Michael Byrd asked:




Fish oil for heart health is a hot topic. And for good reason.

You can't pick up a newspaper or magazine without research news about the amazing health benefits of fish oil for heart health. Doctors recommend it. Nutritionists recommend it. Trainers and exercise buffs recommend it. Even my vet recently recommended fish oil capsules for the heart health of my chocolate lab, Phyto.

Although most people have heard of the outstanding cardiovascular health benefits from omega 3 fish oil, few know about all of the exciting scientific studies of proven results behind the fish oil for heart health craze.

A report published in Circulation, the official journal of the American Heart Association, gives a thorough rundown on how omega 3 fatty acids from fish improves circulation and why fish oil works so well for the health of your heart and cardiovascular system in numerous ways.

This study shows that fish oil fatty acids help your heart by lowering cholesterol, preventing irregular heartbeat and reducing blood clots. It also decreases blood pressure, lowers triglycerides, balances HDL and LDL, relaxes the arterial walls and prevents the formation of new plaque and inflammation, vasoconstriction, platelet aggregation and much more. [Vol. 106:2747]

Wow! Some scientists even indicate that, since omega 3 fish oil helps people overcome depression, it can heal a broken heart.

One group of doctors published a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association about all of the many positive effects that higher fish oil consumption has on lowering a man's risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). However, since more women die of heart disease than any other cause, the scientists wanted to find out if fish oil offers the same health benefits for women as they do for men.

After following 84,688 women for 16 years, these doctors concluded that women who eat 5 or more servings of fish a week have much less risk of CHD or dying from a heart attack than women who eat less fish. [Vol. 287, No. 14]

If you ask me, it doesn't get any clearer than this. Fish oil for heart health is vitally important. But how much do you need? Most recommendations suggest 5 or more servings of oily, cold water fish a week. This is great and will certainly help improve heart health, but it may not be enough. Many studies recommend 1 to 3 grams of fish oil daily for a healthy cardiovascular system.

The only way you can get this much is by supplementing your diet with pure omega 3 fish oil capsules that preferably give you a balance of all eight naturally occurring omega 3 fatty acids.

You can see why everyone's recommending fish oil for heart health. The question now is are you going to do something about it? It doesn't take much to improve your health and, honestly, it's well worth the effort. Wouldn't it be nice to have a pain free, happy, healthy life, as you grow older?

Sure it would! And it can start right now, if you follow this advice.

Ann-Marie Warren asked:




Just as your body has to maintain it's temperature, it also has to maintain it's ph level. Like most living things on earth the body has to have a balanced pH or it does not function correctly.

The body will go to great lengths to preserve that, including wreaking havoc on other tissues or systems.

If your body's pH is not balanced, you cannot effectively assimilate vitamins, minerals and food supplements. Your body pH affects everything.

One of the livers many functions is processing acid toxins from the blood and producing numerous alkaline enzymes for the system and is your first line of defense against any poisons.

All the nourishment obtained through the gastrointestinal tract enters the blood by way of the liver. The load on the liver is much heavier when acid waste products are constantly floating in the blood.

Our bodies simply cannot fight disease if our body pH is not properly balanced.

Human blood stays in a very narrow pH range around 7.35 - 7.45. Below or above this range means symptoms and disease. If blood pH moves too much below 6.8 or above 7.8, cells stop functioning. The ideal pH balance for blood is 7.4

An acidic pH can occur from, an acid forming diet, emotional stress, toxic overload, and/or immune reactions or any process that deprives the cells of oxygen and other nutrients. The body will try to compensate for acidic pH by using alkaline minerals. If the diet does not contain enough minerals to compensate, a build up of acids in the cells will occur.
Ways to alkalize

One of the simplest and most effective ways to alkalize your system is with a glass of water with a wedge of lemon in it.

It tastes great, is incredibly refreshing and so easy to prepare.

In A.F. Beddoe's book "Biological Ionization in Human Nutrition the following benefits to the liver are attributed to the humble lemon.
a. provide a natural strengthening agent to the liver enzymes when they are too dilute.
b. The liver can make more enzymes out of fresh lemon juice than any other food element.
c. The lemon helps fix oxygen and calciums in the liver because it regulates blood carbohydrate levels which affect the blood oxygen levels."
Jethro Kloss in his book Back to Eden, describes the medicinal value of the lemon as follows "It is an antiseptic, or is an agent that prevents sepsis [the presence of pathogenic bacteria] or putrefaction [decomposition of tissue]. It is also anti-scorbutic, a term meaning a remedy which will prevent disease and assist in cleansing the system of impurities."

