Happy Heart Health Month!
February is known as "National Heart Health Month". It is also known as the month of love.
So what does this mean to us?
It’s “Love Your Heart” month at Physician’s Preference and what better thing to do than show your heart a little extra T.L.C.?!
A few heart health tips for you to consider:
• A recent study conducted by Ibhar Al Mheid, M.D., at the annual American College of Cardiology, showed that reduced levels of
vitamin D correlate with increased arterial stiffness and vascular function impairment. Researchers also found that vitamin D can promote blood vessel relaxation.
• Apples are known to promote heart healthy by lowering cholesterol and improving blood vessel function.
• The catechins in
green tea act powerfully to improve blood vessel relaxation and decrease inflammation throughout the body and bloodstream. It has also been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol that contributes to arterial plaque.
• Linus Pauling, an American chemist, suggested that a major cause of atherosclerosis is a lifelong
vitamin C deficiency.
• According to the Journal of the American College of Nutrition,
cinnamon may help promote healthy blood pressure levels in those suffering from hypertension.
• A Mediterranean-style diet, which is rich in healthy fats from olive oils and nuts, may be better for the heart than a low-fat diet, researchers reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
• Obesity, heavy drinking and birth control pills all increase your risk for high blood pressure.
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Vitamin C may help support the heart and vascular system by protecting against endothelial dysfunction, preventing heart attacks and countering the dangerous oxidation of blood lipids. Through its ability to help quench oxidative stress, vitamin C may also help avert atrial fibrillation.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of both men and women in the U.S. causing over 620,000 deaths each year. Don’t let yourself or your loved ones become a statistic.
