Dr. Holly Lucille | Naturopathic Doctor

Vitamin D “101″

drhollyadmin — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 13:27:51 +0000

Besides commanding celebrity status these days, with Vitamin D deficiency being fairly common in the general public.,Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin (other fat soluble vitamins are E, A and K) that actually functions as a pro-hormone (a precursor to hormones). Vitamin D plays many roles in the body, enhancing absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the intestines, promoting healthy bone structure, influencing cellular growth, modulating the immune system and in addition, it appears that vitamin D enhances the secretion and action of insulin. There are a couple of different forms to understand. Vitamin D3 is also known as “cholecalciferol” and you can obtain it from foods such as cheese, beef liver and egg yolks. It can also be made in the skin after exposure to sunlight and is the preferable form when it comes to supplementation. Vitamin D2, also called “ergocalciferol” is actually a synthetic form, not normally present in the body, made from fungus.

Potential consequences of low vitamin D levels include a faster rate of bone loss, an increased risk of falls among the elderly, decreased resistance to infection, and a potential increased risk of developing cancer and certain autoimmune diseases. Studies have shown that individuals suffering from diabetes, cancer, hypertension, lower back pain, the seasonal flu, and a myriad of other illnesses typically have depressed levels of Vitamin D in there blood.

And yes, you can get too much. Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, headache, dry mouth, abdominal or bone pain, and dizziness are the classic symptoms of vitamin D toxicity. As the condition progresses, signs of impaired kidney function, such as excessive urination, may arise. Itching, calcification of organs and blood vessels, osteoporosis, and seizures are still other signs that develop at the later stages.
A 25-hydroxy Vitamin D test, also referred to as a 25(OH)D is the test usually performed to measure Vitamin D in the blood and optimal levels are between 50-80ng/mL. At this time I recommend that levels be monitored periodically however there is some debate over the accuracy of this particular test.

Recommended dosage for supplementation vary, the Vitamin D Council recommends the following amounts of supplemental vitamin D3 per day in the absence of proper sun exposure.
Healthy children under the age of 1 years – 1,000 IU.
Healthy children over the age of 1 years – 1,000 IU per every 25 lbs of body weight.
Healthy adults and adolescents – at least 5,000 IU.
Pregnant and lactating mothers – at least 6,000 IU.
Additionally, children and adults with chronic health conditions such as autism, MS, cancer, heart disease, or obesity may need as much as double these amounts.
The US Government’s Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for vitamin D is set at 4,000 IU per day.

Unwelcome Ulcers: A User-Friendly and SAFE Option!

drhollyadmin — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:36:19 +0000

I have had an increase in patients complaining of and or being diagnosed with ulcers. Here is a user friendly, safe and effective way to deal with them!
Peptic ulcers are sores or eroded areas that form in the lining of the esophagus, stomach or small intestine. Ulcers that occur in the stomach are known as gastric ulcers. Ulcers occurring in the duodenum (the beginning of the small intestine) are known as duodenal ulcers. Peptic ulcer disease, in which remissions and exacerbations of ulcers occur, represents a chronic health problem.
Signs and Symptoms
Some individuals with peptic ulcers don’t experience any symptoms, while others experience varying amounts of pain. The pain associated with an ulcer may:
• Be described as dull and gnawing, or burning and crampy
• Come and go, for several days or weeks
• Occur two to three hours after eating
• Occur in the middle of the night
• Be relieved by food (e.g. milk)
Other symptoms include weight loss, poor appetite, bloating, burping, nausea and vomiting.
Causes
Most peptic ulcers are known to be caused by a bacterial infection. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the bacteria implicated in the vast majority of cases. Use of over-the-counter and prescription painkillers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can also cause peptic ulcers. Other medications are currently being studied for their role in peptic ulcer development.
DGL: A Natural Solution
An extremely effective natural supplement for ulcers is a form of licorice root that has been specially processed. Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) is an important component of a complementary natural health approach – and clinical studies prove it works!
DGL is a special extract of licorice from which the glycyrrhizin molecules have been removed, leaving biologically active flavonoids. The value of DGL over other forms of licorice is that it eliminates adverse effects associated with long-term use of very high doses of conventional licorice (including sodium and water retention, high blood pressure and low potassium levels.). Licorice root extract stimulates the release of secretin, which has a protective effect on the gastric mucosa. The body’s production of secretin by such natural agents may play a significant role in their mucosal protective action. In fact, researchers attribute the anti-ulcer effect of licorice root extract to its unique ability to stimulate the body to release endogenous secretin, which helps to rebuild the stomach or intestine’s protective lining.
Use of DGL addresses the underlying factors and promotes true healing by stimulating the normal defense mechanisms that prevent ulcer formation. Specifically, DGL improves both the quality and quantity of the protective substances that line the intestinal tract.
Taking DGL
Look for a chewable form of DGL, as its ingredients should mix with saliva to promote release of compounds that stimulate the growth and regeneration of stomach and intestinal cells.

