Hearts are not just for loving people with.
Well.. I guess without them it would be really hard to love another person as you likely would be dead. So yea.. I guess hearts are for loving people. They are also important for keeping the rest of your body alive so you should also be loving on your heart and doing what you can to keep it health.
Your heart really does something pretty amazing. It is the hardest working organ in your body. On average, your heart is pumping roughly 2,000 gallons of blood with an average 100,000 beats each day. The aorta of a grown adult is about as wide as a garden hose.
Why Care About Your Heart Health
Close to a million lives a year in the U.S. are taken by heart disease. In addition to that, over 30 million Americans live with heart disease and another 60 million have hypertension which puts them in the risk category of developing heart disease later in life. Heart disease also does not discriminate between the sexes. Both men and women are susceptible. More women will actually die this year from heart disease than from breast cancer. What is really freaky is that many people do not even experience any symptoms or at least properly diagnose them until it is too late. The most common symptoms usually reported are fatigue, sleep disturbances and shortness of breath.
Are You At Risk?
Take a look at these indicators below to see.
- Family history
- Obesity
- Hypertension
- Elevated triglyceride and cholesterol levels
- Type 2 diabetes
- Smoking
- Sedentary lifestyle
Aside from family history, much of the other risk factors are WITHIN YOUR CONTROL. That’s good news. You can actually help lower your risk of heart disease. Let me show you how.
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Obesity: Preventable
65% of Americans are obese or overweight. By just dropping a few pounds, you are already helping your heart in a big way. Slimming down your waist line, even by as little as 5-10% of your total weight can help improve your cholesterol and blood pressure levels and your chance of developing Type 2 Diabetes.
Looking for a smart, tasty and proven weight loss program? Shaklee 180 is where it’s at.
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High Blood Cholesterol Levels: Preventable
High cholesterol can be scary as the early signs of it often do not show any symptoms. As cholesterol plaque begins to build up in your arteries it starts to reduce blood flow. As this happens, your arteries begin to form blockages or form blood clots which block the heart and brain from receiving the right amount of blood flow. When the blockages or clots get bad, this can lead to a heart attack or stroke. What you can do is make improvements to your diet by eating more grains, fresh fruit, vegetables and low fat sources of protein (like soy protein). I mention soy because the FDA has recognized that eating 25 grams or more of soy protein each day may help to reduce your risk of heart disease. Don’t forget about fiber.
Along with eating more of the good stuff, you also want to stay away from the bad trans fats and instead introduce more health monounsaturated fats like olive oil, avocado, nuts and seeds. Another important heart smart fat is omega-3 fatty acids. This polyunsaturated fat is often found in foods like fix and flaxseed. It can help protect against irregular heartbeats and lower triglycerides and blood pressure.
If you are concerned about contaminants in fresh fish, consider a pharmaceutical grade fish oil supplement that will bring you a full spectrum of omega-3 fatty acids including EPA for hearth health and DHA to support brain function.
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High Blood Pressure: Preventable
High blood pressure and hypertension are also pretty sneaky. You could have both of these and not even know it. When the blood pressure is high, your heart is working harder than normal and pushing your blood with too much pressure against your arterial walls. When this happens, your heart may start to enlarge due to the pressure and your arteries can experience damage. To prevent this losing weight, a healthy diet and those healthy omega fats can help. In addition, work on lowering your sodium intake and making sure you are getting the recommended daily amount of potassium, calcium and magnesium.
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Diabetes- Type 2: Preventable
I have an whole blog post on diabetes itself as it is such a prevalent and common disease in the U.S. This disease comes about when our body does not properly use insulin correctly. Insulin, which is a hormone produced by the pancreas is important because it moves the sugar from the blood into the cells where it can be metabolized. Or, at least that is what it is supposed to do. When things are not going well, the insulin is not able to get into the cells. Untreated your blood sugar levels go up.
Being overweight and having more of a lounging lifestyle puts your more at risk. So keep moving and start on your weight loss program.
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Inactivity: Preventable
Okay so I am also guilty of “show binging”, which has become increasingly easier with programs like Netflix and Apple TV. If you do this too often… unfortunately you are also developing your risk of heart disease. Unless of course your watching these while on your treadmill. In that case… good for you. I should take a lesson out of your book!
By increasing your physical activity you can make a big difference and your heart will love you for it. It doesn’t mean you have to run a marathon or swim the Atlantic, but even with just 30 minutes a day during most days of the week you are on the right track. Simple day to day activities also count so think about taking the stairs when possible, parking in the farthest spot in the parking lot, gardening, mowing the lawn or scrubbing the floors. You will feel better and maybe also have a very clean home. Two for one!
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Smoking: Preventable
Stop it. Really… stop it. I am sure you have heard this a million times but seriously… stop it. Smoking is the most preventable cause of death in the U.S. I know it’s tough. I really do. I lived in Italy for a while and it was almost second nature there. But by keeping up with this nasty habit you are putting yourself at an increased risk of heart disease and other serious diseases like cancer. I am sure you know this already.
