Taking action for women's heart wellness
Have you ever wondered if the perception that heart disease is mainly a man's concern holds true? It's a common belief that premenopausal women are less at risk, but recent findings suggest this might not be the case.
Here's the alarming truth: we might not fully understand the actual risk, and that information is not reaching us!
According to Erin Michos, a renowned expert in preventive cardiology and women’s cardiovascular health:
"The fastest-growing heart disease death rate is in middle-aged women aged 45 to 64."
It's a wakeup call! There's so much that can be done preventatively, especially for younger women.
Prevention is most effective when started early.
In the realm of heart health, knowledge reigns supreme — testing is better than guessing, and tracking is key.
The INTERHEART Study reveals an encouraging statistic: 90% of heart attacks can be prevented.
Take charge of your health - go and get your numbers checked - I shared how and where last week.
If you are new to my newsletter and missed these posts just email me.
You can learn more about Erin Michos work here.
Homocysteine
Today let's talk about homocysteine.
A key health marker that often doesn't get the attention it deserves, much like ApoB.
Homocysteine is an amino acid produced when your body breaks down proteins.
If your homocysteine levels are high, it can lead to damage in your arteries, heightening the risk increase of blood clots and and increasing the likelihood of heart disease, diabetes, insulin resistance, memory loss, and osteoporosis.
The good news is it's easily managed by nutrition and crucial for maintaining a healthy heart and brain.
Like ApoB we ideally want to test annually and track levels every year.
In my last newsletter I shared a few testing companies.
You can also ask your GP to check your levels.
If you want to know more please get in touch.
Here is a great article to learn more.
Garlics cardio-protective effects
Garlic has been used for more than 5,000 years, and it's not just a tasty addition to your meals!
People in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine have been using it to stay healthy for a long time.
What makes garlic so special are its sulfur-containing compounds, like alliin, which turns into allicin when you cut, chew, or crush garlic.
Allicin is like the superhero of garlic, responsible for most of its health benefits.
One cool thing about garlic is that it can make hydrogen sulfide, which is good for relaxing blood vessels and improving something called nitric oxide (the molecule I spoke about a few newsletter ago).
Studies have found that eating garlic can lower bad cholesterol (LDL) - in this with high LDL, may help to improve high blood pressure and reduce inflammation in your body.
If you want to give it a try, start small and increase. Try 1-2 cloves a day. It's best to cut or crush the garlic first to activate its superpowers, and then you can cook it or eat it raw.
This information is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making any dietary or lifestyle changes.
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