High Blood Pressure | A Metabolic Plan

Aug

16

DHEA & CoQ10 – In the News

Filed under: Health Care; Tagged as: Alternative Health Care, Antioxidant Effects, Breast Cancer, Coenzyme Q10, CoQ10, Energy Production, Extreme Stress, free radicals, Heart Attacks, high blood pressure, Increasing Energy, Managing Diabetes, National Cancer Institute, Prostate Cancer, Veteran's Administration, Yale University

It seems that alternative health care is getting some press these days. Earlier this week, Yale University and the Veteran’s Administration Center for PTSD released information about the testing they have done and the benefits of using DHEA to prevent and relieve stress in soldiers. This was a small study but they tested soldier’s ability to cope with extreme stress and found they were greatly improved in their performance when their levels of DHEA were higher.

The other big news is that the National Cancer Institute has FINALLY released a report that shows that Coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10 may play a role in the treatment of certain types of cancers. There have been many small, independent studies done on CoQ10 which have shown significant health benefits for some types of cancer including melanoma and breast cancer. However, to have the National Cancer Institute actually print a report on this is a very positive event as they are generally opposed to alternative medicine.

So what is CoQ10?

Coenzyme Q10 occurs naturally in every cell and is part of a class of substances called enzymes. The role of enzymes is to facilitate and act as an catalyst for chemical reactions in the body such as transforming fats and sugars into energy. Because it is essential to the production of energy at the cellular level it is of particular importance for athletes and bodybuilders. CoEnzyme Q10 also has powerful antioxidant effects which destroy free radicals. Many studies are discovering that CoQ10 is beneficial in helping to prevent heart attacks and high blood pressure as well as treating Parkinson’s disease, managing diabetes, increasing energy and stamina, and improving the immune system.

Is a CoQ10 supplement necessary?

Organs that use the most energy (like the heart and liver) have the highest concentrations of CoQ10 and as we age, the body’s production of CoQ10 can decrease as much as 72% in the heart. Also statins (used to reduce LDL and cholesterol levels) deplete CoQ10 levels. Statins are some of the most prescribed drugs on the market.
If you’re middle-aged or older, supplementing with CoQ10 can be crucial to maintaining good health. While CoQ10 studies are ongoing for the treatment of diseases, such as migraines, asthma, breast and prostate cancer, and HIV/AIDS, there is certainly a large amount of evidence of it’s benefits in the area of prevention. Not only is heart health affected but one of the most valuable benefits is CoQ10′s ability to help regulate high blood pressure, a common problem aging adults face. New research indicates that CoQ10 may be a safe and effective alternate or adjunct therapy for hypertension.

CoQ10 may even enhance the effectiveness of some blood pressure medications. In numerous clinical studies participants taking supplements were able to take lower dosages of the drugs.

People under the age of 18 or those on medications should not take a CoQ10 supplement without consulting a doctor first. The side effects of CoQ10 supplementation are rare although it may interfere with some prescription drugs such as blood thinners and beta-blockers.

More »

Powered by Bookmarkify™

13 Comments

May

29

Your Body is Screaming for Water!

Filed under: gastrointestinal system, health and nutrition; Tagged as: allergies, asthma, constipation, energy, fatigue, glycogen, headaches, health, high blood pressure, insomnia, nutrition, water

One of the most critical nutrients the body requires is water and it’s probably one of the most overlooked parts of our diet. Every bodily function is dependent on our body being hydrated. Water flushes toxins out of vital organs and joint tissue, carries the nutrients to your cells, provides hydration for the tissues such as nose, throat, etc. and contributes to the production of vital energy.

Glycogen, which is the body’s main source of stored energy, is produced through a process which combines water with glucose. If there is not enough water, extra amounts of glucose remain in the bloodstream, which increases your blood sugar level and ultimately is stored as fat.

One of the primary functions of the liver is to metabolize stored fat into energy. The liver needs the kidneys to filter toxins, wastes, ingested water, and salts out of the bloodstream in order to function properly. If you are dehydrated, the liver must compensate for the kidneys inability to filter out this debris. As a result, the liver metabolizes less fat and therefore more is stored.

Water is also a great natural appetite suppressant. It actually decreases hunger cravings. However, do not drink large quantities of water before a meal, because that will actually dilute the digestive enzymes and prevent proper digestion.

The amount of water you need depends on your diet, your health, your weight, the climate you live in and even the elevation. Some estimates say that you should get 1/2 your body weight in ounces each day through drinking water. Obviously our diet provides water also and therefore it’s important to choose foods that are not calorie laden or are actually diuretics such as caffeine, soda pop or alcohol.

Besides just drinking water, our skin is another method of providing hydration to our bodies. How many times have you worked out or been outside working or just had a long hard day and then took a shower. It refreshes you partly because you’re re-hydrating. The health of your skin is a great indicator of your body’s hydration level.

While water isn’t a cure-all, certainly there is indication that dehydration may be implicated in the following ailments.

Headaches
Joint & Back Pain
Anxiety & Depression
High Blood Pressure
High Cholesterol
Fatigue & Insomnia
Allergies and Asthma
Constipation

The evidence is certainly compelling - water is the source of life. So instead of drinking water as an afterthought, put it at the top of your daily routine. It could quiet your body’s screams.

More »

Powered by Bookmarkify™

No Comments

Apr

24

The Vitamin D Deficiency Epidemic

Filed under: Vitamin D, health and nutrition; Tagged as: dementia, health, heart disease, high blood pressure, inflammation, metabolic syndrome, nutrition, rheumatoid arthritis, Vitamin D, Vitamin D3

Do you know what your Vitamin D level is? Chances are you don’t and chances are it’s low. Research seems to be coming out almost daily about the effects of Vitamin D deficiency and how many people are deficient. Estimates range from about 35% in young people to 100% in the elderly.
There is a growing awareness of how critical Vitamin D is to our health. There have been many studies on various diseases and conditions which point to Vitamin D deficiency as playing a relevant role.
Recent research indicates thatthe following may be associated with Vitamin D deficiency:

rheumatoid arthritis
cognitive impairment and dementia.
hypertension which may cause high blood pressure
metabolic syndrome, a precursor to type II diabetes
heart disease

As you can see most of the above are related to inflammation. People with higher levels of Vitamin D also have better lung capacity, something that could be important to asthma sufferers.

Vitamin D is not something we get in large quantities from food but rather something we absorb from sunshine. As we have become a society who spends more and more time indoors or covered up when we’re outdoors, our Vitamin D levels have dropped. And many of us live in northern climes where, at least in the winter months, there may not be a lot of sunshine. Although surprisingly, there is a large number of people in states like Florida and Texas with below normal Vitamin D levels. Taking Vitamin D3 supplements is an inexpensive and simple solution which scientists believe will give us more protection against many diseases that are on the rise.

DHEA & CoQ10 – In the News

Your Body is Screaming for Water!

The Vitamin D Deficiency Epidemic

Links

FREE ENERGY REPORT!

Recent Posts