The Nutritional Health of your Heart

Many people are unaware that they suffer from circulatory problems, most of which are due to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). It is little known that your arteries can be 80% clogged before you feel any symptoms. Plaque (cholesterol, calcium and cellular debris) collects in the arteries over a period of years, but is not noticed until there is a decrease in the normal flow of blood. 

It is also little known that cholesterol is not the main problem -- damaged artery linings that allow plaque to attach itself are the prime cause of clogged arteries. Fortunately, it has been shown that arterial damage can often be reversed (artery walls strengthened and arteries reopened) with a careful holistic regimen of diet, nutritional supplements and lifestyle changes. 

Atherosclerosis and its complications, heart disease and stroke, are the leading cause of illness and death in North America. It is no coincidence that never before have we been so exposed to the causes of atherosclerosis -- smoking, stress, pollution, radiation, lack of exercise and poor diet. 

Potassium is one of the nutrients critical to the health of your heart. It enables your heart to pump by initiating impulses which stimulate contraction of the heart's muscle fibres. Studies also suggest that high potassium intake may lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of stroke. A few symptoms which might indicate possible potassium deficiency are adult acne, chronic constipation, edema, frequent urination with large volumes, facial tics and constant fatigue. Lack of magnesium and vitamin B complex are among the other nutrient deficiencies which may be associated with heart disease and high blood pressure. 

Vitamin, mineral, enzyme imbalances and other nutritional deficiencies accumulate in our bodies over a long period of time -- often the result of many years of nutritional abuse such as eating too many refined foods, fats, sugars, etc. and consuming too few fresh foods and too little fiber. Figuring out how to restore and/or maintain nutritional balance is a very individual problem -- we are each biochemically unique and therefore our needs for specific nutrients vary greatly. 

Also, as we age, body chemistry changes require that  we change our approach to nutrition. A diet that might have kept you nutritionally healthy five years ago may not be as effective today. That is why nutritional analysis, such as my symptomatology questionnaire provides, is an important first step in determining the current status of your body's nutritional health, including your circulatory system, and beginning a customized program to correct your unique nutritional deficiencies. 

Diet should be the prime focus of any changes you make. As well, there are vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements and concentrated superfoods that can help you regain your nutritional strength and enhance the health of your heart and circulatory system, if that is required. But they must be the right foods and supplements for you -- the ones that your body needs. Please note that I do not sell foods, vitamins or any other nutritional products -- I provide nutritional analysis and counseling. My recommendations usually include specific foods, vitamins and nutritional supplements that are available from your local suppliers.