Doctor Greens Health & Nutrition Blog

Food is Great but Hold the Salt: Before you ask to have the Salt Passed; Consider the following for you and your family.

Too much Sodium (Salt) can be Deadly and take 10 years or more off of your life. Most Americans consume three to four times more Salt than they need. Accumulated Salt over the years clogs up the blood vessels by accumulating within arterial walls (endothelium layer of blood vessels) helping to form plaque and other potentially life shortening blood flow restrcting blockages in blood vessels. In addition, too much Salt also contributes dangerously to blood vessels becoming more inelastic (unable to expand to accomodate sufficient blood flow) and brittle which can also severly restrict blood flow and cause dangerous breaks in blood vessel walls with dangerous complications.

So when you serve Corn on the Cob this summer, it’s ok to add a pat of natural butter, just don’t also add the extra salt. Learn to enjoy the real natural taste of foods this summer. Remember to always use Garlic powder or natural Garlic pressings and not Garlic salt on those summer meals. If you absolutely have to add a little salt as you gradually wean yourself from using salt then use the more natural based Sea Salt varieties, available at all Health Food Stores and even at many Grocery stores. Don’t settle for the very cheap and much less healthier normal table salt variety.

High amounts of sodium are present in most commercially prepared foods, including canned and frozen foods, junk food snacks, desserts, and fast food breakfasts and meals. Many fast food meals provide 2,400 of sodium at one meal. Most snacks, chips, soups, fries, popcorn, and salad dressings contain way too much salt in addition to containing harmful saturated and trans fats. As discussed earlier, many Americans eat three to five times more sodium than the recommended 2,400 mg of sodium daily. Make it a habit to read food labels.

Some sodium is necessary daily for good cellular electrolyte balance, just don’t over do it. Most people don’t have to worry about getting enough sodium daily. Your concern should be getting too much sodium that can literally help take 10 or more years off of your life. If you see the word sodium in some form on a food or drink product label, that means Salt. To help avoid getting too much sodium when you are preparing your own meals, look for natural substitute seasoning products like Mrs. Dash and other low sodium or no sodium seasonings that you can add in place of extra salt to your food. Examples are: onion and garlic powder (without salt), ginger, basil, paprika, and lemon.

Health Hint: Leave the salt shaker off the table and let people get used to the natural, delicious taste of food without added salt. Many non-sodium seasonings and flavorings can be added to make up for leaving salt out of recipes. Also, learn to read food labels to recognize how much salt is in any product before you eat it. If you have a can of soup, look to see how many servings there are per can. You may think you’re getting 600 mg of salt, but if you eat the whole small can (which may contain two servings), you may well be getting over 1,200 mg. One glass of tomato juice can have 1,200 mg of sodium, so buy low sodium V8, Knudsen’s low sodium veggie drink, or other low sodium juice. In addition, add up everything else you’re eating with that soup or meal to get an idea of just how much sodium you may be eating. A few extra seconds of better food product label reading may well easily save you more than a few extra years of living, and, if you have children, will add decades to their lives and will help set a healthy example. Learn to enjoy the natural taste of food.
Here’s to a great healthy summer and a long healthy life, Hal
For more information about healthy no added sodium nutritional supplements check out www.doctorgreens.com

Lose the Bull and Do Yourself a Favor

Today more people are drinking so called “Energy Soda Drinks” that are highly sugared or highly artificially sugared and caffeinated and don’t realize they are destroying their future health.

Sacrificing your long term health for a short time energy boost with these “Energy Drinks” is not healthy or smart.

Excessive or daily use of “soda Energy” drinks causes osteoporosis (brittle bones), diabetes, weakend or destroyed adrenal glands, eroded teeth enamel and dental problems, weakens the immune system and will steal your youth and age long before your time.

Reasons to Avoid Sweetened & Caffeinated Soda Energy Drinks:

1. All most all contain the equivalent of 10 to 20 teaspoons of sugar. Besides being fattening, Sugar and soda are higly acidic, they force calcium and magnesium from your bones and muscles to help neutralize and alkalinize your body from the harmful acid in sodas. This means your bones and teeth are weakened to compensate which leads to osteporosis (brittle bones) and severe dental problems.

2. Later in life this excess sugar can even lead to heart disease as sugar also creates excess inflammation which is very harmful for the heart and circulatory system.

3. The 10 to 20 teaspoons of sugar per can or bottle also lowers your immune system’s ability to fight infections by more than 50% for a period of 4 to 5 hours after sugar consumption which means more colds, illness and infections. A weakened immune system increase your odds for cancer as you age. In addition to gaining weight, Diabetes is also sure to follow within a short time to a few years of excessive sugar intake.

