Fat Heart

3 tips to greatly reduce risk of a heart attack

1. Get lots of vitamin C
Take at least 1,000 mg of vitamin C each day. Numerous studies have found that taking at least this much vitamin C reduces your risk of heart attack by 25 to 40 percent.
In addition, to the extent you are able to, eat several daily servings of high vitamin C fruits and vegetables, such as citrus fruit, berries, melons, bell peppers and salad greens. In addition to the vitamin C, the soluble fiber; micronutritients; and other vitamins and minerals you’ll get will also protect your heart and health.

Animals generate internally what, in us, would be 5,000 to 7,000 mg of vitamin C daily - and more when ill or under stress. We don’t. Compared with this, taking 1,000 mg once or twice a day is moderate. In fact, many experts recommend 1,000 mg 3 or more times a day - more when ill.
Such quantities can upset your stomach; but that simply reducing the dosage slightly or building up to it gradually will prevent this.

And, taking 1,000 mg of vitamin C or more has many other health benefits: it will reduce the severity and duration of colds; cut the severity and frequency of allergies; and it will reduce your chances of infection - one study showed that 1,000 mg per day of vitamin C sharply reduced infections in people undergoing surgery. Since some infections are caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, this can be life saving.

2. Take at least 200 IU of vitamin E daily
Since some people report feeling less energetic on 600 IU or more, our recommendation is for 200 to 400 IU daily.

Two related studies found that women who took at least 100 IU of vitamin E daily for two years had a 41 percent drop in heart attack risk while men had a 41 percent drop. In one large European study: low blood levels of vitamin E were predictive of a heart attack 70 percent of the time while high cholesterol and high blood pressure were only 29 and 25 percent of the time respectively.

Although wheat germ and sunflower seeds are among the most nutrition packed and healthful foods and excellent food sources of vitamin E, a large daily serving of both won’t get you to even 100 IU of vitamin E, so take supplements to get enough vitamin E.

As with vitamin C and the carotenoids, vitamin E is an antioxidant; and studies show it is also as protective against many forms of cancer as it is against heart attacks. The literature also suggests that it boosts the immune system and, through its antioxidant effect, slows aging. For example, it protects against cataracts in your eyes. One study found people who took vitamin E had only one third as many!

If you are already taking anti-clotting or “blood thinning” prescription drugs consult with your doctor before taking vitamin E. And, if you are taking vitamin E, check with your doctor and pharmacist before beginning such drugs.

3. Seriously consider taking deodorized garlic.
One study found a 66 percent reduction in heart attack risk for those taking garlic supplements!
According to many studies, virtually all of the blood measures of risk for heart disease improve with garlic supplementation:

The key HDL to LDL ratio goes up: In a study, in those with cholesterol levels above 200, the undesirable LDL’s dropped 15 percent, the level of protective HDL’s rose by 10 percent and the overall level of cholesterol dropped 10 to 12 percent. In addition, triglycerides dropped by 15 percent.

Diabetics, women, those on a low fat diets, and people who eat a lot of sweet treats often have undesirably high levels of triglycerides. And, high triglycerides also contribute to heart disease.
In another study people with problems with blood platelet clumping, which was reducing their blood flow and increasing their heart attack risk, had their platelet clumping eliminated; their blood pressure dropped 9.5 percent; and their small blood vessel blood flow improved nearly 50 percent.

And, if you like garlic in food, enjoy it that way often! Garlic has a mild anti-clotting effect, so, as with vitamin E, before mixing it with prescription anti-clotting drugs or taking it in the few days before surgery, check with your doctor.

Vitamin C, vitamin E, and deodorized garlic, especially when taken in addition to a standard multivitamin, are easy, cheap, effective, and they start to protect you immediately.
Our strongest recommendation is for you to take them! Are they guaranteed to be enough in your particular case? No. But, they certainly put the odds more in your favor!
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