While concerns about heart-health have become more prevalent, Americas are becoming more heart-healthy. Heart disease and stroke continue to be the number one and number three causes of death in the United States. In addition the prevalence of diabetes and obesity—both of which are severely high risk factors for heart complications—is speedily increasing. There are more than 180 million Americans with one or more forms of cardiovascular disease, including 73 million Americans with high blood pressure. The good news in this troubling facts is that the majority of risk factors in cardiovascular complications are preventable—with family history and genetics being the only exemption. Risk factors which can be prevented include:
Obesity
Hypertension
Elevated blood cholesterol and tryglicerides
Type 2 diabetes
Smoking
Sedentary lifestyle
- Lose weight. One of the greatest risk factors in cardiovascular complications is obesity. Loosing weight is the first priority in reducing the risk of heart disease. Obesity has become a national epidemic, with 2 out of 3 Americans overweight or obese. Lowering weight even a small amount can help to improve blood cholesterol and blood pressure, and lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
- Eat a balanced diet. Include foods from different food groups such as fruits, vegetables, high fiber whole grain.
- Think fishy! Consuming oily fish rich in Omega-3 fatty acids at least twice a week can help to lower the cholesterol levels, as well on providing many other added health benefits.
- Take your vitamins. Heart healthy vitamins and supplements including B vitamins, folic acid, B6, B12, antioxidants such as Vitamin E, CoQ10, can all help strengthen your heart muscles. Also include supplements such as Shaklee’s garlic complex, which can help combat heart disease risk factors by regulating blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
- Exercise! Regular physical activity at least 30 minutes a day, is essential in managing and maintaining weight, as well as strengthening your heart.
- Kick poor habits. Reducing poor nutrition habits, such as sugary soft drinks, sweets and processed salty snack foods, can help reduce weight and lower cholesterol levels as well as avoiding type 2 diabetes. Give up smoking which is a serious risk factor in heart disease.
Garlic and The Healthy Heart
Garlic can sometimes cause bad breath, but as a herbal supplement, it can have health benefits. For centuries many civilizations have garlic not only for culinary uses, but also for its amazing health benefits. The herb, which is in the same family as the onion, has a reputation for preventing everything from the common cold and flue to the plague. Garlic is one of the most popular herbal supplements. Today over 3,000 publications have recognized the health benefits of garlic, which include:
- A recognizable reduction in risk factors for cardiovascular disease and cancer.
- Stimulation of immune system function
- Restoration of physical strength
Research has shown that garlic can lower cholesterol levels on an average of 16-30% A study conducted in Munich, Germany, demonstrated that patients with high cholesterol levels who were put on a low-fat diet saw a decrease in cholesterol levels of 10% and then levels stabilized. When garlic was added, their cholesterol levels dropped another 10% The herb is so effective that in Germany is a licensed medicine for treating atherosclerosis (the hardening or blocking of arteries)
Another study which involved 360 participants who took 300 mgs of dried garlic for 16 weeks, showed an average decrease in cholesterol levels of 10%. Several other clinical experts have revealed that the use of garlic as a herbal supplement can have cholesterol-lowering effects.
COQHEART®
Everyone understands the importance of a healthy heart, but maintaining one can prove difficult. Cardiovascular health can be compromised by diet, genetics, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and an array of other factors. Moreover, our bodies are often deficient in substances critical to healthy heart function. One example is coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which helps produce energy in each cell, particularly those in the heart and other major organs. Since it has powerful antioxidant properties, it helps prevent LDL cholesterol oxidation.
CoQHeart combines two natural substances with potent antioxidant properties— CoQ10 and resveratrol — in a single, highly bioavailable softgel capsule using a technology exclusive to Shaklee.
- Combines the power of CoQ10 with resveratrol to promote heart health
- Prevents the oxidation of LDL cholesterol
- Provides energy at the cellular level
- Helps keep blood flowing freely through the arteries
- Highly bioavailable formulation
- Cholesterol Reduction Complex
- Lowers cholesterol naturally
- No artificial flavors sweeteners, colors, or preservatives added
- Delivers 2,000 mg of plant sterols and stanols per day, which is 100% of the National
- Institutes of Health’s (NIH) recommendation for plant sterols and stanols
- Plant sterols and stanols have been clinically proven in over 80 clinical studies
