HEALTH SMART = HEART SMART

Cardiovascular problems are a leading cause of death. Heart attacks cause over 550,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. Medical costs of cardiovascular disease in the U.S. are over $56 billion yearly.  Over 500,000 Americans have a stroke every year, with over two million Americans disabled by stroke.

The heart is a muscular organ about the size of a fist which pumps blood through the body. Many things can affect the functioning of the heart, including nutrition. Many experts consider nutrition to be the most important component of preventative health care. Diet has been associated with both the cause and the treatment of heart disease, stroke, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, and more.

Most deaths, other than accidents, are related to nutritional deficiencies. Former Surgeon General Koop estimated that, of the 2.1 million annual deaths in America, about 75% of them are related to inadequate nutrition. Statistics from the Center for Disease Control show that of 30-year olds today, 95 out of 100 will die from a degenerative disease like heart disease. Given these facts, how important do you think nutrition is to your health? Do you need to be Health Smart in order to be Heart Smart? ABSOLUTELY!

We must take charge of our lives before it’s too late! It is vital that we increase our commitment to nutrition. Our body requires essential nutrients everyday. Seven Essentials will help you on your journey to better health by providing your body with the superior nutrition it needs!
~ Dr. Kellas

“Even doctors might not recognize a heart attack, especially in women” said Dr. Bennett, director of George Washington University Hospital's Heart program. "Physicians under-evaluate and under-treat women," she said. A recent survey polled 500 physicians. They were given an experimental case study and asked to categorize the patient's level of heart-disease risk. Women at intermediate risk were assigned to a lower-risk category more than men with identical risk profiles. Evaluating patients for a possible heart attack depends on the "index of suspicion," which usually isn’t high enough for women. "When doctors see a woman who is white and thin, they reflexively decide that she is at a lower-risk," she said.

FEBRUARY IS AMERICAN HEART MONTH

The number one cause of death in industrialized countries is
heart disease. According to statistics, about half the people
in industrialized countries will die prematurely from heart
disease. Interestingly, heart disease is a product of
this century! Before the 1900's, heart disease was
rarely a cause of death. Another sad fact is that it
develops over years of poor lifestyle choices.
Some people are genetically predisposed to
heart disease, but that’s even more reason
to pay closer attention to lifestyle factors
we can control, like diet & exercise.

Heart Attacks Often Go Unrecognized

A recent study published in the European Heart Journal showed that 43% of attacks go undetected, and more often in women than men. Dutch researchers analyzed the electrocardiographs (ECGs) of more than 4,000 men and women over age 55. They gave them a baseline ECG screening in 1990 and then repeated the ECG’s during years 1995 to 2000. The tests revealed that 4 out of every 10 heart attacks went unrecognized; one-third of the attacks in men and over one-half in women.

INTERVENTION OR PREVENTION???

When asked how he would address disparities in access to health care, Mike Huckabee explained that the current health care system spends too much money on intervention, rather than on prevention. His solution is to put the money on the preventive side because he believes that prevention is a lot less expensive than intervention. "There really are savings if you kill the snake, rather than treat the snakebite." He wants to see government create incentives for health-care providers to prevent illness rather than just treat it. "We wait until people are catastrophically ill, and then we spend enormous amounts of money trying to fix them, or trying to cure incurable diseases," Huckabee said. "Do you build a fence at the top of the cliff, or do you park an ambulance at the bottom?" Small changes can make a big difference in our quality of life. For example, if schools offered classes on nutrition, students may grow up to be adults who can discern between a healthy snack and an unhealthy snack. If restaurants included nutritional information on menus consumers would know exactly what they are eating. Arming people with knowledge helps them make better decisions about their health, decisions that can prevent them from becoming drains on the national safety net.

IN RECENT YEARS, CARDIOLOGISTS HAVE MADE IMPRESSIVE STRIDES IN TREATING HEART ATTACKS. BUT IF WE DON'T REALIZE A HEART ATTACK IS OCCURRING, THOSE ADVANCES ARE FOR NAUGHT. KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS OF A HEART ATTACK AND SEEK IMMEDIATE HELP IF YOU SUSPECT ONE. WHAT’S THE WORST THAT CAN HAPPEN IF YOU'RE WRONG? THE EMERGENCY ROOM WILL SEND YOU HOME, SECURE IN THE KNOWLEDGE IT WAS A FALSE ALARM. DON’T DENY OR WRITE A HEART ATTACK OFF AS STRESS. ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, WARNING SIGNS OF A HEART ATTACK TYPICALLY INCLUDE:

♥ DISCOMFORT, PRESSURE OR PAIN IN THE CENTER OF THE CHEST THAT LASTS MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES, OR GOES AWAY AND THEN RETURNS.

