There are many conditions that fall under the label, Heart Disease. These include atherosclerosis, angina, hearth attacks, arrhythmias, valvular disease, high blood pressure, and others. Often, your doctor will prescribe medications to treat your heart disease. Many forms of alternative medicine can also treat heart disease as well. This article will provide you with a guide to some of the common forms of alternative treatments for heart disease. It does not constitute or replace medical advice.
- Diet and Nutrition. You should eat a well-balanced, low fat, low cholesterol diet, being careful of your sodium intake as well. A glass of red wine every now and then has also been shown to prevent heart disease, but be careful with this as too much alcohol can increase your risk of other diseases such as cancer, especially in women. Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, especially those high in Vitamin C, E and beta carotene, to help prevent heart disease. Studies have shown that people who eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day have 39% lower risk of stroke. Avoid red meat and high fat dairy foods. Processed foods tend to be higher in fat and sodium, so avoid or limit those. Avoid foods with high levels of fat and salt by transforming your favorites into heart-healthy indulgences.
Here’s a great recipe for chicken pot pie:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3052272 Raw nuts (except peanuts), olive oil, salmon, trout, tuna and mackerel all contain essential fatty acids that are important for cardiovascular health.
- Exercise. There are many forms of exercise that can help you avoid or treat heart disease. They include walking, stretching, yoga, tai chi, and swimming. Exercise that increases your heart rate and facilitates circulation is very important, as it causes you to produce more of the oxygen your cells need to function. Always check with your doctor before beginning an exercise program, especially if you have recently suffered a heart attack.
- Herbal Medicine. There are many herbs that can be used as alternative treatments for heart disease. Green tea can help you to keep your blood pressure low, and may be helpful for high cholesterol. Garlic has been shown to help lower cholesterol and help reduce the chance of blood clots. Ginger helps to reduce your cholesterol and blood pressure also. Ginkgo biloba has been shown to be beneficial by increasing your blood flow and preventing the formation of free radicals. Alfalfa helps reduce cholesterol levels and plaque deposits on artery walls. Make sure you tell your doctor about any herbal medicines you are taking, as certain herbs can have dangerous interactions with prescription medicines.
- Supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to be an effective alternative treatment in preventing heart disease. Coenzyme Q-10 supplements, which can increase the amounts of coenzyme Q-10 in your body (necessary for the proper functioning of your cells), and flaxseed oil may also help prevent heart disease. Vitamin B3 supplements (niacin) have been shown to lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise your HDL (good) cholesterol, which is very important for avoiding heart disease.
Source List:
http://www.herbal-supplements-guide.com/alternative-treatment-for-heart-disease.html
http://www.mayoclinic.com/heart/coenzyme-q10/NS_patient-coenzymeq10