For treatment of peptic ulcers, take 760 to 1,520 mg of DGL (or 400 mg of an extra-strength extract) between, or 20 minutes before, meals. Use for eight to 16 weeks, or as recommended by your health care professional.

Modern Day Stress: Control What Is In Your Control

drhollyadmin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:58:51 +0000

Well, if it isn’t apparent by now, we have a tremendous amount of unrelenting chronic stress in our modern day society, coming at us from all angles and affecting our lives and our health in many different ways. Remember, these chronic states of stress, whether perceived or real, are causing a myriad of health issues that we don’t even realize. The stress hormones elicited during the time of a stressful event are meant to be protective; however, these same hormones can also promote cellular damage and accelerate detrimental changes in the body if they are overproduced or not turned off properly once the apparent danger has passed. Our bodies are then unable to get into the repair and recoup mode which can lead to conditions like persistent fatigue, premature signs of aging, brain fog, disturbed sleep / wake cycle and weight gain.
This certainly can be an uncomfortable way to live, literally surviving each and everyday, just to get up and do it all over again. The build up of the overwhelming feelings of fatigue, the frustrations of stubborn weight gain and the feelings of shame produced when the irritability and moodiness lend a lashing out towards loved ones can lead many of us to a place we desperately want out of and quickly! This “wanting a quick out” is what drives us to reach for “remedies” that ultimately delay healing and truly make this entire phenomenon worse. From getting a jumpstart in the morning with the $4.99 double jumbo grande “whatever” from Starbucks to the Diet Coke in the middle of the afternoon to the stimulant based dietary supplement swallowed down in attempts to lose weight, these “quick fixes” will kill you. Well, they might not kill you but they will contribute to the vicious cycle that has been induced and lead to an ever increasing addiction and more stress on the body.
Now, after all that caffeine consumption to medicate your energy throughout the day, it is almost impossible to get to sleep! The old “wired but tired” mode kicks in and the want and the reach of survival continue. The reach this time is for something to medicate our sleep: a stiff drink perhaps, a couple of glasses of wine or, God forbid, a prescription or over the counter sleep aid to knock us right out. Whatever our poison, artificial sleep with morning grogginess is the end result, fueling the fire of the stress cycle and adding additional stress to our organs and tissues.
I have heard it said before that the only way out is through! You must be willing to bite the bullet and go through what it takes to break this cycle and exercise control over the few things we do have control over in this modern day stress situation. This means making wholesome choices that perpetuate the equation from surviving to THRIVING and don’t contribute to further damage! The pay off from the time and endurance spent on making better choices by staying conscious and aware of your stressors, supporting the adrenal glands, detoxifying regularly, eating small nutritious meals every 3 hours, avoiding caffeine and alcohol and by weaning off medications to establish an organic, solid and restorative sleep wake cycle is huge! Consistent, authentic energy throughout the day with a sound reparative sleep at night provides a “way out” and puts quality of life in reach despite the many stressors of our modern day.
Do what you have always done; you are going to get what you have always gotten! The time for change is now!

