Heart Healthy

Heart Health

The best indicators for heart health are Blood Pressure, Cholesterol Levels (including HDL, LDL and triglycerides). homocysteine levels, and C-reactive protein levels.
The best way to keep Blood pressure normal is through exercise and healthy eating. If you have high blood pressure you may be able to reduce it to normal through diet and exercise, or you may need to check with your doctor for prescription medication.
The best way to control cholesterol is through healthy eating. The most important part of the equation is arguably the HDL. If your high density lipids are high enough, they will scavenge cholesterol from your blood stream and help keep it under control.
The best way to reduce homocysteine levels is increasing folic acid supplementation.
Reducing the C reactive protein levels is unclear in research currently. Studies show that Vitamin C, exercise and Omega 3's may all be helpful in reducing C reactive protein.

Does anyone else see a pattern here? A healthy heart begins and ends with diet and exercise.

The best foods to reduce cholesterol are: apples, barley, beans (such as pinto or navy), carrots, chili pepper, eggplant, garlic, grapefruit, lecithin (a soybean derived emulsifier), oat bran, olive oil, onions, plantains, seaweed, soybeans, spinach, yams, yogurt, and Vitamin C (found in dark greens, citrus fruit, cherries, guavas).
Omega 3 can be found most abundantly in caviar, fish, walnuts, olive oil, flaxseed and winter squash.
The best foods to reduce high blood pressure are: Potassium rich foods such as beans, parsley, pistachios, almonds and sesame seeds; Calcium rich foods such as sesame seeds, kelp, cheese, sardines, salmon, and chickpeas; and decrease foods with sugar.

Have a Happy and Health Heart!

UPDATE: There are now more effective ways to monitor heart health. These 10 risk factors are the best indicators of cardiovascular/stroke risk. 
1. Cardiac Arrythmias
2. Triglycerides (cholesterol is not as important as once believed. 
3. Homocysteine
4. Insulin
5. Cortisol
6. Estrogen
7. Low testosterone (in men)
8. High testosterone (in women)
9. Lipid peroxide
10. CRP (C-reactive protein) 




Reference: http://www.functionalmedicineuniversity.com/public/1071.cfm