Lots of new medications are available for patients suffering from
heart disease.
Blood pressure control is advocated for the young, the middle age and
the old. If there is a family history of hypertension, even children and
teenagers need to have their blood pressure checked. As our children are
getting fatter, their risk factors increase and they need to be checked
more often.
The metabolic syndrome is common in children as well as in adults.
The key tests are high waist circumference, high blood sugar, high LDL
cholesterol, high triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol.
It is recommended now to check the blood of infants and children for
abnormalities in cholesterol if there is a strong family history of high
blood fats or heart attacks.
Dietary cholesterol contributes little to the blood cholesterol which is
mostly controlled by our genes. But cholesterol values are not the whole
picture.
More extensive blood tests are recommended especially particle size of
the LDL cholesterol as the bigger ones are less dangerous than the small
ones. Lp(a) is another important blood parameter that needs to be
‘ checked as it is associated with plaque formation and may be more
deadly than cholesterol in assessing patient’s coronary risk factors.
TMAO, a substance produced by the gut microbiome produces also heart
attacks and strokes. This can also be tested in the blood.
The most toxic product discussed was not fat but rather SUGAR. Sugar is
responsible for the obesity epidemic and for the fatty liver that obese
people manifest. In addition sugar can cause heart disease and attacks!
Glycemic load of foods rather than the glycemic index should be taken
into account. Glycemic load depends on the amount of fiber contained in
the different foods. Juices are forbidden in favor of whole fruit. Juicing is
discouraged. Red meat is also not allowed as it contains carnitine which
is harmful to the heart. Milk is allowed and egg yolks are rationed..
All vegetables and low glycemic load fruit are encouraged. Grapes are
considered little bags of sugar and not healthy. Some fish and
chicken are permissible. Nuts in moderation may be consumed. Non-
processed food is best! This is the reason why rice is better than pasta.
Whole grain foods are better than starchy foods. Complex carbohydrates
are preferred to short chained carbohydrates like glucose, fructose and
sucrose, all deadly. A revised Mediterranean diet or a Merey diet
seem to be the healthiest compared to an Atkins or a low carbohydrate
program.
Estrogen supplementation for post menopausal women is allowed
under some conditions. Testosterone supplementation in men is also
found to be heart healthy in certain conditions as well
(561) 659-6756
