Lose Weight, Lighten Up… To Help Your Heart!

dropping excess fat is an important first step to reducing your heart disease risk

As you probably know, a big risk for heart disease is excessive weight. Not only does it increase the strain on the heart but it also contributes to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. A high-fat diet combined with little or no exercise is a major factor in rising cholesterol levels and heart disease.

In the United States, approximately one-third of the adult population weighs 20% or more over their ideal weight.

Can losing weight lower your cholesterol levels?

Being overweight has been shown to increase total cholesterol levels. It can also cause your cholesterol levels to get out of balance, raising levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol that clogs blood vessels and lowering levels of HDL (good) cholesterol by raising blood pressure and straining the heart.

Do you weigh more than you should?

Most of us have done the simple “mirror test” – we simply look in the mirror and see if we are overweight. If you can pinch an inch at your waist, chances are you need to lose weight. Also, if you weigh 10 to 15 pounds more than you did when you were 20, you may need to drop some weight with the help of the Leanology® Weight Loss System and lifestyle changes.

What is your ideal weight?

Your ideal weight is determined by lean body mass (everything but fat) plus the amount of fat you need for good health. This ranges from 10%-18% of total body weight for men and 18%-25% of total body weight for women. A health professional can estimate your own percentage by measuring your body fat with a skinfold caliper.

How body shape impacts heart health

Recent research suggests that heart health can be affected as much by body shape as by weight. For example, people whose waists are nearly as large as or larger than their hips have a higher rate of heart disease.

To determine your waist-to-hip ratio, measure your waist just above the navel. Measure your hips at their widest. Divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement. A waist-to-hip ratio greater than 0.8 for women and 0.95 for men indicates higher heart disease risk.

The different kinds of body fat – and their importance

Some of us carry excess weight in the hips and thighs while others carry it in the abdominal area. Several studies have indicated that excess fat in the abdominal area is more likely to cause health problems such as high cholesterol levels.

Since the measurement around your waistline reflects your level of abdominal fat, a waist measurement can provide a good clue to whether you have too much upper body fat. You may have too much abdominal fat if your waist measurement exceeds: • 40 inches for men • 35 inches for women

Fat around the heart may increase heart attack risk

A recent study from Wake Forest University indicates that having excess fat around the heart may also be a health risk. Even a thin person can have fat around the heart. Pericardial fat, or stores of fat around the heart, is known to cause higher secretion of inflammatory substances, which may accelerate the development of heart disease.

Weight control tips

• Eat more high-fiber foods, including fruits and grains.
• Use non-fat or low-fat dairy products.
• Eat only lean meats, fish, skinless poultry and low-fat vegetable proteins such as tofu.
• Eat a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Keep serving sizes moderate and avoid second helpings.
• Get regular physical activity. Even a brisk walk is great exercise.
• Limit sugary desserts and soft drinks.
• Limit alcohol consumption.
• Celebrate your successes with non-food treats, such as a weekend getaway, a massage or a new look or hairstyle.

Since February is Heart Health Month, there’s never been a better time to get your weight and your health under control.

Source: TriVita VitaJournal February 2009 pg 12.

TriVita’s OmegaPrime Contains Essential Fatty Acids for Vibrant Good Health

Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) support the body’s health in two ways:

1. Fighting Inflammation

• Help reduce cardiovascular inflammation – to lower the risks of heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
• Lessen joint inflammation – to ease joint pain and inflammation for increased flexibility
• Relieve respiratory inflammation – to lessen any inflammation related to allergies and asthma.

2. Development Growth and Healthy Aging

• Help the brain – EFAs nourish the brain, support its development and protect against deterioration – all of which help boost brain function for improved memory, concentration and focus.
• Protect circulation – EFAs help raise levels of HDL (good cholesterol) and lower levels of triglycerides and unhealthy LDL (bad cholesterol)- which help lead to a healthy heart and circulatory system.
• Support hormone production – EFAs are a key building block for the production of the body’s healthy hormones – which assist with all body processes and help support an overall sense of both physical and mental balance and well-being.

Why TriVita OmegaPrime is so significant to our health

The human body has a daily need for EFAs. They play a key role in helping to sustain vibrant good health in adults of all ages. EFAs nourish the body’s:

• Heart
• Brain
• Skin
• Glands
• Joints

EFAs are also critical to the hormone production process. And, since the body cannot produce EFAs on its own, outside sources like food and supplements containing EFAs are necessary.

TriVita OmegaPrime’s EFAs support our wellness in so many ways, starting with helping to reduce runaway inflammation. Many of us don’t realize this, but runaway inflammation can lead to serious health problems in the body involving the heart, arteries, lungs, joints and more.

