 increases HDL, the good cholesterol. It also helps reduce stress by nourishing the adrenal glands. The B vitamins work together in the body so it is advisable to use a B complex alongside of any single B vitamin. Nutritional yeast, raw honey, and spirulina are excellent food sources of the B vitamins. Spirulina is a micro-algae high in vitamins and minerals that can be found in pill or powdered form. If you already have heart disease, you will definitely need one or more of these nutrients. Adding the recommended foods is crucial, but extra nutrition is also necessary until your body gets back into balance. Stay tuned for Part III in our series, where we will be discussing anti-inflammatory herbs for heart health, diet misconceptions related to heart disease and more!
Homocysteine. This is an inflammatory marker that, when elevated, causes injury to the arteries, increases oxidation of LDL (promoting plaque), constricts arteries, and provokes blood clot formation. The net result is a 3-fold increase in the risk of heart attack.
C-Reactive Protein. Another marker that measures systematic inflammation. High CRP increases the risk of heart attack 3-fold. When you also have high small particle LDL, there is a 6-fold risk.
Fibrinogen. A principle blood-clotting protein that, when elevated, can indicate a risk of blood clot formation. In the absence of a blood clot, it can also accelerate plaque formation.
MPO (myeloperoxidase). An inflammatory and oxidative stress marker that has anti-infective functions but at higher levels oxidizes HDL, the good cholesterol, rendering it ineffective. It also oxidizes LDL, promoting plaque. Elevated levels increase cardiovascular risk by 16-fold!
Healthy Fats. Low fat is old news and the right fats are what you should be focused on. Omega-3 fats, found in fish oil and certain plants like flax, chia and hemp, are ultra-important to heart health. Omega-3s bolster the health of the cell membrane, increase HDL, and reduce IDL, triglycerides, VLDL and C-Reactive protein. A true bonanza for improving blood markers for heart disease! Three servings of fatty fish per week will protect a healthy person against a risk of heart disease. The highest fish sources of omega-3s are salmon, cod, mackerel, anchovies and sardines. If you eat less than this, taking a fish oil supplement is a great way to protect against heart disease. A typical dose is 1200 mg, but your doctor may recommend in the range of 3000-10,000 mg on a short term basis if disease is present. Other plant fats like those found in avocado, olive oil, coconut oil, and nuts are very heart healthy. The most important thing to stay away from are trans fats and hydrogenated fats, found mainly in packaged foods. Saturated fats from animal sources are okay in smaller amounts, say 1-2 servings per week. The key is to find meats and dairy that are grass-fed, pasture-raised, and free of antibiotics and growth hormones. 
Magnesium. Low magnesium levels are the greatest predictor of heart disease according to a 2013 study that reviewed cardiovascular studies over the past seven decades. A deficiency of this macronutrient is common in the U.S. due to over-farming and the resulting depletion of magnesium in our soil. For blood pressure that is trending upward, greater than 120/80, this is the first nutrient you should look to. It relaxes the blood vessels, calms the nerves, assists in blood sugar management (a factor in inflammation), and balances calcium in the blood. Magnesium works in concert with calcium in the pumping action of the heart, and the contraction/relaxation of the blood vessels. Add 250-400 mg of magnesium a day to manage stress, support healthy blood pressure, and balance calcium. Magnesium can be laxative at higher doses, so be aware of that. Great food sources of magnesium are kelp, dark, leafy greens, nuts, avocado and dark chocolate.
Fiber. Boring, but important! The recommended amount of fiber per day is 35 grams, but in Paleolithic times we consumed almost 3 times this amount. Many Americans fall short of even the lower amount and average 10-15 grams per day. Fiber is a true superstar in heart health. It reduces markers that are negative for heart health including Lp(a), triglycerides, VLDL, and CRP. It also binds heavy metals and other toxins that can negatively affect heart health. Using a fiber supplement before bed is a great way to improve your heart health and manage blood sugar. Another key way to add more fiber is more fruits and vegetables! Apples are considered a superfood for the heart due to the pectin fiber they contain, along with a higher level of potassium. Whole grains can also provide fiber, but grains in excess of 2 servings a day can contribute to heart disease due to their effect on blood sugar. Adding 2 tablespoons of ground flax seeds, chia seeds, or hemp seeds to a protein shake in the morning is another great way to add fiber. It’s a simple and effective way to manage heart health!
