Type 1 Diabetes: Scientists Step Closer To A Cure

An accidental drug discovery could be the answer to preventing and curing type 1 diabetes, as scientists embark on new trials to find out if a blood pressure drug will work for other illnesses

A drug normally used for blood pressure, heart complaints and migraines could hold the key to curing type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 is the genetic strain of the disease, as opposed to type 2, which is more common (90 per cent of diabetes patients in the UK have type 2).There are around five million diabetes sufferers in the UK, 10 per cent have Type 1 (REX)

Type 2 diabetes is caused by lifestyle factors such as being overweight, and in many cases can be managed or even reversed by lifestyle changes. But because type 1 is caused by the body's failure to make insulin, it needs to be treated medically.

Currently there is no cure or prevention for type 1 diabetes. Instead it's managed with careful monitoring and reactive treatment. But unexpectedly, research into the drug Verapamil, has given scientists hope that a more effective treatment could be in sight.

Insulin is a protein that we need to keep our blood sugar level stable. It works by enabling sugar in the blood stream to enter cells where the body can use it as energy.

When you eat, the food is broken down into sugars, which enter the blood stream, raising our blood sugar level.

When this happens, a signal is sent to the pancreas, telling the cells to make insulin. It does this and releases it into the blood stream, where the insulin unlocks pathways into the cells for the sugar to be absorbed and used. This in turn lowers our blood sugar level.

Diabetics need to regularly test their blood sugar levels and inject insulin if required.

Tests on mice and on human cells have shown that the drug could help reduce the amount of a protein called TXNIP in the body, which has been found to thwart pancreas cells when they try to make essential insulin.

The next step in the research is for the team at The University of Alabama in Birmingham, US, to begin conducting human trials. They've been given a grant of $2.1million over the next three years to investigate.

It's an exciting development because this type of treatment has never been tried before and could be the key to helping the body's own cells to make the insulin it needs, returning it to normal function.

The drug could also potentially be used to treat more extreme cases of Type 2 diabetes, where lifestyle changes have failed.

https://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/type-1-diabetes--scientists-step-closer-to-a-cure-135149095.html

Guacamole

Great as filler, in a salad or as a dip

Originating in Mexico, this fantastic recipe has become a worldwide favourite. The primary ingredient is the rich in protein avocado; in fact it has the highest protein and oil content of any fruit. This fruit has been popular for some time and was in fact favoured by the Aztecs due to its high fat content.

Normally we’d all try to avoid something so high in fat — but fortunately it’s of the good fat variety. Most of the fat found in an avocado is monounsaturated fat which is great to have in your diet as it helps to reduce the risk of both cancer and heart disease. If that’s not enough, this ‘good fat’ found in avocados is also known to lower cholesterol. Guacamole is widely available to purchase at stores, but as it is so easy to make with relatively few ingredients, there’s no excuse not to be making your very own. So, get ready to get cooking ... well mixing ...

Method

1. Cut the avocados in half and remove the seed, before scooping out the avocado from the skin.

2. Put the avocado into a bowl and mash with a fork. Then gradually add all other ingredients, season to taste with salt and pepper.

3. Serve with vegetable crudités or tortilla chips.

Ingredients

• 2 ripe avocados
• 1 tomato — remove the seeds and pulp and chop into small chunks
• ½ red onion, chopped (about ½ cup)
• 1 mild chili pepper, stem and seeds removed and chopped
• 1 tbs fresh lime juice
• A dash of salt and freshly grated black pepper

Vital Statistics

Serves: 2
Preparation: 10 minutes
Cooking: N/A
Difficulty: Easy
Good for: A healthy dose of the ‘good fats’ helping to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure 

Calories (kcal): 341
Protein (g): 4.6
Carbs (g): 21.8
Fat (g): 29.6 (4.3g saturated)
Fiber (g): 14.4

http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/guacamole/

Guacamole

Great as filler, in a salad or as a dip

Originating in Mexico, this fantastic recipe has become a worldwide favourite. The primary ingredient is the rich in protein avocado; in fact it has the highest protein and oil content of any fruit. This fruit has been popular for some time and was in fact favoured by the Aztecs due to its high fat content.

