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| For Her Heart.org
January 2009/USA January 2010/USA
High Blood Pressure and Women For Her Heart provides an online sanctuary for women to nurture their heart health through self care.
Through guidance and understanding we help women move away from the stressful thoughts invoked by heart disease awareness to the positive energy of cultivating heart health. A primary focus of this preventive outreach is to help women naturally reduce arterial inflammation and maintain healthy blood pressure and optimal HDL cholesterol
to reduce their risk of heart attack and stroke Worldwide, the information presented within this website helps women replace mis-perceptions about heart health and worry about heart attack
with an appreciation for and an ability to nurture their cardio-vascular health. For overviews about foods that reduce the risk of heart attack and heart disease by 92% CLICK HERE
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| Calming Thoughts About
blood pressure . . . even heart attack This is a good day, because reading this information helps move women's thoughts beyond awareness of heart disease & worry about heart attack (stressful energy) to the positive energy of cultivating heart health. Please take comfort in learning that a low salt (sodium), high potassium diet intensely reduces a women's risk of heart attack, stroke and heart disease. Arteries tend to tighten under the influence of sodium. High sodium also cause blood to thicken. As such, dietary salt significantly impacts the cause and progression of high blood pressure. In addition, around mid life people tend to become more salt sensitive. The body (cells) find high sodium intake to be overwhelming and troublesome.
Potassium has a favorable impact on blood pressure. A key concept for healthy blood pressure is low sodium and high potassium. In general beans, vegetables, prunes, orange juice, Greek yogurt and oat bran provide high potassium. To help prevent or slow the progression of high blood pressure it is important to read food labels for sodium content. Prepared boxed and frozen foods, and foods like canned soups also tend to have very, very high sodium content. More information about sodium is noted a few paragraphs below.
Menopause, Estrogen and Blood Pressure When cultivating women's arterial and heart health it is helpful to appreciate that estrogen has a regulatory role on blood pressure. Women over age 50, experience a natural, yet significant decline in estrogen due to menopause. This diminished estrogen contributes to the incidence of high blood pressure in many postmenopausal women. More specifically, estrogen helps regulate blood pressure through three mechanisms: sympathetic nervous system activity, L-type calcium channels, and angiotensin/renin activity. Vascular smooth muscle cells are located in the middle layer of the artery. Estrogen generates a calcium balancing effect on vascular smooth muscle cells and cardiac fibers. In the artery, the movement of calcium ions across the cell membrane causes squeezing and tightening. Prior to menopause, estrogen had balanced the entry of calcium into these cells, contributing to relaxed arteries. Prescription blood pressure medications that help regulate or block L-type calcium channels are called Calcium Channel Blockers. Estrogen also modifies sympathetic nervous system activity. For many women diminished estrogen production due to menopause contributes to enhanced sympathetic (excited) nervous system activity and parasympathetic (relaxed) nervous system withdrawal. Sympathetic stimulation tightens arteries. Tight, narrow arteries contribute to high blood pressure and cause the heart to work harder. For example, you have to blow harder through a narrow straw to push liquid out. Yoga, mediation, and Tai Chi help quite and calm sympathetic over stimulation. These peaceful practices send signals, like little whispers, to your arteries to stay relaxed.
Estrogen also regulates another blood pressure mechanism involving renin, angiotensin and aldosterone. After menopause, for many women this part of the blood pressure regulating system become off balance. Specifically, angiotensin II activity brews which causes increased systemic vascular resistance and arterial pressure, increased sodium and fluid retention and increased sympathetic nervous system stimulation: adrenergic activity. Prescription blood pressure medications that regulate angiotensin mechanisms are called ACE inhibitors and ARB blockers. Soy isoflavones behave similar to estrogen and help keep arteries soft and relaxed. Soy isoflavones are available in soy milk, soy flour, tofu, and soy nuts. Red clover (sprouts) and chick peas also provide isoflavones. It is healthy to select isoflavone foods that are organic or non genetically modified. Pacific Foods a USA natural food manufacturer offers Ultra Soy Vanilla (organic). This is an excellent high calcium, magnesium, potassium organic soy milk. A thoughtful gift idea. A low salt, high potassium diet, soy isoflavones (a cup of soy milk after Tai Chi) and stress management activities that hush sympathetic over activity will work in synergy to nurture and relax the arteries. Stiff arteries tend to develop little tears, and scratches stimulating a cascade of inflammatory cellular activity to patch the damaged tissue. This cellular type patching changes the structure and stiffens the middle layer of the artery and contributes to plaque buildup on the inner layer of the artery. This cellular buildup contributes to stiffer arteries and higher blood pressure. Stiff arteries do not pause (or pulse) which requires more work, more non-stop work from the heart. The efficiency of the heart as a pump then eventually wears out leading to heart failure in advanced years.
