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Reducing your risk for cardiovascular disease goes beyond aspirin and monitoring your bad cholesterol level. Studies from the world's premier medical institutions show us that there are steps one can take to promote and maintain a healthy cardiovascular system. Heart and Flow First off, the term cardiovascular refers to the heart (cardio) and the blood vessels (vascular). The cardiovascular system includes arteries, veins, arterioles, venules and capillaries. Cardiovascular disease is a wide-encompassing category that includes all conditions that affect the heart and the blood vessels. Monumental Health Risk Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. There are many risk factors that have been associated with cardiovascular disease, most of which can be managed, but some cannot. Hereditary predisposition (it is very important to know your family medical history) and the aging process are risk factors that cannot be altered. Until the age of 50, men are at the greater risk than women of developing heart disease, though once a woman enters menopause, her risk triples. About two-thirds of the adult U.S. population is overweight, and almost one-third not only exceeds ideal weight, but also meets the clinical criteria for obesity. In the 1990s, rates of obesity more than doubled, and are currently rising by over 5% per year. What is truly alarming is that every year more and more of America's youth are joining the obesity club. These children are now developing medical problems that were once only associated with older individuals and individuals who are severely overweight. Excess body weight is implicated as a risk factor for many different disorders, including heart disease, diabetes, several cancers (such as breast cancer in postmenopausal women, and cancers of the uterus, colon and kidney), prostate enlargement (BPH), female infertility, uterine fibroids, and gallstones. The location of excess body fat may affect the amount of health risks associated with being overweight. For example, abdominal fat or belly fat, versus fat that accumulates on the hips, is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and heart attack. A little known sign of cardiovascular risk is high-frequency hearing loss as you age. It is most likely the result of high insulin levels and stiff arteries, according to researchers with the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study of the National Institute of Aging. These may damage or reduce blood flow to vessels in the inner ear. Research suggests a number of risk factors that are considered an extraordinary breakthrough in our scientific knowledge about the pathology of cardiovascular degeneration. They include low antioxidant status, low levels of essential fatty acids, magnesium, potassium, and elevated levels of homocysteines*. These risk factors are especially interesting because there is so much we can do – easily and safely – to eliminate each of them. For example:

• Exercising
• Reducing bad fats in the diet
• Eliminating as many processed foods as possible
• Supplementing with key vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and nutrients

The Truth About Cholesterol: The Good, The Bad and The Healthy When discussing certain health issues, you really need to be a huge fan of alphabet soup or, in other words, you need to know your "ABC's." And, when we speak about cholesterol, not, only will you come in contact with numerous letters, but for some, those letters can become confusing. With that in mind, I will try to keep this as simple as possible. First off, let's start with the good cholesterol (HDL). Try this: when you think of HDL, think of the "H" for "Healthy." Now, the good cholesterol actually does not refer to cholesterol found in the foods we eat, but to the High Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (blood fats) that circulates in our blood. It is HDL, the good cholesterol, we all want and need. Also, by having more or higher levels of HDL will help to lower your risk of heart disease. A recent report from an expert panel of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) notes that although LDL or "bad" cholesterol has gotten most of the attention, there's growing evidence that HDL plays an important role. Here are some interesting facts about HDL, the "good" cholesterol:

• HDL cholesterol normally makes up 20%-30% of your total blood cholesterol.
• There's some evidence that HDL helps protect against the accumulation of plaques (fatty deposits) in the arteries.
• Research suggests that a 1% decrease in HDL cholesterol is linked to a 2%-3% increase in heart disease risk.
• In prospective studies - that is, studies that follow participants for a certain period to watch for outcomes - HDL usually proves to be the lipid risk factor most linked to heart disease risk.
• HDL cholesterol levels are thought to have a genetic factor in some people.
• Women typically have higher HDL cholesterol levels than men. About a third of men and about a fifth of women have HDL levels below 40 mg/dL. (Doctors consider levels of less than 40 mg/dL to be low.)
• The ratio of total cholesterol to HDL (in which your total cholesterol number is divided by your HDL number) is a better marker for coronary artery disease than LDL measurement alone.
• A study at the University of California, Berkeley found that dietary cholesterol improved mental ability in the face of advancing age and declining memory.
• Cholesterol is a waxy, oily steroid compound which has received a lot of bad press in recent years, especially when it comes to cardiovascular degeneration. The truth is cholesterol is vital to the body's health and functioning.
• Cholesterol is an essential component in cell membranes. It helps us to absorb fat-soluble vitamins (A,D,E & K) and essential fatty acids. It is also involved in manufacturing key male and female sex hormones and steroidal hormones. These are crucial for a healthy immune system and a smooth running hormonal system.

