Posts Tagged ‘heart’

Fish oil
Omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid are known primarily for lowering harmful blood fats called triglycerides. They can also help to mildly lower blood pressure. A daily dose of 1 gram can help with blood pressure, but 2-4 grams is recommended for lowering triglycerides. If you are already taking a blood thinner, talk to your doctor before starting to take fish oil as it can increase bleeding risk in these situations.

CoQ10
Typically combined with niacin (vitamin B-3), CoQ10 can help to minimize side effects from cholesterol lowering statin drugs like muscle weakness. It can also help to enhance the energy production in cells, and inhibit blood clot formation. Typical dose is 50-100 milligrams daily.

Red yeast rice
Available in tablet, capsule, powder, and liquid forms, this is an extract of red yeast that is fermented onto rice. It has long been used by the Chinese, and it can mimic the same actions as statin drugs for lowering cholesterol. Average dose is 600 milligrams, twice a day, but can be enhanced with combined with naturally occurring plant sterols. These can be found in small amounts in fruits and vegetables, but also in supplement form. Add 400 milligrams of these for best benefits.

Lycopene
Found in tomatoes, watermelon, pink grapefruit, red bell peppers, and papaya, this phytochemical can be helpful in lowering blood pressure. Research has proven it can lower systolic (top) blood pressure by 10 points, and diastolic (bottom) blood pressure by up to 4 points. It is a potent antioxidant, and has even been thought to have cancer preventing properties, but they have not been proven. 10 milligrams daily is the average dose.

Home Hiccup Cure
Here’s a tip from one of our customers:  Nancy says “take a teaspoon of honey, agave nectar, or sugar and hold it in the mouth for less than a minute.  The hiccup just disappears.  Don’t know why, it just does.”  Thanks for the tip Nancy, more people suffer from hiccups than most people realize.

Trouble Sleeping
Your body needs the essential amino acid tryptophan in order to make serotonin and melatonin which help control your mood and sleep patterns.  If you don’t have enough tryptophan, you won’t be able to make enough serotonin or melatonin, and you may start to feel depressed or have trouble sleeping.  The easiest way to get tryptophan is by eating it.  It’s contained in many dairy products, fruits, and lean meats.  Ever wonder why Thanksgiving dinner is so nap inducing?  Turkey is very high in tryptophan.

Chocolate is Good for Your Heart
It sounds too good to be true, but evidence in recent years has been mounting steadily.  Dark chocolate especially is an excellent source of antioxidants.  A 2006 study among Dutch men showed that the ones who ate more foods made from or containing cocoa had lower blood pressure and their risk of death was 50% lower than those who ate little or no chocolate.

I “Swear” This Works
Ever wonder why people are more likely to utter expletives when in pain?  Recent research from Keele University in England suggests that swearing originates in the right hemisphere of the brain, and is more aligned with emotion than language.  It triggers adrenaline, and increases aggression, which in turn downplays pain and weakness.  So, depending on the company you keep don’t be afraid to let it out the next time you stub your toe.