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Cardiovascular / Circulatory

Coffee: Exploring Health Benefits

ECONOMICS OF COFFEE Coffee consumption is the leading beverage, worldwide, just behind water, with its 2019 sales exceeding that of 87 billion dollars within the United States alone.1,2 Coffee remains one of the most widely and globally traded commodities, supporting the livelihoods of over 100 million individuals, and 26 million farmers across 52 countries.2(1) The…

Managing Hypertension With Cardamom

Hypertension (HT) is the most prevalent risk factor for ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular accidents, which has been discussed in this author’s previous posts.1 Generally, HT is associated with low levels of antioxidants and reduced fibrinolysis (the process of preventing blood clotting).1(503) Considering that drugs used to manage mild HT have been known to cause…

Botanical Support for Hypertension

Hypertension (HT) is a condition and form of cardiovascular disease (CVD) which has generally manifested in adults. However, HT currently affects an approximated 3-5% of children and up to 10-11% of adolescent populations, worldwide.1 Furthermore, HT has been estimated to affect 1 in 3 Americans, or approximately 76,400,000 individuals and has accounted for as many as…

Endothelial Function and Cardiovascular Health Support With Curcumin

Cardiovascular disease (CD) is a condition which causes the most deaths, worldwide, and is estimated to cost 818 billion in medical costs by 2030 in the United States alone.1 Thus, it is imperative to develop preventative strategies which aim to reduce cardiovascular complications, costs, and deaths. As outlined in this author’s previous posts, natural products,…

Berberine, Chitosan, and Red Yeast Rice: Managing Dyslipidemia

In recent posts, this author has covered red yeast rice (RYR) and its beneficial effects upon dyslipidemia and clinical outcomes. Additional posts began exploring RYR with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) to counteract potential CoQ10-lowering effects of RYR. In the following sections, research will be provided which considers the potential synergistic and lipid-lowering effects of concurrent supplementation…

Red Yeast Rice, Dyslipidemia, and CoQ10 Depletion

In this author’s last post, dyslipidemia was explored as well as its relationship to the lipid-lowering capacity of red yeast rice (RYR). In addition to outlining the cardiovascular benefits of RYR, research was also considered that identified the potential of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) induced deficiency from RYR intake, and physiological consequences of the same. Thus,…

Red Yeast Rice, Dyslipidemia, and CoQ10 Depletion

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a condition which has multiple rick factors to include lack of exercise, obesity, hypertension, smoking, ethnicity, gender age, and dyslipidemia.1 The latter factor, dyslipidemia, has a particularly potent contribution to cardiovascular risk, defined as the probability of an unwanted event such as myocardial infarction, stroke, or death.2 Ultimately, controlling the progression…

Cardiovascular Disease: Potential Support With CBD Oil

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term describing a group of conditions negatively affecting the health and function of the heart.1 Such conditions include coronary artery disease, heart defects, arrhythmias, and hypertension.1 Often, individuals are unaware of the presence of CVD until said condition manifests into a more serious complication such as stroke, heart attack,…

Megaloblastic Macrocytic Anemia and B12: Testing and Solutions

The prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency is common within the elderly population; between 10-40% of individuals in advanced age are diagnosed with inadequate levels of said micronutrient.1 As such, it is imperative to restore B12 levels back to optimal ranges. However, inappropriate consumption of B12 can induce deficiency or potential toxicity. As a means of appreciating…

Anti-Hypertensive Drugs and Nutrient Interactions

Arterial hypertension (AH) is considered the predominant risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and is defined as a resting systolic blood pressure of ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure of ≥90 mmHg in adults.1 According to Lopes et al,1(65) the number of individuals with hypertension has increased in a precipitous fashion since 1980, worldwide. Considering…