Normally we’d all try to avoid something so high in fat — but fortunately it’s of the good fat variety. Most of the fat found in an avocado is monounsaturated fat which is great to have in your diet as it helps to reduce the risk of both cancer and heart disease. If that’s not enough, this ‘good fat’ found in avocados is also known to lower cholesterol. Guacamole is widely available to purchase at stores, but as it is so easy to make with relatively few ingredients, there’s no excuse not to be making your very own. So, get ready to get cooking ... well mixing ...

Method

1. Cut the avocados in half and remove the seed, before scooping out the avocado from the skin.

2. Put the avocado into a bowl and mash with a fork. Then gradually add all other ingredients, season to taste with salt and pepper.

3. Serve with vegetable crudités or tortilla chips.

Ingredients

• 2 ripe avocados
• 1 tomato — remove the seeds and pulp and chop into small chunks
• ½ red onion, chopped (about ½ cup)
• 1 mild chili pepper, stem and seeds removed and chopped
• 1 tbs fresh lime juice
• A dash of salt and freshly grated black pepper

Vital Statistics

Serves: 2
Preparation: 10 minutes
Cooking: N/A
Difficulty: Easy
Good for: A healthy dose of the ‘good fats’ helping to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure 

Calories (kcal): 341
Protein (g): 4.6
Carbs (g): 21.8
Fat (g): 29.6 (4.3g saturated)
Fiber (g): 14.4

http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/guacamole/

Type 1 Diabetes: Scientists Step Closer To A Cure

An accidental drug discovery could be the answer to preventing and curing type 1 diabetes, as scientists embark on new trials to find out if a blood pressure drug will work for other illnesses

A drug normally used for blood pressure, heart complaints and migraines could hold the key to curing type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 is the genetic strain of the disease, as opposed to type 2, which is more common (90 per cent of diabetes patients in the UK have type 2).There are around five million diabetes sufferers in the UK, 10 per cent have Type 1 (REX)

Type 2 diabetes is caused by lifestyle factors such as being overweight, and in many cases can be managed or even reversed by lifestyle changes. But because type 1 is caused by the body's failure to make insulin, it needs to be treated medically.

Currently there is no cure or prevention for type 1 diabetes. Instead it's managed with careful monitoring and reactive treatment. But unexpectedly, research into the drug Verapamil, has given scientists hope that a more effective treatment could be in sight.

Insulin is a protein that we need to keep our blood sugar level stable. It works by enabling sugar in the blood stream to enter cells where the body can use it as energy.

When you eat, the food is broken down into sugars, which enter the blood stream, raising our blood sugar level.

When this happens, a signal is sent to the pancreas, telling the cells to make insulin. It does this and releases it into the blood stream, where the insulin unlocks pathways into the cells for the sugar to be absorbed and used. This in turn lowers our blood sugar level.

Diabetics need to regularly test their blood sugar levels and inject insulin if required.

Tests on mice and on human cells have shown that the drug could help reduce the amount of a protein called TXNIP in the body, which has been found to thwart pancreas cells when they try to make essential insulin.

The next step in the research is for the team at The University of Alabama in Birmingham, US, to begin conducting human trials. They've been given a grant of $2.1million over the next three years to investigate.

It's an exciting development because this type of treatment has never been tried before and could be the key to helping the body's own cells to make the insulin it needs, returning it to normal function.

The drug could also potentially be used to treat more extreme cases of Type 2 diabetes, where lifestyle changes have failed.

https://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/type-1-diabetes--scientists-step-closer-to-a-cure-135149095.html

Your health by numbers

10 vital numbers everyone should know

While you no doubt know your weight, height and shoe size, do you know the numbers that really count? In terms of health, there are certain numbers that can make all the difference. To give your health a quick assessment and help stay fit and healthy, check out these 10 important numbers everyone should know.

