Vigour – Health and Sports Nutrition

Sodium is an important mineral that plays a vital role in maintaining your health and well-being. Its excess quantity, however, may lead to numerous health problems such as high blood pressure, heart stroke, congestive heart failure, blindness and kidney problems. About 75% of sodium comes from processed foods. Canned vegetables have more salt than frozen or freshly prepared vegetables. Make sure that you look for the sodium content while reading the “nutrition facts” panel on canned or processed foods. Foods that contain less than 140 mg of sodium are low in salt.

Table salt is not the only form of sodium we consume, but there are other forms of sodium in food such as food additives like sodium benzoate and sodium nitrate, and baking soda. On average, adults consume more than 3,000 mg of sodium per day. The maximum recommended sodium intake for healthy adults is 2,200 mg per day (one teaspoon of salt).

It is important that you consume diets low in sodium to maintain a healthy blood pressure. You should also take a herbal supplement that supports the cardiovascular system. Bio Health GARLIC makes an effective remedy for the treatment of high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, chronic candidiasis, atherosclerosis, respiratory catarrh, common cold, cough and rhinitis. Garlic has been shown to reduce the formation of carcinogenic compounds, reducing the risk of stomach, oesophageal, and colon cancer. Moreover, it also increases fibrinolysis, and inhibits platelet stickiness, resulting in a slowing of blood coagulation. Take 1-2 tablets twice a day.

Unhealthy eating habits and a lack of exercise tend to increase the blood cholesterol levels. If left untreated, excessive lipids begin to accumulate along the arterial walls, causing narrowing and hardening of the arteries. This progressive process slowly blocks arteries, thus reducing the blood flow to and from the heart. Blocked heart arteries may lead to heart stroke, heart attack, peripheral vascular disease and sudden heart failure.

Angioplasty is a non-surgical procedure in which a stent is placed to widen/open the blocked heart arteries. It is a highly skilful procedure that must be performed by a specialized cardiologist and a team of cardiovascular technicians and nurses. Although coronary angioplasty will open a blocked artery, remember that it will not cure atherosclerosis or coronary artery disease. Make sure that you bring healthy changes to your lifestyle by avoiding smoking and consumption of fatty foods. It is also important to incorporate an effective exercise regimen into your daily routine to improve your cardiac health.

You should also use a dietary supplement that helps maintain the health of your cardiovascular system and promotes a healthy blood circulation. Equazen Cardiozen Fish Oil is a popular brand on the market that contains 80% omega-3 long chain fatty acids particularly EPA. EPA is converted into hormone-like substances known as prostaglandins that help maintain the health of your heart. Equazen Cardiozen also contains coenzyme Q10 that plays an important role in the production of energy within the cells of heart muscle and other muscle tissues. Take one capsule per day with food. Do not exceed the recommended dose.

Cardiopathy or heart disease refers to a wide variety of diseases affecting either the muscle of heart or blood vessels leading to and from the heart.

The diseases that affect heart muscle and surrounding tissues include dilated cardiomyopathy, hypetrophic cardiomyopathy, ischaemic cardiomyopathy, valvular cardiomyopathy, alcoholic cardiomyopathy, hypertensive cardiomyopathy, myocardiodystrophy, congenital heart disease, arrhythmia and sudden cardiac failure.

The diseases that affect blood vessel system include atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, congestive cardiac failure and cardiac arrhythmias.

Cardiopathy is the second leading cause of death all around the globe. Keys to prevention include maintaining a healthy weight, performing a regular physical activity, controlling high blood pressure, lowering serum cholesterol levels, avoiding stress and depression, drinking alcohol in moderation, quitting smoking, and avoiding the consumption of fatty foods. Eating fibre-rich diets such as fruits, vegetables, cereals, nuts, seeds, pulses and legumes promotes a healthy cardiovascular system.

Moreover, consume a dietary supplement that helps maintain the health of heart muscle and blood vessel system. Lifeplan EFA Complex 750mg is a popular brand on the market that contains cold-pressed oils, combining evening primrose, starflower and fish oils. This supplement makes a rich source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids which help maintain a healthy heart and blood circulation.

