Showing posts with label changes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label changes. Show all posts
4 lifestyle changes will protect heart reduce your risk of death
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Study shows clear benefits of a healthy diet, exercise, maintaining normal weight and not smoking
A large, multi-center study led by Johns Hopkins researchers has found a significant link between lifestyle factors and heart health, adding even more evidence in support of regular exercise, eating a Mediterranean-style diet, keeping a normal weight and, most importantly, not smoking.
The researchers found that adopting those four lifestyle behaviors protected against coronary heart disease as well as the early buildup of calcium deposits in heart arteries, and reduced the chance of death from all causes by 80 percent over an eight-year period. Results of the study, "Low-Risk Lifestyle, Coronary Calcium, Cardiovascular Events, and Mortality: Results from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis," are described in an online article posted June 3, 2013 by the American Journal of Epidemiology.
"To our knowledge, this is the first study to find a protective association between low-risk lifestyle factors and early signs of vascular disease, coronary heart disease and death, in a single longitudinal evaluation," says Haitham Ahmed, M.D., M.P.H., the lead author who is an internal medicine resident with the Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease at Johns Hopkins.
"We evaluated data on more than 6,200 men and women, age 44-84, from white, African-American, Hispanic and Chinese backgrounds. All were followed for an average of 7.6 years. Those who adopted all four healthy behaviors had an 80 percent lower death rate over that time period compared to participants with none of the healthy behaviors," says Ahmed.
Study participants all took part in the ongoing Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a prospective examination of the risk factors, prevalence and prevention of cardiovascular disease. MESA participants were recruited from six academic medical centers and did not have a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease when they were enrolled.
All participants had coronary calcium screening using computed tomography (a CT scan) when they were first enrolled in the study to see if there were early signs of calcium deposits in their heart arteries that are known to contribute to heart attack risk. As the study progressed, the researchers also assessed whether the participants had a heart attack, sudden cardiac arrest, chest pain, angioplasty or died due to coronary heart disease or other causes.
The researchers developed a lifestyle score for each of the participants, ranging from 0 (least healthy) to 4 (healthiest), based on their diet, body mass index (BMI), amount of regular moderate-intensity physical activity and smoking status. Only 2 percent, or 129 participants, satisfied all four healthy lifestyle criteria.
"Of all the lifestyle factors, we found that smoking avoidance played the largest role in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease and mortality," says Roger Blumenthal, M.D., a cardiologist and professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, director of the Ciccarone Center and senior author of the study. "In fact, smokers who adopted two or more of the healthy behaviors still had lower survival rates after 7.6 years than did nonsmokers who were sedentary and obese."
Blumenthal, who is also the president of the American Heart Associations Maryland affiliate, says the findings "bolster recent recommendations by the American Heart Association, which call for maintaining a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains and fish, keeping a BMI of less than 25, being physically active and not smoking."
The researchers emphasize that their study shows the importance of healthy lifestyle habits not just for reducing the risk of heart disease, but also for preventing mortality from all causes.
"While there are risk factors that people cant control, such as their family history and age," says Ahmed, "these lifestyle measures are things that people can change and consequently make a big difference in their health. Thats why we think this is so important."
Avoid Statins Through Natural Lifestyle Changes
Thursday, February 13, 2014
(Article first published as Would You Like a Statin With Those Fries? on Technorati.)
Cholesterol lowering statins have been hailed as miracle drugs and yet medical research has come to the dismal conclusion that they are virtually worthless in preventing heart disease or death from a heart attack, possibly helping 1 out of 100 who take the drug. Those aren’t very good odds when you consider the documented health damaging side effects reported by as many as one-third of statin users.
High Cholesterol Doesn’t Cause Heart Disease
Cholesterol has been an easy target for drug marketers, as it appears logical the waxy substance would be a factor in clogged arteries. Flawed research from decades ago concluded that high cholesterol levels were the cause of coronary artery disease, and even though this has been disproven, it’s still the prominent theory in the minds of most people and too many medical professionals today.
Distribute Statins in Fast Food Restaurants?
