The easiest and fastest way to lower cholesterol is through a supplement and the advice above. They are proven by laboratories and doctors to work successfully.

Good heart health does not have to be expensive. Mother Nature provides three cardiovascular cures/helpers which are surprisingly low in cost. Together all three can help you build up a weak heart and are guaranteed to provide additional benefits in preventing type II diabetes.

Cheap Heart Health Cure #1: Psyllium Husk.

Psyllium husk is a soluble fiber. It is also a complex carbohydrate. All this means is that the human body can not digest it so that once you eat it, it will be fermented in the large intestime and will yeild a wide range of heart-healthy benefits.  meaning it is an indigestible, complex carbohydrate. Among the benefits are appetite control, and control of your blood sugar and your body's insulin production.

Studies have shown that for each ten grams per day of fiber in your diet will give you approximately a 15 percent decrease in the risk of a heart attack. This proactive treatment also gives about a 25 percent decrease in death from heart disease.


Psyllium husk is also a great supplement because of its ability to help control blood sugars. Excess sugar in the blood stream can cause heart disease because it becomes "oxidized." This oxidation leads to a change in the molecular structure of sugars - causing what is known as advanced glycation end products or AGE-products. Like a knife carving clay, AGE products scar arterial walls. The scarring results in plague buildup and excess blood clotting. This mechanism is why diabetics have a 4.5 times increase of suffering from heart attack and stroke relative to non-diabetics.

Psyllium can be purchased for about $3 per month and the benefits it will give your body...? Priceless!

Cheap Heart Health Cure #2: B Vitamins.

B vitamins are absolutely imperative for proper brain and nervous system functions. The human body can not even replicate blood cells without B vitamins.

B vitamins are also involved in the metabolism of every cell of the human body, especially for proper DNA synthesis and regulation, but also for fatty acid synthesis and energy production. Harvard researchers writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association stated that women could cut their risk of heart disease by half with daily consumption of B vitamins.

The process of methylation, which rids the body of harmful homocysteine, is started by B vitamins. Without them this process can not occur and as the levels of homocysteine rises in the arteries the greater your chance of suffering from cardiovascular disease.

A daily B vitamin supplement should cost no more than $10 per month. The results? Priceless!

Cheap Heart Health Cure #1: Flavonoids.

Flavonoids are plant derived pigments. Over 4,000 have been studied for their cardiovascular and anti-cancer benefits. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition recommends consuming at least 7.5 mg a day. This will help to decrease your chance of dying from heart disease by as much as 20 percent.

Flavonoids preserve the cardiovascular system and heart by improving blood flow. This in turn enhance oxygen and nutrient delivery throughout your entire body,and prevents the formation of artery-scarring, oxidized LDL. It also relaxes the coronary arteries to prevent high blood pressure.

Foods that are the best sources of flavonoids are broccoli, hawthorn, grapeseed extract, black tea, citrus fruits, and organic dark chocolate.

Having a healthy heart is as simple as coining a two-word phrase. Say, “eat right or “work out” or “don’t smoke.” However, these two-word phrases won’t be effective unless you put them into daily practice.

As adults, at least 30 minutes of exercise five days or more in a week is needed to maintain a healthy heart. (Children and teens need at least 60 minutes of activity most days.)

While all kinds of exercise are important such as strength training, aerobics, flexibility, and stretching, it’s good to know that playing kickball with your kids, walking the dog, or shooting hoops with colleagues during lunch break is also considered exercise which can help improve heart health.

Even the minimum daily exercise requirement of at least 30 minutes don’t have to be done all at once. You can distribute it throughout the day by aiming for a 10-minute morning walk, or perhaps a short workout with hand weights at lunch, or even go for some digging in the garden before dinner.

Getting a regular health check-up is also important in keeping a healthy heart. And no one is responsible to keep an eye on your medical health but you. Be responsible for your own sake.

Unfortunately, the ho-hum pragmatism of routine health exams makes it an easy thing to forget. But there’s no way you’ll know what’s going on inside your body unless you take a regular blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol checks, as well as physical exams. While some exams are needed by everyone, there are regular exams that depend on age, health risks, and gender.