EFA Complex also produces hormone-like substances known as prostaglandins which help control physiological, metabolic and reproductive function. Moreover, this supplement makes your joints flexible and helps maintain a healthy skin. It does not make use of salt, starch, sugar, yeast, gluten, lactose, artificial colours, synthetic flavours and preservatives in its formulation.

Arrhythmia, also known as cardiac dysrhythmia, is a medical condition that is characterized by an abnormal electrical activity of the heart. This problem is associated with the rhythm or speed of the heartbeat. Cardiac dysrhythmia is a serious medical problem and it may lead to life-threatening situations such as cardiac arrest, heart stroke, heart attack and heart failure.

People who have arrhythmia may feel symptoms like an abnormal rapid heart beat (palpitation), fatigue, extreme exhaustion, weakness, difficulty exercising, confusion, dizziness, shortness of breath, fainting and chest pain.

Cardiac dysrhythmia is diagnosed with a test known as EKG (electrocardiogram). EKG test examines the electrical waves your heart produces. Family history or medical history is also considered for making a diagnosis.

Treatment options may include medications, physical maneuvers, cryo cautery and procedures to restore normal rhythm.

In order to maintain the health of the heart and normal blood circulation, people should consume heart-healthy foods such as lean meats, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, beans, and cereals and a supplement that promotes a healthy cardiovascular system. Higher Nature Cardio is a popular brand on the market that helps maintain a normal rhythm of heart and supports a healthy heart and circulation. It makes use of vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, folic acid, antioxidants, coenzyme Q10, arginine, bromelain and tri-methyl glycine in its formulation. B vitamins help maintain balanced homocysteine levels, coenzyme Q10 provides energy to cells and antioxidants help destroy free radicals in the body. Take 2 capsules twice a day, 2 hours after meals.

Hypercholesterolemia is a medical condition in which cholesterol levels in one’s blood are elevated beyond the normal range. If left untreated, this condition may lead to the risk of heart diseases including heart stroke, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease and heart attack. Make sure that you change your diet and lifestyle to lower elevated cholesterol levels.

Avoid consuming fatty and fast foods. These foods are high in trans fat that may prove detrimental to the health of your cardiovascular system. Make sure that you consume whole grains such as whole-grain cereal, oatmeal, popcorn, wild rice, brown rice, whole-wheat flour and barley. Whole grains make a rich source of complex carbohydrates and fibre that make you feel fuller for longer. As a result, you would be less tempted to overeat at lunch or dinner. Another advantage of consuming whole grains is that they help reduce “Bad Cholesterol” or low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood. Moreover, they also make an important part of an effective weight-loss dietary plan.

A handful of nuts such as almonds, peanuts, walnuts and pistachios make a tasty treat that help to reduce the elevated cholesterol levels as well. Nuts are high in monounsaturated fat, which elevates HDL or “Good Cholesterol” levels, while lowering LDL levels. Numerous researches show that people who consume about an ounce of nuts a day are less likely to develop heart diseases. However, it is important to keep in your mind that you should not overdose yourself with nuts especially if you are on a weight loss program. Nuts are high in calories and fat, so only eat a handful. Furthermore, make sure that they are not covered in chocolate or sugar.

It also makes a good idea to use a dietary supplement which helps promote a great cardiovascular health and lowers elevated cholesterol levels. Equazen Cardiozen Fish Oil contains 80% omega-3 long essential chain fatty acids in a natural triglyceride form. This supplement is particularly rich in one essential fatty acid-EPA, which plays an important role in the maintenance of a healthy heart and helps keep cholesterol levels in check. Take one capsule per day with food.

Although sodium is essential for the proper nerve function and fluid balance, over-dosing your body with sodium may make you vulnerable to numerous health conditions such as high blood pressure, heart stroke and even heart attack.

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of sodium is 1800-1900 milligrams per day for average adults or about 1 teaspoon of table salt and 900-1000 milligrams for children aged 14 or below. It is important to keep in your mind that most of your daily salt intake is hidden in the foods you eat. Make sure that you avoid consuming following foods to maintain a good cardiovascular health and normal blood pressure.

