Heart failure is one of the fastest-growing causes of hospitalization and deaths in the Western world. The United States takes the lead in this disease — an estimated 5.3 million Americans live with heart failure and 660,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.

Heart failure is defined as the inability of the heart to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. Of all the cardiovascular diseases, it is the only one that is increasing in incidence. It’s obvious that we have a real problem on our hands.

The condition is hitting senior citizens especially hard. A new 27-year study has found that heart failure in people over age 65 increased 131 percent, with women showing the greatest increase. Among younger people, men are more likely to suffer heart failure.

About 50 percent of both genders will die within five years of diagnosis — when conventional treatments are used.

Seven strategies can put the odds in your favor. We will discuss the first four this week.

1. Take vitamin D3.
Vitamin D3 is being shown to be one of our most
important supplements. In truth, vitamin D3 is not a vitamin; rather, it is a neurohormone.

As we have seen, the primary cause of heart failure, or at least its progression, is chronic inflammation. Therefore, anything that reduces inflammation also should lessen the chances for heart failure.

A number of studies are confirming this observation. Vitamin D3 has been shown to suppress the release of the inflammatory cytokine TNF-a and to increase the anti-inflammatory cytokine called IL-10 — the higher the dose of vitamin D3, the greater the beneficial effect.

For information on the powers of vitamin D3, read my special report “Vitamin D’s Hidden Role in Your Health.”

2. Avoid Statin Drugs.
Statin drugs have been shown to lower CoQ10 levels dramatically in the heart. It is interesting to note that the dramatic rise in congestive heart failure started about the same time as the widespread use of these drugs. Only recently have some cardiologists started recommending CoQ10 supplementation to their patients who use statins. Many still do not use it.

3. Increase Omega-3’s.

Omega-3 fats play a major role in reducing heart disease and especially death from heart disease. One of the major ways omega-3 oils reduce cardiovascular deaths is by reducing fatal arrhythmias.

Not only are omega-3 oils important for heart health during our adult years but also new research indicates they may play a role in regulating our heart rate from early life.

4. Reduce Excitotoxins in Your Diet.
Excitotoxins have been shown to raise blood glutamate levels anywhere from 20-fold to 50-fold higher than fasting levels.

At high levels, glutamate overstimulates the heart and can lead to destruction of heart muscle cells and the electrical conduction system. This can lead to heart failure and arrhythmias. For information on how to avoid excitotoxins and other poisonous foods in your diet, go here for the report “How to Avoid Poisonous Foods.”

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Although the typical thought that most people gain 5 lbs. during the holidays is fiction (the average is closer to ½ – 1 lb.), there is certainly enough temptation out there that a few tips for maintaining your weight during the holidays certainly wouldn’t hurt! Although I rely on my daily supplement regimen to help me stay on track here are a few good tips that might help you this year.

Be well,

Dr. S

1. Never go to a party or dinner very hungry. Always eat a high-fiber or protein-based snack to take the edge off. Some ideas include cottage cheese and fresh fruit, low-fat yogurt with a tablespoon of chopped nuts or two tablespoons of high-fiber granola or cereal, or a bowl of minestrone. Soup is one of the best options since it is high in water, so more likely to fill you up with fewer calories. In addition, research shows that people who begin a meal with soup tend to eat fewer calories during the meal. If you are planning on drinking alcohol, include a little fat in your snack such as nuts or string cheese as this will slow the absorption of alcohol, helping you maintain better control over food choices during the course of the evening.

2. Squeeze in time for exercise or physical activity. Take the stairs at the mall or department store. Do pushups, sit-ups, and jumping jacks while watching TV. Go for a walk before or after Christmas dinner. Plan outings at the park for the family. If you don’t have time to get to the gym, get a jump rope and commit to five minutes daily (everyone has five extra minutes).

3. Build a better eating environment. Use smaller plates and taller, narrower glasses to keep portion sizes under control. Fill at least half your plate with lean protein and vegetables and use the remaining half for the special, delicious, not-so-good-for-you items. Also, try to limit variety when it comes to higher-fat options, as research shows that this can lead to overeating. Choose one type of cookie instead of three. Finally, try not to waste calories on fillers such as rolls, chips, cheese and crackers that you can eat any time of the year.

4. Make trade-offs. Resolve to skip wine at one party and skip dessert at another. Have pasta or bread if that is what you are craving but limit yourself to one cocktail instead of two. Don’t have an all-or-nothing mentality when it comes to holiday eating. You can be social and in control. If you feel your resolve slipping, focus on how great you are going to feel in January when you have not gained weight for the first time in how many years?

5. Get rid of leftovers. If you are having a party, stock up on Tupperware and send guests home with the remaining Christmas cookies and treats. Not only will they appreciate the holiday spirit, you won’t be faced with the cookie tray for days.

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8 Wacky Weight Loss Tips

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8 Wacky Weight Loss Tips
I really get a kick out of all of the crazy things people will do for effective weight loss. The grapefruit diet, the enema plan…… it just shows how much of a problem our society is having with weight management issues these days and creating a weight loss menu. I thought [...]

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Believe it or not, your body naturally wants to take you to your optimal weight. So if you’ve had it with all the typical weight loss schemes, there is a solution for you. Make your body work for you, not against you, with tips based on four simple strategies:

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Be well,
Dr. S
A healthy diet is essential to good health, but diet [...]

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Can Your IPOD Help You Lose Weight?

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You’ve all probably got one. Or you’re always telling your kids to turn theirs off. But who would have thought that you could actually put your IPOD to work…… toward helping you reach your New Years’ resolution goal to lose weight?! Read on and be well,
Dr. S
You could lose those holiday pounds — and then [...]

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Are Genetically Modified Foods Safe?

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Genetically modified foods have come to your local supermarket, even though most Americans don’t want them and many believe they’re dangerous. A CBS poll found that 53 percent of Americans wouldn’t buy food they knew had been genetically modified. But here’s the rub—there’s no easy way to know which foods contain genetically modified ingredients.
Genetically modified [...]

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Quality and Safety of Omega-3 Products

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UALITY and SAFETY is a topic that will recur in many of my blog entries. One of the most important things that we can to ensure maximum results with ANY nutritional supplement we choose is to find a product that is pharmaceutical-grade and comes from an FDA approved manufacturing facility. This is more easily said [...]

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When Sleep Suffers, So Does Decisiveness

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I am a firm believer that improving our quality of sleep improves our quality of life. There is so much research being conducted on sleep disorders and some of the most current literature is targeting products that don’t just “knock you out”, but rather allow you to spend more time in the phase of sleep [...]

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Extraordinary Benefits of Exercise

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We all knew it in our hearts, now it is confirmed: EXERCISE IS GOOD FOR US! You want proof? Here’s the info that proves it:
The results of two new German studies emphasize that exercise is one of the most effective methods of preventing disease. The first study found that exercise has an extraordinary potential to [...]

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