Obesity puts a growing number of people at risk for heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. If you maintain a healthy weight, it not only reduce your risks for these and other conditions, but it can also improve sleep, boost energy, and rev up self-esteem.

Go for nutritionally-dense foods to get as much nutrition as you can from the calories you eat. While a softdrink has over 120 calories but no nutrients at all, a palmful of mixed nuts has about 165 calories and is packed with body-building protein and heart-healthy fats.

Our bodies need calories for energy. But there should be a balance between the calories you consume and the calories your body needs. To lose weight, consume fewer calories than you burn.

A diet rich in produce may help lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer. It fills you up with only a few calories in it. Whole grains help lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

According to Christine Gerbstadt, MD, RD, a registered dietician and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, lowering the saturated fat in your diet can reduce your risk of heart issues by half. Start by switching to low-fat meat and dairy, and change to healthier fats like olive and safflower oils.

Cooking without salt and limiting processed foods can get your diet down to the recommended 2,400 mg daily of sodium (or about 1 teaspoon).

Another factor in maintaining a healthy heart is to get rid of stress. Relax and unplug daily. Make time for yourself. You don’t nee to get a relaxing vacation to avoid distractions. If your work involves the computer and telephone, be sure to have some time away from these gadgets. Make time to recharge your batteries, to find both energy and calm daily.

Break the hard habit known as smoking. Everyone is aware of what damages smoking can do. In addition to heart problems, cancer and lung disease, smoking is also associated with early menopause, infertility, and pregnancy complications.

While it’s not easy to give up smoking, there are many ways to help you to successfully quit the habit. There are medications, support groups, counseling, or a combination of all three. For healthy people who want to stop smoking, the drug fluoxetine has been found to be successful in smoking cessation. You can buy fluoxetine nowadays through online pharmacies. You just have to do it for your heart.

Your heart works hard to continuously pump blood, non-stop, to other parts of the body. Incredibly, it pumps 2000 gallons a day and beats about 100,000 beats a day! This rhythmic pumping ensures the circulation of a fresh supply of oxygen-rich blood to all organs, tissues and cells of the body.

Your heart is your lifeline, and heart health should be a priority. Certain lifestyle choices we make can have consequences for our hearts, which can also affect the functions of other important organs and tissues. For optimal health it is important that we adjust our lifestyle, and make choices to promote heart health.

Taking steps in the right direction have had positive and proven benefits for heart health. Here are some tips to help keep your heart healthy.

    * Watch your diet. Maintain a low fat diet and include lots of fruits and vegetables. The Recommended Daily Allowance for fruits and vegetables is at least 2 to 3 cups a day. Eating green leafy vegetables is also highly recommended. Include fatty fish at least twice a week in your diet.
    * Maintain a healthy weight. It is a known fact that blood pressure increases as your weight increases. Eating a healthy balanced diet is the first step towards achieving your normal weight limit for your height and age.
      In addition to maintaining a healthy weight, doctors recommend that we watch the waistline! An expanding midriff can also put extra pressure on your heart. As a general guideline, men should keep their waistline within 40 inches; women, within 35 inches.
    * Physical activity. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. Aerobic exercises or even a brisk walk will help strengthen the heart and support blood circulation. A stronger heart means the heart can pump more blood with less effort. It is important to establish a regular exercise pattern and remain consistent. Consistency will give you the maximum benefits from your exercise regimen. You should always check with your doctor before beginning any exercise regimen, especially if you are over 40, a smoker, or suffer from any medical condition.
    * Monitor the intake of sodium in your diet. Many processed foods (including vegetable juices) contain high amounts of sodium. Read labels carefully. You may want to avoid adding more table salt to your food. Instead, try adding ground herbs and spices for more taste. You can also try eating more fresh foods since cooked and processed foods are likely to contain more sodium.
    * Moderate your consumption of alcohol. Moderate consumption of alcohol is considered acceptable by most medical experts. Excessive drinking can have multiple adverse effects on cardiovascular health.
    * Quit smoking. Smoking can be harmful to the heart. Medical experts agree that total abstinence from smoking is a positive way to maintain heart health -- this includes second-hand smoke too.
    * Reduce stress. Try to get eight hours of sleep a night. If you are under unavoidable stress, find ways to help de-stress. It can be as simple as including time for your favorite hobby during the week, watching your favorite TV program, getting together with friends or even a relaxing massage.
    * Have a good laugh. There is something to the old adage, “A merry heart works like medicine.” Dr. Michael Miller, who led studies at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine, suggests a 15-minute daily dose of heartfelt laughter to support heart health.

