Rhythm of Life

Submitted by webmaster on Tue, 09/06/2011 - 17:09

 Rhythm of life

The heart is a remarkable part of the human body, muscular, tireless, fist-sized organ that pulsates to circulate blood all through the body.

Its beat is the rhythm of life.

The world we live in today, stress, unbalanced diet, smoking, not exercising conspires to damage and afflict it with heart disease.

To protect our heart from the ravages of modern life by taking more of nutrients such as coenzyme Q10 and omega-3 fats that have protective and anti-inflammatory effects.

Coenzyme Q10 is a nutrient commonly found in the mitochondria of cells involved in generating energy. It is also a known antioxidant that mops up any damaging free radicals.

Coenzyme Q10 functions to

  • Help prevent cardiovascular disease

  • Stabilize blood sugar

  • Reactivate vitamin E.

     

Conditions that can indicate a need for more coenzyme Q10

  • Heart problems like angina, arrhythmia, or high blood pressure

  • High blood sugar

  • Stomach ulcers

  • Problems with the gums.


Sources of coenzyme Q include:

  • Fish

  • Organ meats (liver, heart, or kidney)

  • Germ part of whole grains.

While sources of this nutrient are abundant and readily obtained, the Coenzyme Q10 dosages to treat heart-related conditions start at 30mg, a normal diet can supply only 10mg.

Coenzyme Q10 supplements are available to make up for the shortfall.

Omega-3 fats

The omega-3 fatty acids or fats include both long-chained and short-chained unsaturated fatty acids that come from two very different sources, long-chained from fish oils and the short-chained from plants and nuts.

The short-chain fatty acid, alpha linoleic acid (ALA) can be converted by the body into the long-chained fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) but this is an inefficient process.

The long-chained fatty acid is important for the production of bodily chemicals that control inflammation and pain.

Omega-3 fats functions to

  • Reduce inflammation throughout your body

  • Keep your blood from clotting excessively

  • Lower the amount of lipids (fats such as cholesterol and triglycerides) circulating in the bloodstream

  • Increase the activity of endothelium-derived nitric oxide, which causes arteries to relax and dilate

  • Reduce the production of messenger chemicals called cytokines, which are involved in the inflammatory response involved in atherosclerosis

  • Reduce the risk of becoming obese and improve the body's ability to respond to insulin by stimulating the secretion of leptin, a hormone that helps regulate food intake, body weight and metabolism, and is expressed primarily by adipocytes (fat cells).

The conditions or symptoms that indicate a need for more omega-3 fats

  • Cardiovascular Disease

  • Type 2 Diabetes

  • Dry, itchy skin

  • Joint pain

  • Brittle hair and nails

  • Fatigue

  • Inability to concentrate

  • Depression.

Here are some excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids.

  • Salmon

  • flax seeds

  • walnuts.

As these natural foods, are not readily available in our markets, supplements would be an easier and cost effective way to increase our intake of omega-3 fats.

When buying an omega-3 fatty acid supplement, keep in mind these oils are very sensitive to heat, light and oxygen. Choose a product packaged in a dark brown and refrigerate the product. Choose a supplement that also contains vitamin E. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, which is added to the oil to prevent the fatty acids from becoming spoiled.

It is important to remember that while these nutrients can help keep the heart healthy, eating right and exercising in the right amounts are the cornerstones of a heart healthy lifestyle.