There are 3 main omega-3s in foods. The shortest is alpha-linolenic acid, with 18 carbons and 3 double bonds. It is the only omega-3 found in plants. The richest sources are the oils of flax seed, canola, and walnuts or seed oil capsules.

The other major omega-3s are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA are sometimes described as “long-chain” because they have 20 or more carbons. They are found mainly in fish – particularly deep water fish or fish oil capsules and some types of marine plankton.

In 2002, the American Heart Association released a scientific statement, “Fish Consumption, Fish Oil, Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Disease,” on the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on heart function (including antiarrhythmic effects), hemodynamics (cardiac mechanics) and arterial endothelial function. The link between omega-3 fatty acids and CVD risk reduction are still being studied, but research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids can amongst a wealth of other benefits:

• Decrease risk of arrhythmias
• Decrease triglyceride levels
• Decrease growth rate of atherosclerotic plaque
• Slightly lower blood pressure
• Lower cholesterol

What do documented medical epidemiological and observational studies show?

Epidemiologic and clinical trials have shown that omega-3 fatty acids reduce CVD incidence. Large-scale epidemiologic studies suggest that people at risk for coronary heart disease benefit from consuming omega-3 fatty acids.

The ideal amount to take isn’t clear. Evidence from prospective secondary prevention studies suggests that taking EPA+DHA ranging from 0.5 to 1.8 grams per day (either as fatty fish or supplements) significantly reduces deaths from heart disease and all causes.

The most compelling evidence for the cardiovascular benefit provided by omega-3 fatty acids comes from three large controlled trials of 32,000 participants randomized to receive omega-3 fatty acid supplements containing DHA and EPA or to act as controls.

These trials showed reductions in cardiovascular events of between 19% and 47%. Overall, these findings suggest that intake of omega-3 fatty acids, whether from dietary fish sources or fish oil supplements, should be increased, especially in people with or at risk for coronary artery disease.

The evidence that omega 3 short chain fatty acids had a beneficial effect was inconclusive. This may be attributed to the poor conversion of alpha-linolenic acid in the human body.

Now here comes the problem.

We know that it is always preferential, where possible, to gain our vitamins and minerals directly from our diet, and although with some vitamins and minerals it is not possible to get therapeutic amounts simply from our diet, this is not the case with omega 3.

It is relatively easy to consume enough “oily” fish from 3 or 4 servings per week, to get all of the health benefits associated with DHA and EPA.

So where is the problem!

Mercury poisoning

Mercury is a heavy metal that occurs in several forms, all of which can produce toxic effects.

Symptoms typically include impairment to vision, hearing and speech, disturbed sensory sensation and a lack of coordination.

The type and degree of symptoms exhibited will depend upon the individual toxin, the level of poisoning, and the duration of exposure.

The consumption of fish is by far the most significant source of ingestion-related mercury exposure in humans.

Nearly all fish contain some amounts of methylmercury.

How does this element get into our fish supply?

Mercury occurs both naturally and from man-made sources. Some of it can be traced to coal-burning power plants. Smokestacks release toxic mercury emissions which rain down into rivers, lakes, and oceans. Bacteria convert the mercury to a form that’s easily absorbed by insects and other small organisms. Mercury moves up the food chain as small fish eat the small organisms and big fish eat the smaller fish. The highest concentrations accumulate in large predators such as shark, swordfish and tuna.

In 1969, the FDA first set an action level for total mercury in fish; 0.5ppm (part-per-million) was considered the maximum safe limit. (Action levels represent the limit at or above which FDA will take legal action to remove a product from the market.)

In 1979, the action level was raised to 1ppm.

In 1984, there was another major change. The FDA stopped measuring on a basis of total mercury and instead started checking levels in terms of methylmercury only.

In 1998, the FDA stopped widely testing for mercury in fish. I wonder why!!!

If you think that mercury poisoning of humans rarely happens, or it never happened to anyone you heard of – read on:

In December 2008 Jeremy Piven, actor and star of the HBO series “Entourage,” unexpectedly pulled out of the Broadway revival of “Speed-the-Plow” due to high levels of mercury in his body following a high-fish diet.