Taking nutritional supplements is another positive approach to maintaining heart health. If you are unsure about which nutritional supplement to use, ask your doctor for advice. Some well researched ingredients are:

    *  Natto-kinase, a Japanese herb that has traditionally been used as nutritional support for proper blood circulation and heart health.
    * Hawthorn leaves also support healthy blood circulation.
    * Vitamin D supports healthy functioning of the heart.
    * Taurine is an antioxidant.
    * Folic acid and phytosteroscial for both heart and blood health, according to the American Medical Association.

Making positive changes to your lifestyle and adding a quality nutritional supplement, like CardioMatrix, can help promote a happy, healthy heart.

There are many studies that challenge the premise that prolonged and strenuous exercise is what promotes health, ideal fitness, and a stronger heart. This comes from a newer school of thought that says that the human body would gain much more from high-intensity (yet brief) duration exercises than with lengthy, regular, and low intensity exercises (American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative & Comparative Physiology).

Why Is Exercise Not Popular?

Exercise is touted to be able to extend your life, improve the quality of living, and keep you young. Why then it is not as popular as it should be? People are overweight, continuously fighting some disease or other and inviting the risk of heart attack as early as mid-forties. Why are they not exercising and be rid of all these problems?

1. No time: we live in very demanding times where each one of us feels the need of an extension of the hours available in a day. Unfortunately, the number of hours is non-negotiable. Where is the extra time that you could use for exercising? 'Walk for 30 minutes every day', is a very common advice. However, no one tells you how you can squeeze in these 30 minutes when you are always sleeping at 2 AM in the morning trying to catch with various deadlines at work or home.

2. No strength: exercise is more needed as you suffer from the onslaught of age. Unfortunately, this is the time when your strength is not what it used to be and exercise rather crumples you up. Try starting aerobics at 48 and you will know what I mean. It is easier to give up on your rounding-up body and be philosophical about it, rather than gathering all your strength and adopting an exercising regime.

3. No motivation: it takes a long, long time to see any results even if you work yourself to near death every day. When you find that after three months your scales still do not make an appreciative move backwards, you rather lose hope in the applicability of exercise to your case.

So What Is The Solution?

Dr Al Sears, who researched this groundbreaking path for more than a decade, promotes a novel and highly effective method of controlling weight and maintaining exceptional health at any age. This method is based on the recognized fact that the high-intensity short-term period exercises are remarkably good for the health of your heart as well as promoting a loss of weight.

This research culminated in the birth of a weight-loss program called PACE or Progressively Accelerating Cardiopulmonary Exertion. This is a method by which you accelerate your heartbeat through highest-intensity exercises in small bursts with short breaks in-between. These exercises would be practiced for a maximum 20 minutes period every day.

The results of this new method of exercising have been incredibly positive. People adopting this type of heart exercise have not only eliminated completely the risk of heart attack, but also reversed heart disease and a number of other age related ailments. They became healthy and surprisingly younger looking and energetic.

Prof Maureen MacDonald (Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University - is all out for this type of heart exercise. She says, "We wouldn't be surprised to see more rehabilitation programs adopt this method of training since it is often better tolerated in diseased populations".

Times are changing - hopefully, you will go along with it and enjoy its benefits.

Avoiding Atkins

If you've been diagnosed with high cholesterol, your doctor has probably told you to lose weight. But, when it comes to lowering those lipids, all weight-loss diets are not created equal.

According to a new study by researchers at the University of Maryland Hospital, people who follow a low-carb, high-fat diet (think Atkins) for as little as one month actually make their cholesterol and other risk factors for heart disease worse. 