The results of a study published in The American Journal of Cardiology suggest that statins should be handed out along with burgers and fries to offset the cholesterol in the food. The study concludes that statins should be considered a supplement and then distributed freely with high cholesterol meals. This is clearly bad medicine, as statins work by blocking the pathway used by the body to synthesize cholesterol, a critical component of all cells, and essential to our good health.
Coenzyme Q10, a necessary catalyst in producing energy within our cells, is created in the body using the same metabolic path as cholesterol. When statins are used to lower total cholesterol, Co Q10 is also diminished leading to the muscle fatigue and weakness experienced by many statin users. Handing out dangerous statins like condiments would precipitate a national health disaster of epic proportions.
Statins Recommended for Children?
The American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending cholesterol screening for high risk children over the age of 2, and statin therapy for children over 8 with an LDL cholesterol level above 190. Cholesterol is an important substance which is required for proper cellular function and development in growing children.
It’s inconceivable to entertain placing children on statin therapy, potentially lasting the rest of their lives. While this may bode well for the bottom line of the pharmaceutical giants, it condemns our youth to a life of muscle pain, liver damage, chronic fatigue and lowered mental performance.
Lifestyle Changes Eliminate the Need for Statins
Medical research has shown that Omega-3 fats from fish and fish oil are more effective at reducing the risk of death from a heart attack than taking a statin. Fish oil lowers triglycerides and oxidized LDL cholesterol, two of the real causes of heart disease for which statins are ineffective.
Slow release niacin is an effective and natural way to increase heart protective levels of HDL cholesterol. Adding slow burst, high intensity resistance exercise to your daily routine, and reducing wheat, sugars and ined junk food from your diet will dramatically lower your risk of coronary artery disease.
Large pharmaceutical companies drive the perception that everybody will need to take a statin, regardless of their age, or the lack of documented health benefit from this class of drug. Profits and greed are behind the marketing machine, as billions in sales rest on the line. Take control of your own destiny and naturally eliminate the need for this most dangerous health damaging prescription.
High Cholesterol Doesn’t Cause Heart Disease
Cholesterol has been an easy target for drug marketers, as it appears logical the waxy substance would be a factor in clogged arteries. Flawed research from decades ago concluded that high cholesterol levels were the cause of coronary artery disease, and even though this has been disproven, it’s still the prominent theory in the minds of most people and too many medical professionals today.
Distribute Statins in Fast Food Restaurants?
Coenzyme Q10, a necessary catalyst in producing energy within our cells, is created in the body using the same metabolic path as cholesterol. When statins are used to lower total cholesterol, Co Q10 is also diminished leading to the muscle fatigue and weakness experienced by many statin users. Handing out dangerous statins like condiments would precipitate a national health disaster of epic proportions.
Statins Recommended for Children?
It’s inconceivable to entertain placing children on statin therapy, potentially lasting the rest of their lives. While this may bode well for the bottom line of the pharmaceutical giants, it condemns our youth to a life of muscle pain, liver damage, chronic fatigue and lowered mental performance.
Lifestyle Changes Eliminate the Need for Statins
Medical research has shown that Omega-3 fats from fish and fish oil are more effective at reducing the risk of death from a heart attack than taking a statin. Fish oil lowers triglycerides and oxidized LDL cholesterol, two of the real causes of heart disease for which statins are ineffective.
Slow release niacin is an effective and natural way to increase heart protective levels of HDL cholesterol. Adding slow burst, high intensity resistance exercise to your daily routine, and reducing wheat, sugars and ined junk food from your diet will dramatically lower your risk of coronary artery disease.
Large pharmaceutical companies drive the perception that everybody will need to take a statin, regardless of their age, or the lack of documented health benefit from this class of drug. Profits and greed are behind the marketing machine, as billions in sales rest on the line. Take control of your own destiny and naturally eliminate the need for this most dangerous health damaging prescription.
Foods and Lifestyle Changes That Prevent Heart Disease
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
(Article first published as Top Foods and Lifestyle Changes Promote Heart Health on Technorati.)
