BMJ.com is the first to quantify the risks. BMJ.com is the website of BMJ, formerly the British Medical Journal.

The good news from the study is that the new family of drugs called thiazolidinediones is not associated with an increased risk and that one of them, pioglitazone, actually reduces risk by as much as 39% compared with metformin.

Type 2 diabetes has reached epidemic status, with more than 180 million victims worldwide and nearly 24 million in the United States. It is most common among the elderly and is associated with obesity, but the growing incidence of obesity in youth is causing the disease to appear in an ever-younger population. Diabetes by itself doubles the risk of heart disease, which complicates the task of identifying increased risks from drugs. U.S. guidelines call for using metformin as first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes, and the new results support that recommendation.

The sulfonyureas, which include Glucotrol, Diabeta, Glipizide, Gliclazide, glyburide, Amaryl, chlorpropamide, tolbutamide and tolazamide, have been marketed in the United States since 1955 and are taken once or twice daily before meals. They stimulate the release of insulin by the pancreas and may help sensitize cells to the action of the hormone.

Dr. Paul Elliott, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London, and his colleagues studied health records of 91,521 diabetic men and women (with an average age of 65) in the U.K. General Practice Database between 1990 and 2005. Among that group, in an average follow-up period of seven years, there were 3,588 myocardial infarctions (heart attacks), 6,900 cases of congestive heart failure and 18,548 deaths.

Compared with metformin, the team observed a 24% to 61% excess risk for deaths from all causes among users of first- and second-generation sulfonylureas and an 18% to 30% excess risk of congestive heart failure for users of the second-generation drugs. The thiazolidinediones rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos) were not associated with an increased risk of heart attacks. Actos was associated with a 31% to 39% decrease in risk of all-cause mortality compared with metformin. Comparing the two thiazolidinediones to each other, the team found that Avandia was linked to a 34% to 41% higher risk of death, but the team concluded the increased risk was not statistically significant when other factors were taken into account.

Experts cautioned, however, that the study suffers from a problem characteristic of all such retrospective studies -- researchers cannot know what diagnosis prompted physicians to describe specific drugs. High-risk patients with high blood levels of creatine, for example, are not likely to be prescribed metformin and would probably receive a sulfonylurea instead. Because the high creatine levels increase the risk of death by themselves, an increased risk might inappropriately be blamed on the drugs.


P.S. Protect your Heart by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.



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Body clock link to heart disease

Scientists have raised the possibility that cardiovascular disease is linked to disturbances in the body's 24-hour clock.

Working on mice, the Japanese team found a genetic risk factor for a form of high blood pressure is influenced by 24-hour or circadian rhythms.

The study appears online in the journal Nature Medicine.

Malfunctions in the body clock - which influences much of the body's chemistry - have been linked to many diseases.

And lead researcher Professor Hitoshi Okamura said the latest study was in line with data which suggested shift workers, long-distance flight crews and people with sleep disorders have a heightened risk of heart problems.

High blood pressure - known as hypertension - can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, and many other medical problems.

Many genes have been identified as being essential elements making up the circadian clock.

For example, mice lacking a pair of molecules known as cryptochromes have an abnormal circadian rhythm.

The latest study, by Kyoto University, found these mice were vulnerable to high blood pressure because of abnormally high levels of a hormone called aldosterone that prompts water retention in the kidneys.


Strong correlation

The researchers showed that the circadian clock directly controls a gene that plays a key role in production of the hormone.

The researchers say a similar gene is found in humans.

They stress more work is needed to determine whether a misfiring circadian clock can lead to high blood pressure in humans.

But Professor Okamura said the research raised the prospect of new ways to treat hypertension.

Professor Bryan Williams, an expert in hypertension at the University of Leicester, described the study as "fascinating".

He said: "We know that there is a strong correlation between time of day and cardiovascular events, which often coincide with the early morning surge in blood pressure.

"So this does provide some insights into the mechanism that might underpin blood pressure deregulation in some people."

Professor Williams said some people with high blood pressure were known to have high levels of aldosterone.

But he added: "What we don't know is how common this mutation might be in human hypertension."

