Cardiovascular / Circulatory
Modern Western diets, including macronutrient ratios and macronutrient quality, are substantially different than the hominin diets 10,000 years ago (Ilich, Kelly, Kim, & Spicer, 2014). Modern diets tend to include over 70% of total energy from refined sugars, refined vegetable oils, processed foods, and alcohol (Ilich et al., 2014). Of particular interest is the shift…
Pathophysiology helps us understand the pathology and physiology behind diseased and disordered systems of the body. In my last post, I covered roles of the cardiovascular system and the diseased states that occurred within it. Now, I would like to cover the pathophysiology behind these diseased states, as a precursor to anticipate, treat and prevent…
The cardiovascular system serves many important functions, and supports every other physiological system. The more positive adaptation the cardiovascular system experiences, the more proficient it can fulfill its roles. Conversely, a diseased cardiovascular system will hinder all other physiological processes. I would like to briefly review the functions of the cardiovascular system, look deeper into…
Cardiovascular disease is a prevalent condition in Western society. Research suggests that carbohydrates, especially refined sources, are associated with the aforementioned malady in addition to obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes (Pereira, Almeida, Alfenas, & Cassia, 2014). As high as 50% of total daily calories come from refined carbohydrates in the standard American diet,…
Low carbohydrate diets (LCDs) have demonstrated favorable effects on biomarkers such as reduced triglycerides, total cholesterol, and improved insulin sensitivity (Ballard et al., 2013). However, do LCDs improve biomarkers as well as performance outcomes compared to grain-based diets (GBDs)? A case study by Rosenkranz, Cook, and Haub (2007) explored this question by placing an elite…
Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a condition defined by a constellation of associated risk factors that increase a person’s chances of contracting stroke, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and diabetes (Chen, Yen, Huang, Lee, Hsia, & Lin, 2012). MS affects 35.1% men and 32.6% women in the United States, and associated risk factors include high levels of blood…
Statins are pharmacological interventions that have been shown to reduce dyslipidemia, inflammation, and improve vascular endothelial function (VEF) (Ballard et al., 2013). Interestingly, carbohydrate restricted diets (CRDs) have also been shown to improve blood biomarkers, similar to statins (Ballard et al., 2013). However, the authors noted that no research explored the potential additive benefits of…
Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a term used to describe a group of associated risk factors, that when combined, increase a person’s chances of contracting conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes (Kenney, Wilmore, & Costill, 2012). Said risk factors include a large waistline, high triglyceride levels, low high-density lipoproteins, high resting blood pressure, high…
In a study conducted by Subramian, Soudarssanane, Jayalakshmy, Thisusevakumar, Navasakthi, Sahai, and Saptharishi (2011), exercise, salt reduction, and yoga were explored to uncover their relative effectiveness of reducing hypertension. The following will consider the findings of Subramian et al. (2011). The researchers conducted a cross-over randomized controlled trial (RCT) of an earlier RCT (2007) in…
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is an inability to achieve and/or maintain an erection of adequate rigidity during sexual intercourse (Reisner & Reisner, 2017). The incidence of ED is on an increase, and is estimated to affect approximately 322 million men globally by the year 2025 (Eleazu, 2017). However, there are nutritional and lifestyle interventions that may…