Hawthorne Berry and Other Herbal Remedies for Heart Health

March 18, 2009 by  
Filed under Alternative Treatments

magnesium

There are many herbal remedies for heart health on the market. The heart health benefits of magnesium have been studied by scientific researchers and magnesium is sometimes including in natural and herbal remedies for heart health.

Some of the herbs have basis in scientific fact, but care must be taken when selecting a product, particularly if you are taking prescription medications. Many of today’s prescription drugs are based on and function similarly to herb components. Thus, interactions can occur.

In order to understand how vitamins, minerals, herbs and other natural products promote heart health, it is necessary to understand the risk factors that lead to heart disease. It is believed that if we can control these risk factors, we may be able to prevent many types of heart disease, including atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, blood clots and possibly strokes. Since the risk factors of heart disease and stroke are similar.

The major controllable risk factors for developing heart disease include obesity, high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels, diabetes, physical inactivity and chronic stress.

Studies have shown that the heart health benefits of magnesium are related to the risk factors that magnesium helps to address and other unique attributes of the mineral. In one study, patients who already exhibited signs of heart disease were noted to have lower levels of magnesium.

During a six month trial, patients who were given an oral magnesium supplement had less chest pain and performed better during stress tests. In other studies magnesium supplements have been shown to correct irregular heart beat, palpitations and even heart murmurs.

Because of the heart health benefits of magnesium, some of the better herbal remedies for heart health contain magnesium ascorbate. This is the form of the mineral that is most easily absorbed by the human body.

Some of the herbal remedies for heart health include Butcher’s Broom, Gingko Biloba, Green Tea and Hawthorne Berry. Butcher’s Broom was used historically as a diuretic and should have beneficial effects on blood pressure.

Gingko Biloba improves circulation by dilating the blood vessels and is believed to protect the arterial walls. Green Tea has been used for weight loss, as a diuretic and is believed to prevent platelet aggregation, this is the technical term for materials in the blood that bind together and eventually form blood clots.

Some herbal remedies for heart health contain Hawthorne Berry, because of its traditional use as a heart tonic. Components in the plant, probably flavonoids and procyanidins, improve the strength of heart muscle contractions, help the body maintain a healthy blood pressure, and have been reported to reduce blood lipid concentrations.

Courtesy: Patsy Hamilton

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Red Yeast Rice – Natural Cure For Your Heart Disease

March 16, 2009 by  
Filed under Alternative Treatments, Treatments

red-yeast-rice

Red Yeast Rice is a unique natural product native to China that’s been used in Asian traditional medical systems since approximately 800 A.D. It is produced by the fermentation of red yeast Monascus purpureus with white rice. First reportedly used, over 2800 years ago in China as a food preservative and food coloring agent. The earliest accounts of the recipe to make Red Yeast Rice date back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Even at that time, Red Yeast Rice was reported to improve blood circulation. Red Yeast Rice Extract is carefully produced to avoid the presence of citrinin, a sometimes toxic by-product of the fermentation process. This product is further enhanced with the addition of CoQ10 to support healthy cardiovascular and immune system function, Milk Thistle Extract to support healthy liver function, and Alpha Lipoic Acid to provide antioxidant support.

Red Yeast Rice has been used in Chinese cuisine and as a medicinal food to promote blood circulation for centuries. In Asian countries, Red Yeast Rice is a dietary staple and is used to make rice wine, as a flavoring agent, and to preserve the flavor and color of fish and meat. Red Yeast Rice forms naturally occurring hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMG-CoA reductase) inhibitors known as monacolins. The medicinal properties of red yeast rice favorably impact lipid profiles of hypercholesterolemic patients.Red Yeast Rice has been revered for its health-enhancing properties for over two thousand years. Red Yeast Rice plays an important role in promoting a healthy cardiovascular system by improving blood circulation and reducing clotting.

Red Yeast Rice, as sold in a supplement form, is primarily made of rice starch, protein, and fiber . Its active ingredient, however, is a mixture of statins that are natural byproducts of the fungus Monascus purpureus. These statins include Monacolin K, Monacolin K (hydroxy-acid form), dihydromonocolin, and Monocolin I through VI. Monacolin K is also known as mevinolin and lovastatin, while the remaining statins are closely related to lovastatin. Other ingredients of Red Yeast Rice include stigmasterol, Beta-sitosterol, camposterol, sapogenin, isoflavones and monounsaturated fats. Red Yeast Rice also contains several compounds collectively known as Monacolins, substances known to inhibit cholesterol synthesis. One of these, “Monacolin K” is a potent inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase.In addition to natural pigments such as monascorubin and monascin, Red Yeast Rice contains starch, fatty acids, phytosterol, isoflavones and monacolins. Monacolins possess hydroxymethyglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase-inhibitory activity. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are commonly known as statins. The first statin introduced in the U.S., for use as a cholesterol lowering agent, was lovastatin. Lovastatin was originally derived from Monascus ruber, and was first called monacolin K. Monacolin K is a lactone which is converted in the body to the active form of the statin, the corresponding beta-hydroxy acid of Monacolin K (lovastastin, mevinolin).