4. Artificial sweeteners have harmful chemicals and toxins that the body was not created to digest or absorb. These toxins are stored in the body and emit harmful byproducts that contribute to lethargy, weakness and lowers the immune system.
NEW STUDIES SHOW THAT EVEN ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS CAN LEAD TO DIABETES AS THE PANCREAS IS TRICKED INTO SENSING SWEETNESS AND CRANKS OUT EXCESSIVE INSULIN WHICH EVENTUALLY LEADS TO DIABETES.

5. Soda Energy drinks also contain a very high amount of phosphorus which causes calcium to be leached from your bones.

6. Caffeine is also highly acidic and caffeine in excess (especially more than one or two cups a day) will deplete the adrenal glands’ ability to release beneficial hormones like adrenaline and other important hormones which can lead to adrenal exhaustion, a weakened immune system, constant tiredness and adrenal exhaustion.

THERE ARE MUCH HEALTHIER ALTERNATIVES;

A Company called Doctor Greens makes a very healthy, Organic and Wholesome natural energy drink called ORGANIC ENERGY. Just one high antioxidant serving provides the body with what it naturally needs to help provide long term lasting energy. This helps maintain calcium within the bones where it belongs. In addition, Organic Energy helps to alkalinze the body’s Ph level to make it much less acidic, and all the Green nutrients and organic pomegranate and goji helps to energize and detoxify the body. This helps oxygen and the vitamins, minerals and nutrients to better reach the cells for lasting energy. One serving of Organic Energy provides the antioxidant orac equvialent of up to 6 servings of more than 18 different types of Organic and Wholesome Vegetables, Fruits, nutrients, probiotics, fiber and organic protein. This is Real Natural Healthy Energy.

For those who feel as if temporaily they still need an extra caffeine and healthier gingseng boost and want a much better alternative to the disastrous soda type energy drinks, Organic Energy even comes with a special version called ORGANIC ENERGY PLUS that has caffeine, ginseng and most importantly extra calcium and magnesium added. It still contains the nutritionally rich 6 servings of Organic and wholesome antioxidants, vegetables, fruits and nutrients described above.

The Choice is yours: to eat and live healthier, get regular moderate exercise and provide your body with the nutrients it needs for Real Energy, Consider the healthier Organic Energy alternatives above at www.DoctorGreens.com

Remember, the eating and living habits your friends, family, or kids observe about how you live will serve as either a positive or negative example for them. Let it be positive for a longer and healthier life.
Yours for Better Health, Hal

On the first page In USA Today (July 25,08) the opening paragraph states: ” A study that unexpectedly linked the heart drug Vytorin to excess cancer deaths has provoked controversy among heart specialists worried that the drug’s risk may outweigh its benefits” Apparently the purpose of the drug is to help relieve and even prevent a persons concern that heart valve problems may occur by using this drug to reduce cholesterol.

The only problem is that this same article above states : “The 2,000- patients SEAS study found a roughly 70% increase in the risk of dying from cancer.” I don’t know about you, but even though I may not want to disturb Merck and Shering-Plough’s drug companies alleged 4 billion dollar a year sales for this type of drug, (they must be nice companies trying to help people), if I were suffering from high cholesterol and my doctor prescribed this for me, I’d quickly run for the office door and yell: This is Insane, There Must Be a Better Way!

I’d sure try to find a better way, like naturally trying to get my body in better shape, improving my diet (eating good food while avoiding the bad), get regular moderate exercise, improve my lifestyle and manage stress better, take nutritional supplements like Fish Oil and other nutritionals to help my body function better and I would work with a doctor more alternatively inclined to sit down with me and tell me that all life’s problems aren’t solved by taking chemicals and drugs.

Personally, in addition to improving the above areas of my life and working with a “healthy advocate doctor” I want to logically find safer nutritional alternatives that would also help support my new healthier body, like using a product called Circulatory Support designed by Doctor Greens that has all in one product ingredients like: Nattokinase, Bromelain, L-Carnitine, Organic Pomegranate, Hawthorn Berry, Green Tea, Grape Seed Extract, Vitamin D3, Cayenne and Resveratrol that may help support my bodies cells to aid more natural healthy Blood flow while giving me some Extra Energy enhancement at the same time.