Heart disease is the number one killer in the US, and results from decades of dietary and lifestyle abuse leading to damage of the delicate arteries that supply blood to the heart. The condition is called coronary artery disease (CAD) and is the primary type of heart condition which leads to sudden death from a heart attack, as foamy plaque builds up in the lining of the vessels and increases the risk of a clot blocking blood flow to this critical muscle. Fortunately you can lower your risk of disease by taking charge of the factors which precipitate CAD.
Create a Plan to Reverse Heart Disease
Medical research continues to provide important information which reveals that the negative effects of poor diet and lifestyle can be reversed by implementing a structured plan to correct poor habits. The results of a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association demonstrates that making the correct food choices is more heart protective than taking statins.
The study highlights a small group of super foods which affect heart function and have been shown to lower the risk of heart disease development, and can actually work to reverse the buildup of coronary plaque. In addition to adding these foods to your diet, there are essential lifestyle modifications you can incorporate which can significantly reduce your risk of a heart attack.
Super Foods for the Heart
Every bite of food we eat has a direct and calculable effect on our genes, and specifically our heart. Eliminating sugar, ined carbohydrates and hydrogenated trans fats from the diet is an important first step toward regaining control over heart health. As you slowly cut damaging foods from your diet, substitute these super foods to improve your heart healthy menu.
Salmon and Omega-3 Fat Sources: Salmon and most fish are excellent sources of the Omega-3 fats, EPA and DHA which have been shown to lower the risk of sudden death from a heart attack by one-third. Omega-3 fats reduce dangerous blood fats known as triglycerides, and help to prevent the formation of blood clots. Eat salmon or fatty fish twice a week, or supplement with fish oil for maximum benefit.
Blueberries: Blueberries are packed with powerful antioxidants which have been shown to alter the plaque forming characteristics of oxidized LDL cholesterol. This means that this damaging form of cholesterol is less likely to become incorporated into plaque which narrows the arteries supplying the heart. Blueberries also taste great and play an important role in brain health as well.
Make the Right Lifestyle Changes
Once you’ve made the appropriate changes to your diet, researchers have identified specific lifestyle alterations which provide protection against heart disease. Plan to make changes slowly and you’ll be more likely to maintain them for life.
Physical Activity: Next to diet, incorporating regular exercise into your daily routine will have the most impact on heart health. You benefit by strengthening this critical muscle and the supporting vascular system, lowering blood pressure and stabilizing blood sugar and insulin response. Plan at least 20 to 30 minutes each day.
Lose Weight: Excess weight forces the heart to work much harder than necessary, and eventually the heart enlarges in an attempt to keep pace with the increased load. Studies show that losing as little as 5 to 7% of your body weight can have a dramatic effect on heart health.
No Smoking: Smoking is the leading preventable cause of heart disease, as it negatively affects every organ in the body, especially the heart. Smoking causes dangerous constriction of the blood vessels which forces the heart to work much harder. Get professional help to drop the habit, as studies show positive heart health benefits after just 6 months.
Reduce Stress: The effects of stress can be as devastating as smoking. Often erred to as a silent killer, continual stress causes the release of hormones such as cortisol which increase blood pressure and systemic inflammation. Stress reduction techniques such as yoga and meditation are helpful in negating the damaging effects of stress.
Heart disease is preventable and reversible with a solid plan to improve diet and lifestyle. Substituting heart healthy super foods such as blueberries and salmon can have an immediate impact on your heart. Make time for daily exercise, lose weight and eliminate the cause of stress which is harming your health. You can minimize or even eliminate the risk from heart disease by taking charge of your total lifestyle.
Heart disease is the number one killer in the US, and results from decades of dietary and lifestyle abuse leading to damage of the delicate arteries that supply blood to the heart. The condition is called coronary artery disease (CAD) and is the primary type of heart condition which leads to sudden death from a heart attack, as foamy plaque builds up in the lining of the vessels and increases the risk of a clot blocking blood flow to this critical muscle. Fortunately you can lower your risk of disease by taking charge of the factors which precipitate CAD.
Create a Plan to Reverse Heart Disease
The study highlights a small group of super foods which affect heart function and have been shown to lower the risk of heart disease development, and can actually work to reverse the buildup of coronary plaque. In addition to adding these foods to your diet, there are essential lifestyle modifications you can incorporate which can significantly reduce your risk of a heart attack.