Professor Jeremy Pearson, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: "Hypertension is common, but the genes controlling blood pressure are not well understood.

"Their identification will help design better treatments for high blood pressure."

But he also stressed more research was needed before it became clear whether the study had identified a potential target for new treatments.


P.S. protect your HEART by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.



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Former WWE wrestler Edward 'Umaga' Fatu dies of heart attack

The wrestling community is reeling today after news that ex-WWE superstar Edward “Umaga” Fatu has died.

Formerly known to World Wrestling Entertainment fans as Umaga, Fatu died Friday after suffering a heart attack, CNN reports. The 36-year-old's wife reportedly found him unconscious with blood coming out of his nose. He was rushed to a hospital in Houston, TX, but was pronounced dead at around 6:00 pm EST.

In 2007, The News reported that Fatu was one of many superstars who bought prescription drugs from an online pharmacy, which violated the WWE "Talent Wellness" program. The wrestler had purchased a growth hormone called somatropin in the months following a WWE rule was instituted stating its fighters could not buy drugs from online sources.

Fatu was the cousin of Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock, and a member of the Anoa'I wrestling family. He was nicknamed the Samoan Bulldozer for his powerful technique and won the WWE Intercontinental title two times. But despite his stellar performances, Umaga was ultimately fired by the WWE after violating the Wellness Program again by not entering rehab.

On its official website, the WWE expressed "its deepest condolences to Mr. Fatu's family, friends and fans on his tragic passing."

Fatu had just taken part in Hulk Hogan's Hulkmania tour in Australia when he passed away.


P.S. protect your HEART by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.



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Ingredients for the Faint of Heart ( Part 2 )

Bradley West, Nordic Naturals research advisor said Nordic Natural combines fish oil with red yeast rice in its Omega LDL. “Numerous scientific studies have shown that red yeast rice, a natural red-pigmented yeast grown on rice, helps support healthy cholesterol levels that are already within the normal range,” West said. Red yeast rice is a fermented product of rice on which red yeast (Monascus purpureus) is grown. A Mayo Clinic study found lifestyle changes combined with ingestion of red yeast rice and fish oil reduced LDL in proportions similar to standard therapy with the statin therapy drug Simvastatin.18

A heart-healthy ingredient also grown, but this one from the soil, is hawthorn berries. “Hawthorn has been used for decades as a cardiovascular tonic, as it has been shown to improve the efficiency of the pumping action of the heart by increasing blood flow in the coronary arteries,” said Eileen Sheets, managing director, Bioforce USA. “And, improvement in the heart’s ability to pump blood more effectively has a positive impact on blood pressure.”

Keri Marshall, M.D., medical director at Gaia Herbs, added, “Hawthorn is profoundly important for increasing blood flow and the integrity of the vessels. Hawthorn berries are known to help connective tissue integrity, and blood vessels are all connective tissues, as well as help increase the integrity of blood flow within the body.”

A New York Heart Association study concluded patients who ingested standardized hawthorn berry extract, “may expect an improvement in their heart failure condition under long-term therapy.”19 And, a review of 14 randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled studies suggested hawthorn extract has significant benefits in the treatment for chronic heart failure.20

Folic acid, aka vitamin B9, is becoming more known as an ingredient that reduces the risk of heart disease. In the IFIC survey, 70 percent of responders said they were aware of folic acid’s heart-health abilities, compared to 55 percent in 2007. A recent study showed supplementation of folic acid may improve cardiovascular health and reduce the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD).21 And in an earlier study, the same group of researchers found 5 mg/d of folic acid over a three-week period reduced pulse pressure compared with a placebo.22

Niacin, also part of the B vitamins, has also been shown to improve heart health via raising HDL cholesterol.23 When used in combination with cholesterol-lowering drugs, it enhanced the cholesterol-managing effect.24 According to Lonza’s Web site, its niacin ingredient lowers LDL cholesterol, elevates high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and reduces the level of triglycerides in the blood.