I’d also look for a CoQ10 Supreme type product that has the up to 8 times more bioavailable Ubiquinol form of CoQ10 that my heart cells would find Energizing and that would help enhance and support my circulatory system to perform better. I’d add a great multi-vitamin like Four A Day and with an added Fish Oil product, I would step back and logically say: Now This is a Sane Approach.

Fortunately, such nutritional Support for a Healthier Circulatory System is available at www.doctorgreens.com This should be of help for a Better and more Common Sense Health Approach, Hal

Here are the other 5 Super Foods from a previous post. Enjoy!
6. Barley Grass: when barley grass is harvested early as a grass it is more like a super vegetable loaded with nutrients and is gluten free. Barley Grass should not be confused with its more mature and longer healthy barley grain (not gluten free), that is harvested when more mature. Barley grass is up to 35% protein, has super immune builder SuperOxideDismutase (SOD) plus contains an abundance of B vitamins, magnesium, calcium & potassium. In addition this super nutrient is highly alkaline which helps lower excess acidity and its high chlorophyll content helps to detoxify the body and is a super immune builder.

7. Pomegranate: one of the healthiest fruits. Studies have shown that people who drink 2 oz. of pomegranate juice daily for a year can lower their systolic blood pressure by up to 21%. Pomegranate helps to increase nitrous oxide in the body which helps the blood vessels to dilate so blood can flow better. Pomegranate is very high in antioxidants which discourages cellular free radical damage and therefore helps promote longevity and a better immune system.

8. Broccoli: a cruciferous vegetable high in antioxidants and immune system builder nutrients such as I3C (Indole-3-carbinole), sulforaphanes that are known anti-cancer nutrients. Research indicates that many nutrients in broccoli may actually play an important role in a cancer cure by inhibiting the ability of cancer cells to replicate and grow (angiogenesis). Broccoli is also high in fiber, minerals chlorophyll, B Vitamins and Vitamins, C, K and A, magnesium, potassium etc.

9. Wild Salmon and Sardines are both very high in Omega 3’s: EFA’s (Essential Fatty Acids), which helps fight inflammation naturally, helps blood to circulate better without clotting, helps prevent, heart attacks and strokes (by up to 50%), irregular heartbeat and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), helps better brain functioning, (the brain is made up of 60% essential fatty acids), helps prevent depression, increases intelligence among babies with higher EPA/DHA fish oil levels, may help prevent Alzheimer’, even degenerative heart disease and Arthritis among many. Eat low mercury high Omega 3’s fish minimum of 2 to 3 times weekly and or take low mercury high quality fish oil capsules daily .

10. Whey Protein (Lactose Free); Highly nutritious and micro-filtered lactose free whey protein (up to 90% protein content), processed from dairy contains all the essential amino acids for lean muscle building and maintenance and is one of the highest bioavailable proteins on the planet. Whey protein also contains high immune building nutrients (lactoferrin) that fortify the immune system. Only consume high quality lactose free whey protein as lesser grades aren’t as easily digested and can cause allergies and digestion difficulty for 1 out of 3 Americans who are lactose intolerant: especially African Americans, Asians and Hispanics.

I have found that a good cross section source of almost all of these Top 10 Super Foods and Nutrients can be found at www.doctorgreens.com Look for the following products: Organic Energy (Greens, Veggies & Fruits) and Organic Energy Plus. The Energizing Protein Shake (high quality Lactose Free Whey Protein), the complete Multi-vitamins in both Tablet and Powder form. Omega 3 Pure/Safe Fish Oils ,PomResGo and much more. Yours for Better Health, Hal

Danger: Mercury in Fish, Safest Fish to Eat for Omega-3 EFAs
Many know the benefits of consuming more high quality EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids) and Omega 3’s from fish and fish oil. However, one main drawback and danger to consuming omega 3s from fish oil is often not discussed. Unfortunately, due to worldwide water pollution, many formerly good sources of fish oil have become tainted with mercury. Mercury poisoning often causes irreversible brain and negative physical changes, including paralysis, mental impairment, retards physical growth, reduces immune function, and even causes premature death, to cite just a health dangers. Many fresh water fish can no longer be eaten safely due to the fact that the waters they swim in have become polluted from industrialized sources, PCBs, or run-off water containing chemical fertilizers, DDT, and pesticides from property owners.
Health Note: This is why dental cavity fillings with silver/mercury cavity fillings are so dangerous. Do not let your dentist use any mercury in your fillings. Ask for newer non-mercury composite cavity fillings. If you do have existing silver with mercury fillings, removing them is wise and may eliminate or prevent many existing or future health problems. Only let a competent dentist remove mercury fillings as special precautions must be exercised so that harmful mercury from the fillings upon removal are not released into your body.

