Diet awareness, vitamins keep tickers ticking
by KC Jones, feature editor

    While the hearts of many lovers are leaping out of their chests and into their throats during Valentine’s Day celebrations, others with cardiovascular health problems may be more concerned about living to see another Valentine’s Day.

   Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in men over the age of 40 and women over the age of 55. What was once very rare is now a common occurrence. People in their 20s and 30s are seen frequently in the hospital as a result of a heart attack.

   According to the American Heart Association, the increase in smoking and inactivity of youth are causing heart disease to rise.

   The heart is a wondrous muscle, a marvelous machine. It beats a hundred thousand times a day as it pumps blood and oxygen around the body. The energy-giving blood is also the heart’s own source of power.

   The coronary arteries and capillaries tunneling into the heart muscle, like a tree’s roots, supply the fresh oxygenated blood the muscle needs. When the vital blood flow is restricted by a tiny blood clot, a heart attack occurs. This is where Vitamin E plays a very important role.

   Vitamin E stops clots from forming in the veins and arteries of the body. It prevents red blood cells from clumping together and keeps them slippery.

   Vitamin E is usually found in grains, although most of it is removed during the over-production of processed foods.

   Wheat germ is especially rich in this life-preserving vitamin. Vitamin E should be consumed everyday to avoid early disability or death due to heart-health neglect.

   Cholesterol gets much of the blame when it comes to clogged arteries. But cholesterol is essential to life. Much of the brain is composed of cholesterol. It is used in making bile to digest our food and hormones that are responsible for many functions. The problem starts when it begins to collect in veins and arteries where it should not be, threatening life.

   But if the arteries are clogged and blood pressure is high, what can be done? If a coronary artery is plugged, expensive bypass surgery is the common treatment.

   This by-pass procedure, while relatively safe, is painful to the body and the pocketbook, costing over $50,000 in medical bills.

   An alternative was discovered when scientists studied the Eskimo population in Iceland. Eighty percent of the Eskimo diet is fat. Logically, they should all be lined up for bypass surgery; on the contrary, they have the healthiest arteries in the world due to omega 3, a compound found in fish oil. Omega 3 actually cleans the arteries by dissolving accumulated cholesterol and sweeping it out of the system. It should be taken daily to maintain a clean cardio-vascular system.

   Lecithin breaks down cholesterol and fats in the blood for the cells to utilize.

   Soluble fiber found in beans, apples and citrus fruits also reduce unhealthy cholesterol levels.

   All muscle contraction and relaxation involves at least four common minerals: calcium, magnesium, potassium and zinc. Irregular heartbeat can be a symptom of mineral deficiency. Iron also helps maintain high levels of oxygen in the blood to feed the muscles.

   Vitamin C promotes stronger, more flexible vein and artery walls.

   Garlic contains a substance called allicin that has been shown to optimize cardiovascular health by lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels, reducing blood pressure and normalizing platelet aggregation.

   High salt consumption can cause the body to retain fluid, resulting in high blood pressure.

   The general prescription for cardiovascular health includes a diet low in saturated fats, low salt intake, no smoking, regular exercise and proper weight. Emotional well being is also important. Learn to let go of stressful feelings and relax.