From Your Health Journal…..”An interesting article recently in the Morinville News written by Gladys Kublik who discusses when does heart disease begin? Heart disease starts when the blood vessel walls begin to show streaks of fat. These accumulate over time narrowing the arteries with plaques until blood flow to the heart is restricted. Studies show that these days that is occurring at a younger age than ever before. And, with childhood obesity on the rise, so many children show risk factors for heart disease. It is so important for young children and adults to eat a healthy diet, which includes fruits and vegetables, as well as participating in some form of physical activity each day. Some of the nutrients essential in maintaining a healthy heart are B vitamins such as Niacin or B3 which lowers cholesterol, folic acid and B6 and B12, which help keep your nerves and red blood cells healthy and strong. Omega 3 fatty acid rich foods are also a great contributor to heart health. Please visit and support Ms. Kublik’s article by visiting the Morinville News web site (link provided below) to read the complete article. It is very informative and could help explain some important health news to you.”

From the article…..

We are familiar with the vocabulary of heart disease –the words heart attack, angina, triple or quadruple bypass surgery, angioplasty, and stents are heard more and more frequently when discussing the health of family, friends, neighbours or co-workers. We are all advised to keep our blood pressure down and our cholesterol under control, to choose heart healthy meals in the restaurant and limit our salt intake. In spite of all this, according to Statistics Canada, heart disease is the second leading cause of death in Canada.

Chest pains, shortness of breath, nausea or discomfort in the upper body, neck, jaw, or arms are signs of heart attack and for many the first indication that they have heart disease. These signs are in fact the end product of many previous years of heart disease, which has gone undetected or ignored. So when does heart disease begin?

Heart disease begins when the blood vessel walls begin to show streaks of fat. These accumulate steadily over time narrowing the arteries with plaques until blood flow to the heart is restricted. Studies show that these days that is occurring at a younger age than ever before.

So how can we protect our hearts? By minimizing the risk factors of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity and diabetes we reduce stress on our circulatory system. A diet high in fruits and vegetables and adequate exercise play a major role in prevention of heart disease and maintenance of general good health.

According to Becky Hand, Registered Licensed Dietician, some of the nutrients essential in the maintenance of a healthy heart are B vitamins such as Niacin or Vitamin B3 which lowers cholesterol, folic acid and Vitamin B6 and B12 which help keep your nerves and red blood cells healthy and strong. They are also involved in the metabolism (and reduction) of homocysteine, an amino acid that, when elevated, is linked to heart disease, blood clots, heart attack and strokes.

Calcium helps to reduce the systolic blood pressure in people with hypertension and also lowers LDL cholesterol by 4.4% and raise HDL levels by 4.1%. A heart-healthy goal for calcium intake is to consume at least 1,000-1,200 milligrams daily.

Omega 3 essential fatty acids from fish oil can improve heart health due to their anti-inflammatory action. Research indicates that fish oil can: reduce triglycerides by up to 20-50%; modestly lower blood pressure by expanding blood vessels. A dose of 1 to 4 grams daily (with 240 milligrams of DHA and 360 milligrams of EPA per gram) is fairly typical.

To read the complete article…..Click here