Cholesterol

There is no such thing as the "perfect" cholesterol level, as many other health factors also need to be taken into account when determining its risk. However, it is generally recommended that total cholesterol levels (taking into account both "good" HDL and "bad" LDL cholesterol) should be less than 5.0mmol/l for most healthy adults in order to maintain a healthy heart.

BMI

While many of us rely on weighing scales to assess what shape we are in, it is much more effective to use your BMI number, which also takes into account your height. To manually calculate your BMI, divide your weight (in kilograms) by your height (in inches), then divide this outcome by your height again. While there is some variation in thought of what classes as a healthy BMI, it is generally felt that, for the average adult, this is between 18.5 and 24.9.

Waist measurement

As well as knowing your BMI, another way to assess the risk of your weight on your health is by finding out your waist measurement. Studies have suggested that those who store fat around their middles are more likely to suffer from health problems such as heart attacks and diabetes, and the likelihood starts to increase in cases where waist circumference is above 32 inches (in women) or37 inches (in men).

Calorie count

2000 is the number of calories the average healthy woman should consume in order to maintain her weight. For men this is 2500, while for the pregnant, elderly or those trying to lose weight this number will alter. Of the 2000 calories consumed by the average woman, no more than 25-35% of these should be from fat.

Alcohol units

According to government guidelines on alcohol, men should drink a maximum of 3-4 alcohol units a day (the equivalent of less than two pints of beer) and no more than 21 units a week, while women should drink no more than 2-3 units a day (the equivalent of a large 250ml glass of wine) and a maximum of 14 units a week in order to protect their short and long-term health.

Salt intake

6g is the recommended maximum amount of salt adults should consume on a daily basis in order to maintain a healthy heart. This is the equivalent of just one teaspoon of salt. However, with the unwaning popularity of salty foods such as crisps and ready-meals, the majority of people regularly exceed this, with theaverage person in the UK consuming 8.6g of salt a day.

Blood pressure

For those consuming high amounts of salt, this can also cause blood pressureto soar above the recommended reading of between 90/60 and 120/80 (the top number of this reading reflects the maximum pressure when your heart beats, while the bottom number refers to the lowest pressure when your heart relaxes between beats). Low blood pressure can cause dizziness, while high blood pressure can be dangerous and could lead to heart attacks or stroke.

Heart rate

The normal resting heart rate for a healthy adult is between 60 to 100 beats per minute. However, this can vary depending on age, physical fitness and medication. Those who are physically fit will normally have a lower heartbeat, while a slower or faster heart rate than average may be normal for the individual in question. However, if you find that your heart rate suddenly drops or rises to above or below the normal rate, it is advisable to get this checked out to rule out any health problems.

Blood sugar

A test for blood glucose levels is normally taken after a period of fasting, and a normal fasting blood sugar level is between 3.5 - 5.5 mmol/l. A blood glucose level above this may indicate diabetes; a condition in which the pancreas does not produce sufficient insulin to allow your body to use the glucose in your body, resulting in high blood sugar levels. However, a low blood sugar level (hypoglycaemia) can also be dangerous - particularly to those suffering from diabetes.

Sleep

Sleep is a controversial subject, with various studies suggesting different numbers of hours we need to keep us in good health. However, while it seems that it is best to go with what your body is telling you in terms of sleep, the general consensus seems to be that five hours of sleep is the minimum amount required to maintain energy levels, help with cell repair and maintaingood heart health.

http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/your-health-by-numbers/

Guacamole

Great as filler, in a salad or as a dip

Originating in Mexico, this fantastic recipe has become a worldwide favourite. The primary ingredient is the rich in protein avocado; in fact it has the highest protein and oil content of any fruit. This fruit has been popular for some time and was in fact favoured by the Aztecs due to its high fat content.

