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Last Updated: Feb 4th, 2009 - 21:42:55 |
Keeping your heart healthy with orthomolecular nutrition
(NC)-Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death among Canadians and will impact the lives of almost 70 per cent of the population in some way.* This is not surprising considering the typical Canadian diet lacks many of the vitamins, minerals and nutrients crucial to a healthy heart. The harmful effects of a nutrient deficient diet are compounded through exposure to additional toxins such as alcohol, coffee, cigarettes, refined sugars and saturated fats.
The good news is, if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a heart condition, there are solutions to help manage the illness that can also be used as preventive measures. One such solution is to pay particular attention to your body's correct molecular balance through an approach called orthomolecular nutrition.
Orthomolecular Nutrition is a science-based approach to healing the body which helps prevent the onset of illness by giving the body the nutrients it is lacking. "This takes the nutritional paradigm of treating deficiencies and turns it on its head," said Jonathan Prousky, naturopathic doctor and expert advisor to Orthomolecular Health. "Eating a proper diet and ensuring your body gets the nutrients it needs, can help heart disease sufferers cleanse, build and protect their arteries and strengthen the heart itself."
Orthomolecular practitioners use nutrition plans customized to the health needs of individuals to ensure a diet has the appropriate amount of vitamins and nutrients required to prevent illness or to treat existing illnesses and imbalances.
Dr. Prousky recommends modifying your diet in the following ways to keep heart-healthy:
1. Increase the Fibre:
Fibre helps lower cholesterol levels, keep you regular, and may help prevent certain cancers. Enjoy whole grain breads, cereals made with oats, bran, and psyllium fibre. Beans, whole wheat pasta, barley, and brown rice are also great heart-healthy choices.
2. Load up on Vegetables and Fruits:
Variety is important, and they can be fresh or frozen. Load up on dark green and orange vegetables and fruits such as spinach, broccoli, blueberries, and carrots.
3. Choose Low Fat Dairy:
Milk, yogurt and cheeses. Full of fibre, vitamins and minerals, and polyunsaturated fats, soy is also a great option for those with high cholesterol levels.
4. Keep Meats Lean:
Such as pork, lean ground beef, and skinless chicken and turkey. Try fish such as salmon which is a great source of protein and is packed with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
5. Take Your Vitamins:
The B vitamins (B3, B6, Folic Acid, and B12) are all excellent in helping reduce the risk of developing heart disease. They help remove homocysteine from the blood which can cause arterial damage. To help clear the body of toxins and avoid cell damage, antioxidants such as vitamins C and E are essential.
According to a recent Leger Marketing survey, more than 50 per cent of Canadians are frustrated with the current health care system, and many are looking for options to manage and improve their overall health. An orthomolecular lifestyle, although not intended to replace conventional medicine, could be just the option Canadians are looking for to complement traditional treatments for heart disease or proactively reduce the chances of developing the illness.
An orthomolecular practitioner can prescribe a diet and dietary supplements customized to individual health needs. For more information about how to balance your body and ward off illness, visit www.orthomolecularhealth.com.
http://www.heartandstroke.com/site/c.ikIQLcMWJtE/b.3751103/k.C001/Taking_Control__Lower_your_risk_of_heart_disease_and_stroke.htm
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