The EFAs in OmegaPrime® are critical for all adults in every stage of life – from development and growth to healthy aging

When it comes to our health and our pressing need for EFAs, it’s important to choose the right product. Choosing TriVita OmegaPrime means you’ll get the best. Its name says it all – Omega and Prime stand for:

OMEGA Omega-3 and -6 EFAs
P	Premier blend of essential fatty acids from 4 sources -Fish, Flaxseed, Evening Primrose and Perilla Seed
R	Right balance of Omega-3s and Omega-6s. with, higher level of Omega-3s as they are more absent from our diets
I	Inflammation-fighting formula that supports us from our 20s on up – from development through healthy aging
M	Mercury/contaminant-free fish oil, which is the result of an exclusive 10-stage process to ensure its purity, potency and quality (plus a higher level of Vitamin E for maximizing the fish oil’s potency)
E	Evening Primrose and Perilla Seed Oils -the most potent EFA’s for Inflammation

The American Heart Association recommends…

Taking EPA and DHA Omega-3 fatty acids to benefit heart health. Studies show Omega-3 helps people at risk for coronary heart disease. Studies show .5 to 1.8 grams of Omega-3 fatty acids ingested daily, significantly reduce heart disease. The AHA recommends healthy people and those at risk for, or who have heart disease, take .5 to 1.8 grams of Omega-3 daily.

NOTE: 1 capsule of OmegaPrime contains .5 grams (500 milligrams) of Omega-3 fatty acids.

Source: TriVita Magazine February 2009 pg 12.

Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs: Do They Help?

Healthcare professionals continue to debate the benefits of statin drugs

Statin drugs have become big business. The use of these cholesterol-lowering drugs increased by 156% between 2000 and 2005, rising from 15.8 million people to 29.7 million people.

Statins are currently the best-selling medicines in history, used by more than 13 million Americans and more than 12 million additional patients around the world, producing $27.8 billion in sales in 2006. Half of that amount went to Pfizer alone for its leading statin, Lipitor.North Americans are bombarded with messages from doctors, pharmaceutical companies and the media saying that high levels of bad cholesterol are the ticket to an early grave and must be brought down now. Yet, many respected healthcare professionals question the benefits of these drugs. They point out that different clinical trials were biased or only showed marginal benefits. Some researchers even have doubts about the need to drive down cholesterol levels in the first place. The debate about the effectiveness of statins continues and each side offers statistics to support their position. Statin proponents point to studies that suggest these medications may prevent heart attacks and strokes among people who don’t already have cardiovascular disease or elevated cholesterol levels. And there are even studies that claim statins can help protect against dementia or Alzheimer’s. However, there are just as many respected healthcare professionals who feel that statin drugs are unnecessary and possibly even dangerous. Some of these people question whether cholesterol automatically is the culprit in most heart diseases. “Cholesterol is just one of the risk factors for coronary disease,” explains Dr. Ronald M. Krauss, director of atherosclerosis research at the Oakland Research Institute, in a Business Week article. “Higher LDL levels do help set the stage for heart disease by contributing to the buildup of plaque in arteries. But something else has to happen before people get heart disease. When you look at patients with heart disease, their cholesterol levels are not that much higher than those without heart disease.” Still others point to the ever-growing body of evidence that shows potentially serious side effects from statins. The most common side effect is muscle pain and weakness, most likely due to the depletion of CoQ-10, a nutrient that supports muscle function. Some healthcare providers suggest taking a CoQ-10 supplement to help protect against statin side effects. To find out more about TriVita’s CoEnzyme Q-10 product, call a Wellness Consultant at 1-800-991-7116. Other potential side effects from large statin doses may include anemia, acidosis, frequent fevers, cataracts and lessening of mental acuity. Now there’s even more controversy about statinsJust recently the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) started recommending cholesterol-lowering statin drugs to obese children as young as age eight. Statins have long played a role in the fight against a childhood disease called familial hyper-cholesterolemia. However, the AAP is now making widespread recommendations for a whole generation of eight year olds. The AAP has been strongly criticized for its statement by the food and nutrition industries. Some say that no studies have been performed to show that this course of action is both necessary and successful. They suggest that doctors should emphasize the value of dietary approaches. An article in Nutraingredients.com states, “The lifestyles of these children have got them into this state; their lifestyle must get them out of it. And that means changing their diet.” How to lower cholesterol naturally Here are a variety of ways to lower your cholesterol naturally without any potentially dangerous side effects: • Make sure you get plenty of high quality, Omega-3 fatty acids • Reduce grains and sugars in your daily diet • Include soluble fibers containing psyllium seed • Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables: five servings for children, seven for women and nine for men • Try to eat a good portion of your food raw • Get the right amount of exercise – this will help increase blood flow throughout your body and also raise HDL, the protective “good” cholesterol • Avoid smoking and drinking excessive alcohol • Don’t become overwhelmed by emotional challenges – use prayer, meditation or relaxation techniques to lower stress level being overused and oversold to the wrong people. Source VitaJournal October 2008 pg 29 For more on this subject visit TriVita for more information.