Normally we’d all try to avoid something so high in fat — but fortunately it’s of the good fat variety. Most of the fat found in an avocado is monounsaturated fat which is great to have in your diet as it helps to reduce the risk of both cancer and heart disease. If that’s not enough, this ‘good fat’ found in avocados is also known to lower cholesterol. Guacamole is widely available to purchase at stores, but as it is so easy to make with relatively few ingredients, there’s no excuse not to be making your very own. So, get ready to get cooking ... well mixing ...

Method

1. Cut the avocados in half and remove the seed, before scooping out the avocado from the skin.

2. Put the avocado into a bowl and mash with a fork. Then gradually add all other ingredients, season to taste with salt and pepper.

3. Serve with vegetable crudités or tortilla chips.

Ingredients

• 2 ripe avocados
• 1 tomato — remove the seeds and pulp and chop into small chunks
• ½ red onion, chopped (about ½ cup)
• 1 mild chili pepper, stem and seeds removed and chopped
• 1 tbs fresh lime juice
• A dash of salt and freshly grated black pepper

Vital Statistics

Serves: 2
Preparation: 10 minutes
Cooking: N/A
Difficulty: Easy
Good for: A healthy dose of the ‘good fats’ helping to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure 

Calories (kcal): 341
Protein (g): 4.6
Carbs (g): 21.8
Fat (g): 29.6 (4.3g saturated)
Fiber (g): 14.4

http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/guacamole/

Eating out over the festive season

Top 10 tips for healthy restaurant eating at Christmas

Eating out is usually on the agenda for most of us over the Christmas period, particularly at work parties and when out socializing with friends and family. However, it can be all too easy to forget your good intentions about healthy living and end up over-indulging on the wrong foods and drinks. Here are 10 festive food tips to help you make healthy choices when eating out.

• Vegetable soups are a great starter option and can also help you get your recommended daily portions of veg – but try to avoid cream-based ones! Along with your soup, choose wholemeal bread rolls over white, as these provide extra fiber – which can help prevent constipation and may help to protect against bowel cancer.
• There’s no reason not to choose turkey for your main course. Not only is turkey the traditional Christmas meat, it is also extremely high in protein. If you would rather leave the turkey until Christmas Day, however, then why not try a seasonal fish such as salmon?
• Look at how a dish is cooked, and go for grilled or baked foods over fried or roasted. A grilled lean steak can be an excellent healthy choice, as it will provide you with a rich source of protein and iron.
• Choose a fruit-based dessert, as this will contribute to your recommended portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Also, ask for single instead of double cream with your dessert. By doing this you could save a whopping 112 calories!
• Christmas is the season to be jolly and most of us enjoy the odd tipple or three at this time of year! But if you are watching your weight, it is worth noting that alcohol contains a substantial seven calories per gram(carbohydrates and protein both contain around four calories per gram), and will also increase your appetite – so make sure you have your drink along with or after your meal to avoid over-indulging.
• If you’re drinking spirits, remember to stick to diet mixers, this could save you hundreds of calories. You could also try having a tomato juice mixer, which will add to your recommended portions of fruit and veg!
• If you’re trying to get slimmer, stick to one or two courses instead of the full three – and watch your portion size. A study in the US found that portion sizes in food outlets had grown by up to 700 per cent in the last 30 years!
• Try not to add salt at the table, as most foods will already have been seasoned in the kitchen. Too much salt can lead to high blood pressure – so aim to keep your salt intake to under 6g a day.
• Always make sure you have a side order of vegetables – and more importantly, make sure you eat them! There are lots of great root vegetables in season at this time of year, so you should be spoilt for choice.
• Finally, if you feel there is something indulgent on the menu that you simply cannot resist despite your best intentions, then don’t be too hard on yourself – it’s Christmas after all. Why not take away some of the guilt by orderingone portion with two spoons? Half the portion means half the fat, sugar and calories – so fancy sharing, anyone?
• http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/eating-out-over-the-festive-season/

Salt: the facts

Many of us in the UK eat too much salt. Too much salt can raise your blood pressure, which puts you at increased risk of health problems such as heart disease and stroke. But a few simple steps can help you to cut your salt intake.