According to Piven’s doctor, blood tests showed the actor had a Methylmercury level “six times the upper limit typically measured.”

What began as a health dietary regime caused extreme fatigue and exhaustion and could have ended with heart and cognitive problems, kidney failure and even death.

His recovery took over six months.

So what is the solution to getting enough of the correct omega 3 to maintain or improve your health without the risk of mercury poisoning?

Quite simply use a supplement, but not just any supplement. Make sure that the supplement that you use is certified pure by NSF International.

The link below will help you if you want to find an omega 3 supplier registered with NSF International.

cure blocked arteries

Stress is a normal part of life however, if left unmanaged, stress can lead to emotional, psychological, and even physical problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, chest pains, or irregular heart beat and ultimately the need for heart bypass surgery.

The mechanisms of exactly how stress increases the risk of heart disease are not yet fully understood. Stress itself might be a risk factor, or it could be that high levels of stress make other risk factors (such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure) worse. For example, if you are under stress, your blood pressure may go up, you may overeat, you may exercise less, and you may be more likely to smoke.

If stress itself is a risk factor for heart disease, it could be because chronic stress exposes your body to unhealthy, persistently elevated levels of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Studies also link stress to changes in the way blood forms clots, which can in turn increases the risk of heart attack.

Stress can be caused by a physical or emotional change, or a change in your environment that requires you to adjust or respond. Things that make you feel stressed are called “stressors.”

Stressors can be minor hassles, major lifestyle changes, or a combination of both. Being able to identify stressors in your life and releasing the tension they cause are the keys to managing stress.

These are some common stressors that can affect people at all stages of life:

• Illness – personal or a family member or friend.
• The death of your friend or a loved one.
• Problems in a personal relationship.
• Work overload.
• Starting a new job.
• Unemployment.
• Retirement.
• Pregnancy.
• Crowd situations.
• Relocation of home or work.
• Daily irritations.
• Legal problems.
• Financial concerns.

There Are the Warning Signs.

When you are exposed to long periods of stress, your body gives you warning signals that something is wrong.

These warning signs should not be ignored. They are telling you that you need to break the pattern.

If you continue to be stressed and you don’t give your body some relief from these tensions you are more likely to develop health problems which can include heart disease. You could also worsen any other existing illnesses.

Below are some common warning signs and symptoms of stress.

Physical signs mayinclude:

Dizziness – general aches and pains – grinding teeth – clenched jaws – headaches – indigestion – muscle tension – difficulty sleeping – racing heart – ringing in the ears – sweaty palms – constant tiredness or exhaustion – trembling unexplained weight gain or loss.

Mental signs may include:

Constant worrying – difficulty in making decisions – forgetfulness – inability to concentrate – lack of creativity – loss of sense of humor – poor memory.

Emotional signs may include:

Anger – anxiety – crying – depression – feeling powerless – frequent mood swings – irritability – loneliness – negative thinking – nervousness and sadness.

Behavioral signs may include:

Compulsive eating – excessively critical attitude towards others – explosive actions or reactions – increased use of alcohol or drugs – withdrawal from relationships or social situations.

Coping With Stress

If you have identified some causes of stress in your life, the next step is to learn some of the techniques that can help you cope. There are many techniques you can use to manage stress.

Some of these you can learn yourself, while other techniques may require the guidance of a trained therapist. If your stress level is severe, then it will usually be better to seek the help of a qualified health practitioner.

Some simple techniques for coping with stress include:
Eating and drinking sensibly at set regular times. Indulging or bingeing with alcohol and food may seem to reduce stress, but it actually adds to it.

Try to be more assertive. You do not have to meet others’ expectations or demands. It’s OK to say “NO!” Remember, being assertive allows you to stand up for your rights and beliefs but you must remember to respect those of others.

If possible, quit smoking. Aside from the obvious health risks of cigarettes, nicotine acts as a stimulant and increases stress levels.

Exercising regularly really does help. Choose non-competitive exercise and set reasonable goals. Aerobic exercise has been shown to release endorphins (natural substances that help you feel better and maintain a positive attitude.)