Sometimes, a lack of an ingredient can pose problems. In a George Washington University study, magnesium deficiency caused inflammatory, oxidative and nitrosative events, which promoted cardiomyopathy, cardiac dysfunction and myocardial intolerance to secondary stresses.24 In addition, the level of magnesium in the body has a direct effect upon the relaxation capability of vascular smooth muscle cells, blood pressure and hypertension.25 However, adding magnesium to the diet can improve blood pressure. A study examined the effect of magnesium, potassium and dietary fiber on incidence of high blood pressure in more than 30,000 men.26 After four years, researchers noted dietary fiber, potassium and magnesium were each significantly associated with lower risk of hypertension.

Some consumers want more than one or two ingredients in their heart-health supplements. Proprietary Nutritionals Inc. offers Sytrinol, with polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs), a group of compounds derived from the peels of citrus fruits including the bioflavonoids tangeretin and nobiletin; and palm tocotrienols, members of the vitamin E family extracted from the fruit of the palm tree.

Vitalah’s Oxylent contains magnesium, selenium, arginine, CoQ10, SOD, catalase , vitamin D and B vitamins; and Get Well Natural’s heart health supplement Cardio Well Classic includes the herbs Morinda citrifolia (noni fruit), prunella, salvia, notoginseng, eucomia and lycium fruit.

to be continued............

P.S. Pamper your heart with Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.



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Eat your heart out

I Love My Heart! I Love my Health! That's what people always say when someone questions them about their health and well being but science says that you have done nothing in your action towards loving your heart if you haven't taken a close look at your diet. If you already have risk factors such as hypertension, cholesterol, smoking, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle and high stress, start on your diet right away! If you have no obvious risk-factors(good for you!), this 5 easy steps will let you have a healthy heart throughout your lifetime.

1. Up your anti-oxidants

• Anti-oxidants such as vitamins C, E, beta carotene and bioflavonoids occur naturally in fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, nuts and seeds. They protect the heart from free radical damage.

• Eat gooseberries or amlas every day. Rich in Vitamin C, they mop up free radicals from the body. Steam your veggies for retaining Vitamin C. • Add a glass of freshly-squeezed citrus fruit juice combined with carrots, 3-4 times a week for Vitamin C and beta carotene.

• Snack on 4 almonds, 2 walnuts and 1-2 Tbsp of sunflower seeds each day to get a Vitamin E boost. Add a teaspoon of wheat germ to your breakfast cereal for more Vitamin E.



2. Feast on good fats

MUFA or monounsaturated fatty acids are good fats. Get them in olive, soya, and mustard oil; nuts (walnuts and pistachios) and seeds (sunflower, flax seeds), olives and dark chocolate. They have been proven to reduce 'bad' LDL cholesterol and increase 'good' HDL cholesterol.Good polyunsaturated fatty acids like Omega 3 and Omega 6 are also heart protective and found in oily fish (sardines, salmon, tuna) and flax seeds. Add them to your diet.

3.Fill up with fibre

Fibre is important for lowering bad cholesterol, a major risk factor in heart diseases. Fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, beans and legumes are good sources of both soluble and insoluble dietary fibre. Oats are great for reducing cholesterol levels, so start your day with a steaming bowl of porridge. Switch to wholewheat bread and pastas and go for brown rice instead of refined.

4.Add more vitamin D
Recent research published in the American Journal of the Medical Sciences (2009), points out the importance of Vitamin D for keeping your heart healthy. According to one article, low Vitamin D levels could increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart failure, and ischemic heart disease. There is still little information on whether taking Vitamin D supplements will reduce these risks. But because you love your heart and to be on the safe side, ensure that you expose your body to 20 minutes of sunlight every day for Vitamin D synthesis.

5.Eat this way

• Loving your heart is not simple so go easy on saturated fats and cut trans fat. Swap red meat with fish such as salmon, sardine, mackerel, sea bass. Pick white meat if you don't like fish.

• Reduce your dairy intake and go for soya instead. ? Add more coloured vegetables to your diet. Go for salads and steamed veggies.? Cut back on your salt intake. Avoid table salt and stay away from packaged foods, pickles and processed foods.

• For snacks, swap chips, cookies and chocolates with fruits, nuts and seeds.

• Swap refined foods with wholegrain foods such as brown rice, brown bread and wholewheat pastas.

• Try grilling, baking, stir-frying and steaming foods, instead of frying them.

