Helping Prevent Heart Disease With Flavonoids
A new report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows about 3.
5 million Australians had long-term cardiovascular disease in 2007-08.
This equates to about one-sixth of the national population.
Nearly 50,000 deaths were attributed to heart and blood-vessel disease in 2008, the report said.
In 1974, Dr John Folts, a cardiologist at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, showed in numerous clinical trials that taking one aspirin every day (or every other day) decreases blood platelet clotting and slows the progression of atherosclerosis, thereby reducing the risk of a heart attack.
Countless clinical trials demonstrate that people who had already suffered a heart attack or stroke were less likely to experience a second heart attack or repeat stroke when they were on aspirin therapy.
For nearly 30 years, aspirin has been known to reduce the activity of blood platelets.
It works by 'turning down' platelet hyperactivity and decreasing the formation of clots.
Thus, in addition to decreasing the likelihood of a heart attack, aspirin has also been successfully used as a method of reducing the rate at which one gets atherosclerosis.
However, as beneficial as aspirin is, it may have some drawbacks.
In the presence of adrenaline, aspirin may not provide as much protection against overactive blood platelets.
Increased adrenaline can occur in people who smoke, who are involved in rigorous exercise, who experience high levels of emotional stress or anxiety, or who are under physical stress due to illness.
The effects of adrenaline, when increased, may override some of the platelet-inhibiting properties of aspirin-possibly allowing the platelets to again become more prone to clot formation.
In addition, while aspirin has good platelet-inhibiting properties, it does not possess any antioxidant properties.
Flavonoid Research In part because of aspirin's drawbacks, Dr Folts and other researchers continued to look for a better agent to protect against bad cholesterol oxidation and to inhibit platelet activity.
They discovered it in flavonoids-an umbrella term that describes the 4,000 compounds that give fruits, vegetables, and herbs their colourful pigments.
Several studies have examined the incidence of death from coronary heart disease and the relationship with the dietary intake of flavonoids.
Grape Seed The grape seed is a leading source of one of the most beneficial groups of plant flavonoids.
These flavonoids have been found to have a powerful antioxidant effect-neutralising free radicals before they can cause damage.
Both grape seed and grape skin extracts have platelet-inhibiting actions which help reduce the risk of blood clotting.
Ginkgo Biloba Ginkgo biloba extract contains many flavonoids that appear to help stimulate circulation, increasing the flow of oxygen to all parts of the body.
For example, an in vivo (human) study showed an increase of blood flow through experimentally obstructed blood vessels leading to the brain.
The increase in blood flow led to an increase in the amount of oxygen consumed by the brain tissues.
Bilberry Historically, bilberry has been used for the treatment of scurvy, dysentery, diabetes, eyestrain, visual acuity, day and night blindness, and other disorders.
Bilberry contains flavonoids which have been shown to prevent free radical damage.
These flavonoids also help maintain the integrity of capillaries and stabilise oxygen, which in turn helps give artery walls their structural integrity.
Studies show that bilberry also inhibits platelet activity.
In fact, in one in vivo study, the herb prolonged bleeding time, showing its ability to inhibit blood platelets from clotting.
The Exclusive Enzyme Blend The flavonoids and antioxidants are beneficial for supporting your cardiovascular system.
However, it has been established through scientific studies that although flavonoids are present in plant extracts, they are not all bioavailable.
That's where it needs exclusive enzyme blend.
This blend of bromelains, papain and citrus greatly enhances flavonoid absorption and thereby increases their antioxidant and platelet-reduction properties.
Enzymes are involved in the breakdown of foods in the digestive tract.
According to G.
T.
Ambau, author of The Importance of Good Nutrition, "enzymes are the key that unlocks the essence of food in the body to give it strength, wellness, and vitality.
" Therefore, Dr.
Folts and his team produced a supplement which contains grape seed and skin, ginko biloba, bilberry and exclusive enzyme blend.
These amazing combination supports circulatory system by attacking free radicals before they can do damage, improves blood flow and oxygenation to the brain, heart limbs, eyes and ears, helps maintain the integrity of capillaries.
Consequently, the mixture of the flavonoids and enzymes helps to maintain blood pressure in normal ranges and keeps the heart young and healthy.
