Posted by Dan Hammer //

03/15/2017

There has been a long running controversy about fish oil or plant oil for heart health. And this controversy has created confusion for the general public.

Why?

Because of your body’s need for essential fatty acids called Omega-3 fats. There are 3 of them:

ALA (alpha-linolinic acid) which is a short chain fatty acid from plants

EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) which is a long chain fatty acid from Fish or Krill Oil

DHA (decosahexaenoic acid) which is a long chain fatty acid from Fish or Krill Oil

These fatty acids are considered essential because your body cannot make them. And they provide the following health benefits:

10 Steps for Liver Support and Cleansing

Posted by Dan Hammer //

03/08/2017

Proper liver support and cleansing is critical to your health, disease prevention, and how well you age. As the companion article “A Healthy Liver is Key to Effective Aging!” pointed out, your liver is an amazing organ. Over 500 chemical and metabolic functions take place in the liver. This article outlines the steps needed to make a positive impact on the health of your liver. The more you support your liver the greater your opportunity to live a healthier life and slow down the aging process.

10 Steps for Liver Support and Cleansing

Step 1 – Reduce your consumption of foods with artificial chemicals, artificial ingredients, artificial colorings, and preservatives. Every artificial substance that you bring into your body will have a direct impact on your liver. Take the time to read labels and find alternatives. At least 80% of the food you currently eat could be replaced by food items that are free of artificial substances. This first step is critical for proper liver support.
Step 2 – Increase your water intake. This becomes even more important if you diet, fast, or exercise because the fat-soluble toxins that were stored in your fat cells are going to be released back into your system. Your liver will have to process these fat-soluble toxins and convert them into water-soluble products that your body can eliminate through bile and urine. If you’re dehydrated then you will slow down this process. It’s estimated that 75% of Americans have mild, chronic dehydration.
Step 3 – Increase your fiber intake. The suggested amount of fiber is 25-30 grams of fiber per day. You need fiber to properly absorb bile otherwise the toxins in the bile can be reabsorbed back into your system. Additionally, fiber will help keep your colon clean, help lower cholesterol, and can reduce weight gain by giving you a feeling of fullness.

A Healthy Liver is Key to Effective Aging!

Posted by Dan Hammer //

03/01/2017

When people want to slow down the aging process maintaining a healthy liver is not something they think about. Usually they think about the health of their heart, skin, and brain. Maybe their lungs or kidneys might come up for discussion.

But how often have you ever thought about your liver!

A couple of weeks ago I was at the Roundhouse in Aurora, IL. This building is the first one like it in America. Built in 1856 to service trains it was abandoned in the 70s. Bought by Walter Payton and a group of investors in 1995 for $10. It was renovated and opened up in 1996.

So what does this have to do with a healthy liver?

Because in 1999, just 3 years later Walter Payton died of liver disease. And being at this facility reminded me of how important a healthy liver is to effective aging.

What Does a Healthy Liver Do?

In researching this article my appreciation and respect for the liver grew exponentially. Your liver is critical to how well you age. It’s an amazing organ. Located in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen, the liver is the largest and most complex organ of the body. It’s responsible for:

Arteriosclerosis and Atherosclerosis – Treatment Programs!

Posted by Dan Hammer //

02/22/2017

According to the American Heart Association, arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis account for nearly 75% of all deaths from heart disease! To have a significant impact on reducing the number one killer of people worldwide, it would make sense to focus on treatment programs that address these two issues.

As I gathered data for this article many of the websites I looked at made the following comment – “The exact cause of arteriosclerosis is not known.”

This author would like to disagree with this statement.

The exact cause of arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis is known. It’s damage to the endothelial cells that line all of your cardiovascular system, which reduces their ability to properly produce nitric oxide, the master signaling molecule of the cardiovascular system. Nitric oxide is key to cardiovascular health. According to Dr. Louis J. Ignarro, the 1998 Nobel Laureate in Medicine,

“NO – as it is known by chemists – is produced by the body specifically to help keep arteries and veins free of the plaque that causes stroke and to maintain normal blood pressure by relaxing the arteries, thereby regulating the rate of blood flow and preventing coronaries. Nitric oxide is the body’s natural cardiovascular wonder drug.”

If you look closely at Dr. Ignarro’s statement you will notice the following significant phrase: “. . . specifically to help keep arteries and veins free of the plaque that causes stroke. . .” Plaque formation is at the heart of atherosclerosis. Calcification of these plaque formations lead to arteriosclerosis.

Arteriosclerosis and Atherosclerosis – General Overview!