• If you drink alcohol, exercise moderation. You can opt for red wine as it is said to contain heart-friendly polyphenols.

• Use a mix of healthy oils-olive oil, canola, rice bran, mustard and soya oil.



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Heart attack symptoms? Don't wait

If you saw someone experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, what would you do? Most likely, you would call 911. But if you're a woman and thought you were having a heart attack, your response would probably be different.

Women often hesitate or fail to call 911 when they experience heart attack symptoms. Most women feel they are not really having a heart attack, do not want to raise a false alarm or self-diagnose themselves as having heartburn or other minor health issues.

Women might not even realize they are experiencing a heart attack. Some common symptoms for women are unusual fatigue, shortness of breath, weakness or inability to perform daily activities, nausea, sleep disturbances and indigestion. However, some warning signs are ignored as non-cardiac, such as a burning sensation in the back, arms, shoulders or teeth.

Any intense complaint that is above the waist should be taken seriously as a possible heart attack. Many doctors say that a woman's perception of heart disease may be her biggest risk factor of all.

Minutes matter when a heart attack occurs because every second is critical, as blocked coronary arteries prevent blood from reaching oxygen-starved heart muscle. Women should call 911 first and then chew on an aspirin. Aspirin can improve the chance of survival by reducing the size of the clot (if present) in the coronary artery. By calling 911, assessment begins rapidly on the way to the hospital. The EMS crew can alert the hospital's cardiac team of your arrival and can immediately begin treatment to open the blocked artery that is causing the heart attack. It is also important to remember to never drive to the emergency room because you won't get valuable care that you would otherwise receive from the EMS crew, and you put yourself and other drivers at risk of a crash.

Women must remember to never take a wait-and-see approach to a possible heart attack. The longer you wait, the more damage a heart attack can cause. As the adage goes, it's better to be safe than sorry. Always call 911.


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Green vegetables to heart rescue

LEAFY greens have bounty of benefits. Packed with nutrients and fiber, it is low in calories. BEN UKWUOMA reports that researchers have uncovered a possible reason why green vegetables are good for the heart.

RESEARCHERS have discovered a possible reason why green vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower are good for the heart. Their work suggests that a chemical found in vegetables can boost natural Defence mechanism to protect arteries from diseases.

The Imperial College London team hopes their work could lead to new dietary treatments to prevent heart problems.

Details that appear in Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology shows that many heart diseases are caused by build up of fatty plaques in the arteries, known as atherosclerosis.

However, arteries do not get clogged up with these plaques in a uniform way. Bends and branches of blood vessels - where blood flow is disrupted and can be sluggish - are much more prone to the build-up.

The latest study has shown that a protein that usually protects against plaque build up, called Nrf2, is inactive in areas of arteries that are prone to diseases.

However, it also found that treatment with a chemical found in green "brassica" vegetables such as broccoli can activate Nrf2 in these disease-prone regions.

Lead researcher, Dr Paul Evans said: "We found that the innermost layer of cells at branches and bends of arteries lack the active form of Nrf2, which may explain why they are prone to inflammation and disease.

"Treatment with the natural compound sulforaphane reduced inflammation at the high-risk areas by 'switching on' Nrf2.

"Sulforaphane is found naturally in broccoli, so our next steps include testing whether simply eating broccoli, or other vegetables in their 'family', has the same protective effect.

"We also need to see if the compound can reduce the progression of disease in affected arteries."

Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director of the British Heart Foundation, which funded the research, said: "These fascinating findings provide a possible mechanism by which eating vegetables protects against heart disease, as well as adding evidence to support the importance of eating 'five-a-day'. The biochemistry revealed in this research could lead to more targeted dietary or medical approaches to prevent or lessen disease that leads to heart attacks and strokes."

Using normal mice, and mice engineered to lack the Nrf2 protein, the research found that in straight sections of arteries Nrf2 was present in the endothelial 'lining' cells.

Through its action on other proteins, it prevented the cells from becoming inflamed, an early stage in the development of atherosclerosis.

In the lining cells of disease-prone sites - such as bended or branched arteries - Nrf2 was attached to a protein that made it inactive. This stifled its protective properties.