Take time to relax every day. Most stressed people find it difficult to find enough time to carry out all that they need to do, but this is just a stress related illusion.

Make the time and gradually you will find that you really did have time after all. Learn to control what you can and accept what you cannot.

Make sure you get enough rest. Even with proper diet and exercise, you can’t fight stress effectively without rest.

You need time to recover from exercise and stressful events. The time you spend resting should be long enough to relax your mind as well as your body.

Some people find that taking a nap in the middle of the day helps them reduce stress, but this may not be ideal for everyone.

By making small but positive changes, a little at a time, you will find that it is possible to reduce stress and improve your overall health.

If the blockage to these arteries is diagnosed in time, then the most likely outcome will be the recommendation of angioplasty.

Angioplasty is a technique used to dilate an area of arterial blockage with the help of a catheter that has an inflatable small sausage-shaped balloon at its tip. The balloon catheter is introduced into the femeral artery at the groin and then it is pushed along the femeral artery until it is in position to inflate at the site of the blockage. The travel of the catheter is monitored on an external screen to ensure correct placement.

Angioplasty physically opens the blocked arterial segment and restores blood flow. In some cases, the artery tends to close again immediately after the inflation and in these cases a small device shaped like a small coil spring is inserted to hold the section of artery open. This device is known as a stent.

Since angioplasty is performed through a relatively small incision in the groin it is much less invasive than full bypass surgery and can be repeated more often should the patient develop disease in the same, or another, artery in the future.

If the blockage is too severe, or in some cases the artery damage is too extensive, then full heart bypass surgery will need to be undertaken to graft some small sections of artery that have been almost simultaneously removed from the patients arm or leg to the coronary artery. This graft will start at one side of the blockage and end on the other side of the blockage. Hence the term – bypass.

After angioplasty or bypass, the recovery rate is usually very good and the patient sent home with a low fat diet regime and an exercise regime.

Now here is the flaw.

If you have managed to damage your arteries in the coronary area of your body to the extent that you needed surgery, it is a very strong possibility that you may also have blocked or partially blocked arteries elsewhere in your body.

If this is indeed the case, and my suggestion is that it is highly likely, then surely it should be a priority to do something to try to reverse this situation.

Strangely, the medical profession in general tend to tell you after successful bypass surgery that you need to do the right things to look after your heart for the future – all well and good. But they almost always stop short of implementing anything that might actually reverse the damage that may also still be happening at some other areas of your arterial system.

Athersclorosis – or as it is commonly called, blocked arteries – can be reversed. I am not claiming that this is easy or that there is a magic pill that will put everything right, but none the less, it is possible, and if you have suffered a heart attack, had angina attacks, undergone angioplasty or even been diagnosed with high high blood pressure, then you owe it to yourself and your family to do everything possible to ensure that you put your whole arterial system back on the road to recovery.

The trouble is that knowing “quite a lot” is often a dangerous place. Why? Well imagine if you were about to undergo a routine surgery. You are very confident that the outcome will be a success.

But how would you feel if the surgeon who was about to perform this surgery were to inform you that although they had performed quite a few surgeries and “knew quite a lot” about what they were about to do, they didn’t know everything about this particular procedure?

There are those who would suggest that vitamin supplementation can be used in therapeutic doses to cure a wide range of health problems including atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

So here is what we do know about vitamins for certain:

Our bodies are unable to make vitamins. Vitamins are vital to our health as they serve or assist with functions in almost all bodily processes and therefore we must obtain them from our food or from vitamin supplements.

Lack of sufficient vitamin content in the diet does cause illness and decline in the human body and does result in poor development and debilitation in the young.

There are thirteen vitamins in total. These are classified as either water soluble or fat soluble, and in one case – both.

Fat Soluble Vitamins

Fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed, together with fat from the intestine and because of this can be stored in the body and can exert an influence for much for longer periods of time than water soluble vitamins. This also makes it possible to “over dose” if supplementing and great care should always be taken if supplementing.