Moderate exercise is alkalizing to the body. (Yoga ideal)

Excessive exercise (past the point of exhaustion) can create an acidic problem due to lactic acid buildup. People who are acidic usually feel worse from exercise because their detoxification organs are not working properly due to excessive acid in the tissues. Yet without exercise, acid and toxin buildup are likely.

Express yourself.

All unexpressed negative emotions create an acidic environment. "It's eating me up inside" Ever described a negative feeling or emotion this way?

Suppressed anger and resentment, particularly has been linked to the liver.

In Chinese medicine, The liver is the seat of anger, and it stores not only your anger but the anger from others, as well, especially your parents. The toxic energy stored in the liver affects the liver's function. Anger injures the liver's yin energy which results in a flare up of liver yang energy. This rising liver yang ascends to the heart and head--causing headaches, blurred vision, dizziness, and mental confusion. Irritability, a short temper, and outbursts of anger further damage the liver and create a cycle of disease and destructive emotional energy.

Love and understanding cleanse and heal the body creating an alkaline environment within you.

It is important to eat a diet that contains both acidic and alkalizing foods. People vary, but for most, the ideal diet is 75 percent alkalizing and 25 percent acidifying (foods by volume).
Ideally 75% more alkaline foods

Almonds
Carrots
Dates
Avacados
Limes
Coconuts
Celery
Cucumbers
Walnuts
Wheat grass

Consume only 25% of acid forming foods

Processed fats
Animal meats
Cows milk
Cheese
Coffee
Sugar

Bread

Supplementing your diet with live greens is also recommended.
There are a number of quality products available, but be sure to read the label and check the ingredient list.

Two of what I consider to the best are

Inner balance - Pure energy greens with msn, and
In-Liven Probiotic Superfood

I personally use the Australian Made, In-liven. (available online from http://www.buyorganicshop.com)

It's main ingredients include organic spirulina, one of the single richest and most complete sources of total organic nutritition in the world, alfalfa grass, a complete protein with vitamins A, B, C, D, E, F, K and rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium and trace elements. Organic barley grass that has an incredible concentration of minerals, vitamins, trace elements, protein and live enzymes and organic wheat grass which is extremely high in chlorophyll and has a molecular structure very similar to the haemoglobin of human blood. Chlorophyll is the blood of the plant and is extremely rich in nutrients.

The formula also contains the complete lactobacillius family.

Lactobacillius bacteria form a significant part of the natural intestinal flora. Lactic acid producing lactobacilli bacteria alter the ph level of the large intestine making it less hospitable to undesirable bacteria, moulds, mould spores and yeast, particularly Candida.

Eugene Goh asked:




Like any muscle, your heart grows stronger with exercise and proper nutrition. Unfortunately, most modern diets lack the essential nutrients your heart needs to remain effective day after day. If you've been experiencing shortness of breath, tiredness, fatigue, or an increased heart rate, your heart may be nutritionally starved and exhausted.

Because your heart uses so much energy it needs the right nutrients in the right amounts everyday so it can keep working for you complaint free. You will need a a proprietary blend of ingredients to support healthy heart function, blood flow, and nourishes heart tissue, mainly:

* Coenzyme Q 10 (coq10) plays an important role in the production of energy within each cell of the human body. CoQ10 also plays a critical role in the respiratory chain. This biochemical process occurs in the mitochondria, also known as the power-plants of the cell-converting oxygen and fuel to energy. CoQ10 serves as an essential carrier of electrons in this process. The heart muscle is very dependent on this process for its adequate energy production. Users of statins have a need for extra supplementation, because statins deplete the body of CoQ10.

* Taurine is an amino acid that is abundantly present in the heart muscle. Studies have shown that people with congestive heart failure benefit from taurine supplementation, because it alters calcium transport in the heart muscle, which is beneficial for the contraction mechanism.

* Carnithine is an amino acid that serves as a key to open the walls of the mitochondria to let free fatty acids in. These Fatty acids serve as fuel for the power plants of the heart muscle cells.

* Hawthorn Berries have a long history in heart health. Hawthorn increases the force of contraction of the heart muscle, and thereby the coronary blood flow, and cardiac output. Also, hawthorn has anti-arrhythmic activity.

Our bodies can only use these elements efficiently when taken in the right amounts.

