This month there are many people that thrust off dry January to prepare for the yearly time of love, Valentines day. That's right, chocolates, wine, desserts and other rich foods all just waiting to serve as an aphrodisiac for that one special someone. 

So it should be easy to see why February is HEART month. One night of passion, but a whole life with the Ol' ticker. Here's what you need to consider.

First of all, those rich foods are completely fine on occasion, but consistently eating rich foods is a sure fire way of destroying your heart health. 

As a matter of fact the number one thing that is going to affect your cardiovascular system is your blood sugar regulation and you don't have to be a diabetic to have problems in that area. 

Blood sugar can be affected by food allergies and sensitivities, caffeine, alcohol, stress and even infections. So, what to do?

1. I suggest regular microbial cleansing for the chronic or recurrent infections. Parasite cleanses. You can get regular kits from the health food store. I do suggest seeing a doctor like me which can get more specific on which kind of cleanses to do 

2. Avoid caffeine and alcohol as these specifically can cause fluctuations in blood sugar that can also lead to anxiety.

3. Modulate your stress. Easier said than done, I know.... Just make sure you are breathing (don't hold your breath) with your DIAPHRAGM! If you have problems with this then consult the mighty oracle of YouTube for instructions. There are also lots of herbs to help with stress such as Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, Valerian and so many more.

4. Get your food allergies and sensitivities tested. These are not the same thing, but if you're eating foods that show up on any of these tests that means they are inflammatory to your system and can be affecting the cardiovascular system. In fact, recent studies have shown that eggs can increase risk of cardiovascular problems. It only makes sense if the eggs are inflammatory. I see that one a lot on our testing.

   
   

How to help your cardiovascular system

Now, what can I do to help my cardiovascular system? That is a wildly broad topic, but I will stick to some basics here. Just remember you can't out-supplement a poor diet. 

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

One food item that can be most beneficial is Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO). You do have to make sure you are getting a good one because there are all kinds of bad ones out there. 

If you're in the Nashville area I suggest going to the Fatherland district and visiting the Galena Garlic Company for your olive oil needs. The best dosage is 4 tablespoons per day and it really needs to be done long term. Olive oil should not be used with high heat as it will destroy the active components and can become toxic.

Vitamin E

One of my favorite supplements for the cardiovascular system is Vitamin E. Vitamin E is so broad that you won’t find a complete supplement that has all the different components. 

This vitamin is broken down into Tocopherols (alpha-tocopherol, beta-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, delta-tocopherol) and tocotrienol (also broken into further subsections).

It is important to make sure you are getting a Vitamin E supplement with a mixed tocopherol and switch it up every so often with a Vitamin E supplement with a mixed tocotrienol supplement. 

Tocotrienols are more expensive, but they don't seem to throw the tocopherols out of balance like taking a single alpha or gamma tocopherol. 

Pro-tip: If your bottle of vitamin E says dl-alpha tocopherol... throw it out. It's completely synthetic and does not work like a d-alpha tocopherol or a gamma that has cardio benefits.

Omega Fish Oils 

Omega fish oils are another cardio gold mine. This little jewel is anti-inflammatory and helps lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels that can contribute to cardiovascular issues. It is important to realize you get what you pay for when it comes to most supplements and this one for sure.

Enzymes

Enzymes are a great way to "roto rooter" those arteries. There are two main types for this task that I would use, Nattokinase and Lumbrokinase. 

Enzymes can be used to scarf up any debris that could allow for plaque or clot formation. Depending on the situation, we start with Natto and move to the Lumbro and rotate after that. The Lumbrokinase is definitely more expensive, but like I said before, you get what you pay for.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C can be very helpful. This is the short story for a very in depth process. You see, there is a place in the vessels called the basement membrane. This thing is full of Vitamin C and when you have free radicals built up in the system the first thing to quench them is the available Vitamin C. 

Therefore, the basement membrane is easily depleted of its Vitamin C stores and allows for oxidation to take place unchecked in the vessel and thereby causing inflammatory responses that lead to plaque build up.

Vitamin B

Certain B vitamins are particularly helpful. Niacin can be used to reduce LDL specifically. The ideal dose is 1-2 grams per day, which is a lot and taking that kind of dose can be REALLY distressing. It causes a flush in the skin that can be uncomfortable so slowly increasing the dosage is preferred. Low and slow. Some may say that the non-flushing kind does the same thing, but I have not seen the dramatic results as seen with the kind that gives a flush.

Curcumin

Curcumin is a wonder. This stuff does everything. It has effects on inflammation, clotting, cancer, the list goes on. Since a lot of cardiovascular problems are inflammatory this makes a great addition.

Vitamin K2

Vitamin K2. There's a few kinds of Vitamin K, but what we're looking for is K2. K1 assists with clotting, but the K2 has different effects on the cardiovascular system. It is almost entirely protective, although it is recommended to avoid it if you are taking blood thinners as it still works on clotting mechanisms. 

As with the rest of the fat soluble vitamins (A,D,E & K) there are synergistic actions when taken together. We discussed vitamin D, but also taking vitamin D with these holds synergistic action with the K that helps move calcium out of the vessels and assists it to where it should belong.

Exercise

Exercise. It's actually pretty important, though I don't get as much as I'd like. It's the number one thing to help increase your HDL, or good cholesterol. Exercises help drive blood into the tissues that bring oxygen in to keep all the tissues healthy, including the vascular system.

This is not an exhaustive list, but it is a good start. It is said that your heart only has a finite amount of beats in it. I'm not sure that's entirely true, but I do know that what you put in your body matters and these things help clinically. 

Be kind to your heart and it will be kind to you.  Happy Heart Month!