Modern Day Stress: Supplement Your Lifestyle

drhollyadmin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:17:16 +0000

As promised in this third installment of “Modern Day Stress”, I am going to discuss appropriate supplementation to help support us as we careen through this world, sometimes with one foot on the brake and the other on the gas pedal subject to unrelenting chronic stressors. As we have learned, a mechanism once activated only in times of “danger” and for survival gets turned on and left on in our modern day lifestyle with no appropriate time for rest or recovery. This situation renders the body depleted of vital nutrients and weak adrenal glands (stress glands) unable to support and sustain even our normal everyday functions. This is where fatigue, illness, disrupted sleep patterns, moodiness and a host of other debilitating issues start to rear there heads and contribute to a poor quality of life geared towards surviving instead of thriving.
In addition, many people under chronic stress utilize medications, drug, alcohol and tobacco products in order to help them cope, making the entire situation worse!
After understanding that chronic stress plays a significant role in your life, it is imperative that you not only take control over the things we do have control over like diet and exercise but also that you “supplement your lifestyle”, adding specific nutrients to your daily regime to assist in turning the tides from surviving to thriving.
Two nutrients essential to this recipe are vitamin C and vitamin B5 (panothenic acid). Our adrenal glands contain large quantities of both of these nutrients and they can be rapidly depleted in times of stress. This starts a cascade of biochemical reactions and a myriad of health problems since these nutrients are vital components of many bodily functions including the regulation of blood pressure, synthesis or neurotransmitters and the production of energy.
My recommendation is to make sure you have at least 1,000 mg of vitamin C, three times a day. Both vitamin C and the B vitamin’s are water soluble vitamins so it is important that they are taken in divided doses in order to obtain their most nutritional value. Vitamin B5 should be taken at least twice a day at a dosage of 200 mg. Adaptogenic herbs such as Holy Basil and Rhodiola are particularly useful in helping increase resistance to stress.
Supporting and nourishing the adrenal glands is essential as well! Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum M.D. author of From Fatigued to Fantastic (Avery 2007) has formulated a wonderful combination product full of synergistic ingredients to not only support the adrenal glands but also the adrenal processes called Adrenal Stress End. When undergoing stress, the body uses amino acids for several purposes. They are essential in the metabolism of proteins for energy, muscle metabolism and are also required in the production of neurotransmitters. Full ranges of amino acids are crucial in coping with unrelenting chronic stress. My suggestion is to start off the each day with a nice, easy protein shake made with a comprehensive protein blend, I prefer rice because it is hypoallergenic but you can try soy or whey as well. You can add your favorite frozen berries, brewer’s yeast for extra nourishment, ground flax seeds and anything else you can think of to give your day an amazing super start!
These are just a few suggestions to help take the hits of our modern day stress. To remember and review:
1.Identify your own unrelenting chronic stress and attempt to decrease it.
2. Respond to any fatigue with rest.
3. Supplement your lifestyle.
In my next article I will discuss the pitfalls of reaching for that glass of wine, energy drink or cigarette when feeling the fatigue or pressure of stress building and building!

“Long Term Investment” Energy!

drhollyadmin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:06:06 +0000

The BEST tip on how to get sustained and consistent energy throughout the day!

