CARDIAC BENEFITS OF APPLE CIDER VINEGAR AND HONEY

4.               CARDIAC BENEFITS OF APPLE CIDER

VINEGAR AND HONEY

Health benefits of apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar, or cider vinegar has been used since ancient times as a remedy for many different ailments. Hippocrates is said to have used it as an antibiotic. Its uses in cardiac care are mainly for reduction of the bad cholesterol i.e. LDL and lower blood pressure There is scientific evidence linking apple cider vinegar to weight loss, control of blood glucose and also reduction of LDL (bad cholesterol) and raising of HDL (good cholesterol). These results indicate that apple cider vinegar improved the serum lipid profile in normal and diabetic rats by decreasing serum TG, LDL-c and increasing serum HDL-c and may be of great value in managing the diabetic complications.

The health benefits of the apple cider vinegar and honey drink are widely accepted as part of ‘traditional or home-remedies’. Anti-aging properties have been attributed to the combination while others have recognized and made use of its cleansing and disinfecting properties to self-detoxify their body. It is seen as a powerful cleansing agent and natural healing elixir with naturally occurring antibiotic and antiseptic that fights germs and bacteria. It has been found to be particularly effective in the control of blood pressure and management of high cholesterol.

Mechanism of action:

What is the reason for the beneficial effects of apple-cider-vinegar and honey? How does the combination act? The combination acts by helping to maintain the ‘acid-base’ balance of the body. Too much ‘acidic’ environment in the body is harmful. The combination of apple cider vinegar and honey pushes the acidic environment towards ‘alkaline’ which is highly beneficial and healthy. The body has an acid-alkaline (or acid-base) ratio called the pH which is a balance between positively charges ions (acid-forming) and negatively charged ions (alkaline-forming). When this balance is compromised many problems can occur. The body is forced to borrow minerals—including calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium from vital organs and bones to neutralize the acid and safely remove it from the body. And severe damage can be done to the body due to high acidity. Ideally, for most people, the ideal diet is 75 percent alkalizing and 25 percent acidifying foods by volume. Allergic reactions and other forms of stress also tend to produce excessive acids in the body. The alkaline-forming ability of apple cider vinegar can correct excess acidity in the body and also help prevent and fight infection. Honey added to the vinegar naturally makes the mixture more palatable. Unprocessed raw honey has been classified as an alkaline-forming food. Interestingly, every sweet food has a low pH and that is the nature of sugar. However, researchers have discovered that 45 minutes after eating honey, blood tests showed more alkalinity. Diabetics also have lower blood sugar 45 minutes after eating honey. This is because, unlike processed sugar and artificial sweeteners, honey is very quickly absorbed into the body cells for fuel use, rather than sitting in the blood. 

Ginger-Cardiovascular benefits and medicinal Properties Research work

While we are striving to detail medicinal properties of Shimbhala ingredients one by one with their research work and side effects as well, we are covering Ginger today as Garlic extract had been covered yesterday.

1.               GINGER (Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Zingiberaceae)

Ginger rhizome is one of the most commonly consumed dietary condiments in the world.

Cardiovascular Benefits

The University Of Maryland Medical Center cites several preliminary studies that suggest ginger may lower cholesterol and prevent blood from clotting. Stopping your blood from clotting can help people with heart disease, where blood vessels become clogged and lead to heart attack or stroke. High cholesterol can also lead to clogged arteries when the cholesterol builds up on the artery walls. Ginger may also help to lower blood pressure, another indicator of heart disease. The University of Michigan Health System informs that taking 10 g, or 1 heaping tsp., or more of ginger root per day can reduce platelet stickiness and help clear arteries of plaque. Taking either dry ginger or fresh ginger can affect blood platelets, but the dosage must be at least this much. Ginger contains more than 12 antioxidants and can help reduce serum cholesterol levels, improve circulation and lower the risk of blood clots, says the Herb Growing & Marketing Network.