Ironically, a significant percentage of coronary heart disease occurs in people with normal to low cholesterol. The problem behind heart disease isn't the cholesterol itself – but oxidized cholesterol. Yes, it turns out that only oxidized cholesterol causes coronary heart disease. Cholesterol is oxidized when it is exposed to sunlight, oxygen, or heat - as when oils are refined or hydrogenated. Cholesterol in your body can also be oxidized by free radical reactions when you consume oils that have gone through rancidification*. Numerous nutrients have been indicated by thousands of published studies to promote healthy cardiovascular function. There are four primary benefits that can be achieved by using nutrition to promote cardiovascular health: 1) Antioxidant nutrients that prevent cell oxidation of the LDL (bad) cholesterol. Cholesterol becomes your enemy only when the LDL faction is hit by a free radical and becomes oxidized. The following are nutrients that have been shown to act as antioxidants and protect the LDL cholesterol from oxidation:

• Garlic (400 - 2,000 mg per day - odorless aged extract is superior)
• Vitamin E (400 - 1,200 IU per day - a natural blend is up to 3 times more powerful)
• Grape Seed Extract (50 - 200 mg per day - Activin is the best studied and standardized form)
• Red Wine Extract (50 - 200 mg per day - use standardized 30% or greater polphenols)
• Green Tea Extract (100 - 300 mg per day - use standardized 80% polyphenols/55% epigallocatechin)
• CoEnzyme Q10 (60 - 120 mg per day)

Here are several nutrients to help you supplement your diet or meal plan:

• NSI® Aged Garlic Extract with Lecithin - 980 mg per serving - 200 Capsules
  Item Number NI 006700 Retail price: $24.99 Our price: $9.99
• NSI® Resveratrol Green Tea, C, Grape Complex - 120 Capsules
• NSI® Resveratrol + Grape Seed & Red Wine Extracts - 120 Capsules
• NSI® 100% Natural Vitamin E - 1,000 IU - 250 Softgels
  Item Number NI 001927 Retail price: $39.95 Our price: $16.49

2) Nutrients that promote healthy homocysteine levels. Over 500 studies have been published in the medical literature about the dangers of homocysteine. Elevated homocysteine is up to five times more deadly than elevated cholesterol. Vitamins B6, B12, Folic Acid and Trimethylglycine promote healthy homocysteine levels. The following are recommended nutrients and levels to promote healthy homocysteine levels:

• Vitamin B6 (50 - 150 mg per day)
• Vitamin B12 (500 - 2,000 mcg per day - Methylcobalamin form is far superior)
• Folic Acid (400 - 1,000 IU per day)
• Trimethylglycine (100 - 500 mg per day)

3) Nutrients that promote healthy cholesterol levels and ratios. Cholesterol levels are not the best indicators of cardiovascular health; the ratio of HDL (good) versus LDL (bad) are far superior. A ratio of 4 or less is good with 3 being optimal. The following nutrients are recommended to promote healthy cholesterol levels and ratios:

• Fish Oil (200 - 800 mg per day of EPA & DHA)
• Garlic (900 mg per day - odorless aged extract)
• Tocotrienols (312 mg per day)
• Fiber (20 - 30 grams per day from food and supplements)

4) Nutrients that promote strong and healthy blood vessels. Many people's diets do not supply enough Vitamin C and Bioflavonoids to promote healthy blood vessels. Vitamin C and Bioflavonoids are critical to collagen formation, the major connective protein that maintains and promotes strong blood vessels. The supplement, Pycnogenol®, is a nutritional supplement made from special pine trees found only in France. Pycnogenolis® a powerful complex of antioxidants that may reduce the risks associated with health conditions precipitated by free radical damage. Pycnogenol® may benefit the entire cardiovascular system by preventing excessive platelet aggregation brought on by smoking and stress. The following nutrients are recommended to promote strong and healthy blood vessels:

• Vitamin C (500 - 2,000 mg per day - And remember that Ester-C is superior)
• Bioflavonoids (100 - 500 mg per day)
• Pycnogenol® (50 – 200 mg per day)

Yes, there is a fountain of youth - and, it lies in consistent research (we have made that easy for you), proper nutrition, exercise, vitamins and supplements. Of course, we have made this easy for you too. The time is now to get your cardiovascular health in check. Glossary: Atherosclerosis is arterial disease: in which raised areas of degeneration and cholesterol deposits plaques on the inner surfaces of the arteries obstructing blood flow. Homocysteine is an amino acid produced in the body during the metabolism of methionine. Raised levels of homocysteine are associated with atherosclerosis. Methionine is an essential amino acid that contains sulfur. Rancidification is the decomposition of fats and other lipids by hydrolysis or oxidation, or both.

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