Vitamins – Do You Need a Multivitamin?
Multivitamins are marketed as a form of insurance to ‘bridge the gap’ between what you consume and what you need to ensure your needs are met. There’s much debate on whether or not multivitamins are truly beneficial and the potential for them to cause more harm than good.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Everyone’s nutritional needs are different. A man does not have the same nutrient needs as a woman, a child does not have the same needs as an adult, a pregnant woman does not have the same needs as a post-menopausal woman, etc.
If you go to the vitamin aisle you’ll see all the options tailored to meet the needs of different groups. For example, you’ll find Centrum Silver, Flintstones chewables, and Men’s One-A-Day. However, nutrient needs are more specific to the individual. The standard daily value that meets the needs of one individual may be too high or too low for another, even within the same group/category.
No Standard Formula
Red Meat and Heart Disease: Good or Bad For Heart Health?
Questions surrounding the consumption of red meat and its contribution to heart disease has led to varied research. A main source of the nutrient choline is red meat and carnitine is derived of amino acids which are protein building-blocks. Red meat is a rich source of protein. Hence this exploration into whether or not we have another reason to reduce red meat consumption.
What is choline?
Choline is a nutrient that plays a role in liver function, normal brain development, muscle movement, nerve function, metabolism, and sleep. Choline is also involved in absorbing and removing fat and cholesterol from the body, reducing chronic inflammation, and the kidneys control of water balance.
What is carnitine?
Using Probiotics for Cholesterol Lowering
High cholesterol levels increase heart disease risk. There are dietary and lifestyle changes you can make to lower cholesterol levels.
A growing number of studies indicate probiotics have the potential to improve cholesterol levels.
What are probiotics?
Probiotics are good bacteria that promote overall health, especially for the digestive systems. Many probiotic supplements contain the same or very similar bacteria to what is already located within the body but may be out of balance with “bad” bacteria due to various health conditions.
How do probiotics lower cholesterol?
5 Effective Ways To De-Stress And Lowers Risk Of Heart Attack & Stroke
Guest post provided by resident counselor Lisa Walters.
Are you always stressed due workload at home and in your job? Do you feel a sting in your chest every time you are so much stressed? It’s high time that you learn how to de-stress before your heart suffers.
Studies have shown that stress increases your risk of heart attack and stroke by triggering the activity of the amygdala (fear center of the brain). It results to arterial inflammation, which can cause heart attacks. People who are highly stressed are prone to higher disease-causing white blood cells and an increase level of norepinephrine that can initiate heart attack.
Earlier, stress was only a biological response to life-threatening incidents. However, the modern days have made people produce the same biological reaction, even in simple daily activities. People are stressed on the road because of traffic, work presentation and even solving simple life’s issues.
Stress could lead to serious health problems if you will not learn how to manage it. Chronic stress can lead to high blood pressure, heart attack and excess weight.
Try these simple techniques that can help you de-stress before you become susceptible to stroke and heart attack:
1. Detach.
There’s a limitation for everything. You cannot walk out from stress without giving a pause to what’s causing it. Is it your demanding relationship, work, home, or family issues? Once in a while, detach from the actual scene and take time to breathe. If you cannot change the situation or the person, don’t you think it’s time to give up? If you have tried to fix the issue many times, but nothing worked it’s time to give yourself a break. Don’t stress yourself, you deserve to be happy than to face everyday problems.
2. Meditate.
Meditation has been used since the ancient times as a powerful tool to relax the body and mind. Focusing on your thoughts and breathing can lessen your risk of heart problems. You can also pray and do yoga to calm your mind and emotions.
What is the best time to take blood pressure medication?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 75 million Americans have high blood pressure (32% of Americans).
Antihypertensive medication is a commonly prescribed treatment plan to control high blood pressure. There are many blood pressure medication types and each works in a different way to lower blood pressure.
Approximately 50% of patients do not take their medications as prescribed, which reduces treatment effectiveness. It is important to take your blood pressure medication exactly as it is prescribed.
Over the years, research has investigated the effect of taking blood pressure medication in the morning versus before bed.
Selenium and Heart Disease: Should you supplement selenium?
Selenium is a trace mineral found in soil and naturally present in many foods.
The recommended dietary allowance for selenium is the same for men and women at 55 micrograms daily for anyone 14 years of age or older.
Selenium plays a critical role in reproduction, metabolism, DNA synthesis, infection, and protection from oxidative damage.
Selenium and Heart Disease
A component of selenium works to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol particles, decrease inflammation, and prevent platelet aggregation.
This function of selenium led researchers to investigate whether or not selenium supplementation can be used to reduce cardiovascular disease.
Research resulted in conflicting results. Some research found people with lower selenium levels to have a higher risk of heart disease. Other research found there to be no connection and some even indicated high selenium levels were associated with an increased heart disease risk.