Modern Day Stress: No Recovery

drhollyadmin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:08:41 +0000

In my last post I discussed the need for a new definition of stress in our modern day and also encourage you to take a look at the myriad of ways stress is playing a role in your own life. The traditional definition simply geared towards a physical event or a mental state requiring the body to respond just doesn’t cut it anymore in a society where there are stressful influences coming at us from all different directions. Making the issue worse is the way individuals are choosing to respond to their perception of stress. The increase use of alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, sugar and energy drinks in response to dealing with everyday stressors are creating an even more stressful situation in the body, contributing even more to the adverse health conditions. We can’t change what we don’t acknowledge but with the acknowledgement of your own unique situation and understanding of this new paradigm we can take a deeper look at how we can live full and healthy lives despite some of our modern day challenges!
Whether the stress is acute or chronic, perceived as good or bad, or it is passive or active the response by our bodies is intended to preserve life; it is a survival mechanism. A healthy human stress response involves many components. First, the brain initiates the most immediate response signaling the adrenal glands to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. This is the chemical that makes you feel jittery immediately after someone scares you or if you have had too much coffee! Then the hypothalamus and pituitary activate another part of the adrenals releasing a hormone called cortisol. This is followed by the nervous system initiating behavioral responses like alertness, focus, reduction of pain receptors and the inhibition of reproductive behaviors and desires. The sympathetic nervous system then kicks in to increase the heart rate, blood pressure and release fuel to help fight or get out of danger and, as well redirects blood flow to the heart, muscles and brain, away from the gastrointestinal tract and digestive processes. To accommodate these demands there is a huge increase in energy production and utilization of nutrients and fluids in the body. Once the stressful situation has passed, the brain signals the responses to be “turned off” and finally recovery and relaxation allows the body to re-establish balance in all systems, replacing lost nutrients and eliminating waste products accumulated during the process.
The key element in this stress response that is missing in our modern day stress paradigm is RECOVERY. While there are usually recovery times for life threatening events like getting chased by a polar bear, there are few for the recurring events like backed up traffic, relationship troubles, financial pressures, job stresses, negative self-talk and image, poor physical conditioning, artificial lighting, malnourished diet, inadequate sleep, genetically modified foods, environmental toxin accumulation and so on. In fact, these types of stressors each day can string themselves together rendering the stress response to be “turned on” all of the time. This is causing many of the health issues I see in my practice each and every day. People are complaining of anything from a compromised sleep/wake cycle free of medication, a decrease in libido, poor digestion, constipation, hormone imbalances, thinning hair, adult acne, chronic and persistent fatigue, weight gain around the belly, mood swings and depression.
So what can we do about it? First of all, I have mentioned increasing awareness, knowledge and identification of your own unique situation. This is paramount, as reality orientation is necessary for any health change. Second, we must start responding to any fatigue with rest. Rest is where the parasympathetic nervous system (the opposite of our survival response) is initiated so the body can rest, relax and repair. And finally, I am a huge advocate of supplementing your lifestyle. While it is important to continue to make efforts towards increasing our recovery and therefore decreasing our state of stress induced nutrient depletion, this will not likely happen overnight. By supplementing our lifestyle we can stop the hemorrhage of our health and work towards getting our lives back! Next time I will detail exactly what is depleted and therefore needed to correct the imbalances derived from our modern day stress! Until then, respond to any fatigue with rest. Feeling tired is your body’s way of trying to get your attention, alerting you that something is out of balance. Keep increasing your awareness of how big a role modern day stress plays a part in your health and stay tuned for more information on the right ingredients to supplement your lifestyle!

Modern Day Stress: A New Paradigm of Meaning

drhollyadmin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:37:09 +0000

Its 5:07 pm on Tuesday evening, I landed from a business trip, made my way through the maze at LAX to get to a cab, spent 45 minutes on the 10 freeway to go approximately 7.2 miles to my home, only to be greeted by a stack of mail, (mostly bills), 67 emails, (mostly spam), 5 voice mails (2 were my mother in law) and a nice pile of cat puke on my entryway landing. I slumped down in a chair, chin in hand, fought back the tears and thought to myself, this is more than just stress, this is my life! Life in our modern day society seems to have brought, not only a flight of modern technology and anti-biotic resistant bacteria, but as well, a new form of “stress”. Stress that is chronic, insidious and worthy of a new paradigm of meaning and a different conversation when it comes to the way it is affecting our health. I plan to spend the next few articles breaking down this matter and providing suggestions to live an optimum life in a time full of obstacles.
The traditional definitions of stress summarize the entity as a physical event, for example an injury, or a mental state like anxiety that disturbs the body’s normal state of functioning and / or requires the body to respond. In its most refined and simple definition, stress is a disruption that causes a reaction. The traditional stress reaction consists of a surge of chemicals released in the body after an individual perceives danger to prepare the body for survival. It is part of the primitive ‘fight or flight’ reaction to danger. The body switches on all crucial functions for survival and movement, the heartbeat is accelerated and blood pressure is elevated to assure that the muscles are flooded with circulation and nutrients, the pupils are dilated for better vision, fat and sugar are released for fuel and muscles tighten for quick movement. Functions not associated with moving to escape danger such as digestion and libido are switched off. This mechanism was a beautiful thing 10,000 years ago when about every two weeks one might have to worry if they were to stumble across the path of a polar bear. However, this primal method of responding to stress has not evolved with our modern day society yet our stress response is still thought to be firing at an estimated 60 times per day without much chance for recovery. A national survey, released by the American Psychological Association found that one-third of Americans are living with extreme stress and nearly half (48%) report their stress levels have increased within the past five years. This chronic state of stress, whether perceived or real, is causing a myriad of health issues that we don’t realize. The stress hormones elicited during the time of a stressful event are meant to be protective; however, when they are overproduced or not turned off when the apparent danger has passed, the same hormones can promote cellular damage and accelerate detrimental changes in the body that lead to conditions like persistent fatigue, bone mineral loss, brain fog and obesity. The situation is compounded by the tremendous amount of ” passive” stress in our modern day, stressors beyond the traffic, family dynamics, finances and unresolved emotional issues. We also have stress on our bodies due to the electromagnetic fields from cell phones and wireless internets, foods we eat that are laden with pesticides or that have been genetically modified and a society dependant on chemicals that we are exposed to on a daily basis.
So, it has been said that the first step is awareness! I challenge each and every one of you to start becoming aware of ALL of the existing modern day stressors in your personal life. Identify them so you can work with and decrease them as the first step to living optimally in a time where there are many obstacles.
Much more next time, believe me, we are just getting started with this one!