Super Foods for the Heart
Salmon and Omega-3 Fat Sources: Salmon and most fish are excellent sources of the Omega-3 fats, EPA and DHA which have been shown to lower the risk of sudden death from a heart attack by one-third. Omega-3 fats reduce dangerous blood fats known as triglycerides, and help to prevent the formation of blood clots. Eat salmon or fatty fish twice a week, or supplement with fish oil for maximum benefit.
Blueberries: Blueberries are packed with powerful antioxidants which have been shown to alter the plaque forming characteristics of oxidized LDL cholesterol. This means that this damaging form of cholesterol is less likely to become incorporated into plaque which narrows the arteries supplying the heart. Blueberries also taste great and play an important role in brain health as well.
Make the Right Lifestyle Changes
Physical Activity: Next to diet, incorporating regular exercise into your daily routine will have the most impact on heart health. You benefit by strengthening this critical muscle and the supporting vascular system, lowering blood pressure and stabilizing blood sugar and insulin response. Plan at least 20 to 30 minutes each day.
Lose Weight: Excess weight forces the heart to work much harder than necessary, and eventually the heart enlarges in an attempt to keep pace with the increased load. Studies show that losing as little as 5 to 7% of your body weight can have a dramatic effect on heart health.
No Smoking: Smoking is the leading preventable cause of heart disease, as it negatively affects every organ in the body, especially the heart. Smoking causes dangerous constriction of the blood vessels which forces the heart to work much harder. Get professional help to drop the habit, as studies show positive heart health benefits after just 6 months.
Reduce Stress: The effects of stress can be as devastating as smoking. Often erred to as a silent killer, continual stress causes the release of hormones such as cortisol which increase blood pressure and systemic inflammation. Stress reduction techniques such as yoga and meditation are helpful in negating the damaging effects of stress.
Heart disease is preventable and reversible with a solid plan to improve diet and lifestyle. Substituting heart healthy super foods such as blueberries and salmon can have an immediate impact on your heart. Make time for daily exercise, lose weight and eliminate the cause of stress which is harming your health. You can minimize or even eliminate the risk from heart disease by taking charge of your total lifestyle.
Lifestyle Changes Or Drugs
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Youve been told by your doctor that your blood sugars are high, not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes but theyre going in that direction. What should be your primary course of action? Lifestyle changes or drugs?
The conclusion from what HeartWire called "a lively debate" at this months annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes is ... lifestyle changes. 1
Defense for lifestyle changes:
- Drugs may have no proven benefits as preventative medications.
- Drugs can have undesirable side-effects.
- Lifestyle changes, even if stopped, have long-lasting effects.
- Lifestyle changes are more cost-effective.
- Lifestyle changes get at the root of type 2 diabetes. ("Not only are they effective at reducing diabetes risk, but they also have "halo effects," including anthropometric, physiological, metabolic, psychological, behavioral, and quality-of-life benefits," claimed Dr. Nick Wareham.)
- Drugs may discourage people from making lifestyle changes.
- Effective lifestyle changes are difficult to enact and challenging to upkeep. ("Environmental, cultural, economic, and sociopolitical forces work against lifestyle changes in developed countries," claimed Dr. Paul Zimmet.)
- Lifestyle changes alone may not be effective for high-risk individuals.
- There is a lack of evidence from long-term studies on the benefits of specific lifestyle interventions.
1 Lifestyle, Not Drugs, For Preventing Type 2 Diabetes: "Gladiatorial" Debate Concludes, HeartWire, September 11, 2008
Lifestyle Changes and Lower Body Weight Reduces Cancer Risk by Forty Percent
Saturday, January 25, 2014
It may come as no surprise to many natural health disciplinarians that cancer is largely an avoidable disease that develops and advances due to poor lifestyle habits adopted over the course of a lifetime. Researchers from Britain have found that more than 100,000 cancer cases, nearly one in four cancers diagnosed, could have been prevented by following simple lifestyle changes.