Research

A study published in 2005 in the “Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology” found that ginger lowered blood pressure in controlled experimental conditions. Researchers investigated the cardiovascular effects of ginger on the blood pressure of different animals. Using crude extract of fresh ginger injected intravenously in rats, researchers found a dose-dependent fall in blood pressure. Further experiments in this research suggest that the blood-pressure-lowering effect of ginger is due to the blockage of voltage-dependent calcium channels. However, researchers did not examine the effects of ginger on the blood pressure of humans. Ginger does not cleanse arteries, but it might have protective effects. Research is still lacking to confirm whether ginger has benefits for people with heart disease, according to the UMMC, but preliminary research indicates ginger might reduce cholesterol levels. This protects against atherosclerosis, a disorder in which fatty material accumulates in the arteries and hardens, which narrows the arteries and can lead to blockages that result in a heart attack or stroke. A study published in the "South Asian Journal of Preventive Cardiology" in 2004 with lead author S.K. Verma notes that ginger contains components with strong antiplatelet and antithrombotic properties, which helps prevent blood clots. It also is a potent antioxidant and scavenges free radicals, harmful substances that might contribute to atherosclerosis. In the 2004 "South Asian Journal of Preventive Cardiology" study, participants took either 5 g per day of dry ginger or a placebo. After four weeks, the researchers evaluated the antioxidant effects on the oxidation of blood lipids, or fats. Consuming ginger was shown to have strong antioxidant properties for both healthy participants and those with coronary artery disease.

Dosage

Ginger is available in fresh and dried root, oil, tea, dried and liquid extracts and tinctures. The UMMC recommends taking ginger with food and consuming 4 g or less per day as a general guideline, including food sources, but Verma and colleagues say using less than 5 g yields inconsistent results in studies. A typical dosage as suggested by the UMMC is 75 to 2,000 mg in divided doses. Extracts should be standardized for 4 percent volatile oils or 5 percent total pungent compounds.

Caution and Potential Side Effects

Because ginger has antiplatelet effects, the UMMC advises not taking this supplement if you have a bleeding disorder, and using it only with the supervision of a health-care provider if you take other herbs or drugs with blood-thinning effects, including aspirin. Taking ginger in addition to these substances might increase the risk of bruising and excessive bleeding. Although ginger may have cardiovascular benefits, it may also be harmful to people with heart disease. High doses of ginger can worsen heart conditions. People with low blood pressure or who are already on blood pressure medications can experience an unsafe drop in blood pressure or heartbeat irregularities when taking ginger, which can also interact with other medications, including blood thinners. Other side effects are mild and include heartburn, diarrhea and general stomach discomfort. 

#Ginger #Cardiovascular #Fitness #Wellness #Healthyheart 

Shimbhala Ingredients-Garlic

Introduction

This fact sheet provides basic information about garlic—common names, what the science says, potential side effects and cautions, and resources for more information.

Garlic Common Name: garlic

Latin Name: Allium sativum is the edible bulb from a plant in the lily family. It has been used as both a medicine and a spice for thousands of years. Garlic’s most common folk or traditional uses as a dietary supplement are for high cholesterol, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Other folk or traditional uses include prevention of certain types of cancer, including stomach and colon cancers. Garlic cloves can be eaten raw or cooked. They may also be dried or powdered and used in tablets and capsules. Raw garlic cloves can be used to make oils and liquid extracts.

What the Science Says

·        Some evidence indicates that taking garlic can slightly lower blood cholesterol levels; studies have shown positive effects for short-term (1 to 3 months) use. An NCCAM-funded study on the safety and effectiveness of three garlic preparations (fresh garlic, dried powdered garlic tablets, and aged garlic extract tablets) for lowering blood cholesterol levels met with profound positive effects. 

·       Extensive research suggests that taking garlic may slow the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), a condition that can lead to heart disease or stroke.

Clinical studies done on patients consuming Shimbhala have also revealed gradual opening up of arteries and lowering the blockage level of the artery in start and end of 2 year periods through monitored angiographies.

·        Evidence suggests that taking garlic may slightly lower blood pressure, particularly in people with high blood pressure.

·        Some studies suggest consuming garlic as a regular part of the diet may lower the risk of certain cancers. However, no clinical trials have examined this. A clinical trial on the long-term use of garlic supplements to prevent stomach cancer found no effect.

·        Recent NCCAM-funded research includes studies on how garlic interacts with certain drugs; its effects on liver function and the dilation and constriction of blood vessels; and the bioavailability (how well a substance is absorbed by the body) of allicin, the main active compound of garlic. http://www.anushveda.com

Side Effects and Cautions

·        Garlic appears to be safe for most adults.

