OurHealth

The foods discussed in this article are widely accepted by doctors as foods that can prevent heart disease, also known as atherosclerosis.
These wonderful foods work best when we also exercise and enjoy an overall healthy lifestyle. Concerns that are listed about interactions with medications occur mostly when these foods are eaten in large amounts.

       Omega-3 Fatty Acids

• First discovered by scientists through the Eskimos almost 30 years ago
• Eskimos were found to have hardly any heart disease but could ate fish rich in fats
• Best food sources are cold-water fatty fish like salmon, tuna, anchovies
• Omega-3 supplements are also called DHA and EPA
• Your body can also make Omega-3’s from foods such as walnuts and flaxseeds that contain a substance called ALA
• Based on years of research in women and men, the American Heart Association (AHA) officially recommends Omega-3 fatty acids to reduce risk for heart disease.
• How much to eat a day. Here are the AHA recommendations:

-          If you don’t have heart disease, eat at least two servings per week of fatty fish like salmon or tuna

-          If you have heart disease, get at least 1 gram of Omega-3’s from foods or supplements

-          If you need to lower your blood cholesterol, take 2 to 4 grams of Omegea-3’s but only under a physician’s care.

• Who should be concerned about taking Omega-3’s

-          Those who are one any type of blood thinners should discuss taking Omega-supplements with a doctor. Omega-3’s can work to think your blood more.

B Vitamin Rich Foods

• B vitamins contain substances such as folic acid, biotin, thiamin, and vitamins B₁₂ and B₆.
• High levels of B vitamins keep the amino acid homocysteine low in the body. Homocysteine can increase risk for heart disease, but results of studies are conflicting on this issue.
• Numerous studies however have found that B vitamins protect against heart disease
• Foods that contain B vitamins are:

-          Leafy green vegetables, dried peas and beans, bananas, oatmeal, garbanzo beans (chick peas)

• Recommended daily amounts are only known for supplements

_-           30 mg a day for folic acid

_-           200 mg for vitamin B₆

_-           500 micrograms for vitamin B₁₂

• Who should be concerned about taking B vitamins

Those on chemotherapy, seizure medications, or Parkinson’s medications should not take B vitamin supplements without talking to your doctor.

Garlic

• There are numerous reasons to eat garlic – it can fight off infections from bacteria and viruses, but it can also reduce plaque from building in arteries
• A review of studies of garlic’s effects on heart disease found that garlic extract led to reductions of 65 percent in plaque formation.

-          Some studies have not found the same type of benefit. This could be of variation in preparation of garlic studied

• Most studies have used amounts between 4 to 5 milliliters of aged garlic extract per day

-          A single raw clove contains about 3 grams of garlic

• Who should be concerned about taking garlic

Those who are taking the medications Glucotrol (glipizide) or

Novasc (amlodipine) as garlic can lead to lowered blood sugar or lowered blood pressure with these medications.