Heart Health

 Dear reader:

     Today I would like to share this information with you. These are tips to help you improve your cardiovascular health , and avoid health problems associated with lack of knowledge or misinformation on how to protect your heart and cardiovascular system from deterioration and disease.  

1.   Avoid bad habits such as smoking, eating junk food containing wheat and hydrogenated oils. You should also avoid excessive sugar, bad fats, especially most vegetable oils, which are unstable and cause inflammation throughout the body. This damage is increased when vegetable oils are used for cooking. The exception to this rule is the tropical oils such as coconut, and red palm, and avocado oils, which are more stable when heated at the high temperatures. You should also consume animal fats such as lard, tallow, or butter, especially if they are organic or come from grass-fed animals.
2. Incorporate high intensive interval training in your exercise routine. You can simply walk briskly for two or three minutes, and then slow down for about a minute. You should repeat these intervals for about 30 minutes. This will strengthen your heart and accustom it to sudden bouts of activity so that it won’t fail you when it is actually subjected to strain.
3. Take cayenne with your meals or as a supplement. This popular spice can prevent and treat heart attacks.
4. Take L-citrulline and L-arginine .  These two amino acids are potent vasodilators, so they help the blood flow throughout your body. As a bonus, they will help your sex life.
5.  Take D-ribose as a supplement. This special sugar can do wonders for your energy and cardiovascular health.

Finally, you can never go wrong with small amount of aspirin, just to be on the safe side. A baby aspirin will do the trick, especially if you take it with some food at night.

L-Citrulline

Citrulline

  One of my favorite supplements is the amino acid citrulline. Citrulline is also known as l-citrulline. It is  classified as a non-essential amino acid because your own body can manufacture it from foods such as  watermelons.

  The main benefit of supplementing with citrulline is that it converts into into L-arginine once it is ingested. This form of ingesting arginine is better assimilated by the human body. L-arginine is converted in the body into a chemical called nitric oxide. Nitric oxide causes blood vessels to open wider so the blood can flow more easily. Thus, citrulline acts as a vasodilator in your bloodstream, facilitating circulation and recovery from exertion.

  A little known benefit of this supplement is that it contributes to sexual arousal by stimulating the sex organs like a sort of natural Viagra. This natural libido booster can be bought at a fraction of what Viagra and similar drugs cost. Another bonus is that citrulline works well for both men and women.

   I take citrulline for better blood circulation, stamina and improved libido.

   See you next time!

Lemons

As I write this post, the cold season is starting to hit me hard. Fortunately, I haven’t fallen victim to the flu yet. It seems that the beta glucans, and other good stuff I have been taking to support my immune system are working. However, I am not letting my guard down. Just to be on the safe side, I have decided to add another weapon to my flu-fighting arsenal; lemons.

Lemons are another wonder fruit that you can use to prevent and help cure the common cold, the flu, and other conditions and illnesses.

 Lemons contain a lot of nutrients such as citric acid, calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, bioflavonoids, pectin, and limonene which have been shown to promote immunity and fight infection. The two main properties that lemons possess are their strong antibacterial, antiviral properties. Furthermore, they can even be used to help you lose weight because lemon juice is a digestive aid and liver cleanser.

If you want to use lemons for preventive and curative purposes, I suggest using natural lemons, not the commercial juices sold at grocery stores and other markets as they have often been processed and lost some of its natural properties.

Here is a tip, you can squeeze some lemon juice into a bottle of water, and drink a little throughout the day, especially before meals. This will help with digestion, and prevent overeating. In addition, the lemon water will help keep the flu at bay.

Preventing the Flu

Preventing the Flu

As I write this post, I can see the first signs of winter showing outside my window. As much as I like wintertime with the holiday season it brings, I also dread it because of the extremely low temperatures and the accompanying flu season that always takes a heavy toll in the general population no matter what people do to protect themselves from this modern-day scourge.

I used to be one the victims of every influenza outbreak that happened to be floating around at this time of the year until I learned the hard way that there are weapons we can arm ourselves with to defend our bodies just like a fortress that needs to be made impregnable. In other words, if you want to prevent catching the common cold or the flu, you should strengthen your immune system.

Here are some tips I have learned and applied on myself to win the battle against the flu:

1.     You should increase our intake of vitamin D, especially D3. Alternatively, you can ingest cod liver oil which contains adequate amounts of this key vitamin.

2.     You should use extra virgin coconut oil in your meals. This type of oil is probably the best type of fat you can eat to stay healthy.

3.     You should also increase your intake of vitamin C which has been shown to help strengthen the immune system.

4.     It is also important to take the mineral zinc and amino acids lysine and l-glutamine.

5.     We should take a beta glucan supplement, especially the type derived from baker’s yeast. Beta glucans are the secret weapon you can use to prevent or shorten the duration of the common cold or the flu.

If you want to learn more about beta glucans, you can always look it up online.  I was skeptical about the efficacy of beta glucans until I decided to incorporate them into my diet. Now I am a believer; beta glucans are a powerful weapon against the flu.

Chia

 I first heard of chia in a commercial for the Chia Pet. At that time, I didn’t know that the seeds of this exotic plant could be eaten by humans with a wide range of health benefits. Then, I learned that chia seeds are native to South America and have been used by the native inhabitants of that part of the world for centuries. Nowadays, chia is in the news for its many health benefits due to its numerous nutrients and antioxidants.

Chia is the amazing growing seed. The seeds of this plant can absorb up to twelve times its weight in liquid, so the form a bulky gel that will keep you feeling full and hydrated for a longer time. Chia seeds  can be eaten as a seed or in powder form. If you consume just two tablespoons of this food, you will be providing your body with the following benefits:

·         Chia seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. The lip profile of Chia seeds is composed of 60 percent omega-3s, making them one of the richest plant-based sources of these fatty acids -- specifically, of alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA. The omega-3s in chia seeds can help reduce inflammation, enhance cognitive performance and reduce high cholesterol.

·          They are rich in fiber which is associated with reducing inflammation, lowering cholesterol and regulating bowel function.

·         They are also rich in antioxidants that help protect the body from free radicals, aging and cancer. The high antioxidant profile also helps them have a long shelf life. They last almost two years without refrigeration.

·          They contain important minerals. If you take just two tablespoons of chia seeds, you will get 18 percent of the daily recommended intake of calcium, 35 percent for phosphorus, 24 percent for magnesium and about 50 percent for manganese. These nutrients help you prevent hypertension and maintain a healthy weight, and are important for energy metabolism and a part of DNA synthesis.

·         Last but not least, chia will make you feel full. The satiety you feel after eating chia, will help lower food cravings between meals. This effect is due to the combination of protein, fiber and the gelling action of chia seeds when mixed with liquids expand in your digestive system and contribute to their satiating effects.

I hope you found this information interesting. I think that the more we know about nutrition and natural remedies, the better we can help ourselves and those around us live healthier and happier lives.