Vitamins A, some forms of C, D, E and K are fat soluble vitamins. They are largely processed in the liver and then distributed throughout the body’s fatty tissues where in some cases they may also be stored.
The fat soluble version of Vitamin C is Ascorbyl Palmitate.

Ascorbyl palmitate is an amphipathic molecule, which means one end is water-soluble and the other end is fat-soluble. This dual solubility allows it to permeate the extra-cellular aqueous environment of the cell and the interior cellular environment, as well. When it is incorporated into the cell membranes of human red blood cells, ascorbyl palmitate is believed to protect them from oxidative damage and is also believed to help protect vitamin E from oxidation by free radicals.

Some forms of Vitamin C – including ascorbic acid – and the B complex group make up the nine water soluble vitamins. These water soluble vitamins are not readily stored in the body and need to be consumed on a very regular daily basis.

The B complex group comprises of vitamins:

B1 – Thiamine
B2 – Riboflavin
B3 – Niacine
B5 – Pantothenic acid
B6 – Pyridoxine
B7 – Biotin
B9 – Folic Acid
B12 – Cyanocobalamin

There are two differing and largely misunderstood value recommendations for vitamin intake.

One is the RDA which simple means recommended daily amount and is the amount of vitamins that an average weight healthy individual needs to consume to support normal bodily functions.

Then there is the Therapeutic Daily Amount. This is a suggested (and often speculative) amount of vitamins or vitamin combinations that a person of average weight would need to consume in order to address or influence a curative effect upon a disease or illness.

There is much argument as to whether vitamin supplementation is useful or not and there are many surveys and studies that support both sides of the argument, but on balance, there is a very large body of evidence which tends to support some therapeutic use of certain vitamins, and the necessity to supplement poor or unbalanced diets.

It is overwhelmingly agreed that the best source of vitamins are those obtained by a varied and well balanced diet, but to gain sufficient amounts of vitamins for therapeutic purposes solely from dietary sources would be impossible.

The following is a list (not exhaustive) of which foods can be consumed to obtain dietary amounts of each vitamin.

Vitamin A
Liver, Sweet potatoes, Carrots, Mangoes, Spinach, Cantaloupe, Dried apricots, Milk, Egg yolks, Mozzarella cheese.

Vitamin B1
Quorn, Brewer’s Yeast, Bovril, Wheat germ

Vitamin B2
Marmite, Liver, Kidneys

Vitamin B3
Peanuts, Cereal, Tuna, Chicken, Beef liver, Turkey, Lamb, Beef

Vitamin B5
Broccoli, Avocados, Meat, organic unprocessed grains

Vitamin B6
Wheat germ, Wheat bran, Liver, Fatty Fish, Hazel nuts, Peanuts

Vitamin B7
Organ meats, Barley, Brewer’s yeast, Corn, Egg yolks, Milk, Royal jelly, Soy, and Wheat bran

Vitamin B9
Spinach, Asparagus, Turnip greens, Lettuce, Beans, Peas, Sunflower seeds, Liver

Vitamin B12
Liver, Sardines, Kidneys, Rabbit, Fatty Fish

Vitamin C
Rose hip extracts, Blackcurrant, Guava, Strawberry, Peppers, Spring greens, Curly Kale, Brussels sprouts, Lemon, Orange

Vitamin D
Cod liver oil, Salmon oil, Herring, Kippers, Canned Salmon, Mackerel

Vitamin E
Sunflower oil, Cottonseed oil, Safflower oils, Hazelnuts, Almonds, Wheat germ, Cod liver oil

Vitamin K
Cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, Broccoli Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Cabbage, Alfalfa, Liver, Fish oils, Yogurt, milk, Soya bean, Sea kelp

So it would seem to be the very best policy for the healthy individual to maintain a varied and balanced diet that contains at least one of the water soluble vitamins in each meal and at least one of the fat soluble vitamins each day.

Look at the four blood pressure categories below and then determine which category you fall into.

If your blood pressure reading is in two different categories where systolic pressure is in one category and diastolic pressure is in another, then your correct blood pressure category is the higher one. For example, if your blood pressure reading is 119/85 you have Pre-hypertension.