Luckily, much of the hoopla surrounding the low-carb craze has faded since its glory days. But it's still one of the diets most people think of when they're trying to lose weight - which is why this study is so important.

Where's the Beef?

The idea behind this new study was to look at the effects of three popular diets when they're used for weight maintenance and not weight loss. The researchers compared the impact of the Atkins, South Beach, and Ornish diets on the measurable risk factors for heart disease in people who weren't overweight and who weren't trying to lose weight. The study included 18 healthy adults who followed each of the three diets for one month, followed by a one-month "wash-out" period, during which they ate what they would normally eat.

The low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet designed to approximate the Atkins diet included 50 percent of its calories from fat and 22 to 38 percent of calories from saturated fat sources like meat, cheese, and whole-fat dairy products. The Mediterranean-based South Beach diet included 30 percent of the calories as fat, but olive and other vegetable oils, nuts, lean meats, and fish were the main fat sources. During the low-fat, high-carbohydrate Ornish diet, only 10 percent of the calories came from fat.

The researchers conducted blood tests throughout the study to assess risk factors for heart disease, including LDL (bad) cholesterol, triglycerides, and C-reactive protein, which measures inflammation in the body. They also used ultrasound to look at any changes in the flexibility of the participant's blood vessels - specifically, their ability to widen to accommodate blood flow. Atherosclerosis, the hardening of the arteries, hinders that process and is associated with heart attack and stroke risk.

Rising Risk

By the end of the study, one thing was clear: There are big differences in these three diets when it comes to cardiovascular risk factors, particularly when followed by people who aren't losing weight.

Specifically, the study showed that:

• While on the Atkins diet, LDL cholesterol levels increased slightly, compared to decreases of about 12 percent on South Beach and 17 percent during the Ornish phase of the study. 
• After a month on the Atkins-like diet, study participants showed less blood vessel flexibility than they did after a month on the Ornish diet.   
• CRP levels stayed in the normal range with all three diets, but levels went down slightly while the participants were on the South Beach and Ornish diets. Not surprisingly, they went up on the high-fat, low-carb diet. 

These results simply prove what many of us have suspected for years. Diets high in saturated fat support unhealthy cholesterol levels, are pro-inflammatory, and promote heart disease in other ways as well.

Club Med

The maintenance phase of the Atkins diet isn't very different from the typical Western diet. And that may be why so many Americans suffer from heart disease. In fact, a separate study, recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found that older people who eat large amounts of saturated fat in the form of red and processed meat are more likely to die prematurely.

The study of more than 500,000 middle-aged and elderly Americans found that those who consumed about four ounces of red meat a day (the equivalent of about a small hamburger) were more than 30 percent more likely to die during the 10 years they were followed, mostly from heart disease and cancer. Sausage, cold cuts, and other processed meats also increased the risk.

So what should you eat? While the Ornish diet is quite heart healthy, it's primarily a vegetarian diet - which means it can be tough to stick with for some people. The South Beach diet, on the other hand, is rooted in the Mediterranean, where people have extremely healthy hearts.

The Mediterranean diet incorporates the basics of healthy eating - plus a splash of flavorful olive oil and perhaps a glass of red wine - among other components characterizing the traditional cooking style of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. A 2007 study by U.S. researchers found that both men and women who ate a Mediterranean diet lowered their risk of death from both heart disease and cancer.

Eating "Med" doesn't require you to give up fat. Instead, you choose healthy varieties like olive oil and avocado. It is also extremely high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Most people in the Mediterranean eat very little meat but at least nine servings of fresh fruits and veggies daily. They also eat fish at least twice a week and enjoy a glass of red wine with dinner. (If you don't drink, you can get the same benefits from a resveratrol supplement.)

Once you experience the delicious and heart-healthy meals from the Mediterranean, it might just become your favorite way to lower your cholesterol once and for all.

One Last Thing ...