The Weekly Dose: “Loan Shark Energy”

drhollyadmin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:29:50 +0000

Dr. Holly ponders the promise of “energy” from the various gulps and gimmicks!

Paula Deen and YOU!

drhollyadmin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:50:54 +0000

Well well well, seems like the Butter Queen has a bit of fuss churning around her choice to not only announce that she has developed adult onset diabetes, but that she is now the spokesperson for a drug to treat the aforementioned disease. She has certainly landed herself in the current 24 hour news cycle with almost everybody blogging, Vlogging and FLOGGING on her promotion of high fat, high sugar, low nutrient foods that have been proven to contribute to diabetes and now seemingly cashing in on the consequences of her own food choices. Here is my point of view to the people I care about, YOU:…… WHO CARES? Seriously, focusing on Paula Deen or anyone else for that matter is simply is another distraction from concentrating on you and YOUR health. Paula has every right to cook the scrumptious, fat ladened food that she does and she has every right to eat it. And so do you. Food is not inherently bad. It is our individual choices around food we consume that will get us in to trouble. It is an imbalance of eating the type of food that Paula Deen has made a career out of cooking and the high density nutrient and fiber filled whole foods that chefs such as Ellie Krieger prepare for the television audience. As for Paula’s business decisions, well, as disappointed as I am at her along with Sally and the osteoporosis adds, that is her decision and right as well. My belief is that in ANY situation, health will occur when the conditions for health are available and disease is a product of conditions that allow for it. I would concur that Paula allowed for her disease. My plea is that YOU don’t. Food is a lot in this country, it can be used as a drug, it’s celebratory, social, religious and as The Food Network has shown, very entertaining. But, look up food in the dictionary and it simply means “solid nourishment”. Despite the story de-jour, please be responsible for YOUR choices, don’t get distracted by others. Use food as much as you can for nourishment and create the environment where your optimal health can exist!

Getting to the Heart of the Matter

drhollyadmin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:53:01 +0000

Life. Seriously, what would we do without it? From the moment it begins to the moment it stops, life itself is supported by one of the most fascinating structures in the human body, the heart. Based on an average lifespan of 75 years and an average heartbeat of 72 beats per minute, the average heart, that big muscle in the middle of the chest, beats around 2,838,240,000 without ever taking a rest. Tirelessly pumping the energy we need to sustain life. What an amazing organ!

That is why the fact that heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the United States shakes me to the core as a practitioner. Why is this the case? After all, we are one of the most scientifically advanced, educated and economically savvy countries in the world. We have Rhodes scholars and Noble Prize winning scientists and researchers conducting studies and drafting pieces of literature about health, disease, medicine, you name it. But we continue to have a staggering number of individuals affected by a diseased heart. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control & Prevention) in 2008 631,636 people died of heart disease – that is 26% of all deaths; more than one in every four. Every year about 785,000 Americans have a first heart attack. Another 470,000 who have already had one or more heart attacks, have another. This isn’t just a tragedy of life and loss, this burden we bear as a nation also carries and extremely steep financial price. It is predicted that in 2010, heart disease will cost the United States $316.4 billion. This total includes the cost of health care services, medications and lost productivity.

Being a Naturopathic Doctor, I am fueled to think about troubling situations like this in a very comprehensive manner. One of our principles is that of “Identify and Treat the Cause”. The body is meant to be well, to heal itself and come back into balance as needed, constantly attempting to gain homeostasis, or a state of equilibrium. When this elegant system breaks down and disease ensues, we must ask good questions. Where are there obstacles to this process? Where are there deficiencies? Where might there be excesses? What is in the way of the body attempting to be healthy and what can we then do to remove the obstacle to help stimulate balance throughout and therefore health?