·        Side effects include breath and body odor, heartburn, upset stomach, and allergic reactions. These side effects are more common with raw garlic.  

·        Garlic can thin the blood (reduce the ability of blood to clot) in a manner similar to aspirin. This effect may be a problem during or after surgery. Use garlic with caution if you are planning to have surgery or dental work, or if you have a bleeding disorder.

·        Garlic has been found to interfere with the effectiveness of saquinavir, a drug used to treat HIV infection. Its effect on other drugs has not been well studied.

·        Tell all your health care providers about any complementary health practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.

Sources

•      Agency for Healthcare Research and QualityEvidence Report/Technology Assessment no. 20. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2000. AHRQ publication no. 01-E023.
•      Gardner CD, Lawson LD, Block E, et al.  Archives of Internal Medicine. 2007;167(4):346–353.
•         Garlic. In: Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckman J, eds. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. Newton, MA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2000:139–148.
•         Milner JA. Garlic (Allium sativum). In: Coates P, Blackman M, Cragg G, et al., eds. Encyclopedia of Dietary Supplements. New York: NY: Marcel Dekker; 2005:229–240.

#Shimbhala #Garlic #Fitness #Wellness #Healthyheart 

Simple Tips on Heart Care

Simple tips on heart care - Arjuna - 

You could be overweight or hypertensive with a family history of cardiac occurances- Natural remedies help definitely. Arjuna powder had daily does immense good for blood,cholesterol,hard arteries,blocked arteries. It works very well in tandem with heart formulation such as Shimbhala. Arjuna availability is also not an issue in markets.

We have consumed arjuna powder at home using it in tea alongwith normal tea leaves,with water.

ANushveda Wellness conducted a sample survey of Shimbhala and Arjuna users in New Delhi and out of 50 users 15 were combining Arjuna with Shimbhala and with fantastic results and doing so under advise from their Ayurvedic physicians.

Arjuna is a tree the Bark of which is supposed to possess immense medicinal properties. People from ancient times have been using it as a medicine successfully.

In not so urban towns Arjuna trees can be located and barks powdered at home for a fresh and pure assured arjuna powder.

#Shimbhala #Fitness #Wellness #Healthyheart 

Birth of a Product

The herbal formulation of ginger garlic and lemon extracts processed and mixed with green apple cider and based in honey that I had started having in 2009 upto 2012 bore long lasting results for sure.

My blockage in one artery had reduced from 90% to 45%. Two angiograms one in 2009 and other in 2012 confirm this, both performed by my interventionist and cardiologist.

It was nothing short of  miracle. Actually the herbs had worked silently.

I slowly graduated from Statins daily dosage of 10mg to 5 mg. My cholesterol levels were well within permissible limits especially the bad one the LDL….

I had to now somehow maintain it and even today as I write this blog, my experience I had to share so that it could many many fellow humans who were inflicted with similar disease or were most likely to.

Upon doing multiple clinical studies on the formulation we a s a group consisting of researchers and doctors decided to promote a ready made product form of the formulation.

Thus in 2013 Shimbhala was introduced in markets and online and has many happy users !

It is manufactured at Baidyanath Bhavan and marketed under the banner of “Anushveda Wellness”

We shall highlight in oncoming blogs the nature and methodology of action of natural ingredients of Shimbhala such as Garlic, lemon and Ginger.

#Cardiovascular #Fitness #Wellness #Healthyheart 

Heart Attack-Alternate Therapy or Herbal cure-My own story contd...3

While I was searching for an alternative , preventive or curative or both for my heart condition I passed several months and one day I consulted my own cardiologist, who incidentally was my doctor as well as friend and who had performed angioplasty on me. He is a very well established and known Interventionist at a renowned cardiac centres of Delhi and has performed all kind of heart surgeries.

He proposed a herbal formulation to me which was supposed to be had alongwith my regular heart medication. It would he said “stabilize” my condition and provide relief from present condition of weakness, low energy output, breathlessness etc.

To be hearing a cardiologist speak like this for a herbal medication surprised me but after 3 years of dealing with him I had not the slightest iota of doubt in my mind as to the authenticity of the formulation he was proposing.