Your salt survival guide

An infographic (PDF, 6.03Mb) showing the amount of salt in our diet, the damage being done to our health and tips for cutting down

You don't have to add salt to food to be eating too much – 75% of the salt we eat is already in everyday foods such as bread, breakfast cereal and ready meals.

A diet that is high in salt can cause raised blood pressure, which currently affects around one third of adults in the UK.

High blood pressure often has no symptoms. But if you have it, you are more likely to develop heart disease or have a stroke.

Cutting down on salt lowers blood pressure, which means that your risk of having a stroke or developing heart disease is reduced.

For tips on how to cut down on salt, read Tips for a lower-salt diet.

Foods that contain salt

Use nutrition labels on food packaging to help you cut down on salt:

• high is more than 1.5g salt per 100g (or 0.6g sodium)
• low is 0.3g salt or less per 100g (or 0.1g sodium)

Some foods are almost always high in salt because of the way they are made.

Other foods, such as bread and breakfast cereals, can contribute a lot of salt to our diet. But that’s not because these foods are always high in salt – it’s because we eat a lot of them.

High-salt foods

The following foods are almost always high in salt. To cut down on salt, eat them less often or have smaller amounts:

• anchovies
• bacon
• cheese
• gravy granules
• ham
• olives
• pickles
• prawns
• salami
• salted and dry roasted nuts
• salt fish
• smoked meat and fish
• soy sauce
• stock cubes
• yeast extract

Foods that can be high in salt

In the following foods, the salt content can vary widely between different brands or varieties. That means you can cut down on salt by comparing brands and choosing the one that is lower in salt. Nutrition labels can help you do this.

These foods include:

• bread products such as crumpets, bagels and ciabatta
• pasta sauces
• crisps
• pizza
• ready meals
• soup
• sandwiches
• sausages
• tomato ketchup, mayonnaise and other sauces
• breakfast cereals

Soluble vitamin supplements or painkillers

If you routinely take an effervescent (dissolvable) vitamin supplement, or take effervescent painkillers when necessary, it's worth remembering that these can contain up to 1g salt per tablet. You may therefore wish to consider changing to a non-effervescent tablet, particularly if you have been advised to watch or reduce your salt intake.

How much salt for adults?

Adults should eat no more than 6g of salt a day – that's around one full teaspoon. Children should eat less (see below for recommendations for babies and children).

Of course, one easy way to eat less salt is to stop adding salt to your food during cooking and at the dinner table. If you regularly add salt to food when cooking, try cutting it out or adding less. You’ll rediscover the real tastes of your favourite foods. And when you sit down to eat, taste your food first to see if it needs salt.

Use nutrition labels to check salt levels

Cutting back on added salt is only a small part of the solution. To really cut down, you need to become aware of the salt that is already in the everyday foods you buy, and choose lower-salt options.

Fortunately, nutrition labels on food packaging now make this a lot easier. Most pre-packed foods have a nutrition label on the back or side of the packaging.

Many foods also display information about the salt content on the front of the packaging. This may show the salt content as a percentage of your reference intake (RI), or have colour-coded nutrition information to show whether the food is low, medium or high in salt. Where colour-coding is used, red means high. Eat these foods as an occasional treat, and aim to eat mainly foods that are green (low) or amber (medium).

Look at the figure for salt per 100g:

• High is more than 1.5g salt per 100g (0.6g sodium). These foods may be colour-coded red.
• Low is 0.3g salt or less per 100g (or 0.1g sodium). These foods may be colour-coded green.

If the amount of salt per 100g is between 0.3g and 1.5g, that is a medium level of salt, and the packaging may be colour-coded amber.