Lead study author Dr. Max Parkin, a cancer epidemiologist based at Queen Mary, University of London publishing on the journalNature remarked “Looking at all the evidence, its clear that around 40 percent of all cancers are caused by things we mostly have the power to change.” Controlling behaviors such as smoking, unhealthy eating, alcohol consumption and being overweight provide a significant shield against the number two killer of adults worldwide.
Nearly 45% of All Cancers Are Preventable Through Lifestyle Modifications
Researchers from the UK analyzed data from cancer cases occurring between 1993 and 2007. The study was designed to determine the proportion that could be attributed to the following 14 risk factors: drinking alcohol, smoking tobacco, insufficient fruits and vegetables in the diet, not eating enough fiber, consuming red and processed meat, excess salt consumption, being overweight or obese, not exercising, infections (such as HPV), sunlight exposure, radiation exposure, chemical exposure. Specifically for women, the scientists examined not breastfeeding and undergoing hormone replacement therapy.
The study provided some predictable resultsthat follow along with the lifestyle pattern of many western cultures. Thirty-four percent of the cancers were found to be linked to smoking, diet, alcohol and excess weight. One in 25 of cancers are linked to a persons job, such as being exposed to chemicals or asbestos. Certain cancer risk factors were found to favor either men or women more prominently.
Lack of Fruits and Vegetables Directly Contributes to Cancer Progression
Insufficient consumption of fruits and vegetables was found to contribute to nearly 6% of the cancers in men, yet was a factor in only 3.4% of the women. Conversely, overweight and obesity played a significant role in risk for 7% of cancersin women versus only 4.1% in the men analyzed. Lead author Parkin noted “We didnt expect to find that eating fruit and vegetables would prove to be so important in protecting men against cancer… and among women we didnt expect being overweight to have a greater effect that alcohol."
The authors of this study concluded that 45% of the cancers found in men could be prevented by altering one or more of the fourteen identified risk factors, along with 40% of all cancers in women. Many health-minded individuals already maintain a natural and healthy diet, and avoid smoking and processed meats. Make note of the 14 identified cancer risk factors to prevent cancer and a host of life-threatening chronic diseases.
Reverse Aging with Diet and Lifestyle Changes
Monday, January 20, 2014
(Article first published as Reverse the Effects of Aging with Natural Diet and Lifestyle on Technorati.)
Medical researchers have made great strides over the past decade toward understanding the intricate process we know as aging. In an article published in U.S. News and World Report, nutritionist Dr. Jonny Bowden identifies the four main causes of aging in the human body as free radicals, inflammation, glycation and stress.
Free radicals are unstable electrons produced during the normal course of metabolism, causing damage to the delicate cell nucleus and mitochondria. Free radicals can wreak havoc with DNA, altering its structure and causing mutations during cell replication. While free radicals are unavoidable, there are a number of changes you can make to offset the dangerous effects.
Heart disease, diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease are all linked with inflammation, a condition where the body’s immune system begins to target healthy cells and tissue for attack. In an effort to stabilize inflammation, the body releases hormones such as cortisol and raises the core temperature in an effort to combat this invisible invader.
While DNA and genetics play a minor role, poor diet and lifestyle directly contribute to the leading causes of mortality, coronary artery disease, cancer, stroke, and dementia. Fortunately we can steer our destiny toward optimal health even after years of dietary and lifestyle abuse by addressing each identified aging factor.
Neutralizing the Effects of Free Radicals
Consuming a natural food diet packed with organically grown fresh vegetables, leafy greens, nuts and seeds is the best way to combat free radicals. These foods are loaded with antioxidants which act to neutralize the free radicals before they penetrate our cells. Choose from a wide variety of brightly colored vegetables to benefit from an assortment of antioxidants.
Damping Systemic Inflammation
Following a Mediterranean-style diet of whole grains, olive oil, fatty fish, vegetables, and minimally cooked meats has been shown to dramatically lower the effects of inflammation. It’s important to limit refined carbohydrates and sugar with this diet, as these cause dramatic spikes in blood sugar and lead to insulin resistance that are known to promote inflammation.
Prevent Damaging Glycation
Sugar mixes with proteins in our body to create non-functional structures call advanced glycation end products (AGE’s) which accelerate the aging process. AGE’s enter our body either pre-formed from over cooked, browned foods or as a result of chemical reactions in the blood. Regardless of how they form, AGE’s result in cellular damage and cause disease.