For instance, studies demonstrate that CoQ10 is effective at daily intakes of 100 mg but most supplements contain only small amounts of CoQ10 and probably not containing effective amounts of L-carnitine, L-taurine, and hawthorn berries to work synergistically.

With the right amount and the most effective heart strengthening ingredients in one proprietary formula, these ingredients not only help with strengthening the heart muscle but also increase its recovery from exertion. When taken with regular aerobic exercise it can super-charge the effects of your workout.

Willie Jones asked:




The liver is a reddish brown organ weighing in at about 3 to 5 lbs., resides under the diaphragm on the right hand side of the body, and has many functions. It has two large arteries, the heptic artery, which has the job of carrying oxygen rich blood from the heart into the liver, and the portal vein that carry's out the blood with digested foods.

The liver is one of the hardest working organs in the body, and excellent liver health means well being, an overstressed liver however, means ill health and potential poor quality of life.

Its functions are:

- Filters harmful toxins, chemicals, preservatives, alcohol etc. The liver is the main line of defense against poisons entering and damaging our system.
- Turns glucose into glycogen which is fuel for your body. Some glycogen is used immediately and the rest may be stored in fat to be used at a later date. It processes protein and fats from digested foods and makes it available for transportation through the blood, which also includes proteins used to make beneficial clotting (such as for cuts and scrapes).
- The liver also produces bile which further enhances the digestive process and waste products are carried away.
- The liver also is a place of storage for vitamins such as B, A, D and K for use as needed.
- It is the major producer of cholesterol and triglycerides which are necessary for all then tissues of the body. Most cholesterol we get is from consuming animal fats but when we do not receive dietary cholesterol; our liver makes it and then distributes it to the bloodstream for transportation throughout the body.
- The liver also produces immune factors for the body that assist in removing bacteria from the blood, enhancing our resistance to infections.

Symptoms of a sluggish liver:

- chronic fatigue
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- frequent headaches
- sleep disorders, nightmares
- dizziness
- hot flashes
- hormonal imbalances
- bloating of the stomach
- smelly diarrhea
- chronic constipation
- gallstones
- skin problems
- weak eye sight

There are many reasons a liver can become over burdened. We live in a world today where toxins are everywhere. There are literally hundreds of FDA approved chemicals, pesticides, fungicides, preservatives, MSG and now genetically modified foods. Processed food is so prevalent in north America's daily diet that there is absolutely no wonder why we have such an obesity problem.

We are also bombarded with petro chemicals every single time a car, truck or bus etc., passes by us. Living in any city makes it impossible to get away from inhalation of these toxins.

Then there is industrial smoke that plumes out on a daily basis. Anyone living near one of these huge stacks will tell you that when the wind blows in their direction, the smell is definitely present.

Our water sources are also cause for some of the toxins our bodies absorb with chlorine and in some places, fluoride. In some states, they have to deal with toxins reaching underground water (the aquifer) from chemicals used on golf courses etc. It may look pretty but the environmental effects are very evident.

The point is, we live in a toxic environment and unless you are eating organic and live in the wilderness far away from mainstream life, you can benefit from periodic detoxing, especially the hardworking liver.

Some things you can do to unburden the liver are:

- Reduce stress in your environment
- Start your day with lemon juice in warm water, then eat fruit and drink non sugary juices.
- Make sure you eat salads and veggies at lunch.
- Drink a lot of water throughout the day. You can also get some of your water intake through herbal teas. They have beneficial anti-oxidants and depending on what kind you get, some have calming properties, detox properties etc.
- Get enough fiber in your diet. Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of fiber.
- Get at least 15 minutes of sunshine per day.
- Get yourself more exposure to negative ions. These are present in nature, in forests, at the beach, and in the country. In short, get out of the city whenever you can. If you cannot get out of the city, consider getting an ion generator of some kind. Negative ion therapy is great for helping one detox and rebalance the body, plus negative ions gives you that feeling of well being.

Help your body detox by addressing the liver and just see if you don't feel better!

This article was written for information purposes only and does not suggest a cure for any disease.

Steve A Johnson asked:




Liver Cleansing is one of the most important health activities you can do for yourself. The liver has hundreds of functions including the processing and maintaining of the body's supply of nutrients and energy. A liver cleansing can be the answer you are looking for if you are having stomach problems, headaches, fatigue and even hepatitis.

If you have a health condition, large or small, there is a good chance it is directly related to the liver. There are a lot of illnesses that we face that can be avoided if our liver was in optimum health. Such illnesses and conditions include; digestive problems, loss of energy, joint pain, bloating, irregular menstruation, headaches, difficulty in breathing, heart disease, cancer, diabetes and most other sever illnesses.

