Endothelial Function Vs. Atherosclerosis - Hardening Of The Arteries
The endothelium, a thin membrane, lines the inside of the heart and blood vessels.
It keeps blood flowing throughout the entire cardiovascular system quickly and smoothly.
Endothelial cells reduce turbulence in the flow of blood.
They allow fluid to be pumped further with every heartbeat.
As a child the inner lining of the coronary arteries are smooth which allows blood to flow quite easily.
But as we age unhealthy habits such as a high fat diet, smoking and a lack of exercise upset the function of endothelial cells making the heart work harder to circulate blood.
Stress within the arteries increases along with the likelihood of developing cracks and fissures in the vessels.
All of this can cause atherosclerosis also known as hardening of the arteries.
Learn how to reduce the risks.
In 1974 Dr.
John Folts, a cardiology professor at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, invented what is know as aspirin therapy.
Ingesting an aspirin a day, or every other day, seemed to slow the progression of atherosclerosis by decreasing blood platelet clotting thereby reducing the risk of a heart attack.
And for those who had already suffered a heart attack or stroke aspirin therapy lessened the likelihood of experiencing another one.
But as beneficial as is aspirin it does have drawbacks.
It does not have any antioxidant properties and in the presence of adrenaline it does not provide protection against overactive blood platelets.
After a while using aspirin therapy people have reported stomach problems and even gastrointestinal bleeding.
There must be better way to reduce the risks of hardening of the arteries.
Some 40 years later, and in part because of the drawbacks of continued aspirin use, Dr.
Folts and others searched a better way to enhance endothelial function and reduce the rate of the onset of atherosclerosis.
They discovered it in flavonoids.
This term describes the 4,000 or so compounds that give fruits, vegetables and herbs their colorful pigments.
But none of the berries, fruits, herbs, vegetables nuts or roots contain the secret to a healthier heart than purple grapes.
They contain a substance called phenolic compound that affects the interior of blood vessels like nothing else.
They provide the release of nitric oxide in the blood which inhibits blood platelet activity thus compromising the buildup of arterial plaque and subsequent arterial blockage.
They also help maintain healthy blood pressure within the cardiovascular system thereby providing endothelial relaxation.
Perhaps the compounds found in purple grapes holds the key to reducing the risk of hardening of the arteries.
Purple grape juice, wines and purple table grapes are proven to provide antioxidant and anti-platelet activity protection which brings us to what is know as The French Paradox.
This phenomenon first received national attention in 1992.
It has been publicized that on average, the French eat more high-fat foods, almost three times as much, as Americans.
They ingest four times as much butter and smoke more and yet they generally have healthier hearts.
This paradox is attributed to the fact that the French drink a lot of red wine, 52 liters annually, while Americans consume 9 liters.
The flavonoids in red wine are rich in cardio protective properties.
Though no one would recommend a high fat, high cholesterol diet the high sugar and alcohol content of grape juices, wines and table grapes are also not suited to be used in large amounts day after day.
It keeps blood flowing throughout the entire cardiovascular system quickly and smoothly.
Endothelial cells reduce turbulence in the flow of blood.
They allow fluid to be pumped further with every heartbeat.
As a child the inner lining of the coronary arteries are smooth which allows blood to flow quite easily.
But as we age unhealthy habits such as a high fat diet, smoking and a lack of exercise upset the function of endothelial cells making the heart work harder to circulate blood.
Stress within the arteries increases along with the likelihood of developing cracks and fissures in the vessels.
All of this can cause atherosclerosis also known as hardening of the arteries.
Learn how to reduce the risks.
In 1974 Dr.
John Folts, a cardiology professor at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, invented what is know as aspirin therapy.
Ingesting an aspirin a day, or every other day, seemed to slow the progression of atherosclerosis by decreasing blood platelet clotting thereby reducing the risk of a heart attack.
And for those who had already suffered a heart attack or stroke aspirin therapy lessened the likelihood of experiencing another one.
But as beneficial as is aspirin it does have drawbacks.
It does not have any antioxidant properties and in the presence of adrenaline it does not provide protection against overactive blood platelets.
After a while using aspirin therapy people have reported stomach problems and even gastrointestinal bleeding.
There must be better way to reduce the risks of hardening of the arteries.
Some 40 years later, and in part because of the drawbacks of continued aspirin use, Dr.
Folts and others searched a better way to enhance endothelial function and reduce the rate of the onset of atherosclerosis.
They discovered it in flavonoids.
This term describes the 4,000 or so compounds that give fruits, vegetables and herbs their colorful pigments.
But none of the berries, fruits, herbs, vegetables nuts or roots contain the secret to a healthier heart than purple grapes.
They contain a substance called phenolic compound that affects the interior of blood vessels like nothing else.
They provide the release of nitric oxide in the blood which inhibits blood platelet activity thus compromising the buildup of arterial plaque and subsequent arterial blockage.
They also help maintain healthy blood pressure within the cardiovascular system thereby providing endothelial relaxation.
Perhaps the compounds found in purple grapes holds the key to reducing the risk of hardening of the arteries.
Purple grape juice, wines and purple table grapes are proven to provide antioxidant and anti-platelet activity protection which brings us to what is know as The French Paradox.
This phenomenon first received national attention in 1992.
It has been publicized that on average, the French eat more high-fat foods, almost three times as much, as Americans.
They ingest four times as much butter and smoke more and yet they generally have healthier hearts.
This paradox is attributed to the fact that the French drink a lot of red wine, 52 liters annually, while Americans consume 9 liters.
The flavonoids in red wine are rich in cardio protective properties.
Though no one would recommend a high fat, high cholesterol diet the high sugar and alcohol content of grape juices, wines and table grapes are also not suited to be used in large amounts day after day.
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