However, good results can be followed by a proper diet and regular exercise.
5 million Australians had long-term cardiovascular disease in 2007-08.
This equates to about one-sixth of the national population.
Nearly 50,000 deaths were attributed to heart and blood-vessel disease in 2008, the report said.
In 1974, Dr John Folts, a cardiologist at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, showed in numerous clinical trials that taking one aspirin every day (or every other day) decreases blood platelet clotting and slows the progression of atherosclerosis, thereby reducing the risk of a heart attack.
Countless clinical trials demonstrate that people who had already suffered a heart attack or stroke were less likely to experience a second heart attack or repeat stroke when they were on aspirin therapy.
For nearly 30 years, aspirin has been known to reduce the activity of blood platelets.
It works by 'turning down' platelet hyperactivity and decreasing the formation of clots.
Thus, in addition to decreasing the likelihood of a heart attack, aspirin has also been successfully used as a method of reducing the rate at which one gets atherosclerosis.
However, as beneficial as aspirin is, it may have some drawbacks.
In the presence of adrenaline, aspirin may not provide as much protection against overactive blood platelets.
Increased adrenaline can occur in people who smoke, who are involved in rigorous exercise, who experience high levels of emotional stress or anxiety, or who are under physical stress due to illness.
The effects of adrenaline, when increased, may override some of the platelet-inhibiting properties of aspirin-possibly allowing the platelets to again become more prone to clot formation.
In addition, while aspirin has good platelet-inhibiting properties, it does not possess any antioxidant properties.
Flavonoid Research In part because of aspirin's drawbacks, Dr Folts and other researchers continued to look for a better agent to protect against bad cholesterol oxidation and to inhibit platelet activity.
They discovered it in flavonoids-an umbrella term that describes the 4,000 compounds that give fruits, vegetables, and herbs their colourful pigments.
Several studies have examined the incidence of death from coronary heart disease and the relationship with the dietary intake of flavonoids.
Grape Seed The grape seed is a leading source of one of the most beneficial groups of plant flavonoids.
These flavonoids have been found to have a powerful antioxidant effect-neutralising free radicals before they can cause damage.
Both grape seed and grape skin extracts have platelet-inhibiting actions which help reduce the risk of blood clotting.
Ginkgo Biloba Ginkgo biloba extract contains many flavonoids that appear to help stimulate circulation, increasing the flow of oxygen to all parts of the body.
For example, an in vivo (human) study showed an increase of blood flow through experimentally obstructed blood vessels leading to the brain.
The increase in blood flow led to an increase in the amount of oxygen consumed by the brain tissues.
Bilberry Historically, bilberry has been used for the treatment of scurvy, dysentery, diabetes, eyestrain, visual acuity, day and night blindness, and other disorders.
Bilberry contains flavonoids which have been shown to prevent free radical damage.
These flavonoids also help maintain the integrity of capillaries and stabilise oxygen, which in turn helps give artery walls their structural integrity.
Studies show that bilberry also inhibits platelet activity.
In fact, in one in vivo study, the herb prolonged bleeding time, showing its ability to inhibit blood platelets from clotting.
The Exclusive Enzyme Blend The flavonoids and antioxidants are beneficial for supporting your cardiovascular system.
However, it has been established through scientific studies that although flavonoids are present in plant extracts, they are not all bioavailable.
That's where it needs exclusive enzyme blend.
This blend of bromelains, papain and citrus greatly enhances flavonoid absorption and thereby increases their antioxidant and platelet-reduction properties.
Enzymes are involved in the breakdown of foods in the digestive tract.
According to G.
T.
Ambau, author of The Importance of Good Nutrition, "enzymes are the key that unlocks the essence of food in the body to give it strength, wellness, and vitality.
" Therefore, Dr.
Folts and his team produced a supplement which contains grape seed and skin, ginko biloba, bilberry and exclusive enzyme blend.
These amazing combination supports circulatory system by attacking free radicals before they can do damage, improves blood flow and oxygenation to the brain, heart limbs, eyes and ears, helps maintain the integrity of capillaries.
Consequently, the mixture of the flavonoids and enzymes helps to maintain blood pressure in normal ranges and keeps the heart young and healthy.
However, good results can be followed by a proper diet and regular exercise.