The conventional medical system does have offerings for this killer disease, mostly in the form of prescription medications. One to lower blood pressure, perhaps one to decrease cholesterol and maybe even one to help increase the contractility or “power” of the heart. But still, we suffer as a nation, from this malady. But, as my good pharmacist friend says, “people don’t have high cholesterol because they are deficient in a “statin” medication, just as they don’t suffer from depression due to a deficiency in Prozac.” Good point, I say!

It’s an Issue of LIFE [STYLE]

In order to get and stay well and truly get to the heart of the matter in this predicament, we must look at our modern day lifestyles and understand what is contributing to this number one killer. In my opinion, heart disease is that of a lifestyle disease or rather disconnect.

As we will see, some things are in our control and some things aren’t. There are passive environmental variables, such as pollutants, electromagnetic fields, and food additives to name a few, that stress our bodies and contribute to chronic inflammation, a precursor to heart disease. Yet the more poignant piece of the puzzle is that we fail to take charge, when it comes to factors that are within our control. We are caught in a cycle of chronic, unrelenting stress that we create for ourselves and often don’t know how to undo. Relationship issues, unresolved emotional issues, financial issues pepper our daily existence and become chronic and unreeling.

This cycle of achievement and stress is often seductive, and for some addictive. Instead of slowing down when our energy feels tapped out, we resort to quick fixes; caffeine to speed up, alcohol to wind down, high calorie, low nutrient value comfort foods to relax. This feels good temporarily, but eventually we end up getting stuck in a loop of peaks and troughs. We become disconnected from our selves, our health, and our bodies. In essence, we create for ourselves an overall lifestyle of survival that makes it difficult to make intelligent choices for our health, even when we know better and we ultimately wind up out of balance and sick.

Comprehensive Care

The transition to a heart-healthy lifestyle begins with tiny lifestyle steps.

Start by identifying and reducing the unrelenting chronic stress in your life. Your body produces cortisol, an inflammatory hormone, when you are stressed. With chronic stress, your body produces cortisol all the time, which causes inflammation. Counteract this by finding one moment every day to reflect, take a breath, consider what you can do to simplify. Look at quality, not quantity, and reconnect with what is important to you.

Next, start exercising. I always say consistency over intensity. Ultimately, 30 minutes of some type of aerobic style, cardiovascular exercise, five times a week would be ideal to build a healthy heart system. This can also help the body rid itself of excess cortisol, rather than storing it as belly fat.

The third step is to focus on getting enough good sleep. Sleep is where we rest, relax, and repair. You need quality sleep, but also quantity, I suggest eight hours a night so your body can have time to rejuvenate. If you have an issue with sleep, begin doing anything possible to remedy this issue. It is a must.

Restore Balance with Nutrients and Botanicals

Heart-healthy eating and supplementing with key nutrients and botanicals is a critical part of the equation to prevent disease and heal your body.

The first nutritional guideline to follow is to stay hydrated. Often when we feel hungry or tired, what we’re really feeling is thirsty. Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day, and add an extra 8-ounce glass of water for every caffeinated beverage or alcohol you have as these agents are dehydrating.

Next, make sure your diet, the way your nourish yourself, includes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, clean seafood, legumes, and skinless lean meats and poultry. Eat organic as much as possible, and decrease your intake of foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol. Maintain an ideal weight for your height and frame, and limit alcohol to one drink a day.

In addition to eating well, supplement with heart healthy vitamins, minerals, and botanicals for comprehensive daily support. Antioxidants, Co-Q10, and B-complex vitamins are important. But in addition to these more commonly known nutrients, there are several effective heart-supporting botanicals, or herbs, useful in taking everyday.

Arjuna Bark contains glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, and minerals that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering properties. This helps strengthen heart muscles so you can build up your energy levels and maintain healthy blood pressure. Amla is a fruit extract that lowers your cholesterol and has anti-atherosclerotic properties. Coleus is a root extract that contains a property called forskolin that enhances the ability of the heart muscles to contract, which helps with blood vessel dilation and reduces the load on your heart. And Guggul is a gum extract that prevents oxidation, helps your body excrete cholesterol, and lowers your levels of LDL, often referred to as the “bad” cholesterol.

Let’s face it, we need this lovely entity called life and we need our heart healthy to support it and all it has to offer! So take a moment to regroup, relax, and focus. Know that with a comprehensive approach and a few lifestyle changes, and by supplementing with the right nutrients and botanicals, you can get to and live from the HEART of the matter in all of life.