You can fight the effects of glycation with a two-step approach. Steam vegetables instead of stir frying and avoid grilling or blackening foods. Limit or eliminate sugar in your diet to prevent the cross-links which bind proteins and fats, making useless molecular garbage which inhibits normal cellular function.
Lower Your Stress Level
Continual stress forces the release of stress hormones in the body which help us cope under pressure. Stress which remains unresolved leads to excess cortisol circulating throughout the body, and is linked with shrinking of the hippocampus and accumulation of belly fat. Combat stress by identifying and removing the root cause, and try practicing meditation or yoga which are known to reduce stress. Aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night to further lower stress hormone production.
Alternative health practitioners have come to understand that aging is a disease that is accelerated by poor diet and lifestyle. Each of the identified factors which promote poor health and disease are preventable by following a natural diet of fresh vegetables, healthy uncooked fats, nuts, seeds and protein sources. The body has an amazing capacity to reverse the aging process caused by decades of dietary abuse by following the path to life extending, natural health.
Lifestyle Changes That Deliver Weight Loss Results
Friday, December 20, 2013
(Article first published as Lifestyle Changes Can Aid in Weight Loss on Technorati.)
There are a number of lifestyle modifications that can help people lose weight to improve health and live a longer and healthier life. Permanent weight loss involves much more than simply reducing calories and exercising more. While these are necessary elements in the weight loss battle, there are many other compounding factors which must be addressed before starting a weight reduction program. Stress, mindset and support play an important role in determining the success of your best weight loss efforts.
Obesity continues to be one of the most pressing health issues which threaten the longevity of millions of people, and the numbers continue to grow unabated each year. While many overweight and obese people understand they are carrying too much weight, the majority doesn’t realize the extent of their weight problem and can benefit from a structured program which centers on lifestyle changes.
Next you will need to develop a charting system which you faithfully maintain each day. It’s important to keep track of every food and drink item you eat as well as daily exercise, and include a section for your emotional state or other comments which help or hinder your progress. The best strategy is to plan and complete your food diary for each day a week ahead of time. Enter each food and drink item along with the amount eaten into your log at the beginning of the week and shop accordingly. You have now removed the thought and emotional aspects of eating. This is part of the reason commercial diet plans such as Jenny Craig are so successful.
Lifestyle Changes Shown Effective for Obesity
he Obesity Society and published in The Journal of the American Medical Association reveals that obese individuals who were provided prepackaged meal replacements and placed on a 5 day per week exercise schedule were able to achieve successful and permanent weight reduction. The participants were monitored with regular telephone calls, support and encouragement, and after 12 months lost a total of 27 pounds. This study highlights the importance of structure and positive mindset in addition to calorie reduction and physical activity when beginning a weight loss program.
The Beginning: Making a Weight Loss Plan
While not everyone who needs to lose weight will be able to participate in a structured study to accomplish their goal, it is possible to develop a plan which will help you achieve the same results. The most important first step is to make sure you have a positive mindset. Don’t begin a weight loss journey if you aren’t fully committed to the idea. Permanent weight loss is one of the most difficult tasks many people will ever undertake and the only way you’ll succeed is to be mentally prepared.
Next Step: Planning for Results
Diet Basics: Eating to Boost Fat Loss
The type of foods you eat are just as important as the number of calories in your diet. Foods that are highly processed break down into glucose quickly and encourage the buildup of fat around the abdomen. Additionally, refined carbohydrates offer your body very little in the way of nutrition which means you remain hungry and more apt to eat as you are subconsciously driven to find essential vitamins and minerals required by your body. To lose weight, eliminate all wheat, bread, pasta and sugary treats and drinks. Substitute with fresh vegetables, nutritious nuts, seeds, lean protein sources, healthy monounsaturated fats and drink green tea.
For many individuals, weight loss is a significant challenge. Less than 1 in 20 people are able to achieve and maintain their goal because they don’t properly plan and prepare to lose excess fat. Once you have developed the correct mindset and charted your daily meal plan, natural weight loss will be within your reach.
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