The way our liver functions depends on our personal habits. Recreational drugs, excessive alcohol, chemically enhanced foods, stress and a poor diet can result in gallstones. Gallstones are small hardened deposits of bile which clog the liver ducts, resulting in loss of nutrients to protect our bodies. When we mention gallstones, a lot of people think about the gallbladder, but in fact most gallstones come from the liver.

There are nutritional experts that say what we should and should not eat to make our bodies healthier. If you do not believe in a good diet, now is a good time to start. You cannot detoxify the liver if there is an overabundance of toxins and bacteria. This means no red meat, recreational drugs, alcohol, and artificial sweeteners. It is highly recommended to go on a vegetarian diet in order to prepare the body for a cleansing.

If you are looking to restore your health and to get rid of the toxic gallstones, performing a liver cleanse is the best thing for you. For optimal results, an individual should perform a series of liver cleanses, lasting a few weeks. After your first cleanse, you will start to pass the gallstones, possibly hundreds a day. Each liver cleansing will do the right amount of work. The amount of cleansing required relies upon on how poorly you have treated your body, and if you keep passing gallstones, another cleanse in necessary.

Each result of a liver cleanse is the direct result of what you put into your body. An important issue to remember is that during and after your cleansing try not to put anymore toxins into your body. If you are thinking about doing a liver cleanse, start a few weeks ahead of the first cleanse and take a deeper look into your diet and lifestyle.

Now that you have gone through the liver cleanse, where do you go from here? If you are like a lot of other people, you will have a better sense of your health. A liver cleansing or any other type of body detoxifying process can be emotional as well. In typical results, a person can feel disgust, guilt and depression when they see just how many gallstones can be cleansed.

There are cases of people who did a correct liver cleanse and swore off toxins for good. Some people have quit drinking alcohol; have switched to fruit juices instead of artificial sweeteners and others stopped delivering illegal drugs into their system.

A liver cleanse is a great idea and a healthy way to get rid of all your toxins and to clean up your liver for optimal performance. As with any cleansing, please talk to your doctor for suggestions and information.

Jim Kesel asked:




I recently talked with a friend of mine who is also a doctor specializing in cardiology here in Florida. I was asking him about heartburn heart health, specifically the difference between symptoms associated with heartburn and those associated with a heart attack. After outlining the differences he made what I found to be a profound statement. He basically said that the people who experience heartburn and those who have heart disease share a common trait. They both have poor eating habits that either cause or contribute to their condition. Granted genetics can be a predisposing factor in both, but the individual increases his or her risk by eating a poor diet. Heartburn heart health is a serious matter not to be ignored. You need talk to your doctor and learn the difference between having a heart attack or heartburn, it may save your life.

The basic symptom of heartburn is a burning pain behind the sternum or breastbone that develops after a heavy meal or eating or drinking an antagonist that initiate heartburn or acid reflux. Many people who experience heartburn on a regular basis can feel valve between the stomach and esophagus begin to leak acid into the esophagus. As this takes place the burning pain begins.

Symptoms of a heart attack are similar but also have some distinct differences. In general someone suffering from a heart attack may experience.

1. Pain or discomfort in the upper body including the arms, left shoulder, back, neck, jaw or stomach.

2. What is commonly called Angina, defined as chest pain or discomfort in the center of the chest; as described as a heaviness, tightness, pressure, aching, burning, numbness, fullness or squeezing feeling that lasts for more than 5 minutes or that goes away and comes back.

3. These symptoms are sometimes mistaken for heartburn or indigestion.

4. Difficulty Breathing or shortness of breath

5. Sweating or what is called "cold sweat"

6. Fullness, indigestion, choking or gagging feeling (may feel like "heartburn")

7. Nausea or vomiting

8. Light-headedness or dizziness

9. Extreme weakness or anxiety, rapid or irregular heart beats.

As you can clearly see it is very important that you know the difference between heartburn and heart attack symptoms. If there is any doubt you need to call 911 immediately. Only a doctor can determine if you are really having a heart attack.

As we have continued our research into heartburn and acid reflux disease, it has become very apparent that about 95% of the problem is curable. The remedies that really work depend on the patient eating the proper foods in small to moderate proportions. In fact if you would eat 5 smaller meals a day instead of the normal 3, you would reduce the risk of heartburn. Our Heartburn Handbook goes into this in greater detail. Heartburn heart health is a serious matter. Eating correctly and eating a good diet will reduce your risk of heart disease and heartburn.

