The human heart beats 100,000 times each day and pumps 2,500 to 5,000 gallons of blood through 60,000 miles of blood vessels in our bodies. In an average lifetime, the human heart will beat 2.5 billion times and pump 100,000 million gallons of blood.

Nourishing and supporting our heart through its exhausting efforts should be an important part of our lifestyles. Unfortunately, many do a poor job at keeping their hearts healthy. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in America. Atherosclerosis, hardening of the artery walls, is the process involved in disease of the heart. In most cases, diet and lifestyle habits are directly related to being the cause of the disease. More and more research shows that a healthy diet enhances cardiac health, and even more evidence shows individual nutrients help support and prevent heart disease.

Since so many risk factors are known to be involved in atherosclerosis, treatment plans need to be individualized to ensure optimal results. A complete cardiovascular assessment provides important information to what natural treatments are most important per individual.

Risk factors and

several specific naturopathic recommendations:

€ High cholesterol, LDL, and low HDL: Policosanol (pure sugar cane) and red rice yeast have both been shown to be as effective at lowering levels of cholesterol as conventional statin medications without the serious side effects

€ Elevated blood sugar levels: Garlic, chromium and flax seeds all work in their respective ways to naturally aid in blood sugar control

€ High blood pressure: Botanicals such as hawthorn, mistletoe and garlic have hypotensive effects; as well as nutrients like magnesium, coenzyme Q10 and omega-3 oils

€ Inadequate exercise: Regular exercise lowers cholesterol, improves the body's blood supply, improves the volume of blood that can be moved in your body, reduces blood pressure, reduces overall body fat and minimizes heart damage from stress

€ Smoking: Tobacco smoke contains chemicals that directly damage the artery walls, raises cholesterol levels and elevates blood pressure; the good news is that people who stop smoking can reduce the risk of heart disease to that of nonsmokers within two years of quitting

€ Elevated homocysteine levels: Homocysteine is thought to promote atherosclerosis by directly damaging arteries; deficiency in vitamin B12, folic acid and vitamin B6 all cause an increase in homocysteine levels in our bodies

€ Insufficient antioxidant nutrients: Vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene all are important in nourishing the heart and protecting it from disease. Every day we encounter substances that damage our fats and cholesterol. When our fats are damaged, toxins are created which damage arteries and increase the hardening of our vessels. Antioxidants, like the ones listed above, can be used to block the formation of these toxins and protect our heart.

€ Low levels of essential fatty acids: Research indicates that individuals who consume a diet rich in omeg-3 oils have a significantly reduced risk of developing cardiovascular disease; four recommendations for achieving optimal levels of essential fatty acids are: decrease your intake of saturated fats by limiting consumption of animal foods, increase your consumption of cold water fish but be aware of harmful heavy metal toxin loads now impacting our fish populations, eliminate your intake of trans-fatty acids by avoiding shortening, margarine and most processed foods, and lastly, consume freshly ground flax seeds daily

€ Excessive stickiness of platelets: This risk of forming a plaque in your arteries significantly increases your chances of heart attack or stroke; botanicals and nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, garlic, and vitamin B6, to name a few, are extremely beneficial in thinning your blood and preventing clot formation.

Naturopathic medicine provides many tools to assist people in optimizing their heart health. The philosophical approach of naturopathic medicine includes disease prevention, patient education and encouragement of the body's natural ability to heal. Naturopathic medicine combines centuries old nontoxic therapy modalities with current advances in medical science and research.

In recognition of February's heart health month, take charge of your health and nourish your heart the

naturopathic way.

Amanda H. Fey is a naturopathic doctor currently working at

The Center, 1 Hoffman St., Auburn. Learn more at

www.thecenter4wellness.com