But the addition of sulforaphane re-activated Nrf2 in the disease-prone regions of the artery, restoring the cells' ability to protect themselves from becoming inflamed.

The researchers believe that this will enable these artery regions to remain healthy for longer or even reduce the progression of existing disease. Dark green leafy vegetables are warehouses for calories, perhaps the most concentrated source of nutrition of any food. They are rich sources of minerals (including iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium) and vitamins, including vitamins K, C, E, and many of the B vitamins. They also provide a variety of phytonutrients including beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which protect our cells from damage and our eyes from age-related problems, among many other effects. Dark green leaves even contain small amounts of Omega-3 fats.

Perhaps the star of these nutrients is Vitamin K. A cup of most cooked greens provides at least nine times the minimum recommended intake of Vitamin K, and even a couple of cups of dark salad greens usually provide the minimum all on their own. Recent research has provided evidence that this vitamin may be even more important than we once thought (the current minimum may not be optimal), and many people do not get enough of it.

Dark green leafy vegetables are calorie for calorie, perhaps the most concentrated source of nutrition of any food. They are a rich source of minerals like iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium and vitamins, including vitamins K, C, E, and many of the B vitamins. They also provide variety of phytonutrients, including beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which protect our cells from damaging and our eyes from age-related problems, among many other effects. Dark green leaves even contain small amounts of Omega-3 fats.

Perhaps the star of these nutrients is Vitamin K. A cup of most cooked greens provides at least nine times the minimum recommended intake of Vitamin K, and even a couple of cups of dark salad greens usually provide the minimum all on their own. Recent research has provided evidence that this vitamin may be even more important than we once thought -the current minimum may not be optimal. And many people do not get enough of it.

Dr. Albert Osaretin Egbuhi, an associate professor of Biochemistry, College of Medicine University of Lagos, said: "Greens have very little carbohydrate in them, and the carbohydrate that are there are packed in layers of fiber, which make them very slow to digest. That is why, in general, greens have very little impact on blood glucose."

Broccoli for instance is said to be highly nutritious, containing over 20 vitamins and minerals. A cup is bursting with 2280 IU of vitamin A and 123 mg of vitamin C.

"It is an excellent source of folate and dietary fiber and a good source of potassium, calcium, the B vitamins and other essential nutrients. In addition to its sulforaphane content which aids in increasing the levels of enzymes that block cancer, its indole-3 carbinol content has captured the attention of those looking to prevent hormone-related cancers, including breast and prostate cancer." Egbuhi stated.

Aside from being a very good source of vitamin C, cucumber is also packed with molebdenum, a mineral that reduces the symptoms of allergy and helps prevent anemia by enabling the body to use iron. In addition to its vitamin A, D and E contents, this watermelon relative also contains vitamin K, a nutrient required to make at least three proteins essential for bone formation. A cup of cucumber contains 149 mg of potassium

Essentially, most vegetables are nutrient dense and loaded with good-for-you vitamins and phytonutrients, but green vegetables and leafy greens pack a pile of health benefits into two important factors: flavonoids and folate.

"Flavonoids are anti-oxidant compounds that give some of the colour to foods like dark chocolate, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, and peppers."

Flavonoids, according to experts, also help keep arteries flexible, acting almost like a non-stick coating preventing cholesterol buildup. Two of the richest sources of flavonoids are green beans and broccoli.

Green beans have high concentration of Vitamins A and C, two other potent anti-oxidants which do everything from protecting us against cancer causing free radicals to promoting collagen and elastin production in the skin, to help fight signs of aging.

Broccoli, while high in flavonoids, also contains important phytonutrients that aid in cancer prevention. In some studies it has been shown to reduce the size of cancerous tumors that already exist. In addition, broccoli is high in calcium as well as vitamin C, having nearly twice the amount of vitamin C of that of orange. The significance of that combination is that vitamin C aids in the absorption of calcium.

Folate is a B vitamin that helps cells regenerate, or renew themselves. While it assists in the production of healthy blood cells and the treatment of anemia, it is also a needed component in the making of DNA, the building blocks of cells. By preventing changes to DNA, it also aids in the prevention of many types of cancers.