As a rule, aim for foods that have a low or medium salt content. Leave high-salt foods for occasional use.

For more tips to help you choose foods that are lower in salt, seeA lower-salt diet.

Salt and sodium in your food 

Salt is also called sodium chloride.

Sometimes, food labels only give the figure for sodium. But there is a simple way to work out how much salt you are eating from the sodium figure:

• Salt = sodium x 2.5

Babies, children and salt

Babies and children under 11 should have less salt than adults.

Babies under a year old need less than 1g of salt a day, as their kidneys can’t cope with more. If a baby is breastfed, they will get the right amount of salt from breast milk. Formula milk contains a similar amount.

Don't add salt to your baby’s milk or food and don't use stock cubes or gravy as they're often high in salt. Remember this when you’re cooking for the family if you plan to give the same food to your baby.

Avoid giving your baby processed foods such as ready meals as these are often high in salt. However, food manufactured specifically for babies should meet the recommended levels. If in doubt, always check the label.

The daily recommended maximum amount of salt children should eat depends on age:

• 1 to 3 years – 2g salt a day (0.8g sodium)
• 4 to 6 years – 3g salt a day (1.2g sodium)
• 7 to 10 years – 5g salt a day (2g sodium)
• 11 years and over – 6g salt a day (2.4g sodium)

Making sure your child doesn’t eat too much salt means you’re also helping to ensure that they don’t develop a taste for salty food, which makes them less likely to eat too much salt as anadult.

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/salt.aspx

Is your blood pressure healthy?

It's thought that around 30% of people in England have high blood pressure, and many don't even know it. Though more than half of them are over 60, a large number are younger. Could you be one of them?

Common questions about blood pressure

High blood pressure is common and often has no symptoms.

Check your blood pressure

The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked. Health professionals such as nurses, pharmacists and GPs can check your blood pressure with a simple test. 

High blood pressure increases your risk of having a heart attack or stroke, but there are things you can do to lower your blood pressure.

Keeping blood pressure healthy

“There are lots of different ways you can have a significant impact on your blood pressure,” says Dr Mike Mead, a GP in Leicester. "Reducing your blood pressure can make a massive difference to your health. It can prevent you from having a stroke or heart attack. There are so many benefits to making sure your blood pressure stays at a reasonable level."

The following steps towards a healthier lifestyle will help lower your blood pressure and keep it at a healthy level.

Exercise

Do at least 30 minutes of exercise five times a week, such as walking, dancing, cycling, or swimming. If you're not used to exercising, don't start too quickly. Talk to your doctor about how much exercise will suit you, and build up slowly. Find out more about how to start:

• walking 
• cycling 
• swimming 
• running 

You can find out more about health and fitness, including 10-minute home workouts.  

Healthy eating

A healthy, balanced diet will help reduce your blood pressure. A healthy diet includes eating:

• less salt 
• less saturated fat  
• five portions of fruit and vegetables a day 

Aim to eat no more than 6g of salt a day. Don't add salt to food. Read food labels when you're shopping to help you buy healthier foods. Many foods, including breakfast cereals, bread, and soup contain added salt.

Saturated fat is found in butter, ghee, lard, meat pies, fatty meat, sausages, cakes, biscuits, and food containing coconut oil or palm oil.

"Many people know to avoid butter because it's high in saturated fat, but if you have three biscuits with your morning coffee, you're still getting saturated fat," says Dr Mead.

Fruit and vegetables are good for health, whether they're fresh, tinned, frozen, dried or in juice.

Lose weight

Exercising and eating healthily will help you lose weight. Obesityincreases your risk of high blood pressure, so it's important to be a healthy weight.

To find out if you're a healthy weight and to get advice on losing weight, use the BMI healthy weight calculator.

Get more tips on losing weight, and have a look at the 12-week weight loss guide.  

