February, Valentines Day, 'National Heart Health Month' all here (or
coming to a loved one near you soon), all a coincidence - I don't think
so. First, the good news - seems chocolate just may be good for you!
Really! Recent studies show chocolate contains the same ingredients (polyphenols)
that are found in red wine and are believed to protect the heart from
disease, just like the French Paradox?. (It is commonly believed, in the
US, that the French have very heart unhealthy diets, yet suffer from
much less heart disease than we do. One major difference in cultures:
red wine.) In that same light, we know that while raisins contain many
valuable nutrients, they also stick to the teeth and can promote tooth
decay. Chocolate also contains healthy ingredients that inhibit tooth
decay - so buy your Sweetie some chocolate covered raisins!
What can Symmetry do to help you promote heart health? A lot! One of
the first things you should think of is our Cardio-Essentials.
This formula was developed by our TRAC team over a 9 - 12 month period.
The most important work done on this formula was conducted by our own
heart doc; Frederic Vagnini, MD, who has been a cardiologist for 30
years and is author of The Carbohydrate Addicts Healthy Heart Program
along with Dr. Heller and Dr. Heller. Dr. Vagnini came up with the
nutrients he has found most beneficial for cardiovascular function over
his long and celebrated career. I suggested herbs from China's ancient
past, many of which have now been researched by Western medicine and
their heat health properties verified by the most stringent scientific
trails. Susan Harrison, Symmetry's 'Product Central', helped tweak the
formula with her research into effective or therapeutic levels of
nutrients and additional suggestions into manufacturing and packaging.
The result is a formula that contains the whole 'kitchen sink' for heart
health. If it's good for the heart, your circulation, blood pressure -
it's in there.
We say our Cardio-Essentials has Tri-C Power - as it benefits
Cholesterol levels, Circulation, and functions as a Cardio Tonic. It
contains essential nutrients for all heart / cardiovascular functions
including Co-Enzyme Q-10 and L-Carnitine.
There is a fiber blend that not only benefits the heart but also the
colon and can help promote healthy cholesterol levels and blood sugar
levels. There is a probiotics blend (50 million) that can benefit heart
health, proper GI health and even bolster immune function. There are Essential
Fatty Acids that have been shown to lower your risk for heart
disease as well as benefiting a host of other bodily functions,
including insulin regulation, nerve functioning, mental abilities, and
they are even anti-inflammatory. The Chinese herb, Shan Zha, or Hawthorn
Berry (Fructus Crataegi) is now recommended by many Western
physicians to help promote healthy heart functioning because of both the
research and the clinical evidence.
Symmetry's Cardio-Essentials should be the first thought when it
comes to a healthy heart as there are essential ingredients to address
all the major functions of your cardiovascular system. By getting all
these nutrients in one convenient, great tasting packet it also saves
you a great deal of money. Just try pricing all the vitamins, minerals,
herbs and other essential ingredients separately and see what an amazing
deal you are getting!
There are a number of other ways we can help your heart health.
Maintaining a healthy weight directly affects your heart health and can
help you live an additional 6 years! Other studies show if you are
carrying this weight around your middle (belly) you may double your risk
of diabetes, which often leads to
cardiovascular complications. The danger numbers are: 40 for men and 35
for women. That is, if your waist hits 40 inches for men or 35 inches
for women, you double your risk of diabetes.
We have a number of fantastic products to help keep your weight down:
Symmetry's Slym Pack: ThermoBalance, Nite Light, Premium Plus and
Lipo-Sorb. Lipo-Sorb is particularly good at not only reducing the
absorption of some fat and carbohydrates from your food but also
promoting a healthy cholesterol level and even helping to regulate blood
sugar levels! Advanced Omega with it's Essential Fatty Acids can also
promote healthy weight loss by helping to maintain insulin levels,
encouraging brown fat adipose tissue to increase metabolism and even in
controlling appetite, when taken before meals. Certainly don't forget
Symmetry's newest product: CarbLess.
This unique product inhibits an enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates
into sugar. This makes the undigested carbohydrate (and the calories
associated with it) pass out of the body with no negative effects at
all. By reducing carbohydrate/sugar absorption you benefit insulin
levels and fat conversion in the liver. There are also ingredients to
help with glucose tolerance factor and glucose transport, great for
anyone concerned about blood sugar, weight loss, or even slowing down
the aging process.
I might also mention Female
Balance. This formula is essentially a blood tonic, suitable for
both men and women. There are a number of herbs that benefit the heart.
Dong Kwai has been shown to help inhibit the build-up of plaque in the
arteries and lower cholesterol levels while also increasing the flow of
blood to heart. Many people have found (and research confirms) the
benefits of Vit C, Vit E and Garlic on heart health and overall health,
in general! So don't forget our Botana-C, Botana-E, and Botana-G. One
recent study found taking Vit E reduced the risk of heart disease by
77%!
Stress can also be a major factor
in heart disease (see my article from December 2000). Studies have shown
that stress produces cortisol, a stress hormone. This makes us more
sensitive to insulin and that promotes weight gain. More importantly,
the presence of this hormone seems to increase the storage of fat around
our middle, increasing our risk of diabetes and all the disease symptoms
associated with this scourge of America. (Type 2 Diabetes rates are
rising at an alarming rate. Often called adult onset diabetes, this
disease is now being routinely found in children as young as 8!)
Incidentally, while studies have shown the benefits of wine drinking to
heart health, it has also been shown that beer drinking seems to raise
cortisol levels and promote -beer belly - and increase all the risks
associated with this.
Other ways to address the cortisol levels - stress - would include
Aloe Plus, Tranquility and of course, Neuro-Calm. Studies have shown
controlling stress and your emotions can help you live an additional 16
years! In this same vein (no pun intended) stress levels and cortisol
are kept at bay by healthy long-term relationships. Research has
shown couples in successful, loving, relationships live up to 6 and ½
years longer!
So buy your Sweetie some Valentine's chocolates, take them out to
dinner and snuggle up after. (A simple hug and quick kiss will burn 4
calories and a more passionate embrace with a more intimate kiss can
burn up to 26 calories and release lots of anti-stress brain chemicals!)
Oh, and if you get a touch of - heart burn - from that dinner, Lipo-Sorb
is really great for that too!
Happy Valentine's Day from Dr. Mark!
Dr. Mark R. Crapo, OMD, DAc, BS, LAc, CA