Like many Americans who eat fish from unknown ocean, lakes and streams, people who live in the Great Lakes regions of the U.S. have suffered from nervous and mental disorders as a result of eating Great Lakes caught fish, even if only once or twice a month. The best sources of fish containing the most omega 3’s usually come from salt water ocean fish. Generally speaking, the smaller the deep water fish, the higher in omega 3 oils and the safer the fish is to eat. Larger predatory fish, since they tend to swim in more polluted waters and live longer, generally consume more mercury than smaller fish like sardines, anchovies, and herring. However, one of the safest fish sources for its omega 3 content and most nutritious fish to eat is wild (non-farm raised) Alaskan salmon, especially pink Sockeye salmon.

Note: Many farm-raised species of fish, (as opposed to free-range fish caught in open waters) are fed antibiotics, hormones, and less nutritious grain meals to fatten them up rather than feeding off of plankton and smaller fish that are naturally rich in omega 3s.

Among the safest and best sources of omega 3s from fish, approximately in the order of benefit are salmon (free range, wild Alaskan salmon and sockeye salmon, not farmed salmon), sardines, anchovies, small mackeral or mackeral from waters deep in the unpolluted South Pacific, herring, fresh water lake trout, and tuna. Regular and usually less expensive canned chunk light tuna is usually better for you and generally has less mercury than the white Albacore tuna, which may have triple the mercury content.

Health Warning: Children can be particularly affected by eating mercury contaminated fish. Early learning disorders, reduced physical and mental growth, along with compromised intelligence and deficient brain development can follow. Pregnant mothers who eat high mercury fish have higher miscarriage rates or bear children more inclined to suffer from mental and learning disorders, lower intelligence, and mental development problems.
I’m glad to say that Doctor Greens at www.doctorgreens.com has a very safe and highly concentrated fish oil high in very healthy Omega 3’s called Omega Pure. It is well worth the effort to put the best and safest fish oil in your body to help protect and support your brain and better energized health. Here’s to your Best of Health and Longevity, Hal

The Top 5 of Top 10 Healthiest Antioxidant Super Foods are a Diverse Group.

Some Surprises:

According to a Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Article on July 22, 08 Five Super Foods have been added to experts Healthiest Food list: These Foods are:

1. Beets for their colorful antioxidant protection, anti-cancer compounds and beets can help improve blood sugar levels in diabetics.

2. Cabbage: a member of the cruciferous family loaded with antioxidants, anti-cancer nutrients and fiber. Also, properly prepared sauerkraut from fermented cabbage is one of the healthiest probiotic and immune supporting foods on the planet.

3. Berries, (including Goji Berries): many people know of the antioxidant, fiber and nutritional adavantages of blueberries as a mental stimulating and Alzhemer protecting fruit for the brain, but not everyone is familar that Goji Berries (particularly Organic) grown in Tibet is a Super Food that not only contains 18 amino acids but that also contains a wealth of nutrients and antioxidants. Goji Berries also have an amazing ability to increase energy and immune support levels for 4 to 5 hours after eating. Other respected scientific reports have even attributed Goji Berries with the ability to increase fertility. Chinese emperors were known to worship the Goji Berry for strength, energy, fertility and wisdom.

4. Swiss Chard: This mediterranean vegetable is not as familar to many but Swiss Chard has a down to earth flavor that also contains in meaningful amounts the vision nutrient Lutein, and is high in iron and other important nutrients.

5. Purslane and (Sea Buckthorn: added to list by author) are two very different plants but both are very unusual in the plant world as both contain high amounts of healthy fats and oils: Rounding out these Five Super Type Foods is the less known Mexican herb or food; Purslane. This weed type herb is very high in Omega- 3 Fats, in addition to containing other healthy nutrients. Sea Buckthorn is found in Mongolia, China, Nepal and not only contains a high amount of healthy oils but also immune supporting antioxidant nutrients.

GOOD NEWS: Get Your Daily Energy Veggies & Fruits! The Top 3 Antioxidant and Nutrient Rich Foods can be Found in an Exceptionally High Quality Nutrient Energy Drink called: Doctor Greens: ORGANIC ENERGY and ORGANIC ENERGY PLUS information can be found and explained in detail at www.doctorgreens.com

Both Organic Energy drinks are loaded with Organic Goji Berries, Organic Blueberries, Organic Beets and Organic Cabbage. For your More Energetic and Antioxidant Healthy Life, just one scoop of Organic Energy products can provide you with up to 6 servings of Organic and Wholesome, Vegetables, Fruits, plus protein, fiber, essential oils, digestive enzymes and important probiotics.