Below 120 and Below 80 is considered Normal blood pressure.
120-139 and 80-89 is considered Pre-hypertension.
140-159 and 90-99 is considered Stage 1 hypertension.
160 or more and 100 or more is considered Stage 2 hypertension.

The 1st Number represents Systolic pressure. This is the pressure generated when the heart contracts.
The 2nd Number represents Diastolic pressure. This is the blood pressure when the heart is relaxed.

It is not possible to determine what blood pressure category you are in by taking just one reading. Blood pressure readings should be taken at four or five equally spaced periods throughout the day whilst you are at rest and these readings should be taken over seven days. The numbers should then be averaged to give a representative reading

It is important to understand just how dangerous high blood pressure is.

High blood pressure is a very high risk factor for congestive heart failure. This is a serious condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to supply the functional needs of your body. The result of your heart failing to pump enough blood can result in kidney damage and in extreme cases, even a stroke.

In relation to your kidneys, if high blood pressure remains untreated it can damage both the blood vessels feeding the kidneys and the kidney filtering membranes – called nephrons – as well.

High blood pressure is a leading risk factor for a stroke as well as creating the ideal condition for “a bleed” in the brain which can be just as life threatening.

Many patients who need to undergo heart bypass surgery need to do so because of damage initially caused by high blood pressure.

Here is a summary of the effects of high blood pressure:

Damage to cerebral tissues or stoke, resulting in convulsions, impaired speech and impaired body function including partial or total paralysis.

Atherosclerosis which is hardening of the walls of the arteries. This raises the risk for heart disease and further increases the severity of high blood pressure in a “vicious circle” of cause and effect coronary heart disease of varying severity.

If you discover that you have high blood pressure, you need to find a suitable method to reduce it, and you should treat this as very urgent. Delay is to be avoided, especially since you may have been unknowingly suffering with high blood pressure for quite some time prior to discovery.

Undoubtedly you should consult with your doctor, but you may also wish to discuss with your doctor alternatives to prescription drugs that although are very effective, do have some very unpleasant side effects.

Some known non prescription drug methods for effectively lowering blood pressure include meditation, aerobic exercise, controlled breathing exercises, healthy diet and stress management.

If you are a tobacco smoker you should without question seek urgent help to quit as quickly as possible. You may also need to understand that nicotine replacement (patches, gum etc) may not be suitable to assist you as they may actually exacerbate the condition.

To ensure that we start off correctly, I think that it is important to understand the difference between dietary health supplements and vitamins.

The term ‘vitamin’ first became popular in the early nineteenth century as a combination of the words ‘vital’ and ‘mineral’. A compound is called a vitamin when it cannot be synthesized in sufficient quantities by the body, and must be obtained from the diet. The term vitamin does not include other essential nutrients such as dietary minerals, essential fatty acids, or essential amino acids, nor does it encompass the large number of other nutrients that promote health but are otherwise required less often

There are an almost infinite amount of dietary supplements and we shall be covering only the ones that:

a) Claim to be heart healthy or curative
b) Are very popular or widely acclaimed

Omega-3 Fatty Acids
These healthy fats have emerged as the runaway heart-helpers, with numerous studies showing they can help reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and atherosclerosis and subsequently the need for heart bypass surgery. If you’ve had a heart attack, omega-3s appear to reduce the risk of suffering another one. Fish oil is by far the best supplement source of omega-3s.

CoQ10
At this point, there are no complete, sure bets with CoQ10. It is suspected to be beneficial in numerous applications, most notably heart-related damage, but until additional larger, longer and better-controlled studies are performed, no one can say for sure.

Currently, however, CoQ10 has shown the most definitive benefits in treating hypertension, or high blood pressure. People with high blood pressure have been shown to have less CoQ10 than normal, and CoQ10 has been shown to reduce high blood pressure in early research. The treatment of hypertension is the only CoQ10 application that has so far received a “B” rating, meaning there is good, solid scientific evidence that Co Q 10 may be helpful.