“Seasonal flu is now a pandemic that lasts for years and years because you’ve got so many people that it’s jumping back between northern and southern hemispheres and moving itself around the world. By the time it gets back to where it started, it’s changed sufficiently so that people are no longer immune.” ~Nathan Wolfe We’ve seen a lot of immune illness coming through our doors in the last couple of weeks. There is no reason to ever have a cough, cold or flu that hangs on for three days or more. Nature has so much to offer us in terms of speeding through any illness, even more serious infections. Most people are familiar with old favorites like Echinacea, Elderberry, and Oscillococinnum. What we want to share with you here are some lesser known but extremely effective products to protect from and get rid of immune illness.
Before you get something is a great time to think about your immune system, particularly if you typically pick up a lot of the bugs that go around. Certain professions, like teachers or health care workers, may also want to boost immunity going in to the sick season. Here are our favorites for boosting immunity: Vitamin D-I would be remiss if I did not mention Vitamin D when taking about immunity. It falls under the “boring but important” category. Vitamin D is a great immune modulator and therefore boosts immunity, as well as aids in tempering autoimmune illness. For those with difficulty absorbing Vitamin D (i.e. you cannot get your levels to go up) this emulsified D liquid is my first choice. Get 2000 IUs in just one drop! Vitamin C plays a vital role in many immune mechanisms. It is recommended for immune health and can be taken in higher quantities if you are ill. We love this one as it is strictly food, from acerola berry. Just mix with water. It is much easier on the stomach than ascorbic acid and is very well absorbed. We love it! Stamets 7 is a combination of 7 different mushrooms: Royal Sun Blazei, Cordyceps, Reishi, Maitake, Lion’s Mane, Chaga, and Mesima. The polysaccharide content in mushrooms account for their immune building effects. Each mushroom offers different protection, so this combination is good for protection against cold, flu, and coughs, and even more chronic conditions like asthma and allergies. Agarikon mushroom has been found to be one of the most potent anti-viral substances on earth. The Department of Health and Human Services, under Project BioShield, tested Agarikon along with numerous other substances in the hopes of protecting the public in the event of bio-terrorism. It was found to be in the top 10 for its anti-viral activity, showing activity against such serious viruses as cowpox, swine and bird flus, herpes I & II, certain strains of tuberculosis and even smallpox. Great for fighting common cold and flu, shingles, herpes, mono, and other viruses. Propolis is a resin that bees use to protect their hives. This resin is high in anti- bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties. This propolis product contains a patented extract of propolis that concentrates the flavanols, the active component, that has activity against pathogens. Use this product as a daily immune boost or higher quantities when there is a challenge to the immune system. The above are by no means a catch-all and we have great tried-and true formulas like the Wellness Formula that are great for kicking colds and flus. Vita Biotic by Eclectic Institute is great for illness that has hung on and you just can’t seems to shake. For those who prefer not to take herbs because of drug interactions, we also have lots of homeopathic options available.
Mr. Obinna Ndukwe Ibiam has announced his resignation as the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor of Abia State on Agricultural Empowerment Programs.
Amphetamine!= meth. Meth is a type of amphetamine but there are all kinds of amphetamines with different pharmacological effects. Adderall is VERY different from meth and much less addictive and less prone to taking at levels that induce euphoria because of the uncomfortable affects it will have on your heart compared to meth. The vast majority of people take it at prescription range doses, where it will simply make you feel more confident, happy, energetic and motivated, but not in a "high" way, more like a "feeling like I'm at my peak state that maybe I could achieve