Here’s to your More Energetic Health, Hal Decker at www.doctorgreens.com
More on the other remaining Top Ten Healthy Super Foods will follow in a forthcoming Blog. Keep in Touch

Heart Disease: One of the Easiest Disease to Prevent and one of the Easiest to help Reverse through Dietary and Lifestyle Changes!

Heart disease is still the number one killer in America, followed closely by cancer. About one out of every two Americans will die of heart disease. This equates to about one person dying of heart disease every 35 seconds in the United States.

According to the American Heart Association (www.americanheart.org), over 70 million Americans currently have some type of heart disease. (Note: This does not include the tens of millions of people who are in the process of developing heart disease). The cost of treating heart disease (also know as cardiovascular disease, or CVD), in both direct and indirect costs is estimated to be over $400 billion annually.

Individuals need to take more individual responsibility to prevent Cardiovascular disease in the first place both for themselves and for their loved ones. Heart disease results in tragically reduced quality of life for those affected, for family and caregivers as well as adding enormously to the high cost of health care in this country. Individuals can help prevent heart disease most importantly through healthy eating, better lifestyle habits including regular moderate exercise, the proper use of nutritional supplements, regular medical check ups and working with their doctor.

Since the heart is a muscle, it can become weakened for many reasons including:

1. lack of regular exercise, often resulting in being overweight which causes the heart to work harder and more inefficiently
2. being subject to the abuse of too much stress, being
overworked or over-exercised, overweight, too little sleep
3. abused from the use of drugs, alcohol, smoking, too much caffeine
4. not receiving enough oxygen due to poor circulation or poor lung health
5. too much systemic (bodily) infection or inflammation often caused by viruses, infections, high fat and high sugar diets, high homocysteine and high C-reactive protein levels
6. a poor diet and not receiving enough broad spectrum nutrients from a healthy diet and proper nutritional supplementation, (not getting or taking enough Omega 3’s (Fish Oil), Vitamin D, a high quality daily multi-vitamin, Co-enzyme Q10, potassium, calcium and especially magnesium
7. from improperly prescribed medication(s) or reactions to medications and their often harmful side effects.

Drug Health Warning: Current research shows that a harmful side effect of taking statin drugs to lower cholesterol is that most statin drugs lower the body’s and the heart’s natural production and use of Co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10). CoQ10 is one the heart’s required primary nutrients, shown to be critical in helping the mitochondria of the heart provide enough energy so the heart beats properly. However, by the time a person is 70 years old, their body may be producing 70% less CoQ10. Most ‘knowledgeable’ nutritionally inclined doctors will recommend that any patient taking a statin drug, as a minimum, take at least 50 to 100 mg of CoQ10 daily. CoQ10 is better taken in the newer, up to 8 times more highly absorbable Ubiquinol CoQ10 form (as opposed to the older less absorbable CoQ10 ubiquinone form). CoQ10 supplementation may also be highly beneficial for anyone over 40 who desires a longer cardiovascular healthy life. Remember, ask your doctor if there are alternative methods to avoid having to take statin drugs in the first place, which may carry other long term negative side effects. Alternatives to statin drugs usually include adopting a better diet and lifestyle, weight loss, better stress-relieving techniques, nutritional supplements and of course, regular moderate exercise. Additional circulatory beneficial nutrients and supplements include: Omega 3’s, Vitamin D, CoQ10, L-carnitine, magnesium, nattokinase, ribose and natural based K2 (menaquinone: MK-7). MK-7 is the highly absorbable form of Vitamin K2, that helps keep excess calcium from circulating in the blood stream which may cause plaque build up in the blood vessels, restricts blood flow and causes heart valve restrictive calcium build up. MK-7 also helps keep more calcium to be retained in bones. Many of these above circulatory nutrients are now also being recommended by many more enlightened alternative and preventive health inclined physicians.

I particularly like the well balanced and comprehensive blood vessel support nutrients in the products: Circulatory Support and CoQ10 Supreme (in Ubiquinol form) found at www.doctorgreens.com Here’s to your better Cardiovascular Health by becoming more proactive and practicing better heart disease prevention through diet, lifestyle, nutrition, regular Dr. check ups and regular exercise habits. Hal

Time to Detoxify and Cleanse Your Body. Fall is Here and now the Unhealthy Sins
of Summer, cookouts, vacations parties, out of town visitors, hustling the kids back and forth, grabbing fast food meals on the go all have to be purged from our Bodies.

