Health and a Donut Challenge (2011)
I just discovered the Krispy Kreme Challenge. In a nation of heart disease, cancer, chronic degenerative diseases, we celebrate eating a dozen donuts loaded with trans fats and throw in a 4-mile run to somehow give this a stamp of health. All of this is to benefit a Children's Hospital. Hospitals are masters of crying poor mouth while simultaneously being one of the most profitable industries in history.
Donuts Are Representative of What's Wrong with Diet in America
What's wrong with this picture?? What's right would be a shorter discussion. We live in America where we have the right to be stupid from time to time. If this were just a random event and people didn't eat these poison pills each day it would be different. Truth is, donuts and similar foods interfere with intestinal health and fragments of these food breakdown products enter the blood stream, cross the blood brain barrier and attach to opiate receptors in the brain. Most notable are the wheat protein breakdown products. When your body begins to break down the opiate receptor and wheat protein complex, the person begins to crave that food again. This is truly an addiction. Some addictions are relatively benign, that is they won't kill you that fast. An example might be coffee. This addiction is a killer, however. You might as well have a race where you run out, smoke five cigarettes and then run back. It wouldn't be any less stupid.
You Are As Young as Your Arteries
I will refer here to the axiom that you are only as old as your arteries. Therefore everything you can do to keep your plumbing happy will have a favorable effect on your general health.
Limit Homocysteine
One factor that has been identified that can shorten the life of arteries is homocysteine. How this destroys your vascular system is still unclear but the link is accepted by most researchers. You can get a general inflammation blood workup that includes your homocysteine levels. You can ask us about that. Also refer to Direct Labs Heart Health panel.
Supplements Can Help
Blood levels of homocysteine can be reduced with supplements. Key supplements are Vitamin B12, folic acid, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), omega 3 fatty acids (fish oils), taurine, trimethyl glycine (TMG), SAM-e and ribloflavin.
B12 and folic acid are helpful for converting the free amino acid homocysteine to other compounds. Some studies have indicated that people taking higher levels of folic acid had a lower incidence of heart attacks.
Perque Activated B-12 Guard, link below!
NAC For So Many Reasons
N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) has been shown to reduce levels of homocysteine. NAC probably helps your vascular system in a couple of ways. One is that it seems to be able to bind to homocysteine so it can be cleared from the blood by the kidneys. NAC is also a precursor to glutathione (GSH) that is a powerful antioxidant.
We recommend taking BetterGenix NAC for a NAC supplement.
NeuroScience also formulates taurine that we use routinely to help balance neurotransmitter function, but a welcome effect is the possible reduction of homocysteine and improved heart and vascular health.
NeuroScience TravaCor, link below!
Quality Fish Oil Is Helpful
Of course, we have been recommending quality fish oils. Just about everyone knows about fish oils these days so you can buy it super cheap at the big box stores. I must caution you, however. There is a reason those are so cheap. It costs money to remove mercury and other toxins. You want to give your body the best quality supplements you can find, and you won't find a giant bottle of quality fish oil capsules for $11.99.
Nordic Naturals ProOmega, link below!
You can help out your heart by avoiding trans fats (otherwise known as partially hydrogenated fats), keeping your stress levels at a decent level and using a few supplements like B Vitamins, NAC, omega 3 fatty acids and maybe some taurine, SAM-e and TMG.