Green Tea
There are claims that the benefits of green tea include a lot of healing and preventive processes that cater to diseases like cancer, heart disease,rheumatoid arthritis, infections, impaired immune functions, and cardiovascular diseases.

The claims also suggest the benefits of green tea also help to alleviate problems with high cholesterol and improve the overall cholesterol level in the body.

It is further claimed that by drinking recommended amounts of green tea, the human body is cleansed from toxins that may cause a lot of health problems.

In 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent.
University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound found in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells.

There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the cholesterol ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

Here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, high cholesterol levels, cardiovascular disease, infections and impaired immune function.

Alpha-Lipoic Acid
According to State Canadian researchers in the November 2003 issue of The Journal of Nutrition, Alpha-lipoic acid has been identified as a powerful antioxidant that is found naturally in our diets, but it appears to have increased functional capacity when given as a supplement in the form of a natural or synthetic isolate. They also noted that Alpha-Lipoic Acid supplements may help to prevent cardiovascular risk factors such as LDL oxidation and high blood pressure.

Aged Garlic
Garlic has been found to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, blood pressure, and plaque formation. One study at the University of California found that 200 mg of aged garlic extract taken daily lowered heart attack risk by 65%.

A study from December 2008 examined the effects of a standard garlic supplement versus a placebo in 42 men with hypercholesterolemia. By the end of the 12 week trial, the garlic supplement group reduced total cholesterol levels by a mean average of 7.6% and 11.5% more than the placebo group.
The LDL (”bad”) cholesterol fell by almost 14%. The participants HDL (”good”) cholesterol rose by almost 12%. The dosage found to be most effective was 600 mg a day.

A 2007 experiment examined the effects of garlic supplementation in a total of 112 volunteers. Half of the men and women were diagnosed with heart disease, the remainder were described as having at least “one or more risk factors of cardiovascular pathology”. The exact figures of this Russian study weren’t available, but the summary states that 6 months of garlic supplementation resulted in a “moderate hypolipidemic” (cholesterol lowering) and “antioxidant effect”.

The researchers concluded that people with pre-existing cardiovascular disease would likely benefit in both the short and long term from a dosage of 600 mg daily. 300 mg was the recommended dosage for those with at least one risk factor, but who lack clinical diagnosis of heart disease.

In April 2009, a review of garlic’s role in the management of high cholesterol was published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics. This meta-analysis looked at 13 clinical trials that included over 1,000 participants. The authors of the study summarized their findings in the following way: “The available evidence from randomized controlled trials does not demonstrate any beneficial effects of garlic on serum cholesterol”.

Resveratrol
Resveratrol is claimed to be a key ingredient that helps prevent damage to blood vessels, reduces “bad” cholesterol and prevents blood clots.

Most research conducted with resveratrol has been conducted on animals, not people.
Research in mice given resveratrol has indicated that the antioxidant might also help protect them from obesity and diabetes, both of which are strong risk factors for heart disease. However, those findings were reported only in mice, not in people. In addition, to get the same dose of resveratrol used in the mice studies, a person would have to consume 100 to 1,000 bottles of red wine a day, which is why supplementation would be required to achieve such benefit.

Some research shows that resveratrol could be linked to a reduced risk of inflammation and blood clotting, both of which can lead to heart disease, but more research is needed before it can be confirmed whether resveratrol was the cause for the reduced risk.

Here is a summary from The Linus Pauling Institute:

Resveratrol is a polyphenolic compound found in grapes, red wine, purple grape juice, peanuts, and some berries.
When taken orally, resveratrol appears to be well-absorbed by humans, but its bioavailability is relatively low because it is rapidly metabolized and eliminated.

Scientists became interested in exploring potential health benefits of resveratrol when its presence was reported in red wine, leading to speculation that resveratrol might help explain the “French Paradox.”

Moderate alcohol consumption has been consistently associated with 20-30% reductions in coronary heart disease risk, but it is not yet clear whether red wine polyphenols, such as resveratrol, confer any additional risk reduction.

Although resveratrol can inhibit the growth of cancer cells in culture and in some animal models, it is not known whether high intakes of resveratrol can prevent cancer in humans.