Clinical studies have also shown that a lack of folate increases the risk for alzheimers, depression, and other forms of mental fatigue. Because of the connection with the production of red blood cells, folate, or the manufactured form, folic acid, has long been recommended to pregnant women as it aids in the development of a healthy nervous system in the fetus. What are our best green food sources of folate? Spinach, kale and asparagus.

Green vegetables also contain many phyto-chemicals and beta-carotene. These nutrients help protect cells from damaging, improve immune functions and help protect our eyes from age-related diseases. Some studies suggest that lutein and zeaxanthin may reduce the risk of certain types of cancers such as breast and lung cancers. They are useful in reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease since they are low in fat, high in dietary fiber, and rich in folic acid, vitamin C, potassium and magnesium as well as containing a host of phytochemicals, such as lutein, beta-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene.

One study showed that an increment of one daily serving of green leafy vegetables lowered the risk of cardiovascular disease by 11 per cent.

In the Adventist health study, the frequent consumptions of green salads by African-Americans were associated with a substantially lower risk of mortality.

Because of their high magnesium content and low glycemic index, green leafy vegetables are also valuable for persons with type 2 diabetes.

Green vegetables are also major sources of iron and calcium for any diet. Swiss chard and spinach are not considered good sources of calcium, due to their high content of oxalic acid. Green leafy vegetables are rich in beta-carotene, which can also be converted into vitamin A, and also improve immune functions. Millions of children around the world have increased risk of blindness, and other illnesses because of inadequate dietary vitamin A from green leafy vegetables.

Lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids found in dark-green leafy vegetables, are concentrated in the eye lens and macular region of the retina. They play a protective role in the eye. They protect against both cataract and age-related macular degeneration, the major cause of blindness in the elderly. Some studies suggest that lutein and zeaxanthin may help reduce the risk of certain types of cancers, such as breast and lung cancer, and may contribute to the prevention of heart disease and stroke.

In a Swedish study, it was reported that eating three or more servings a week of green leafy vegetables significantly reduced the risk of stomach cancer, the fourth most frequent cancer in the world. Cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and broccoli are rich in indoles and isothiocyanates, which protect us against colon and other cancers.

Broccoli sprouts have been reported to contain 10 or more times as much sulforaphane, a cancer-protective substance than does mature broccoli. A higher consumption of green leafy vegetables has been shown to significantly decrease the risk of breast cancer and skin cancer.

Studies have identified a gene, connexin 43, whose expression is upregulated by chemopreventive carotenoids and which allows direct intercellular gap junctional communication. In many human tumors, gap junctional communication is deficient and its upregulation is associated with decreased proliferation. Hence, the cancer-preventive properties of carotenoids are partly explained by their impact on gene regulation.

Quercetin is a bioflavonoid found in leafy green vegetables. Quercetin has an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity and displays unique anticancer properties. Quercetin is a natural compound that blocks substances involved in allergies and acts as an inhibitor of mast cell secretion, and causes a decrease in the release of interleukin-6.

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One in four heart attack and stroke patients miss medication

Almost a quarter of people on medication to prevent strokes and heart attacks are not taking their drugs, research has found.

Women are slightly more likely than men to take their drugs on time, according to a poll of 472 patients, but overall 26% said they either missed doses or did not use their prescribed medication at all.

Anti-clotting drugs were not taken regularly by 29% of patients at a GP practice in the North-east of England, and 23% failed to take statins on time, which reduce cholesterol and lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Research presented at the British Pharmaceutical Conference in Manchester found that older patients and those on large numbers of drugs were more likely to stick to a medication schedule.

Pharmacist Wasim Baqir, from The Village Green Surgery, Sunderland, said: “Simply prescribing a drug is not enough.

“Doctors and other members of the primary care team, such as pharmacists, need to work with patients so they understand the importance of taking their medicines in the right dose, at the right time.”

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Program for the Reversal of Heart Disease

If you have vascular disease, and if you want not to have it, there is a plan for you.