For many people September means getting back into the full swing of work, school, night and weekend classes, parenting, volunteer work or any combination. These work, life and stress demands require us to be able to use all the good energy and vitality your body can give. But, for the following reasons many Americans lack the Energy they need.

80% of All Americans do not get the daily 25 to 35 grams of fiber they need for good health, digestion, energy and proper waste removal. Up to 75% of All Americans are Overweight. The Average American Consumes up to 150 pounds of sugar a year plus Americans consumes 15 to 20 million pounds of caffeine a year including energy soda drinks that can cause adrenal gland exhaustion, blood sugar concerns and liver/kidney fatigue. These same sugar and caffeine rushes plus the SAD (Standard American Diet) Fast Food Diet of Fried foods, Red Meats and Fats for many Americans also create those unwanted afternoon and evening mental crashes and mental exhaustion breakdowns.

All these excesses cause a weakened immune and digestive system and creates a body where blood cannot properly carry enough energy giving oxygen and nutrients. In addition, the colon and body cells become overburden with toxic byproducts and energy destroying waste debris and harmful bacteria is trapped within body cells and the colon which the body cannot eliminate.

Without properly detoxifying your body now and ridding your digestive tract and colon of collected waste and toxic debris that have settle there during the summer you could be in a for a very difficult, low energy and sickly fall and winter. Now is the time to detoxify and provide your body with enough high quality fiber, nutrients and liquids to energize. This will help provide the energy you need to get your body and mind ready for the coming opportunities and responsibilities. Doing a proper Detox Cleanse program will give you much needed extra vitality to enjoy family, friends and have energy left over for relaxing and fun time activities.

Remember, if you are ill, under a doctor’s care or are in general overall poor health you should always get proper medical advice and supervision before undergoing any detoxifying cleansing program.

The good news is that one of the best and safest ways to do a good Fall/Winter Cleanse is to find a good detoxifying program that works best for you and that is not so stringent and restrictive that it leaves you more tired than when you started. Many Fasting cleanses of just water and juice can do this to you. These types of restrictive Detox and Cleanse programs may overly restrict and severely limit the good nutrients your body daily requires. It’s like suddenly going from 65 miles per hour to 5 miles per hour and not getting enough daily nutrients can be too much of a shock on your body and cause you to detoxify to quickly.

However, if you select a healthy Detoxifying and Cleansing Program that eliminates the bad foods and drinks and the unhealthy types of solid foods you put into your body while allowing you for 7 to 14 days to substitute healthy liquid type nutrients, healthy fiber and good clean detoxifying water, then you can get the best of both worlds. This type of Fall/Winter Detox Cleanse helps your body to ‘Flush’ out the bad debris and waste that has accumulated over the Spring and Summer but yet also helps provide your cells with Great Antioxidant and energizing Greens, Veggie & Fruit liquid nutrients along with the best of fiber that can truly help Cleanse, Detoxify, Revitalize and properly Alkalize your body for better oxygen and nutrient circulation and absorption.

One of the best, and most energizing ways I have found to do a Fall/Winter Detoxifying Cleanse is to follow the Doctor Greens 7 to 14 day Detoxifying Cleanse program.* This is a comprehensive total cleanse program of 4 products designed to help Detox and flush harmful debris from your body cells and colon.* These 4 products also help to restore beneficial and healthy nutrients along with important fiber that can help detoxify, re-energize and support a healthy more youthful and revitalized you.* These products are available at www.doctorgreens.com To Your Best of Health, Hal

According to the American Heart Association (www.americanheart.org), in addition to the fact that one out of every two persons will die of heart disease, over 70 million Americans currently have some type of heart disease. (Note: This does not include the tens of millions of people who are in the process of developing heart disease in coming years). The cost of treating heart disease (also know as cardiovascular disease, or CVD), in both direct and indirect costs is estimated to be over $400 billion annually.

Cardiovascular disease results in reduced quality of life, and an enormous cost to both society and taxpayers is avoidable, if only individuals would begin to take more responsibility to prevent heart disease through healthy eating and better lifestyle habits and regular doctor approved exercise. In addition you should consider including the proper use of nutritional supplements such as taking a high quality daily multi-vitamin and getting enough daily Essential Fatty Acids from eating healthy wild Salmon fish (non farmed raised), at least 2 to 3 times weekly and or taking quality fish oil supplements. There are also high quality nutritional supplements and natural enzymes that can help support better circulatory health. (see below)

About Cholesterol

Although, inflammation occurring in the body and high Homocysteine and C-Reactive Protein levels are still your most important tests to determine if you are a likely candidate for a heart attack, (see next week’s blog on those two issues), if your cholesterol is exceedingly high, usually being listed as over 240 mg, then generally those levels should be reduced to a more moderate 200 mg or less level. Remember, cholesterol is necessary for the body and brain to function well and studies have shown that reducing your cholesterol levels too low (less than 160 mg), can actually help shorten your life.