Limit your alcohol intake

The recommended healthy limits for alcohol are:

• no more than three to four units a day for men
• no more than two to three units a day for women

One unit of alcohol is roughly half a pint of regular-strength lager or a 125ml glass of wine.

Regularly drinking more than the recommended daily limits puts you at risk of a number of health problems, including high blood pressure. Find out more about the risks of alcohol and how you can cut down.

You can check how much you're drinking by using the alcohol tracker. You can also use the Drinkaware unit calculator to find out how many units there are in different measures and brands of alcoholic drinks.

Find out about the calories in alcohol.

Smoking

Although smoking doesn't cause high blood pressure, it raises the risk of heart disease. Stopping smoking reduces this risk, and is especially important if you have high blood pressure.

Get information and tips to help you stop smoking.  

Medication

Some people with high blood pressure need to take medication to lower it, as well as making the healthy lifestyle changes above.  http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/hypertension/Pages/Keepbloodpressurehealthy.aspx

Key Benefits Of Performing Yoga For Heart Health

Yoga is an ancient technique that focuses on breathing, meditation, and the body. Practicing yoga instills a deeper awareness of your emotions, mind, and physical well-being, which allows you to be more in tune with your mind, body, and spirit. Those who choose to perform yoga for heart health reasons get the added benefits of improved cardiovascular health along with increased lung capacity, and better respiratory function as a result. It's a great way to naturally decrease inflammation, build muscle, and boost blood circulation.
Four Key Ways Yoga Helps Your Heart
Not only is yoga a good way to stay in shape, it can do much more for you than simply tone your muscles. Here's how it can literally improve the health of your heart.
1. Improves blood pressure.
Long-term blood pressure can potentially damage the walls of blood vessels and weaken the heart, which may cause plaque build-up and possibly narrow and/or block arteries. This condition is the leading cause of stroke and heart attack.
While a lack of exercise and poor diet are key players in contributing to high blood pressure, there's also the element of stress. Yoga practice is a great way to help in treating high blood pressure due to its ability to diminish the body's reaction to ongoing stress.
2. Encourages physical activity.
People who are primarily physically inactive are literally twice as likely to develop heart disease as opposed to those who regularly exercise according to health experts. Yoga enhances flexibility and strength, which greatly improves cardiovascular health.
Studies show that individuals who perform yoga have a much higher tendency to stick to an exercise routine. A recent case study enrolled a group of people who were previously inactive into yoga classes twice a week for a total of 10 weeks and discovered that just by taking the classes the participants increased their likelihood of continuing other physical activities as well.

3. Decreases stress.
When you encounter a certain stressful situation, your brain floods your system with adrenaline in helping you choose to either flee the imminent threat or fight it. This rush of adrenaline causes an increase in your blood pressure and heart rate. While your body's natural response to stress is to protect you, it can also tax your cardiovascular system if you're constantly stressed out. Based on the findings of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, individuals who are more prone to stress suffer a greater risk for heart disease over their less stressed counterparts.
4. Counteracts inflammation.
Inflammation is a result of your body responding to harmful situations or injury as well as stress. However, it's also the culprit of most pathologies, such as heart disease. Therefore, learning to effectively relax by performing yoga may help to diminish stress-related inflammation in the body.
Is Yoga Safe for Everyone?
In general, yoga is safe for virtually anyone. But, there are a few situations where it may pose somewhat of a risk in certain individuals. In such cases, it may be necessary to scale back some of the poses or at least find a temporary alternative.
If you're dealing with any of the following situations or conditions, consult your health care practitioner prior to practicing yoga for heart health.
- Severe osteoporosis
- Balance issues
- Artificial joints
- Some eye conditions, such as glaucoma
- Unregulated high blood pressure
- Severe osteoporosis
You can still practice yoga despite these conditions by taking some key precautions, like eliminating certain stretches or poses. No matter where you are in terms of your general health, it's important to start out gently and slowly at first.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Key-Benefits-Of-Performing-Yoga-For-Heart-Health&id=8782706