1. Get yourself into chelation therapy and stay the course. This is the fastest, most proven method of dealing with this life-threatening condition. The literature proving this is extensive, despite what uninformed doctors may tell you. Then, in consultation with a doctor who practices nutritional medicine, take the following steps: (All the following dosages may be adjusted by your doctor, based on his or her experience and medical opinion.)
2. Vitamin C to bowel tolerance — as much as you can take without diarrhea. For most people this will be in the range of five to ten grams (5,000-10,000 mg.) each day. Spread this amount into two equal doses 12 hours apart. (Vitamin C prevents further cracking of the blood vessel wall — the beginning of the disease.)
3. Co-enzyme Q10 90-180 mg. twice each day (strengthens the heart muscle).
4. L-carnitine 3 grams twice each day (also strengthens the heart muscle).
5. L-lysine 3 grams twice each day (acts to release lipoprotein(a) from plaque formation and prevent further deposition of same).
6. L-proline 3 grams twice each day (acts to release lipoprotein(a) from plaque formation and prevent further deposition of same).
7. Niacin decreases the production of lipoprotein(a) in the liver. Inositol hexaniacinate is a form of niacin which gives less of a problem with flushing and therefore allows for larger therapeutic doses. Begin with 250 mg. at lunch, 500 mg. at dinner and 500 mg. at bedtime the first day; then increase gradually over a few days until you reach four grams per day, or the highest dose under four grams you can tolerate. Be sure to aks your doctor for liver enzyme level tests every two months or less to be sure your liver is able to handle the dose you are taking.
8. Vitamin E (as Unique E) 800-2400 IU per day. (This inhibits the proliferation of smooth muscle cells in the walls of arteries undergoing the atherosclerotic changes.)
9. Stop smoking. (This decreases the free radical load on your body.)
10. Adopt a sensible diet with plenty of veggies and not so much fat. (The metabolism of fat decreases your body vitamin pool dramatically.)
11. Ask your doctor for a comprehensive stool analysis (Great Smokies Lab) to see if you are digesting well all that good food. Your diet does not matter much if it is not getting into your body.
12. Lower stress in your life however you can.
13. Adopt a sensible exercise program in collaboration with your doctor.



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Vitamin users have lower heart risk

Good news for those who take vitamin supplements: people who take a multivitamin and vitamin E nearly every day for 10 years seem to have a slightly lower risk of death from heart disease, study findings hint.

Those who take vitamin E and C supplements may also have a lower risk of death overall in a five-year period, while those who take vitamin C may have a lower risk of death from cancer, note study authors Dr. Gaia Pocobelli, at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle, Washington, and colleagues.

Vitamins E and C are antioxidants that are thought to protect against damage the body's cells, but scientists have "no clear evidence" that their use staves off death.

While the findings of the current study back earlier studies, many of the decreased risks are small, and may have more to do with other healthy behaviours in which people who take vitamins are likely to take part, the authors are quick to add in their report in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

How the study was done

The team surveyed 77 719 men and women in Washington State who were between 50 and 76 years old. Overall 67, 47, and 48% of the study group had ever used multivitamins, vitamin C, and vitamin E supplements, respectively.

Overall, there were 3 577 deaths in the group over five years. Among those who did not use vitamins, there were 350 deaths from heart disease, while there were 519 deaths among those who used vitamins between a few days and seven days per week.

After adjusting for gender and age, lifestyle, diet, and medical conditions, the researchers saw no differences between non-users and those who used multivitamins for zero to two days, three to five days, or six to seven days per week on average over 10 years.

By contrast, they saw slightly decreased risk for death from heart disease among those reporting the most frequent multivitamin use.

What the study revealed

When the researchers looked at vitamin C use, those who took more than 322 milligrams per day had a slightly decreased overall and cancer-related risk of death within five years, compared with non-users. Those with a history of heart disease who took this level of vitamin C had slightly decreased risk for death from heart disease.

Compared with non-users, men and women reporting more than 215 milligrams per day of vitamin E per day - roughly the amount found in a typical supplement -- had slightly decreased total and heart disease-related risk of death. The investigators saw no association between cancer death risk and vitamin E intake.

Even though the study took lifestyle into account, the authors that many of the findings "should be interpreted cautiously because healthy behaviours" - some of which may not have been measured - "tend to be more common in supplement users than in nonusers."


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