When you visit your doctor for your annual exam, he or she will most likely do a simple blood test to check your cholesterol levels. Do you know what the numbers mean?
First, it must be generally be understood that cholesterol usually can’t be dissolved in the blood, however, certain supplements and natural digestive enzymes: (nattokinase, bromelain), fish oiI, garlic and lecithin may help. (Also, a product called Circulatory Support mentioned at the end may be of aid). Cholesterol generally has to be transported to and from the cells by carriers called lipoproteins. Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, is known as “bad” cholesterol. High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is known as “good” cholesterol. These two types of lipids, along with triglycerides, make up your total cholesterol count.
LDL (Bad) Cholesterol
When too much LDL cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. Together with other substances, it can form plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can narrow the arteries and make them less flexible. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. If a clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, heart attack or stroke can result.
HDL (good) Cholesterol
About one-fourth to one-third of blood cholesterol is carried by high-density lipoprotein (HDL). HDL cholesterol is known as “good” cholesterol, because high levels of HDL seem to protect against heart attack. Low levels of HDL (less than 40 mg/dL) also increase the risk of heart disease.
Triglycerides
Triglyceride is a form of fat made in the body. Many people with heart disease and/or diabetes also have high triglyceride levels.
Here are some guidelines from the American Heart Association:
Your Total Blood (or Serum) Cholesterol Level

Less than 200 mg/dL: Desirable
If your LDL, HDL, and triglyceride levels are also at desirable levels and you have no other risk factors for heart disease, total blood cholesterol below 200 mg/dL puts you at relatively low risk of coronary heart disease. Even with a low risk, however, it’s still smart to eat a heart-healthy diet, get regular physical activity and avoid tobacco smoke.

200–239 mg/dL: Borderline-High Risk
If your total cholesterol falls between 200 and 239 mg/dL, your doctor will evaluate your levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, and triglycerides. It’s possible to have borderline-high total cholesterol numbers with normal levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol balanced by high HDL (good) cholesterol.
240 mg/dL and over: High Risk
People who have a total cholesterol level of 240 mg/dL or more typically have twice the risk of coronary heart disease as people whose cholesterol level is desirable (200 mg/dL).
Your LDL (Bad) Cholesterol Level
The lower your LDL cholesterol, the lower your risk of heart attack and stroke. In fact, it’s a better gauge of risk than total blood cholesterol. In general, LDL levels fall into these categories:

LDL Cholesterol Levels
Less than 100 mg/dL Optimal
100 to 129 mg/dL Near Optimal/ Above Optimal
130 to 159 mg/dL Borderline High
160 to 189 mg/dL High
190 mg/dL and above Very High

Your HDL (Good) Cholesterol Level
With HDL (good) cholesterol, higher levels are better. Low HDL cholesterol (less than 40 mg/dL for men, less than 50 mg/dL for women) puts you at higher risk for heart disease.
Smoking, being overweight, and being sedentary can all result in lower HDL cholesterol. To raise your HDL level, avoid tobacco smoke, maintain a healthy weight and get at least 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity more days than not.
People with high blood triglycerides usually also have lower HDL cholesterol and a higher risk of heart attack and stroke.
Your Triglyceride Level

Triglyceride is a form of fat. People with high triglycerides often have a high total cholesterol level, including high LDL (bad) cholesterol and low HDL (good) cholesterol levels.
Your triglyceride level will fall into one of these categories:
• Normal: less than 150 mg/dL
• Borderline-High: 150–199 mg/dL
• High: 200–499 mg/dL
• Very High: 500 mg/dL
Many people have high triglyceride levels due to being overweight/obese, physical inactivity, cigarette smoking, excess alcohol consumption, and/or a diet very high in carbohydrates (60 percent of more of calories).

To help lower cholesterol: eat and live a healthy lifestyle, get regular exercise and work with a knowledgeable nutritionally informed doctor. Also, consider taking a daily quality multi-vitamin and fish oil supplement. Additionally, I have discovered that two excellent circulatory support products are: Circulatory Support and CoQ10 Supreme which are also all part of a 4 product comprehensive Cardio Health Support Package available at www.doctorgreens.com Here’s to your better health, Hal Decker

One of the Best Ways to Prevent Heart Disease and Maintain Better Overall Health is to prevent inflammation from occurring within the body as much as possible. Check out Doctor Greens Circulatory Support formula.

