Statin drugs also deplete your body of CoQ10, an antioxidant compound that is central to the process of energy production within your mitochondria, and in the quenching of free radicals.Statins lower your CoQ10 levels by blocking the pathway involved in cholesterol production -- the same pathway by which Q10 is produced. Statins also reduce the blood cholesterol that transports CoQ10 and other fat-soluble antioxidants. The loss of CoQ10 leads to loss of cell energy and increased free radicals which, in turn, can further damage your mitochondrial DNA, effectively setting into motion an evil circle of increasing free radicals and mitochondrial damage.
There are no official warnings in the U.S. regarding CoQ10 depletion from taking statin drugs, and many physicians fail to inform you about this problem as well. Labeling in Canada, however, clearly warns of CoQ10 depletion and even notes that this nutrient deficiency “could lead to impaired cardiac function in patients with borderline congestive heart failure.”
Showing posts with label heart disease. Show all posts
Showing posts with label heart disease. Show all posts
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
NITRIC OXIDE AND THE BLOOD PRESSURE RELATION
High blood pressure (sometimes called hypertension) is also known as the silent killer because there aren't any real symptoms. Nearly one of every three American adults (65 million people) has high blood pressure and in 2002 high blood pressure was implicated in almost 50,000 deaths. High blood pressure is the 13th largest cause of death in the United States (American Heart Association 2005).
Furthermore, studies have estimated that a 55-year-old person who has normal blood pressure has a 90-percent lifetime risk of getting high blood pressure. High blood pressure has resulted in damage to blood vessels in the eyes, heart, brain, and kidneys.
As bleak as this may seem, the good news is that high blood pressure can be controlled by prescription drugs or by natural methods.Many people prefer lowering blood pressure naturally because you avoid the unpleasant side effects that can accompany prescription drugs.Two of the best natural ways of lowering blood pressure naturally are exercise and diet. You don't have to join a gym to get the exercise you need. Simply committing to walk for 20 to 30 minutes at least 3 times a week can have a positive effect on blood pressure. In addition, there are other benefits for the joints, bones and muscles.
A few modifications to your diet can also do wonders for your blood pressure. Start with reducing the amount of salt. If this is hard for you to do then reduce the amount gradually until you have eliminated it completely. Be aware that processed foods are often high in salt (sodium) so read the label.
Recently another method of lowering blood pressure naturally has emerged. This is called nitric oxide therapy and is the result of the research by Nobel® Laureate Dr. Louis Ignarro. Dr. Ignarro and his team of researchers knew that nitrogen in the form of nitro-glycerin had been used for years to help relieve angina or heart distress but they didn't know how it worked. They discovered that the nitric oxide molecule has a profound effect in dilating arteries and blood vessels which could reduce blood pressure and support cardiovascular health.
The next step was to determine how to create nitric oxide in the body. They found that the amino acid, arginine or L-arginine, causes nitric oxide to be produced in the arteries and blood vessels. They also learned that exercise will have the same effect.In addition, they discovered that nitric oxide has other beneficial effects, which impact the immune system and the nervous system. The popular prescription drug Viagra was developed as a direct result of Dr. Ignarro's nitric oxide research.
The question then was what foods provide a source of arginine. There were many on the list including nuts, red meat, and certain vegetables.
Arginine content (grams /100 gram of food)
Plant products
Peanuts, Spanish 3.13
Peanuts 3.09
Almond nuts 2.47
sunflower seed 2.40
Walnuts, English 2.28
Hazelnuts 2.21
Lentils, raw 2.17
Brazilnuts 2.15
Cashew nuts 2.12
Pistachio nuts 2.03
Flax seed 1.93
Beans, kidney 1.46
Pecan nuts 1.18
Soybeans, green, raw 1.04
Animal products
Fish, tuna, light, canned in oil, drained solids 1.74
Chicken, broilers or fryers, giblets, raw 1.19
Salmon, Atlantic, farmed, raw 1.19
Shrimp, mixed species, raw 1.18
Egg, yolk, raw, fresh 1.10
Egg, whole, raw 0.82
Egg, white, raw, fresh 0.65
Pork, fresh, separable fat, raw 0.56
Milk, whole, 3.25% milkfat 0.08
Furthermore, studies have estimated that a 55-year-old person who has normal blood pressure has a 90-percent lifetime risk of getting high blood pressure. High blood pressure has resulted in damage to blood vessels in the eyes, heart, brain, and kidneys.
As bleak as this may seem, the good news is that high blood pressure can be controlled by prescription drugs or by natural methods.Many people prefer lowering blood pressure naturally because you avoid the unpleasant side effects that can accompany prescription drugs.Two of the best natural ways of lowering blood pressure naturally are exercise and diet. You don't have to join a gym to get the exercise you need. Simply committing to walk for 20 to 30 minutes at least 3 times a week can have a positive effect on blood pressure. In addition, there are other benefits for the joints, bones and muscles.
A few modifications to your diet can also do wonders for your blood pressure. Start with reducing the amount of salt. If this is hard for you to do then reduce the amount gradually until you have eliminated it completely. Be aware that processed foods are often high in salt (sodium) so read the label.
Recently another method of lowering blood pressure naturally has emerged. This is called nitric oxide therapy and is the result of the research by Nobel® Laureate Dr. Louis Ignarro. Dr. Ignarro and his team of researchers knew that nitrogen in the form of nitro-glycerin had been used for years to help relieve angina or heart distress but they didn't know how it worked. They discovered that the nitric oxide molecule has a profound effect in dilating arteries and blood vessels which could reduce blood pressure and support cardiovascular health.
The next step was to determine how to create nitric oxide in the body. They found that the amino acid, arginine or L-arginine, causes nitric oxide to be produced in the arteries and blood vessels. They also learned that exercise will have the same effect.In addition, they discovered that nitric oxide has other beneficial effects, which impact the immune system and the nervous system. The popular prescription drug Viagra was developed as a direct result of Dr. Ignarro's nitric oxide research.
The question then was what foods provide a source of arginine. There were many on the list including nuts, red meat, and certain vegetables.
Arginine content (grams /100 gram of food)
Plant products
Peanuts, Spanish 3.13
Peanuts 3.09
Almond nuts 2.47
sunflower seed 2.40
Walnuts, English 2.28
Hazelnuts 2.21
Lentils, raw 2.17
Brazilnuts 2.15
Cashew nuts 2.12
Pistachio nuts 2.03
Flax seed 1.93
Beans, kidney 1.46
Pecan nuts 1.18
Soybeans, green, raw 1.04
Animal products
Fish, tuna, light, canned in oil, drained solids 1.74
Chicken, broilers or fryers, giblets, raw 1.19
Salmon, Atlantic, farmed, raw 1.19
Shrimp, mixed species, raw 1.18
Egg, yolk, raw, fresh 1.10
Egg, whole, raw 0.82
Egg, white, raw, fresh 0.65
Pork, fresh, separable fat, raw 0.56
Milk, whole, 3.25% milkfat 0.08
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