Move over oats! Barley may just be the next cholesterol-lowering superfood. This humble grain contains the same insoluble fiber as oats, yet it hasn't been studied as extensively. But a new analysis combining eight previous randomized trials adds up some good news for barley lovers: People who regularly ate barley saw significant reductions in their LDL ("bad") cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol. The researchers concluded that health practitioners should feel comfortable recommending barley to their patients to help reduce their total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol concentrations. Now that's a prescription I can really get behind!

Research Brief ...

Add protection against periodontal disease to the ever-growing list of benefits green tea has to offer. Japanese researchers report that men who regularly drink green tea are less prone to gum disease than those who seldom sip it. In a study of 940 men in their 50s, every additional cup of green tea consumed daily was associated with a further reduction of periodontal pocket depth, loss of gum tissue, and bleeding on probing of the gum tissue. The scientists theorized that the anti-inflammatory properties of the catechins in green tea may counter the body's inflammatory response to bacteria in the mouth.

To get the most benefit from green tea, it's best to drink at least three cups a day. If you're not a fan, you can also take a green tea extract in supplemental form. Look for a standardized extract that provides at least 95 percent polyphenols, which is the equivalent of drinking four cups of this healthy brew.

Did you know that opening your heart to heal your emotions, thoughts and physical body can help you have a healthy heart? Focusing on heart disease provides a model for addressing the lifestyle link in all the major killer diseases, such as cancer (prostate, breast, colon and lung being the most common), arthritis, HIV/Aids, diabetes and other degenerative diseases. The heart-lifestyle link is best understood and well researched, at this point in time, and the heart is after all, the place where the body, the mind, emotions and soul converge.

Up to fairly recently, heart disease was regarded as a male health challenge. This is no longer so. As more and more research also focus on women and their hearts, it has become alarmingly clear that women over 45 years of age, especially in the peri- and post menopausal period, have the same, if not higher, risk for heart disease as men.

A positive family history and symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, unproductive chronic cough, blue or painful extremities, extreme sensitivity to cold, leg ulcers, swelling of the ankles, pain over the chest, left arm or up the neck at rest or during exertion, have to be thoroughly evaluated with a complete physical examination, basic blood tests and an exertion or stress electrocardiogram. A thorough heart evaluation should form part of everybody’s yearly preventative medical examination, whether or not you have symptoms or a positive history. The natural and wellness treatment options are aimed at improving energy metabolism inside the heart’s cells, as well as blood supply to the heart, while simultaneously facilitating the release and surrender of blocked emotional and mental energy.

As one patient who participated in the world renowned Heart Disease Reversal Programme lead by physician, Dr Dean Ornish, said: ‘Even if the tests showed my arteries hadn’t opened up (which they did!), I would still follow this program, because I’ve opened up!’

Hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol and cardiovascular (heart and blood vessels) disease risk factors

Major well-known risk factors for cardiovascular disease:
• Smoking
• Elevated cholesterol levels
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Physical inactivity
• High stress / distress
• Positive family history

Other very important, lesser known risk factors:
• Low antioxidant status
• Low levels of essential fatty acids
• Low levels of magnesium and potassium
• Increased platelet aggregation (stickiness)
• Increased fibrinogen formation
• Elevated levels of homocystein
• Stress associated with the type A personality, worry, anxiety
• Hostility

Heart facts
• Research shows that the heart does have an effect on our health and happiness:
- If, for instance, you focus on or visualise feelings of love, peace and gratitude, your breathing and heart rate slow down, and become synchronised and harmonious.
- Meditation has a similar effect.
• Feelings of love also have a positive influence on the immune system, hormones and cognitive brain function.