Posted by Dan Hammer //

02/15/2017

There is a lot of confusion between arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis but one thing is certain, combined they account for nearly 75% of all deaths from heart disease!

Here are the sobering facts:

735,000 Americans have heart attacks each year

120,000 Americans die from heart attacks each year

787,00 Americans die each year from all forms of cardiovascular disease

2,150 Americans die each day from cardiovascular disease issues

That’s 1 American dying every 90 seconds!

Most people are familiar with heart attacks or strokes. You likely have a family member or friend who either suffers from the consequences of one or has died due to one. Because of this a great deal of emphasis is placed on preventing heart attacks and strokes. While this is important, the real emphasis should be put upon preventing arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis because they are the underlying cause of heart attacks and strokes.

Did Tom Brady’s Diet Result In Super Bowl Success

Posted by Dan Hammer //

02/08/2017

How much did Tom Brady’s diet contribute to his, and the New England Patriots, unbelievable comeback win in Super Bowl 51?

Some are saying it was a major factor in helping a 39 year old quarterback, who has been in the league for 17 years, still think and perform like he was in his late 20s.

Here’s what I’ve been able to find on the internet. These are direct statements from his hired chief Allen Campbell:

Highlights of Tom Brady’s Diet

“So 80 percent of what they eat is vegetables. [I buy] the freshest vegetables. If it’s not organic, I don’t use it. And whole grains: brown rice, quinoa, millet, beans. The other 20 percent is lean meats: grass-fed organic steak, duck every now and then, and chicken. As for fish, I mostly cook wild salmon.”

“It’s very different than a traditional American diet. But if you just eat sugar and carbs—which a lot of people do—your body is so acidic, and that causes disease. Tom recently outed Frosted Flakes and Coca-Cola. I love that he did that. Sugar is the death of people.”

Vitamin K2 Benefits Longevity

Posted by Dan Hammer //

02/01/2017

Let me start out by saying that vitamin K2 benefits are amazing. This one simple addition to your daily diet can have a profound impact on lowering your risk for most age-related diseases. And vitamin K2 benefits also play a role in longevity.

A recent 2014 study of more than 7,000 people showed that those with the highest intake of vitamin K2 were 36% less likely to die from any cause when compared with those having the lowest intake of this critical nutrient.

The table below highlights how vitamin K2 benefits you in reducing your risk for many of the leading causes of death.

Vitamin K2 Benefits in Risk Reduction

How Nitric Oxide Addresses Cognitive Function

Posted by Dan Hammer //

01/22/2017

Issues with cognitive function are growing in the general population. As I did research on the last post regarding a new Alzheimer’s treatment program I came across the following title and article. Since I’m a big believer in the power of nitric oxide therapy to improve cardiovascular health I just had to read it.

The title says it all.

Cognitive function is aided by proper nitric oxide production.

If you would like to read it, then the link to the article is below the title. However, I’ve produced a new video to help you better understand this area.

Involvement of nitric oxide in learning & memory processes

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3121276/

You have two choices in understanding how nitric oxide therapy addresses cognitive function. The video version which you can watch. Or an edited text version of the same information. I’ll let you decide which you prefer.

New Alzheimer’s Treatment Program Shows Promise

Posted by Dan Hammer //

01/15/2017

Our friends in Australia have released information on a new Alzheimer’s treatment program that shows promise. At least in mice. I’ll share the information below but before I do it reminds me of this section from a Scottish poem written by Robert Burns in 1785. Here it it:

But little Mouse, you are not alone,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes of mice and men
Go often askew,
And leave us nothing but grief and pain,
For promised joy!

There have been many attempts to help solve the grief and pain associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Here’s hoping that this new Alzheimer’s treatment does not go askew but actually delivers a real hope to untangle the main cause of Alzheimer’s disease. Here’s the article that caught my attention.

New Alzheimer’s treatment fully restores memory function

Can Acts of Kindness Improve Your Health

Posted by Dan Hammer //

01/08/2017

One of the top New Year Resolutions that you can make to improve your health would be acts of kindness.

Random acts of kindness have become a hot topic in science and psychology today. And the reason why is that there are multiple studies that demonstrate how compassionate giving and benevolence improve the health of both the giver and the receiver.

To help you understand how acts of kindness can improve your health let’s break this down into two categories. Here’s the first:

Acts of Kindness – Physiological Effects

Here’s a list of the physiological benefits that your body will derive when you engage in acts of kindness. When you see this list, I hope it encourages you to make it a daily goal to engage in a random act of kindness for both you and the receiver. Both will enjoy health benefits.