Cardiovascular  Problems 

Diseases of the heart and circulatory system are a main cause of death in the UK accounting for almost 198,000 deaths per year. Almost half those deaths are from coronary heart disease and more than a quarter from strokes. A high percentage of these deaths can be regarded as premature i.e. deaths before the age of 75yrs.

 

Risk factors include smoking, high alcohol consumption, high blood pressure, having diabetes and being overweight or obese. Partaking in very little physical activity is also a huge factor in determining the risk of coronary heart disease.

 

It is obvious that dietary changes along with lifestyle changes play a huge part in reducing the risk of cardiovascular problems. Deficiencies of particular nutrients such as calcium, magnesium and vitamin C make us far more susceptible to health problems such as high blood pressure. Magnesium is an essential mineral for correct working of the muscles surrounding the heart and a lack of this mineral (along with others) can be a causal factor for high blood pressure.

 

A very good indicator of the risk of heart disease is to get your Homocysteine level checked. Homocysteine is an amino acid found in the blood. There is now considerable evidence that homocysteine may prove to be a useful marker for risk of heart attacks, since elevated levels have been detected in people with coronary artery disease. By using particular nutrients one can also reduce this level, greatly improving health. A high reading will also predispose one to other degenerative diseases such as dementia and cancer. It has been proven to be a better indicator of potential heart problems than a cholesterol reading.

 

Making sure one reaches the minimum health target of 5 a day portions of fruit and vegetables is an absolute must and a higher amount would be even better. Finding interesting, innovative ways of increasing their intake can be a challenge for some. A nutritional advisor can come up with lots of different ideas for making vegetables more appealing.