Two good scientific ways to measure the amount of inflammation occurring in your body is asking your doctor to test your Homocysteine and C-Reactive Protein levels the next time you have a routine blood test done.

The American Heart Association describes: “Homocysteine as an amino acid in the blood. Epidemiological studies have shown that too much Homocysteine in the blood (plasma) is related to a higher risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease… that homocysteine may have an effect on atherosclerosis by damaging the inner lining of arteries and promoting blood clots.”

The best ways to help prevent Inflammation and high Homocysteine and C-Reactive Protein levels are:

1. Eat a healthy diet, don’t be more than 2 to 5 pounds over your ideal weight: (avoid the sugars, sodas, saturated and trans fats, avoid too much sodium or caffeine, eat more vegetables and fruits, less red meat, more fish and have more healthy Omega 3’s, and have less or no unhealthy fast foods and Burger/Fries, Junk foods/dessert type meals and unhealthy snacks),

2. Live a healthy lifestyle, (get enough sleep 7 to 8 hours nightly, avoid too much stress, avoid bad habits like drugs, tobacco, too much alcohol etc),

3. Get moderate regular daily exercise (minimum of 3 to 4 times weekly),

4. take proper high quality nutritional supplements,

5. Avoid getting sick by practicing the 4 above healthy habits as viruses, sickness, infections and,illness all increase inflammation and raise Homocysteine and C-Reactive Protein levels.

Check your blood test results; (Note: your doctor may not inform you, so learn to take more responsibility for your own health and ask for Homocysteine and C-Reactive Protein blood testing to be done)

Healthy Blood test Homocysteine levels are:
For men: between 4.3 and 11.4 umol/L
Ideal is: less than 7 umol/L
Unhealthy over 12 umol/L and very unhealthy over 15 umol/L
The higher the Homocysteine level over 7, the greater your chance for a future heart attack or stroke.

The American Heart Association says: “C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is one of the acute phase proteins that increase during systemic inflammation……that testing for CRP levels in the blood …. an additional way to assess cardiovascular disease.”

Healthy Blood test C-Reactive Protein levels are:
Healthy or Low Risk: less than 1.0 mg/L
Average Risk: 1.0 mg/L to 3.0 mg/L
Unhealthy or High Risk: greater than 3.0 mg/L

Women’s optimal CRP levels should be less than 1.5 mg/L
Men’s optimal CRP levels should be less than .6 mg/L

In addition to Eating a healthy diet, Living a Healthy lifestyle and getting regular moderate Exercise, be sure to take a high quality multi-vitamin supplement daily to help supplement what nutrients, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals your body and brain may be missing as a result of today’s fast pace and often stressful daily life.
Important food-based nutrients, antioxidants, herbal nutrients, and nutrients obtained through proper supplementation can help support decreased levels of inflammation and help your heart, brain, immune and circulatory system to function optimally.

Important inflammation lowering and heart and brain healthy nutrients include sufficient amounts of healthy omega-3 fats (Essential Fatty Acids, found in fish oil), healthy circulatory minerals and nutrients like magnesium, potassium, calcium, B-complex including niacin (B3), B6, B12, and folic acid, L-carnitine, L-arginine and ribose.

Healthy inflammation lowering antioxidants include: CoQ10 (in ubiquinol form), pomegranate and resveratrol. Also be sure to get various vitamins and minerals in proper ratio (including selenium), taurine, vitamin E (natural with mixed tocopherols of alpha, beta, delta, and especially extra gamma), important amounts of vitamin D3 (for natural anti-inflammation and immune support) and vitamin C with citrus bioflavonoids.
(More about these nutrients and other heart and brain healthy nutrients will be in next week’s updated blog)

Healthy and Easier Great News to help support lower Homocysteine and C-Reactive Protein levels: To make nutritional supplementing with all the many nutrients required to help support lower inflammation levels within the body and without having to open 10 or 15 bottles of Supplements daily, there are a few All In One Comprehensive High Quality Multi-Vitamins and Greens type products available. This means that you only have to take two or three nutritional products daily in order to get all or most of the above nutrients. I have found a Great selection of inflammation support lowering, Circulatory Support and healthy multi-vitamins and nutrients to be available at www.doctorgreens.com Here’s to your best of health, Hal Decker