Ready-to-eat cereals especially corn flakes may have up to 250mg of sodium per cup. Similarly, raisin bran may contain up to 325mg of sodium per cup. Make sure that you prefer eating puffed wheat and puffed rice because they are sodium free.

Although there are many advantages of frozen dinners like they are easy and quick to cook, they contain plenty of sodium too. For example, a 10-oz frozen chicken and gravy dinner may contain as much as 1400 mg of sodium. Therefore, it is important that you prefer cooking food in your home. If you have to buy the frozen dinner, make sure you read through the label and purchase that food which contains less salt.

It is important to keep in your mind that canned vegetables contain lots of sodium and you need to avoid consuming them too. Canned veggies make use of sauces and preservatives that add extra sodium to your diet. Make sure that you prefer cooking fresh vegetables over their frozen counterparts. If you have to buy the canned ones, make sure that you choose labelled “no salt added”. It is also a good idea to rinse the canned vegetables thoroughly to remove the salt contents.

Soups are rich in nutrients and one may find it very pleasant to drink them on a cold day. However, soups are loaded with sodium. A cup of chicken corn soup may contain as much as 700 mg of sodium and a cup of chicken noodle soup may contain up to 1,000 mg of sodium. Make sure that you look through the label before buying the favourite version of your soup.

Moreover, snack-time food items such as cheese puffs, potato chips and pretzels should also be avoided. For instance, a 1 oz of cheese puffs may contain 250 mg of sodium and a 1 oz of pretzels may contain up to 375 mg of sodium.

Make sure that you incorporate a heart-friendly supplement into your daily dietary routine. Vertese Omega 3+6+9 is a hot brand on the market that is derived from natural plant sources. This supplement helps keep your heart healthy and your joints flexible and supple. Moreover, it supports a healthy brain and eye function. Another advantage of using this supplement is that it is gelatin and sodium free.

According to a recent research, eating Strawberries and Blueberries significantly reduces your high blood pressure risk. Actually, these fruits are rich in Anthocyanin, which is a powerful antioxidant that helps open blood arteries and vessels, and facilitates smoother blood flow. This, in turn, promotes a lower risk for high blood pressure. That research was conducted on 1,000 people who were 60 or younger. It was found that the people who consumed highest amount of anthocyanin showed a 10% reduction in their risk for developing high blood pressure, compared to those who consumed least amount of anthocyanin or did not consume it at all.

Therefore, make sure that you consume 4 cups of blueberries or strawberries each month to reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure, a major risk factor for paralysis, brain hambridge, heart stroke and even heart attack. However, it is important to keep in your mind that there are some other factors linked to high blood pressure and you should try to control them as well. These factors include physical activity, daily dietary routine, age, body weight, family history and body mass index. Factors like age and family history are beyond your control and you can not do much about them. However, you should incorporate a healthy dietary routine and regular physical activity into your daily life to maintain an ideal body weight.

It is also a good idea to take a supplement that makes use of antioxidants in its formulation. Pharma Nord Bio Pycnogenol Antioxidant contains over 40 bio-flavonoids, which help protect the cells from damage by free radicals, enhance the health of blood vessels, lower the blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Furthermore, this supplement helps maintain a healthy nervous system without contra-indications or side effects.

To your surprise, high cholesterol has no symptoms and it is known as a “Silent Killer”. The first sign might be a sudden heart stroke, transient ischemic attack or even heart attack. If you have other risk factors for heart disease especially diabetes, high blood pressure or have a family history of high cholesterol and coronary artery disease, then it becomes very important that you visit your health professional and get a screening test for high cholesterol.

If your test shows that your cholesterol is borderline high or high, then you should try reducing your triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels. There are certain ways that can help you achieve this goal. Making changes to your dietary habits and incorporating a regular physical activity into your daily routine can significantly reduce “Bad Cholesterol” or LDL.

