The New Year is all about new beginnings, and there’s no better time to make a resolution and improve your heart health. The New Year offers an irresistible opportunity to start fresh and reaffirm your commitment to a healthier lifestyle. Since February is Heart Awareness Month, now is the perfect time to kick those bad eating habits in favor of enjoying nutritious meals that will leave you more than satisfied and help your heart perform its best. I have a few simple tips to ensure that you get off to the right start in 2014!
Take Your Multivitamin
First, a Lifeguard. This is the most important supplement you can take – a high-quality multivitamin is a must! Vitamins and minerals are essential to good nutrition and good health. Ideally, we should get our nutrients and micronutrients in food with a balanced, healthy diet. That’s not always possible. According to a report published in the Spring 2013 issue of Wise Traditions, the journal of the Weston A. Price Foundation, deficiencies of vitamins A, D, K, B1, B3, B6, B12 and folate, and of minerals iodine, potassium, iron, magnesium, zinc, chromium and manganese can all contribute to mental instability and violent behavior.
A recent article, “Violent Behavior: A Solution in Plain Sight” by Sylvia Onusic, PhD, CNS, LDN, seeks reasons for the increase in violent behavior in America, especially among teenagers. “We can blame violence on the media and on the breakdown of the home,” Onusic said. “But the fact is that a large number of Americans, living mostly on devitalized processed food, are suffering from malnutrition. In many cases, this means their brains are starving.”
In fact, doctors are seeing a return of nutritional deficiency diseases, such as scurvy and pellagra, which were declared eradicated long ago by public health officials. Many of these conditions cause brain injuries as well.
No one goes swimming without a lifeguard present, so don’t let your health drown in the numerous challenges to your body experiences every day. Help protect yourself with Lifeguard, a multivitamin that can keep your health above water.
Get Your OMEGA 3 Fatty Acids
According to the American Heart Association, OMEGA 3 fatty acids such as those found in fish oil benefit the hearts of healthy people, and those at high risk of or who have cardiovascular disease. OMEGA 3 fatty acids have been shown to protect against heart disease by inhibiting the formation of blood clots, preventing potentially deadly heartbeat abnormalities, and lowering triglyceride levels that can increase the risk of heart attacks. A study of nearly 4,000 men and women aged 65 years and older found that those who ate at least one serving of fatty fish every week were 35% percent less likely to die of a heart attack.
Research sponsored by the National Institute of Health links higher consumption of OMEGA 3 to a lower risk of depression and better response to treatment for manic depression and schizophrenia.
Don’t Forget Arginine
Another nutrient than has been getting a lot of attention is arginine. There is a growing body of solid scientific evidence that an amino acid, L-arginine (arginine for short) can significantly protect against the development of coronary artery disease.
Stay Active with Healthy Joints
As a former athlete, I love the benefits if using glucosamine for my joints! I have been using glucosamine HCl (G HCl) for more than 16 years. It is a fabulous natural product that is essential for the health of all cartilage. It has great scientific evidence for safety and efficacy. Everyone gets G HCl from their diet but many do not get enough over time or excess wear and tear. Using G HCl as a supplement may be your safest way to avoid inflamed joints. Keep your joints healthy and keep moving, as exercise is vital to good heart health.
Enjoy a Healthier, Happier You
With almost a month already on the books in 2014, don’t lose sight of your resolutions already. Instead, make your heart health your top priority. Adding a multivitamin, Omega-3 fatty acids, arginine and glucosamine to your diet can help you become healthier. Use this New Year wisely, to create a healthier and happier you!
Article by Greg Pryor published in Kansas City Sports & Fitness.