High sodium intake also increase blood volume; the heart then has to work harder to push/pump thicker blood. For example, it is easier to blow thin cranberry juice through a straw than thick ketchup. When the heart is consistently working in overdrive to pump thick blood to body tissues/organs the efficiency of the heart as a pump wears out; leading to heart failure in advanced years. Just a brief, more in depth explanation of how high sodium lessens arterial function and changes artery structure. Besides altering blood pressure, salt exposure triggers structural and functional pressure independent changes in the vascular wall. These pressure independent changes are caused by abnormal endothelial function (protective cells that line the artery), increased smooth muscle tone, intimal medial thickening, and increased collagen, fibronectin, hyaluronic acid and collagen cross-link formation. Wow, there is a lot of activity going on in the artery. The cells of the body renew constantly. The health of the arteries can also be renewed and nurtured. Beginning a low salt, potassium rich diet today, nurtures and comforts arterial health (blood pressure) today. Low salt meal planning, with more homemade food, less pre-made or store prepared food is also very economical. Blending omega 3 foods, such as walnuts, albacore tuna, and salmon with lots of colorful, vibrant, pH balancing vegetables like peppers zucchini and red beets brings beauty, creativity and tranquility into the kitchen. For three peaceful recipes visit: Healthy Blood Pressure Recipes
Maintaining healthy blood pressure can be achieved through a variety of options that include dietary modification, hushing sympathetic stimulation, dietary & herbal supplements, prescription medications and exercise.
About Estrogen Replacement
Newer research demonstrates that estrogen has a significant role in the function of the arteries and heart tissue. However, estrogen replacement is not prescribed for women's cardiovascular health.
Many women over age fifty, use estrogen replacement to revitalize the estrogen depleted tissue. Estrogen replacement diminishes hot flashes, maintains vaginal and bladder tissue and is a key regulator of bone tissue. Advancements in estrogen replacement include natural soy based formulations. Natural estrogen replacement is available from pharmaceutical companies with a physician's prescription or through a compounding pharmacy with a physician's prescription.
In general, natural estrogen replacement from a pharmaceutical company will use the same base product as a compounding pharmacy. . . Primarily, the marketing of the estrogen replacement product is the difference. A wide range of dosage and lower dosages of estrogen replacement are available. This allows for more customized estrogen replacement . . . much more options.
The type of estrogen replacement natural or synthetic, oral or trans-dermal, the dose, the timing (when to start) and duration (when to stop), a woman's age, cardio-vascular risk factors and pre-existing cardio-vascular conditions should each be taken into account when considering estrogen replacement options. More detailed medical perspective, research outcomes and consultations regarding estrogen replacement are available through For Her Heart’s Private Membership. To learn more CLICK HERE To review medical studies regarding The Role of Estrogen and Women’s Cardio-Vascular Function click here
Cardio-vascular disease in women is often un-diagnosed or under treated 42% of women who have a heart attack die within one year compared to 24% of men. (Vital Statistics, 2001; AHA, 2005) As many women die from cardiovascular diseases each year as the next 6 causes of death combined, including breast cancer. (AHA, 2005) The For Her Heart initiative provides meaningful voice and visibility to womens cardiovascular health to cultivate better health outcome to women.