Resveratrol administration has increased the lifespans of yeast, worms, fruit flies, fish, and mice fed a high-calorie diet, but it is not known whether resveratrol will have similar effects in humans.

At present, relatively little is known about the effects of resveratrol in humans.

The French paradox does seem to lend some weight to the argument. The paradox is the observation that the French appear to suffer a relatively low incidence of coronary heart disease, despite having a diet relatively rich in saturated fats. The term French paradox was first coined in 1992 by Dr. Serge Renaud, a scientist from Bordeaux University in France.

Nattokinase
Nattokinase has been the subject of more than 17 studies, including two small human trials.

Researchers from Biotechnology Research Laboratories and JCR Pharmaceuticals Co. of Kobe, Japan, have tested its ability to dissolve a thrombus in the carotid arteries of rats. Animals that were treated with nattokinase regained 62 percent of blood flow, whereas those treated with plasmin regained just 15.8 percent.

Researchers from JCR Pharmaceuticals, Oklahoma State University, and Miyazaki Medical College tested nattokinase on 12 healthy Japanese volunteers (six men and six women, between the ages of 21 and 55). They gave the volunteers 200 grams of natto before breakfast, then tracked fibrinolytic activity through a series of blood plasma tests. The tests indicated that the natto generated a heightened ability to dissolve blood clots. On average, the volunteers’ ELT (a measure of how long It takes to dissolve a blood clot) dropped by 48 percent within two hours of treatment.
Volunteers also retained an enhanced ability to dissolve blood clots for two to eight hours. As a control procedure, researchers later fed the same amount of boiled soybeans to the same volunteers and tracked their fibrinolytic activity. These tests showed no significant change.

Conclusion:
Nattokinase is a particularly potent treatment because it enhances the body’s natural ability to fight blood clots in several different ways.
Additional benefits Include the convenience of oral administration, confirmed efficacy, prolonged effects, cost effectiveness, and the fact that it can be used preventatively. It is a naturally occurring dietary supplement that has demonstrated stability in the gastrointestinal tract.

The properties of nattokinase closely resemble those properties of plasmin in that it also dissolves fibrin directly. More importantly, it enhances the body’s production of both plasmin and other clot-dissolving agents.

Nattokinase may actually be superior to conventional clot-dissolving drugs such as recombinant tissue plasminogen activators (rt-PA), urokinase, and streptokinase, which are only effective therapeutically when taken intravenously within 12 hours of a stroke or heart attack.
Nattokinase, however, may help prevent the conditions leading to blood clots with a dose of only 2,000 fibrin units or 50 grams, of natto per day.

Terminalia Arjuna
Terminalia arjuna is a medicinal plant of the genus Terminalia, widely used by Ayurvedic physicians for its curative properties in people with heart problems including angina, hypertension and deposits in arteries.

Research suggests that Terminalia is useful in alleviating the pain of angina pectoris and in treating heart failure and coronary artery disease.

Terminalia may also be useful in treating hypercholesterolemia. The cardio protective effects of terminalia are thought to be produced by the antioxidant nature of several of the constituent flavonoids and oligomeric proanthocyanidins, while positive inotropic effects may be caused by the saponin glycosides.

There are documented studies on humans which appear to be sufficient enough to confirm the theraputic benfits of this dietary health supplement.

Pycnogenol
The extract has four basic properties – it’s a powerful antioxidant, acts as a natural anti-inflammatory, selectively binds to collagen and elastin, and finally, it aids in the production of endothelial nitric oxide which helps to dilate blood vessels.

There is a large amount of clinical trial information that appears to support the efficiency of this dietary health supplement with particular emphasis on heart health.

Supplements often undergo clinical trials and more so as they become more popular. This will mean that although every care has been taken to detail the current information accurately, as new trials are undertaken, some of this information may become redundant.

Let us take a look at cholesterol and see if we can separate the fact from the fiction.

What we do know is that there are a lot of doctors and health care professionals who are advising us to reduce our cholesterol levels. The advertising companies seem to be onboard with a host of products that claim to do just that – reduce our cholesterol.

