John Arts - Natural health researcher John Arts is a natural health researcher and supplement formulator. If you have questions or would like a free health plan you can contact John on 0800 423 559 or join his newsletter at www.johnarts.co.nz.

The key to preventing heart disease is to make sure our defences that protect against blocked arteries are operating to their maximum capability.
The first step is to maintain high levels of a wide range of dietary antioxidants to prevent oxidation of cholesterol.

The most important groups of antioxidants for this are the flavanols from grape seeds, vitamins E and C, the carotenoids and bioflavonoids.
Now we have our antioxidant defences working properly we need to ensure adequate reserves of key B vitamins B6, folic acid and B12. Homocysteine is a radical amino acid produced by our metabolism of proteins and if left unchecked can undermine our heart defences by increasing free radical activity and raising inflammation. Homocysteine is readily neutralised by these key B vitamins. This is where a well formulated multi-antioxidant, multi mineral and multi vitamin is really useful as it can target optimum levels of key nutrients to ensure our defences are always intact.
The last dietary advice is to increase anti-inflammatory Omega 3 and monosaturated fats and reduce inflammatory Omega 6 rich polyunsaturated vegetable oils. Monosaturated fats in avocados, almonds and olive oils all balance cholesterol and even help with weight loss. Surprisingly, some saturated fats are anti-inflammatory, especially coconut oil and the best of them all, unrefined red palm oil. These good fats lower inflammation and remember coronary heart disease is a disease caused by oxidation and inflammation.
The final word is for those taking statin cholesterol lowering drugs. While these are very effective at lowering cholesterol, they also reduce critically important Co Enzyme Q10 which can result in serious side effects including muscle pain and weakness, memory loss and low energy. Any person taking statin drugs should be working to a specific heart health plan and added to the multi antioxidant and Omega 3 should be 50-100mg of high grade Co Q10 daily.
To conclude, preventing heart disease is a lot more than reducing cholesterol. It is about identifying the real risk factors and then through diet and using appropriate supplements adding the nutrients needed to ensure the risk factors are minimised. Do this and you will greatly increase the chance that your heart arteries will last a lifetime. Please call me if you would like a copy of my Heart Health Guide.

John Arts is a natural health commentator and researcher. If you have questions or would like a free health plan you can contact John at john@johnarts.co.nz or phone 5789051 or 0800 423559. You can join his newsletter at www.johnarts.co.nz