Heart research

More and more research studies show the link between the heart, the emotions, stress and the fact that the heart also functions as brain:

‘The abyss between the emotions and physiology narrowed in 2005 as researchers discovered that emotional stress can indeed, produce symptoms of a heart attack. Although the research team concluded that the mechanism remains unknown regarding reversible left ventricular dysfunction precipitated by emotional stress, it was suggested that stress hormones might temporarily overwhelm heart cells. Nicknamed the ‘Broken Heart Syndrome’, the cause might best be described as ‘adrenalin poisoning’.
- Wittstein, L. Neurohumoral Features of Myocardial Stunning Due to Sudden Emotional Stress. New England Journal of Medicine. 352(6): 539-548, 2005

Heart as brain (information published in 2006/2007):

The heart has receptor sites for, and manufacture, peptides that are identical to the neurotransmitter message carrier molecules inside the brain. It is now crystal clear that the heart is a very important endocrine gland, making and releasing the major hormone, ANF (atrial natriuretic factor). ANF has a profound effect on the brain’s limbic structure and function. The limbic system is the seat of the emotions and stress survival reaction, and is also called the emotional brain. The limbic system includes the hippocampus where the memory, learning and control centres for the entire hormonal system resides. 60-65% of heart cells are neurons (nervous system cells), and not muscle cells as previously believed. These neurons are identical to brain neurons. 50% of the heart neuron cells translate information from the whole body to keep it functioning as a harmonious whole. The other 50% have a direct, unmediated neural connection with the emotional brain inside the head, with a 24/7 heart-brain-heart dialogue we are completely unconscious of. The heart is a powerful electromagnetic generator that creates an electromagnetic field that encompasses body and extends 3-5 meters away from it. One can actually take an ECG (electro cardiogram) reading 1 meter away from the body, with no wires attached! This electromagnetic field has a profound effect on the brain, furnishing radio wave pattern from which the brain draws material to create an internal experience of the world. Ultimately everything in our lives depends on our emotional (i.e. feeling) response to events.

Stress accelerates your heart rate through secretion of the adrenal stress hormones adrenalin, noradrenalin and the long term stress hormone cortisol. Stress is initially experienced as emotions or feelings within the limbic system of the brain. ANF influences not only the heart muscle contraction, pressure in blood vessels and kidneys, but also the mood-influencing adrenal glands, as well as the brain. In the brain, parasympathetic or sympathetic impulses coming from the heart help trigger the onset of either calming or excitatory thoughts and emotions. Research also shows that by focusing on, or visualising feelings of love, peace and gratitude, breathing and heart rate slow down, and become synchronised and harmonious. Regular meditation practice has a similar effect. In emotionally healthy people, there appears to be a strong tendency for the heart and brain to have a smoothly functioning dialogue, and to remain synchronised, or entrained. Entrainment reflects a positive frame of mind, but also helps create it, in part by enhancing the balance of the autonomic nervous system (parasympathetic / relaxing, and sympathetic / excitatory system). The body, clearly, can help heal the mind. But what gets this healing process started? The mind itself! Your mind, when focused on appreciation, love and peace, has a limitless power to trigger physical and emotional healing.

According to Candace Pert in her new book ‘Everything You Need to Know to Feel Go(o)d’, neural nests that form pathways after repeated firing in specific patterns (compare this to wild animals treading the same pathway to the water every single day), form memory not only in the brain, but also in the heart, spinal cord, immune system – actually all systems linked by autonomic ganglia and part of the psychosomatic network. This information network comprises the firing between neurons in the nervous system (only 2% of the information system), the link of ligands (peptides, hormones, neurotransmitters) to their receptors (98% of the information system), and the matrix, or intricate spider web of collagen fibres that link throughout the bodymind, and extending into every single cell. According to James Oschman in his book ‘Energy Medicine: The Scientific Basis’, the living matrix can be compared to a liquid crystal and it is a physical entity explaining how energy healing works, and also instantaneous, or miraculous healing. Through instant transmission along the matrix, new molecules of emotion can bind to receptors, with an immediate healing effect. On the surface, this is the benefit of repeating positive affirmations and on a deeper, spiritual level, the epiphany or transcendent moment the mystics talk about, of finally being able to let go and release old, buried emotions of past core emotional trauma, from the cells of your body, especially the heart, and creating new pathways of health and wellbeing, new ‘elsewheres of thought’ as Ramhta (JC Knight) said in the movie ‘What the Bleep do we Know?!..’.

Heartfelt feelings

We often say: my heart’s not in it anymore; my heart is sore; my heart is breaking. This is much more literal than we thought! In all cultures and religions, the experience of peace, love, healing and harmony are seated in the heart and thymus (responsible for immunity) region in the chest. Feelings of love also have a positive influence on the immune system, hormones and cognitive brain function.

