Cardiovascular Health
YOUR HEART
Our cardiovascular system consists of the heart, which is the most important muscle in your body, and a closed system of blood vessels. Its primary functions are to deliver oxygen and vital nutrition to cells throughout the body as well as assist in the removal of cellular waste products – therefore keeping your circulatory system healthy is very important. Unfortunately, cardiovascular disease is the leading health problem in the Western world. It is estimated that around 7 million people in the UK have heart and blood vessels disease, although many do not know it because they have no overt symptoms.
Coronary Heart Disease (narrowing or blockage of coronary arteries usually caused by the build-up of fatty material called plaque) and stroke (when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or reduced preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen) are the most common types of heart disease.
RISK FACTORS
There are many factors that may lead to the development of cardiovascular disease, however they can be reduced with an application of nutritional therapy along with physical activity and a reduction in the level of stress.
Risk factors for developing heart disease include:
- high blood pressure
- high blood cholesterol levels
- insulin resistance and diabetes
- increased levels of homocysteine
- oxidative stress
- obesity or being overweight
- smoking
- stress
- leading sedentary lifestyle
- metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that often occur together and are a major risk for risk diabetes, stroke and heart disease. The main components of metabolic syndrome include obesity, high blood pressure, high blood triglycerides, low levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and insulin resistance.
NUTRITION AND YOUR HEART
Your heart relies on the supply of oxygen, minerals, vitamins and nutrients to function optimally and to maintain its correct rate, rhythm and tone. The essential nutrients and energy your body needs for optimal heart function comes from the foods and beverages you consume.
A balanced, nutrient-rich diet can help to control blood sugar levels, lower blood pressure, reduce ‘bad’ cholesterol levels and result in weight loss.
At Nutrimentum, during a one-to-one consultation we look at underlying root causes and address relevant risk factors and take into consideration your unique circumstances to support your efforts in living an active and healthy life. We will help you to adopt diet and lifestyle changes and create a personalised plan to help you improve your overall health.
KEY STRATEGIES TO REDUCE THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
There are many steps you could take to help to protect your heart and blood vessels. They can be easily incorporated into your life and have positive impact on your overall health and vitality.
- Control inflammation and eat a heart-healthy diet. Replace sugary drinks, processed meat and refined carbohydrates with wholefoods, which are ant-inflammatory. To balance your diet, have plenty of vegetables, leafy greens, fruit, wholegrains, beans, nuts and oily fish.
- Get active – if you don’t exercise at all, take a 20 minute walk. Regular walks not only could help to trim your waistline, but it’s also a great way to bring more oxygen and nutrients to your organs.
- Maintain a healthy weight – being overweight or obese can result in or increase your risk of multiple diseases. But carrying excess fat around your belly can cause metabolic disturbances and is a red flag for cardiovascular disease. The fat around your middle (visceral fat) pads the spaces between abdominal organs and secretes molecules that cause inflammation.
- Quit smoking – chemicals in cigarette smoke cause the cells which line blood vessels to become swollen and inflamed. This can narrow the blood vessels and lead to many cardiovascular conditions.