Wishing You A Happy, Healthy New Year!

Pull Your Head Out of Your Anxiety

WISHING YOU A HAPPY, HEALTHY NEW YEAR!

At 75 years my goal for my remaining time is to help my fellow man have a healthy life. Diet, exercise and lifestyle are the key to a healthy life. As a medicolegal death investigator over the past 35 years, I’ve investigated many cases. After assisting Doctors in determining cause of death in hundreds of cases, a question that I have been focused on is, what is the cause of the cause of death?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. and also the leading cause of death worldwide. Heart disease is a term used to describe several conditions, many of which are related to plaque buildup in the walls of the arteries. When plaque builds up, the arteries narrow making it more difficult for blood to flow and creates a risk for heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism, high blood pressure, vascular dementia and aneurysm.

Adequate oxygenated blood flow is the answer. A healthy circulatory system transports about 2000 gallons of blood through its many miles of blood vessels every day. Our circulatory system is a vast network of vessels and organs whose job is to move blood around the body. It’s responsible for the proper delivery of oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and immune factors to tissues and cells, as well as carrying away waste products. As you grow older this system begins to slow down. Deficiency begins in your early 40’s and can be as high 75% in you 60’s. The slowdown is sometime not recognized and can progress gradually.

What I have learned and want to share is that the slowdown is due to our endothelium, the lining in our arteries, vessels and capillaries losing its ability to release adequate amounts of nitric oxide a/k/a NO, a natural gas involved in body function.

This loss prevents our arteries from being flexible and allows plaque buildup. The ability of our arteries to open and close affects our blood pressure and how hard our heart needs to work to provide adequate oxygenated blood and nutrients to our organs.

I have conducted a study on 193 of the cases I’ve investigated. The study covered 93 female and 100 male subjects. The overall average age was 64years old. Plaque buildup in coronary arteries in 80% of the cases. Heart weight above average overall. The heart is a muscle and the harder it works the larger it gets.

Lack of adequate oxygenated blood to your organs is known as hypoxia which is a cause of chronic inflammation. When chronic inflammation occurs the body’s immune system will attack itself, causing inflammation to continue even when there’s no injury or danger. This can lead to health issues over time, including; cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

Diet is one of the best and most effective ways to naturally boost levels of this important molecule. The best foods to boost nitric oxide levels are;

Beets are rich in dietary nitrates that will be converted to nitric oxide in your body. I take PURE Beet Root Powder daily. Due to their rich content of dietary nitrates, beets have been linked to a number of health benefits, including improved cognitive function, enhanced athletic performance and lower blood pressure levels.

Garlic can boost nitric oxide levels by activating nitric oxide synthase, the enzyme that aids   conversion of nitric oxide from the amino acid L-arginine. Both human and animal studies indicate that garlic’s ability to increase nitric oxide levels may have a beneficial effect on health and can help lower blood pressure. Garlic can enhance the bioavailability of nitric oxide and may increase levels of nitric oxide synthase, the enzyme that converts L-arginine to nitric oxide.

Seafoods are all excellent sources of coenzyme Q10 an important compound believed to help preserve nitric oxide in the body. Fatty fish contain a high concentration of CoQ10. Studies show that getting enough CoQ10 in your diet not only preserves nitric oxide but can also help improve athletic performance, prevent migraines and promote heart health.

Dark chocolate is loaded with flavanols naturally occurring compounds that contain an extensive list of powerful health benefits. Research shows that the flavanols found in cocoa can help establish optimal levels of nitric oxide in your body to promote heart health and protect cells against oxidative damage.

Leafy green vegetables like spinach, arugula, kale and cabbage are packed with nitrates, which are converted to nitric oxide in your body. A nitrate-rich meal containing spinach increased salivary nitrate levels and significantly decreased systolic blood pressure. Consuming high-nitrate leafy greens may also be associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and cognitive decline.

Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit are all excellent sources of vitamin C, an important water-soluble vitamin that plays a central role in health. Vitamin C can enhance levels of nitric oxide by increasing its bioavailability and maximizing its absorption in the body.

Pomegranate is loaded with potent antioxidants that can protect your cells against damage and preserve nitric oxide. Studies have found that antioxidant-rich pomegranate can improve blood flow, which may be especially beneficial in treating conditions like high blood pressure and erectile dysfunction.

Nuts and seeds are high in arginine, a type of amino acid that is involved in the production of nitric oxide. Thanks to their arginine content and stellar nutrient profile, regularly eating nuts and seeds has been associated with lower blood pressure, improved cognition and increased endurance.

Watermelon is one of the best sources of citrulline, an amino acid that’s converted to arginine and, ultimately, nitric oxide in your body. Citrulline supplements help stimulate nitric oxide synthesis after just a few hours. Research says that upping your intake of watermelon not only enhances nitric oxide levels but can also improve exercise performance, decrease blood pressure and boost blood flow.

Red wine contains powerful antioxidants and has a multitude of health benefits. Studies have found that drinking red wine could also increase levels of nitric oxide. Moderate consumption of red wine has been shown to reduce blood pressure and improve heart health. Red wine can increase levels of nitric oxide synthase, which can help enhance nitric oxide levels.

Nitric oxide is an important compound involved in many aspects of health, including blood pressure regulation, athletic performance and brain function. These simple swaps in your diet can be an easy and effective way to increase your levels of nitric oxide naturally. Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and healthy protein foods can optimize nitric oxide levels while also promoting better overall health.