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Zucchini's Secret Frozen spinach one box Four cloves garlic, ½ cup fresh basil, 1.50 cup fresh mushrooms Nasoya Tofu (is organic) one container 2 cups no salt tomato sauce Four Green Zucchini (thick and straight) Three tablespoons of ground meat (to flavor the no salt tomato sauce) Italica PLUS Olive Oil (has vitamins A, D and E) Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese In a fry pan, simmer garlic, mushrooms, and ground beef in olive oil, when cooked add no salt tomato sauce and basil. Simmer. Thaw and drain chopped spinach, place in bowl. Cut zucchini (don’t peel) the long way, really thin slices. These thin zucchini slices are to be used like a lasagna noodle. Slice tofu thin like pieces of mozzarella cheese. To prepare work on a large plate. Place slices of zucchini, cover zucchini with good layer of spinach, sprinkle with Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, place slice tofu on top of spinach, then top with another layer of zucchini. Gently place/cover the zucchini (lasagna) in simmering sauce about ten minutes (cover low heat). Cooking sauce in a fry pan allows space to lay about eight zucchini lasagna. Before serving sprinkle with Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese. Zucchini Secret also freezes well. It is best not to microwave to re-heat, warm on stove top. Nesting Salmon . . . intensely heart healthy 6 oz pouch Salmon 2 stalks kale, one medium red onion Italica PLUS Olive Oil (has vitamins A, D and E) 4 large size shredded wheat Peaches and Ginger Chutney 2 cups sliced peaches 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger 2 tablespoon brown or turbinado sugar 2 tablespoon rice wine vinegar This is a really quick cooking meal (about 5 minutes on the stove). Place two cups peaches, rice vinegar and sugar in sauce pan cover over medium heat to steam; about 4 minutes. Pull kale off stalks. In a medium fry pan sauté kale and onion in olive oil till onion is browned. Push kale/onion to side of fry pan, sauté salmon about 4 minutes. On each serving plate, crumble two shredded wheat biscuits, make a whole in the shredded wheat, spoon kale/onion on top of shredded wheat, then nest the salmon, then peaches. This meal makes an enchanting and welcoming presentation. (positive energy) The omega 3 fatty acids in the salmon are cardio protective. Omega-3 fatty acids such as those found in fish and fish oils stabilize the electrical activity of heart cells. This meal is low salt, and low glycemic (does not turn to body fat). Italica PLUS imported olive oil from Spain has vitamins A,D and E to protect the arteries from free radicals/oxidation. The kale has indolic compounds. Plant indoles appear to have beneficial effects on cholesterol synthesis by lessening the activity of Apolipoprotein B-100: a key protein involved in the synthesis and transport of LDL "troublesome" cholesterol. Reducing apoB-100 results in reductions in atherosclerosis: fatty deposits in the arteries. Shredded wheat biscuits (looks like cold cereal) have no salt or sugar and adds a bit of crunch to this meal. 
For Her Heart Private Membership personalized cardiovascular disease prevention, monthly e- newsletter and e-consultations about your cardio and postmenopause health more information click here |
Refreshing thoughts about Baby Boomer Women and Weight Issues click here Cholesterol Absorbing cookie recipe: Oat Bran and Pineapple Breakfast Cookie click here Three Peaceful Recipes to Ease Blood Pressure click here
How Red Wine helps Prevent Heart Attack click here
Nurturing Naturally good things for your kitchen: Unsweetened Coconut Milk, Fresh Ginger Root, Fresh Lemons Sauerkraut
in the refrigerator section of the food store has not been heated. It
is a pure fermented food, intense with digestive enzymes to enhance the
delivery of the nutrients in food. Un-pasteurized sauerkraut (not
canned) is a super food it helps inhibit and break down bacteria in the
digestive tract. Two or three tablespoons of sauerkraut
every other day with a meal is healthful, inexpensive and yet,
intensely nutritious. Chilled sauerkraut with sliced apples is a
nutritionally dense side dish. Barley reduces total cholesterol by 13 mg/dl, LDL cholesterol by 10 mg/dl and triglycerides by 12 mg/dl. 1.4 cup three times a week is beneficial. For a bit more about barley: cholesterol lowering click here. 4 tablespoons cooked barley with warm coconut milk is comforting side
dish. You can also make homemade muffins and add a cup of barley, 3
tablespoons of flaxseed and wheat germ.
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| CardioE2 . . . For Her Heart, Inc is a nonprofit organization # 900000216 registered and based in Florida, USA. “Ownership and Rights. CardioE2. . . For Her Heart Inc., shall own all and exclusive right, title, and interest in the work throughout the world, including copyrights, domain names, trademarks, and all other intellectual property rights in the work. The work shall be deemed to be a work-for-hire under the Copyright Act of 1976, Title 17 U.S.Code, and CardioE2 Inc, Ann Williams, shall be deemed to be the author.”
Information is provided for educational purposes to help individuals form an understanding of biological processes as they effect health. This information is not intended for medical diagnosis or treatment. Dun & Bradstreet # 831566349 |
email: ForHerHeart@msn.com
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