And of course, let us not forget the pharmaceutical companies that have supplied many millions of dollars worth of statin drugs that very effectively reduce cholesterol.

Cholesterol is a lipid, waxy steroid found in the cell membranes of all animals and is transported in blood plasma. It is an essential component of cell membranes, where it is required to establish proper membrane permeability and fluidity. In addition, cholesterol is an important precursor molecule for the biosynthesis of bile acids, steroid hormones, and several fat-soluble vitamins. Cholesterol is the principal sterol that is synthesized by all animals, including humans.

About 25% of total daily cholesterol production occurs in the liver. Other sites of cholesterol synthesis include the intestines, adrenal glands, and reproductive organs.

The view that a change in diet can lower blood cholesterol levels, and thereby reduce the likelihood of the development of coronary artery disease and the need for heart bypass surgery is now being increasingly challenged.

An alternative view is that any reductions to dietary cholesterol intake are automatically counteracted by organs such as the liver, which will increase or decrease production of cholesterol to keep blood cholesterol levels constant. It is also being widely argued that in fact a reduction in cholesterol does not significantly reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease.

Total cholesterol is defined as the sum of the lipids HDL often referred to as “Good Cholesterol”, plus LDL often referred to as “Bad Cholesterol” plus VLDL often referred to as “Very Bad Cholesterol”.

The reality may of course be somewhat different as much of this is still theoretical. Biosynthesis of cholesterol is directly regulated by the cholesterol levels present in the blood plasma, though the homeostatic mechanisms involved are as yet only partly understood, as indeed are the full functions of HDL, LDL and VDL.

This means that in declaring certain parts of the overall make up of cholesterol as “Good” or “Bad” certain – and as yet unproven – assumptions must be made.

So this is how the theory goes:

Abnormally high cholesterol levels with higher concentrations of LDL and lower concentrations of HDL are associated with coronary heart disease because these appear to promote atheroma development in the arteries. This leads to arterial diameter reduction which causes high blood pressure which in a “vicious circle” process may cause myocardial infarction (heart attack), stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

Since it is believed that higher levels of LDL, especially higher LDL particle concentrations and smaller LDL particle size, contribute to this process more than the cholesterol content of the LDL particles, LDL particles are often termed “bad cholesterol” because they have been linked to atheroma formation. Alternately, high levels of HDL, which can remove cholesterol from cells and reduce atheroma, are often referred to as “good cholesterol”. These balances are largely genetically determined but can be altered by body build, medications, food choices, and some other factors.

Once atheroma formation in the walls of arteries has begun, a condition known as atherosclerosis, which is currently thought to be the principal cause of coronary heart disease and other forms of cardiovascular diseases begin to develop.

Increased concentrations of HDL correlate with lower rates of atheroma progressions and even regression and thus the possibilty of reversing atherosclerosis appears to exist.

Total cholesterol counts can be a very misleading indicator of risk. The total cholesterol can be within normal limits and yet be made up primarily of small LDL and small HDL particles, under which conditions atheroma growth rates would be high. In contrast, if the LDL particle number was low (mostly large particles) and a large percentage of the HDL particles were large, then atheroma growth rates could be low or even negative.

There are some cardiac specialists who are beginning to doubt the wisdom of reducing cholesterol and they have instead been studying the effects of inflammation as the possible cause of increase in Cardiac Events.

Even if cholesterol reduction is a desirable goal, many are now questioning the benefits versus the risks of taking cholesterol lowering drugs, which already are known to be associated with many adverse and serious side effects.

In conclusion, it would seem to be the best policy to listen carefully to what all sides of the medical argument have to say and to try to make your own informed judgement.

Some of the few proven facts are that calorific restriction whilst maintaining excellent nutritional value does reduce heart disease and does in general lead to longer life, but the mechanisms involved in this are not fully understood yet.

Regular exercise and a diet rich in natural fresh fruit, vegetables and nuts has shown to improve the quality of life for the average person that is not yet displaying signs of coronary illness and may go some way towards preventing it.