Remember if you have been diagnosed with heart diseases you should discuss your symptoms with your physician, never make a self diagnosis, if you are wrong it could cost you your life.

Patsy Hamilton asked:




Hawthorne berries extract is an old herbal remedy for heart conditions. Today, Hawthorne berry tea is packaged and sold as a natural health supplement and the extract is an ingredient in some products designed to promote heart health.

Legends, historical evidence and scientific evaluation surround hawthorne berries extract. One Christian legend holds that the “Crown of Thorns” was made from the hawthorne tree or bush, which originally grew in Europe, Asia, Northern Africa and much of the Mediterranean region. Today, the shrub grows in many other areas of the world and the berries are believed by some to have miraculous healing properties.

Archeologists have found evidence that appears to indicate that ancient Chinese people used the berries to make a fermented beverage. Remnants of hawthorne berries extract have been found in pottery jars dating to pre-Christian times, around 7000 B.C. It is believed that these beverages were medically or religiously significant, even then.

The New York Medical Journal first published a report concerning the use of hawthorne berries extract in the treatment of heart disease in October 1896. A Dr. Green of Ennis, Ireland had developed a reputation for “curing” heart disease, but refused to share his secret with colleagues. After his death, his daughter revealed the name of the remedy used by her father. The name was Crataegus Oxycantha, the older botanical name for the Common Hawthorn. The official designation is now Crataegus monogyna, but the older name is often used. According to his notes, the doctor did not use hawthorne berry tea per se, but a kind of concentrate.

Clinical trials and research continued on the medicinal value of hawthorne berries extract throughout the early 1900’s and is still going on today. Scientific evaluation of the benefits of hawthorne berry tea to human health has only been partially completed. It is believed that antioxidants, flavonoids or other compounds such as epicatechin, quercetin and rutin, are responsible for the beneficial effects of hawthorne berries extract. It is sometimes added to health supplements designed to promote heart health, reduce blood pressure and correct unhealthy cholesterol levels.

The most recent studies of the medicinal value of hawthorn berries extract are related to its affect on the liver, the digestive system, the cardiovascular system and as an anti-inflammatory. Numerous studies have been completed. These studies do not use hawthorne berry tea, but a concentrated extract.

The hawthorne berries extract used by scientists has natural anti-inflammatory action. Chronic inflammation has been associated with numerous life threatening conditions including cancer and heart disease, but use of the known anti-inflammatory drugs does not reduce the risk of developing these conditions. In fact, NSAIDs increase blood pressure, which in turn increases the risk of heart disease and can be damaging to other organs of the body, as well.

On the other hand, it is believed that natural anti-inflammatories, such as those found in hawthorne berry tea, but also present in other fruits and vegetables can reduce cancer risks and the risk of heart disease. These natural compounds can also lower blood pressure and reduce blood cholesterol levels, two major risk factors for heart disease.

Hawthorne berries extract has been shown to reduce ulcerative colitis, probably due, once again, to its anti-inflammatory activity. Ulcerative colitis is one of the inflammatory bowel diseases. While not life threatening, it is difficult to live with and the best known treatment for many years was surgical removal of the affected parts of the bowel and colon. Some herbalists recommend hawthorne berry tea for people suffering from ulcerative colitis and other digestive problems.

Hawthorne berries extract has been shown to protect the liver from damage usually associated with cardiac events in laboratory animals. After a heart attack, liver function is impaired. The exact reasons for the beneficial affects of hawthorn berries extract on the liver are unknown.

In the vascular system, hawthorne berries extract has been shown to reduce calcification. It is calcification of arterial plaques that leads to atherosclerosis, which is commonly referred to as a hardening or narrowing of the arteries leading to the heart. Calcification of arterial plaques can also cause blood clots, leading to strokes and heart attacks. It is unknown if consuming hawthorne berry tea can provide the same benefits to the hearts of humans, since scientific studies have only been performed using lab animals and extracts.

Even though some health care professionals have recognized the medicinal value of hawthorne berries extract for over 100 years, research related to them is still considered preliminary. Most scientific research is funded by pharmaceutical companies and pharmaceutical companies cannot patent naturally occurring substances. So, hawthorne berry tea and other natural remedies are of little interest to them.

To learn more about health supplements containing hawthorne berries extract and other natural ingredients that may protect the health of your heart, please visit Heart Health Diet Tips.com