♥ DISCOMFORT IN OTHER AREAS OF THE UPPER BODY, SUCH AS PAIN OR DISCOMFORT IN ONE OR BOTH ARMS, THE BACK, NECK, JAW OR STOMACH.

♥ SHORTNESS OF BREATH, WITH OR WITHOUT CHEST DISCOMFORT.

♥ A COLD SWEAT, NAUSEA OR EVEN LIGHT-HEADEDNESS.

To learn more visit the American Heart Association.

BEAT HEART DISEASE… EAT VEGGIES!

Evidence shows that a diet rich in vegetables can lower your risk of heart disease. All fruits and vegetables contribute to this healthy benefit. However, green leafy vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard and mustard greens, and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and kale, appear to be exceptionally salubrious!

A study at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, showed that mice who were fed a vegetable-rich diet were less likely to develop atherosclerosis, or fatty deposits in the arteries that lead to heart attacks and strokes. Half were fed NO vegetables, while the other half were fed a vegetable-rich diet, including broccoli, green beans, peas and carrots. Sixteen weeks later, the vegetable-fed mice had 38% less buildup of fatty plaques in their arteries, along with a reduction in cholesterol and body weight. Further, the mice that ate a vegetable-rich diet had a 37% reduction in a marker of inflammation called serum amyloid, indicating that vegetables do fight the inflammation in the arteries that is linked to atherosclerosis.

The largest and longest study to date, by the Harvard-based Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study, included 110,000 men and women whose health and dietary habits were tracked for 14 years. The study showed that those with a higher daily intake of vegetables and fruits had a lower chance for developing cardiovascular disease. Those who consumed 8+ servings of fruit and vegetable daily were 30% less likely to have a heart attack or stroke.

A HEALTHY SMILE LEADS TO A HEALTHY HEART!

NEW RESEARCH SHOWS THAT 91% OF PATIENTS WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE ALSO SUFFERED FROM SEVERE PERIODONTITIS, OR GUM DISEASE, WHILE ONLY 66% OF NON-CARDIAC PATIENTS SUFFERED FROM THE SAME.

The mouth can be a major source of chronic release of toxic bacterial components in the bloodstream during chewing. A study from Journal of Periodontology has confirmed findings that people with diseased gums release significantly higher levels of bacterial components such as endotoxins into the bloodstream where they can then travel to other organs in the body. Individuals with severe periodontal disease had approximately 4 times more harmful bacterial products in their blood. Periodontitis actually influences the occurrence and the severity of coronary artery disease, and it increases the risk of heart attack or stroke. When bacteria in the infected gums dislodge, they can enter the bloodstream, attach to blood vessels and increase clot formation. This decreases the blood flow to the heart and increases the chances of a heart attack, as well as aggravates high blood pressure. Ultimately, this will lead to atherosclerosis, which is a multistage process set in motion when cells lining the arteries are damaged from high blood pressure, smoking, toxic substances, etc. The study concludes that this data clearly "stresses the importance of regular dental check ups to ensure a healthy disease free mouth. By eliminating any local infection involving either the teeth or gums, people have been able to decrease blood pressure medications and improve  overall health.

WHY DOES THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION RECOMMEND EATING FISH TWICE A WEEK…?

Fish is a great source of protein, vitamins, and nutrients. It’s full of Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) which aids the body in the metabolism of amino acids, fatty acids and carbohydrates. It’s also rich in Vitamin D, which aids calcium absorption to help prevent osteoporosis. Fish is a great source of minerals, which are needed for muscles, nerves and fluid balance in the body. Fish is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, which provide protection from heart disease, reduce blood pressure, help prevent both arthritis and abnormal heart rhythms and help promote healthy brain function, even in an unborn child! Fish has the added benefit of being low-fat. When we substitute meat for fish, we decrease our intake of these essential vitamins, minerals and Omega-3 fatty acids. EAT FISH FOR HEALTHY BRAIN & HEART BENEFITS!

METHYLATION MIRACLE
“Your Life May Depend on It!”

