Secrets to a Healthy Heart

February is Heart Health Month, and Heart Health is very important to me ~ my Dad passed away 3 years ago this coming summer with a massive heart attack.  It was a shock to my whole family, as dad was never sick and had no other symptoms (that we were aware of) to indicate that a Heart Attack was going to happen to him...  My goal is to help educate others so that they can have a preventative approach to their Heart Health.

Did you know?

• Cardiovascular (Heart) Disease is the #2 Killer in Canada (Cancer is #1)?
  
• 9 in 10 Canadians (90%) have at least 1 risk factor for heart disease?

Risk Factors for Heart Disease

• smoking
• alcohol
• diabetes

• physical inactivity
• obesity

• high blood pressure
• high blood cholesterol

Symptoms of Heart Attack in Men

• chest pain or when combined with:
•  sweating
• shortness of breath
• nausea, vomiting
• pain that spreads from chest to neck, jaw, arms
• dizziness, lightheadedness
• fast irregular heart beat
• loss of consciousness

Symptoms of Heart Attack in Women

• often less specific
• fatigue
  
• trouble sleeping
• anxiety
• difficulty breathing
• indigestion

One more common symptom of a Heart Attack in both men and women is...
Sudden Death

Healthy Heart Program:

Lifestyle Recommendations: 
Eat a heart healthy diet: 
Filled with lots of vegetables (aim for 6-9 servings/day) and some fruit (2-3/day), reduce bad fats, increase soluble fibre (ex. oatmeal, cabbage, apples), reduce inflammatory proteins and replace with non-inflammatory protein - Raw Soy Protein Powder. 
Also:
Increase water intake
1 teaspoon of turmeric daily
Exercise


Recommended Supplements:

• Anti-oxidants...  in the diet and also Vitalizer (great basic preventative program)
• Omega 3 Fatty Acids... in diet, Vitalizer, Omega Guard for added protection
• CoEnzyme Q10 to prevent congestive heart failure, particularly if on statins
• Vivix to do just about everything else that's good for your heart
• A healthy weight with Shaklee180 Weight Loss Plan
• For extra protection consider adding Cholesterol Reduction Complex (with plant sterols and stanols), Flax Seed Oil, Garlic