In his book, ‘Love & Survival’, Dr Dean Ornish says that the most important contributing factor to heart health, is the love and intimacy found in close relationships. Research has shown that people in Japan and France (both countries with low heart disease risk) have very close family and friendship links, signifying the perception they have of having a support system in times of trouble. Lack of love and intimacy has been shown to be the most consistent predictor of heart disease! This is a more consistent factor than genetics and risk factors such as obesity, too little exercise, high LDL-cholesterol, poor nutrition and smoking. Even some of the risk factors can be attributable to lack of social interaction and feeling isolated and alone! People smoke, drink, or overeat as an ineffective, harmful way of stilling the mind from the stressful monkey chatter, to try and prevent the emotions from surfacing.

Other feelings associated with the heart:
•Issues with unconditional love
•Heart not in it anymore: work & relationships
•Perfectionist, driven, workaholic – type A behaviour
•Harshly judgmental of self and others
•Difficulty expressing emotions or feelings
•Denying feelings
•Difficult relationships – cannot cope with needs of others
•Self control issues - the inner drive to always be in control of situations
•Fear of failure - empathy with yourself and others

All these are stressors or triggers for the stress reaction where the heart and cardiovascular system are constantly put in red alert to react in the classical stress response: fight or flight!

This does NOT imply that you CAUSE your disease on purpose! The process occurs on a deeply unconscious level in cell memories. You can however, become consciously aware of these issues and through process work, help your inner self to heal, leading to personal power and inner peace.

Bisoprolol Generic

High cholesterol is one of the worst causes of heart diseases. Excess cholesterol leads to a build up of fatty acids in the body and as a result the blood flow to the arteries is reduced, thereby causing heart problems. Some of the major causes of high cholesterol are unhealthy eating habits, lack of physical activity, stress, and obesity. While a healthy and balanced diet is quite essential for a healthy heart, there are some other factors to keep in mind to live a happy and healthy lifestyle.

Exercise:
Our hectic lifestyle leaves us little to no time for any physical fitness. Doing regular exercise can however be beneficial for a healthy heart, for a number of reasons. For instance, exercise will help lower cholesterol, keeps blood pressure under control, help with weight loss and makes you feel energetic. While most people find it difficult to go to the gym, there are various ways of doing exercise and keeping yourself fit and healthy. Try taking a walk on a daily basis or take up a sporting activity with some mates. You can also start doing more physical chores at home to keep your body moving and get a bit of a workout. For a little more motivation and a proper strength training sessions, it’s a good idea to hit the gym once in a while.

Reduce Body weight:
As obesity affects a large number of people across Australia, it's important to keep a eye on your weight and ensure it does not affect your heart's health. Obesity can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and can cause heart disease. Reduce your body weight by eating healthy food and by doing regular exercise.

Reduce Stress:
Stress can be quite harmful to your heart's health. It can be caused by personal as well as professional reasons. Professionally, long hours of work, work-pressure, attending meetings, travelling, are some of the causes of stress. The expectations and demands in personal relationships are also stressful at times. Stress leads to high blood pressure and affects the heart and physical well being of the person.

Quit smoking and alcohol:
It a well known fact that smoking and too much alcohol consumption can affect your lungs and heart. Ideally, it's best to quit smoking and the intake of too much alcohol for a healthier lifestyle.

To maintain a healthy heart lifestyle, just follow some of the simple steps mentioned above such as reducing eating fatty foods which cause cholesterol and exercise regularly.

If you have a better idea of what cholesterol is and how you can manage it in your life, this information will lead to better heart health, and all round better feeling of well being. Cholesterol is a waxy like substance that is found in the walls of all your body cells, from your nervous system to your liver and in your blood stream as well. Your body uses this cholesterol to make necessary hormones, bile acids, vitamin D and other vital substances that your body needs to survive. There are good and bad types of cholesterol as well

Where does the Cholesterol in your body come from?

