The BIG IDEAS for cardiovascular health from a Nutritional Therapy perspective- 

1. Heart disease is a result of over consumption of processed foods
2. The health of the heart reflects the health of the body.  Always address the foundations.
3. Inflammation is a significant cause of the most common form of heart disease.  

DIET:

• Heart disease is a processed foods disease.
• Properly prepared whole grains provide naturally occurring B1 and B4
• Cold-pressed oils, raw nuts and raw seeds provide the essential fatty acids that are needed by the heart for energy as well as the inflammation process and the cell membranes.

DIGESTION:

• Proper digestion of proteins is key so we can cleave off the amino acids needed for the heart tissue – taurine and carnitine.
• Proper stomach pH (acidic environment of 1.5-3.0 pH) is needed to absorb calcium which is needed for the contraction of the heart muscle
• Proper stomach pH (acidic) is needed to digest B vitamins (instrinsic factor is needed for B12)
• Proper liver and gallbladder function is needed for digesting fats as well as the pancreatic enzymes as healthy fats are essential to the heart and fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K).

BLOOD SUGAR REGULATION:

• Balancing the blood sugar levels are key to manage the stress hormone cortisol from the adrenal glands
• Blood sugar imbalances from excess sugar activates the “fight or flight” sympathetic nervous system – adrenal glands via the HPA Axis (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis).
• Overproduction of cortisol will increase blood sugar levels (as they respond to an “emergency”) from breaking down (catabolic activity) protein from muscles to make glucose in the liver (gluconeogenesis)
• Insulin resistance may occur with chronic activation of the adrenals (excessive cortisol) leading to mineral imbalances including magnesium which is needed for the heart.
• High insulin production in the bloodstream blocks the prostaglandin 1 pathways (PG1 anti- inflammation) shifting to the PG2 pathways (inflammation) resulting in an imbalance of the inflammation process – creating more inflammation.

FATTY ACID:

• Healthy essential fats and fat digestion is key to the inflammation process – making the hormone prostaglandins to manage inflammation in the body when in the right mix of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids.
• Good healthy fats are energy for the heart.
• Fatty acids make up the cell membrane- phospholipid by-layer that make up every cell including the heart and artery tissues.

MINERAL BALANCE:

• Calcium is needed, along with magnesium, in the right balance for proper muscle contractions – including the heart.
• Calcium triggers the contract and relaxation of the heart muscle
• Magnesium is needed for calcium to work
• Irregular heart beats are related to magnesium deficiency

HYDRATION:

• Good hydration is required for proper lympathic flow and proper viscosity of the blood
• Dehydration causes the vascular system to selectively close some of its vessels which leads to hypertension
• Hydration impacts how effectively proteins and enyzmes function in the body.