Medical journals, along with mainstream media, have reported that the primary culprit in heart and vascular disease may be homocysteine. This is a toxic amino acid that is present in every body. Research shows that you can decrease your risk of vascular disease by lowering your homocysteine level. One particular study reported in the journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) demonstrated a 60% decrease in vascular disease. The solution to lowering homocysteine is a process called methylation; the process of placing a methyl group on a homocysteine. When this happens, the homocysteine is converted into an essential amino acid called methionine. By using the proper nutritional supplementation as the methyl group, most cases of elevated homocysteine can be dramatically improved. Methylation has a global effect on our entire body. We will benefit from the greatest prevention concept to date as researchers continue to study its positive effect on the aging process and other health issues.

Mix juice, shoyu, parsley, basil, garlic and oil; pour over thawed fish in a bowl. Marinate 5 hours in fridge, turning occasionally. Save marinade. Grill fish over medium-hot coals for 8-10 minutes. Baste with extra marinade and turn. Grill 8-10 more minutes until fish flakes easily. Place fish on platter and drizzle with warm marinade. Serves 4.

DID YOU KNOW THAT 40% OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD A HEART ATTACK OR STROKE DID NOT HAVE HIGH CHOLESTEROL!

Researchers believe that part of the problem could be Homocysteine! Not only is it a big word, but it’s also a big killer! A homocysteine is a toxic amino acid that is present in all humans.

High levels of homocysteine in the blood can damage the lining in the arteries. It also increases the risk of blood vessel blockages. A clot inside a blood vessel can travel in the bloodstream and get stuck in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), brain (stroke) or heart (heart attack).

People who have very high H-Levels are at an increased risk for coronary artery disease. Research has shown that you can decrease your risk of heart disease by lowering your H-Level.

Homocysteine normally changes into other amino acids for the body to use. If your H-Level is too high your body may not be getting enough B vitamins (folate or folic acid) to help your body use the homocysteine. Increasing B vitamins often helps return H-Levels to normal. If not, other possible causes of high H-Levels include psoriasis, low thyroid hormone, kidney disease, medications or a genetic predisposition.

Eating more fruits and vegetables (especially leafy green vegetables) can help lower your H-Level by increasing the folate in your diet. Good sources of folate include many breakfast cereals, fortified grain products, lentils, asparagus, spinach and most beans.

If adjusting your diet is not enough to lower your H-Level, your doctor may suggest that you take a folate supplement. You may also need to take a vitamin B-6 and vitamin B-12 supplement.

Methylation Miracle contains Vitamins B6, B12 and Folic Acid.

DID YOU KNOW…? Elevated homocysteine levels in the bloodstream are a risk factor for cognitive impairment, dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. A recent study published in the British Medical Journal suggests that supplementation with 800 mcg of folic acid daily can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and deep vein thrombosis by up to 25%.

"Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms."
~ George Elliot

Reduce Your Risk of Heart Attack…

The study examined data from 4,435 people, ranging in age from 30-75. They found that over a 20-year period, participants who had never owned a cat were 40% more likely to die from a heart attack, and 30% more likely to die from cardiovascular disease. Lead investigator, Dr. Qureshi, believes this health benefit may be related to the stress-reducing effect a cat has on its owner. He also says that the personality type of a cat owner may be a major contributing factor. “Maybe cat owners tend to not have high-stress personalities, or are just not highly affected by anxiety or high-stress situations,” Qureshi said.

“For many years now I have had terrible pain in both knees and have found it difficult to get up in the morning or get out of a chair. I didn’t go out much because of the pain. I found it difficult to do most things. One of my favorite things to do is dance, but with the pain in my knees I can’t dance at all. I thought I would need knee replacements, but I don't have the insurance to cover the operation. My daughter got me started on Seven Essentials a while ago. I love it and it gives me peace of mind knowing that I’m getting good nutrition in one drink. Last February she introduced me to SoZo. I am very skeptical about taking lots of pills, especially when they say it will take away pain with no side effects, but she said “JUST TRY IT.” Within 4 weeks the pain in my knees was gone. I am so excited to report that now I have NO PAIN! Last August, at my son’s wedding, I did not sit out for even one dance. Dr. Kellas, thank you for this wonderful product. Now I have my life back with Sozo.” ~Betty, Beautiful and Sunny Stuart, Florida