Your body manufacturers all the cholesterol your body requires from the foods you eat. This cholesterol will circulate in your bloodstream in packages known as lipoproteins, which consist of fat inside and protein on the outside. Cholesterol which is a fatty substance does not mix with the blood, just as oil does not mix with water. Your blood carries it to the parts of the body where it is required as mentioned above

Your Body has 2 Types of cholesterol in your body, both good and bad!.

Your body carries two types of cholesterol one which is good for your health and the other bad... These are known as low density lipoprotein or LDL which is the bad cholesterol which carries cholesterol that builds up in your body tissues including your heart arteries. Most cholesterol in your blood at any given time is the LDL cholesterol. The higher the levels are of LDL cholesterol in your blood stream; the higher your dangers are of contracting heart disease. So remember LDL is the bad cholesterol and you don’t want high levels of this type in your body.

The good Cholesterol in your body is called HDL cholesterol. This cholesterol carries cholesterol away from your tissues to your liver where it is harmlessly removed from your body by natural secretion. Low levels of HDL increase heart disease. Healthy levels of HDL are good for you. Do not get mixed up between the two.

Why are high levels of LDL Cholesterol bad for your body?

Too much cholesterol in your blood leads to blocked and clogged up body tissues including your heart arteries. This build up is called plaque and as a result your arteries become less flexible. You may have heard the term atherosclerosis; which is hardening of your arteries and as you know the end result can be a heart attack. It is not just your heart blood vessels that can suffer from too much cholesterol, but any of the arteries in your body as well. If your coronary artery becomes blocked by too much plaque you will suffer angina because your blood is unable to get the oxygen it needs or the nutrients to the heart muscle. Hardening of the coronary artery is called coronary heart disease which you may likely by now have heard somewhere or another. This form of heart disease is becoming common in the western world due to high cholesterol in the blood from; Yes; and you guessed it; from unhealthy eating habits!

The risk factors.

Certain risk factors nothing can be done about regarding heart diseases and cholesterol levels. These factors where risks of heart disease are increased, are age groups for men and women over 45, which are ages that will increase the likelihood of coronary heart disease from atherosclerosis. Family history of early heart disease is also a factor that must be taken into consideration. The lack of regular exercise and bad eating habits increase the risk of heart disease from cholesterol as well. Most fast foods are prepared in unhealthy fats which is a high risk factor more than anything else as well…

How to lower your risks of high cholesterol.

Perhaps you have heard some of these tips before but it is prudent to go over them again for your information:

1 Avoid foods with high animal fat content. Trim excess fat off meat
2. Eat Lots of fruit, vegetables, and fiber for your health
3. Eat less salt in your diet and limit salty snacks and foods.
4. Lose some weight if you are carrying too much according to your BMI (Body Mass Index)
5. Regular sensible exercise in moderation and plenty of fresh air.
6. Stay calm and avoid stressful situations.
7. Limit your alcohol intake to a sensible level.
8. Smoke less, or give up altogether if possible.

Other treatments that can be used if your doctor has found you to have unhealthy levels of cholesterol are certain drugs called ‘statins’ that will control the rate which your body produces cholesterol. These drugs increase HDL and lower the bad LDL cholesterols. See above about what we mentioned about the good and bad cholesterols.

Watch your diet and eat healthily

Choose healthy fats like olive oil, avocado pears, peanut butter, unsalted nuts and fish oils. Try and limit intakes of salt, polyunsaturated fats, sunflower oils, soft margarines and salad dressings like mayonnaise. (Some newer soft low cholesterol margarine is available on the market that is completely safe to use nowadays though).

Watch out particularly to avoid eating too much animal fats on meats, eat less eggs, cheese, fatty meats, butter, and ice creams and of course take out foods. Naturally you can eat any of the above as long as you are sensible about it. Everyone tells you to eat more fiber, and by now with this advice it should be a given. If you are not eating enough greens or fresh vegetables then take some sort of antioxidants or supplements. Cut down drinking of alcohol to one or two drinks a day.
There is some great advice and diets that have been designed to help people with high cholesterol reduce these high levels. With a little research you will find the right ways to control your cholesterol.

Generic Medicine