Maybe you are not smoking but are around people who do. Second hand smoking is also bad for you.
Smart Heart Health Program
Shaklee and I care about you and your heart. That’s why we do what we do! We want to make sure you can go on using that heart to love more and more people. We also know that it starts with loving yourself. So let’s protect that heart together.
SmartHeart™ Blood Pressure Regimen
Shaklee’s scientifically supported SmartHeart™ Blood Pressure Regimen is formulated to help reduce your risk of heart disease by supporting optimal cardiovascular health and helping to retain healthy blood pressure.
This regimen includes:
- Blood Pressure: Proprietary blend addresses 2 of the key mechanisms to help retain healthy blood pressure
- OmegaGuard®: Ultra pure, pharmaceutical grade Omega-3s to help reduce the risk of heart disease
- CoQHeart®: CoQ10 and resveratrol supports energy production in the heart and promotes healthy arteries
SmartHeart™ Cholesterol Regimen
Our scientifically supported SmartHeart™ Cholesterol Regimen is designed to help reduce your risk of heart disease by supporting optimal cardiovascular health while reducing cholesterol.
This regimen includes:
- Cholesterol Reduction Complex*: Delivers a powerful blend of plant sterols and stanols that may reduce the risk of heart disease by helping to lower cholesterol.
- OmegaGuard®: Ultra pure, pharmaceutical grade Omega-3s to help reduce the risk of heart disease
- CoQHeart®: CoQ10 and resveratrol supports energy production in the heart and promotes healthy arteries
Omega Guard
OmegaGuard helps reduce the risk of heart disease by providing a full spectrum of seven ultra-pure, pharmaceutical-grade omega-3 essential fatty acids, naturally found in small, cold-water fish, and delivers more EPA and DHA than other brands. Smaller size for easier swallowing.
- Helps maintain a healthy heart and cardiovascular system‡
- Helps retain healthy triglyceride levels‡
‡ Supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA fatty acids may reduce the risk of heart disease.
To ensure purity and potency, the fish oil in OmegaGuard undergoes a state-of-the-art molecular distillation process that:
- Concentrates natural, beneficial omega-3 fatty acids including EPA & DHA
- Removes lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, dioxins, PCBs,
and other contaminants - Minimizes odor and fishy aftertaste
Blood Pressure
Blood Pressure is a scientifically supported nutritional solution to help retain healthy blood pressure by helping to promote healthy blood vessels and blood flow.
Studies have shown the key ingredients in Shaklee Blood Pressure address two important mechanisms that are known to impact blood pressure levels already in the normal range.
- Promotes blood circulation
- Promotes healthy blood vessels
Cholesterol Reduction Complex
Cholesterol Reduction Complex is a proprietary formula with clinically proven ingredients that may reduce the risk of heart disease by helping to lower cholesterol. It is made with a powerful blend of sterols and stanols, which are found naturally in plants, fruits, vegetables, and grains.
Cholesterol Reduction Complex† is a proprietary formulation with clinically proven ingredients that help prevent the absorption of cholesterol and lower LDL cholesterol.
- Made with a powerful blend of sterols and stanols, which are found naturally in plants, fruits, vegetables, and grains
- Delivers 2,000 mg of plant sterols and stanols daily
- Plant sterols and stanols have been clinically proven by more than 80 studies to lower LDL cholesterol
- Delivers daily 100% of the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) recommendation for plant sterols and stanols*
Co-QHeart with Q-Trol
CoQHeart® with Q-Trol® delivers 100 mg of coenzyme Q10 to help replenish levels in your blood and facilitate the production of energy in your cells.* Based on laboratory studies, it also helps protect arteries against the oxidation of low density lipoproteins (LDL), which may help promote blood vessel function.CoQHeart® with Q-Trol® delivers an all-natural proprietary blend of clinically tested coenzyme Q10 plus resveratrol, two ingredients that provide potent support for heart health.*
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a fat-soluble, vitamin-like substance found in every human cell. It’s involved in key biochemical reactions that produce energy in cells. It also acts as an antioxidant, working with vitamins E and C to protect cells against oxidative stress and freeradical damage. Although the body is capable of making its own CoQ10, production slows as we age. Cholesterol-lowering medications (e.g. statins) also block the body’s ability to make CoQ10, and supplementation has been shown in clinical studies to improve cardiac function in people with existing heart conditions such as congestive heart failure. So make sure you’re getting enough CoQ10. Although it can be found in foods such as fatty fish, liver, and whole grains, it makes good sense to take CoQ10 supplement daily, especially if you’re at risk for heart disease or take cholesterol-lowering medication.
Garlic Complex
Studies show that garlic promotes cardiovascular health by helping to retain normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels when used as part of a diet low in fat and cholesterol.
Do you have questions about how to take care of your heart or have other health concerns? Please reach out… contact me… let me be your guide. Your better health means more good people like you around for longer!