Healthy dietary habits mean that you should prefer consuming high-fibre, low-fat diets over fatty foods. Make sure that you get 75% of your daily calories requirement from plant sources. Green vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes and pulses are low-caloric, nutrients-rich foods that can help bring elevated cholesterol levels back to normal. You can also drink freshly pressed vegetable and fruit juices to provide your body with vitamins and minerals.

Cardio or aerobic exercises such as walking, jogging, running, swimming, rowing, boating or running on a treadmill lower your elevated cholesterol levels as well. These exercises increase your heart rate, which in turn increases the circulation of blood. This leads to the more utilisation of calories and lipids to generate an extra energy to meet your body requirements. As a result, your body weight and high cholesterol levels are reduced.

It also makes a good idea to use a supplement that reduces your elevated cholesterol levels and provides cardiovascular support as well. Vitabiotics Cardioace Plus Multivitamins And Omega-3 combines the multivitamin formula with plant sterols. This supplement helps maintain healthy blood cholesterol levels because plant sterols may help contribute to healthy HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) levels, also known as Good cholesterol. Moreover, Cardioace contains Co Q10 that is important for energy production within cells and plays a vital role in maintaining your heart health.

According to the NCEP (National Cholesterol Education Program), the level of total serum cholesterol should be equal to or less than 200mg/dl. The total blood cholesterol includes both HDL and LDL. A reading above 200 and below 239 is alarming, indicating one’s increased potential for developing a cardiovascular problem such as heart attack, heart stroke or coronary artery disease in near future. A reading above 240mg/dl means that one must start medication therapy to control his or her elevated blood cholesterol levels.

Make sure that you avoid consuming high-fat, high-cholesterol diets as they tend to lower HDL cholesterol and increase LDL cholesterol. Being overweight also makes you vulnerable to high blood cholesterol levels as obesity tends to increase LDL cholesterol. It is also important that you avoid smoking because it may lower HDL cholesterol by 20 percent. Lack of regular cardiovascular exercise such as brisk walking, jogging and running also lowers HDL and increases LDL cholesterol.

It is also important that you use a supplement that promotes healthy heart and good blood circulation. Vitabiotics Cardioace Healthy Heart & Circulation combines the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids with antioxidants, garlic and important trace minerals. It contains nutrients that help maintain healthy cholesterol levels in the blood, health of the heart, and the elasticity of blood vessels. Omega-3 fatty acids play a vital role in maintaining normal cholesterol levels, blood pressure and triglyceride levels. Garlic helps balance good cholesterol or HDL in the blood and maintains arterial health and normal blood pressure.

According to a recent research, people who consume diet sodas and soft beverages are more vulnerable to heart stroke than those who do not. Although certain factors such as ethnicity, gender, age, calorie intake, alcohol drinking, smoking, physical activity and depression can play a major role in the onset of this disease, the drinking of diet or regular soda boosts one’s risk of stroke. A Research has also revealed that people who drink diet soda daily-compared to those who drink occasionally say twice a week or drink no soda at all-are 60% more likely to have a heart stroke.

Behind heart attack, cancer and diabetes, heart stroke is the fourth leading cause of death all around the globe. In the United Kingdom only, more than 100,000 people a year die from stroke. In order to maintain a good cardiovascular as well as general health, one needs to avoid drinking soda, whether regular or diet, on a daily basis.

Furthermore, make sure that you incorporate heart-healthy foods into your daily dietary routine. Consume foods that are rich in fibres and low in fats. Consume herbs such as garlic and onions as they help reduce high blood cholesterol levels.

It also makes a good idea to take a supplement that promotes a great cardiovascular health. Equazen Cardiozen Fish Oil contains 80% omega-3 long chain fatty acids in a natural triglyceride form. This supplement is particularly rich in one essential fatty acid-EPA. It is an omega-3 essential fatty acid that is converted by your body into prostaglandins, hormone-like substances that play a vital role in maintaining the health of your heart and supporting a wide variety of body functions. Moreover, this supplement also contains CoQ10 in its formulation, which plays an important role in the production of energy within the cells of muscle tissue.