Heart Attack Risks and Prevention
May 22, 2012
RISK FACTORS
- High-carbohydrate diet: drives insulin production, high triglycerides, and conversion of VLDL into dangerous, small LDL.
- High-polyunsaturated diet: promotes oxidation and inflammation, allowing small, dense LDL to damage arteries.
- Statin use: compromises cellular energy production (depleted CoQ10), damages muscles and liver, and lower HDL.
- Exercise: not enough promotes insulin resistance or too much produces excessive cortisol and oxidative stress.
- Genetics: predispositions are usually only relevant when combined with adverse lifestyle choices (insulin, chronic exercise, stress, e.g.)
PREVENTION TIPS
- Eliminate processed carbohydrates: moderates insulin, lowers triglycerides, and raises HDL.
- Eliminate polyunsaturated fats: reduces oxidation and inflammation.
- Increase saturated fat intake: raises HDL.
- Eat like your ancestors: moderates insulin, balances omega-6:omega-3 ratio, boosts anti-oxidants.
- Exercise like your ancestors: raises HDL, lowers triglycerides, lowers small, dense LDL.
- Moderate stress: sleep, sun, play--reconnect with genetic requirements for health.
- Blood tests: focus on triglycerides, fasting blood glucose and insulin, LDL particle size, and C-reactive protein (a marker of systemic inflammation).