BENEFITS OF RED YEAST RICE

Red Yeast Rice extract has a number of heart-healthy benefits: It seems to help reduce total cholesterol levels, lower levels of LDL termed as “bad” cholesterol, increase levels of HDL termed as “good” cholesterol, and lower levels of unhealthy fats called triglycerides. It appears to accomplish this by restricting the liver’s production of cholesterol. The compound responsible for this effect is mevinolin. Unsaturated fatty acids in Red Yeast Rice extract are also believed to be beneficial, possibly by lowering triglycerides. Hence the action by the FDA. Mevinolin is also similar to the active ingredients in other cholesterol medications such as Zocor (simvastatin) and Lipitoratorvastatin.

Red Yeast Rice main active ingredient, Lovastatin has been extensively researched, the results of which lend credible support for the efficacy of Red Yeast Rice in maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system. Red yeast has been proven effective in a number of clinical trials at promoting healthy cholesterol levels in subjects with total serum cholesterol greater than 200 mg/dl. and triglyceride levels greater than 200 mg/dl. Red Yeast Rice has been proven as effective as pharmaceutical statin drugs but at about one-fifth the cost, and is available without a prescription

USES OF RED YEAST RICE

Red Yeast Rice extract helps to prevent heart disease and some of its complications.
Red Yeast Rice have favorable effects on lipids.
Red Yeast Rice helps in lowering cholesterol and triglycerides.
Red Yeast Rice has been used as a traditional medicine to promote circulation and heart health, but also used as a food flavoring agent.
Red Yeast Rice helps to prevent atherosclerosis – a condition that can lead to the “silent killer”-coronary heart disease
Red Yeast Rice helps to improve circulation by its cholesterol regulating action.
Red Yeast Rice may be used with niacin for even better reductions in LDL cholesterol levels.
Red Yeast Rice use to treat abdominal pain due to stagnant blood by Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

EFFECTS OF RED YEAST RICE

Effects of Red Yeast Rice includes Mild headache and abdominal discomfort can occur.
Red Yeast Rice extract effects tend to be mild and resolve quickly once you stop taking it. These include headache, dizziness, heartburn, gas, and digestive tract discomfort.
If you choose to incorporate Red Yeast Rice into your cholesterol-lowering program, it is very important to remember that you are taking a substance that acts identically in the body to the prescription statin drugs.
Red Yeast Rice can cause the side effects including mild gastrointestinal upset and possible changes in liver enzymes, or a muscle condition
Research studies have shown Red Yeast Rice to be remarkably safe, but you should not use it if you are also taking a prescription statin
Heartburn gas, bloating, muscle pain or damage, dizziness, asthma, and kidney problems are possible. People with liver disease should not use Red Yeast Rice.

Courtesy: NUTROVITA1 NUTROVITA1

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Natural cure for coronary heart disease

March 16, 2009 by  
Filed under Alternative Treatments, Treatments

sunflower-oil

There are various types of coronary heart diseases that are the result of the stoppage of the coronary arteries to supply sufficient blood to the heart. These diseases include angina pectoris, coronary thrombosis or heart attack and unexpected death without infarction.

There has been a noticeable increase in heart diseases throughout current years. It is estimated that heart disease typically strikes between the age of 40 to 60 years and men are more susceptible to developing it than women.

The heart is the most very important organ of the human body. It forces blood and supplies oxygen and nutrients to all the other organs. The coronary arteries provide blood to the heart. When these arteries narrow or harden due to accumulation of fatty substances, the flow of blood is limited. This outcome in severe chest pain and may even cause heart attack which is very fatal and can also outcome in death.

Some of the most widespread symptoms of coronary heart disease are shortness of breath, chest pain, and pain in arm, heart palpitation, fainting, recurrent perspiration, fatigue, cold hands and feet. Various factors such as intake of a faulty diet, sedentary way of life, increased levels of stress, obesity, hypertension, increased levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and other fatty substances, smoking, lack of bodily exercise and tension can cause coronary heart disease.

Natural treatment for coronary heart disease:

A lacto-vegetarian diet that is low in sodium and calories is suggested for individuals suffering from coronary heart disease. It has to include high-quality natural organic foods comprising of whole grains, seeds, fresh fruits and vegetables.

Chocolates, canned foods, fatty meats, hard animal fats, tobacco and alcohol should be kept away from.

Sunflower seed oil, corn oil and safflower oil abounds in necessary fatty acids that decrease the serum cholesterol levels and reduce the threat of arteriosclerosis. Using any of these oils for cooking food is extremely helpful for those suffering from coronary heart disease.

Garlic helps decrease the level of cholesterol in persons whose body is unable to regulate cholesterol fractions. Take 2 to 3 raw cloves of garlic on a daily basis to prevent and treat coronary heart disease. On the other hand, you can also take Garlic dietary supplements in the form of vegetable capsules on a daily basis for best results.

Apples are measured to be a heart stimulating tonic and can be eaten raw or their juice can be extracted and taken on a daily basis.

Coconut water tones up the heart and is a very important heart tonic. It is suggested to drink a glass of tender coconut water every day to treat coronary heart disease.

Onions are an outstanding natural remedy for treating heart disease. They help standardize the % of blood cholesterol by oxidizing excessive cholesterol. Take 1 tsp of raw onion juice on an empty stomach on a daily basis for most excellent results.

Amla or Indian gooseberry tones up the functions of all the organs of the body and promotes excellent health by destroying heterogeneous elements and renews energy. You can take Amla dietary supplements in the form of herbal capsules every day to strengthen the heart.

Courtesy:  SIAMON RICHER

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