| CT heart scans are booming in popularity. With over | | | | The higher your heart scan score, the more likely you |
| 300 scanners nationwide, over one million Americans | | | | are deficient in vitamin D. Consider taking a minimum of |
| have now been scanned since the introduction of this | | | | vitamin D 1000 units per day. Even better, have your |
| technology 10 years ago. | | | | doctor check a blood level (25-OH-vitamin D3) and the |
| In some cases, lives have been saved. People with | | | | dose can be adjusted accordingly. In our heart disease |
| high scores (e.g., over 1000) can end up with lifesaving | | | | reversal program, most women require 2000 units per |
| procedures like bypass surgery or stents. | | | | day, most men 3000 units per day to achieve the |
| But what about the majority of people who don't have | | | | desirable blood level of >50 ng/ml. |
| a life-threatening score? | | | | 3) Boost your HDL cholesterol to 60 mg/dl |
| Too often, people in this very large group are | | | | Raise this simple value to 60 mg/dl or greater, and you |
| prescribed a cholesterol drug and patted on the back | | | | will have accomplished a huge improvement in a whole |
| with advice to cut the fat in their diet. According to | | | | constellation of health effects. |
| several recent studies, that's a recipe for failure. Do | | | | This is because HDL is a gauge of many things: body |
| nothing, and you can expect your score to increase | | | | weight, your body's ability to respond to insulin, potential |
| 30% per year. Take a cholesterol drug and cut your | | | | for hypertension, and the presence of hidden causes |
| fat, and you can still expect your score to grow 30% | | | | of heart disease, especially the dreaded small LDL. |
| per year! | | | | The higher your HDL, the less likely other undesirable |
| Surely there's a lot more you could do to gain control | | | | phenomena are present. HDL is the blood particle that |
| over your score. | | | | is responsible for regression, or shrinkage, of plaque. |
| Here's our list of 5 easy yet crucial steps you can take | | | | The more, the better. |
| that tip the odds in your favor that you will not just | | | | Boost HDL by losing excess weight, reducing |
| stop your score from increasing, but perhaps even | | | | processed carbohydrates like breads and breakfast |
| reduce it. | | | | cereals, exercise, 4-8 oz of red wine per day, and fish |
| 1. Take fish oil | | | | oil. Raise it even further by considering niacin (vitamin |
| Fish oil is among the few breakthrough discoveries of | | | | B3), 500-1000 mg. (Discuss niacin use with your doctor.) |
| the past 20 years that has altered the course of | | | | 4) Have a colorful lifestyle |
| cardiovascular illness, slashing risk of death, heart | | | | Deeply colored foods are rich in flavonoids, |
| attack, and stroke. The mis-guided advice of the 1980s | | | | naturally-occurring substances that pack broad, |
| that polyunsaturated oils were healthy has left us | | | | powerful health effects and include blood |
| appallingly overloaded with omega-6 fatty acids, and | | | | pressure-reducing and anti-inflammatory benefits. |
| omega-3 supplementation from fish oil has become | | | | Add more deeply colored foods to your day, |
| increasingly important. | | | | especially blueberries, pomegranates, plums, black |
| The 11,000-participant GISSI-Prevenzione trial brought | | | | grapes, spinach, green peppers, and red wine. Drink |
| any remaining naysayers to their knees. Participants | | | | green tea whenever possible. Use cocoa powder |
| taking fish oil experienced 30% reduction in | | | | (unsweetened) in your protein shakes or add a daily |
| cardiovascular death and an astounding 45% reduction | | | | two-inch square of dark chocolate. Add capers, fresh |
| in sudden death. | | | | basil and other herbs to your salads and dinner dishes. |
| Fish oil provides anti-inflammatory benefits, | | | | All are rich in naturally-occurring flavonoids, destined to |
| plaque-stabilizing effects, and corrects many genetic | | | | become health champions of the 21st century. Among |
| and acquired causes for heart attack. Fish oil helps | | | | their myriad benefits, flavonoids are natural artery |
| correct the triglyceride and small LDL abnormalities | | | | relaxing agents and add another healthy dimension to |
| triggered by metabolic syndrome, the collection of | | | | your heart scan control program. |
| pre-diabetic abnormalities now afflicting 59 million | | | | 5) Substitute raw nuts for unhealthy snacks |
| Americans. Fish oil also accelerates clearance of | | | | Dump the chips, pretzels, and crackers. Replace them |
| abnormal fat particles in the blood that persist after | | | | with raw almonds, walnuts, and pecans. (Not "party |
| eating. All of this adds up to a dramatic reduction in | | | | mix", "honey-roasted", mixed nuts, etc., all no better than |
| cardiovascular "events" and greater control over | | | | other unhealthy snacks.) Raw and whole (unshelled) |
| coronary plaque. In our heart disease reversal program, | | | | are the keys, bought bulk in most supermarkets or |
| we start with 4000 mg of standard fish oil capsules | | | | health food stores. This simple substitution reduces |
| per day provide 1200 mg of omega-3 fatty acids, EPA | | | | LDL cholesterol 20 points, reduces blood sugar, |
| + DHA. | | | | reduces small LDL, raises HDL, and boosts your |
| 2. Take vitamin D | | | | energy level. Don't sweat the fats--the |
| Imagine over half the adults in the U.S. were toothless | | | | monounsaturated fat in raw nuts are the source of |
| and had open skin sores covering their bodies from | | | | much of the benefit. One-quarter to one-half cup per |
| vitamin C deficiency, or "scurvy. Well, that's the | | | | day provides maximum benefit. |
| situation, though less graphic, with vitamin D. Deficiency | | | | Stopping your heart scan score from increasing may |
| is rampant in the U.S., particularly in northern climates | | | | be among the most powerful ways to sharply reduce, |
| where sun exposure is in short supply for long periods. | | | | perhaps even eliminate, risk for heart disease in your |
| It's not uncommon even in southern climates, given | | | | lifetime. There's no single strategy that guarantees you |
| indoor workplaces and lifestyles. Vitamin D deficiency | | | | stop your heart scan score from increasing―it's |
| has been implicated in osteoporosis, prostate and colon | | | | all your efforts combined, followed consistently over |
| cancer, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, and heart | | | | time. |
| disease. | | | | |