He told me that it had produced fantastic results in other patients he had introduced it to and some of the noticeable effects it has included- Reduction of blockage from the arteries thereby increasing blood flow and reducing chances of Infarction or repeat infarction.

Reduction in triglyceride and cholesterol levels in the blood. In many cases he had even reduced the mill gram dosage of the Statin drugs to the patients.

My answer to my own problem seemed to be right here. I desparately required a medication which opened up my arteries and improved my quality of life something which i really missed in the last 3 years ever since I had the Heart Attack.

I had missed out on mountain treks which I used to do frequently with my wife who is an avid climber and trekker.

I missed all the drives in the mountains at high and lightening speeds which I am proud to be capable of.

I missed the security of a normal existence and here was my chance Alas ! Even if the herbal formulation did not succeed with me it gave me an exciting chance to atleast try and wriggle out of my impossible situation.

With my angiogram in 2007 at the time of angioplasty showing 90% blockage in one of the arteries and 100% occluded clot (where the infarction had occured) in the main artery (which had been resurrected with a stent) I decided to start taking the herbal formulation proposed by my doctor.

There was however just one more problem. The formulation was proposed to be prepared at home as there was no ready off the shelf product available just as yet

Herbal formulation of Ginger,Garlic and Lemon extracts, mixed and processed with green apple cider and based in honey is a potent therapy for treating blocked arteries and high LDL cholesterol, all potential 40+ stressed out hypertensive subjects being prime susceptible group or those with habits such as smoking,excessive drinking,sedentary life style,high fatty food intake etc.

My cardiologist swore by it and explained how he had treated many cases of acute Atherosclerosis and those post a Myocardial Infarction or angioplasty. he recommended to anyone with any possibility of cardiac disease as a Preventive Cure, to be had daily for 6-7 months long stretch at a time and leave for a period and restart in a cyclic form.

Bad artery condition does not develop overnight. It is a long drawn out process and one has to work quite hard to achieve it as well ! There has to be a concerted effort from all direction such as maintaining a bad life style, such as avoiding walks and work outs, physically remaining inactive all the time, Eating anything that one could lay hands on, Eat all kinds of junk foods and fried stuff, Smoke happily, drink happily and merrily without counting number of drinks, dont get any medical tests done, not monitor blood pressure and most of thinking “IT CANNOT HAPPEN TO ME”.

Therefore Bad arteries do not develop overnight and neither do they become OK easily. It takes care, time,conscious effort and a lot of control and hard work to reverse the condition.

Therefore my cardiologist recommended a long course of the Ginger,Garlic and Lemon extracts mixed with cider and honey.

I was supposed to have 3 tea spoons of it daily mixed with water or directly before breakfast.

I was supposed to prepare the concoction at home as no ready off the shelf alternative was available and even if was somewhere my doctor did not trust the ingredient quality.

I took the help of whoever I could to procure raw materials and my wife put herself in charge of making it.

It was quite tedious but somehow in 2009 Feb I started it and continued to have for 3 years along with my other daily allopathic drugs.

All along with the Grace of God, I had no recurrence of the Heart Attack and most fortunately the aches in my chest and discomforts slowly began to vanish. I certainly felt more active and energetic and could walk swiftly without feeling much breathlessness.

Most and most of all My wife and me trekked on the Chandrashila Peak in the deep months of Dec-Jan in deep snow near Kedarnath in Uttarakhand-India. In snow the expedition is almost graded as very difficult.

We also did the Panchachuli glacier trek in 2013. It is a trek which most normal people will not be able to endure, leave alone a heart crippled guy like me. I call my self so here cause during the Attack my heart muscle has sustained damage and scarring had occurred. This meant that my heart was not at it’s 100% ever again after that and that it would always remain crippled cause the dead tissue in it would never become live again.

I never felt any discomfort while climbing or even while reaching heights of 16000-18000 feet.

All this I am sure would not have been possible without the work the Herbal medicine had done in my insides and I was silently very thankful of it for having given my life back to me and for having restored confidence once again.

I silently used to thank heavens for giving me the opportunity again as a nature explorer.

Heart Attack-My Own Story-contd...2

The endevour here is to tell my story and relate with those who have gone through the trauma unfortunately and those who have a susceptible condition, heredity or lifestyle induced.

After the hospitalization and treatment I came home and since 2007 feb a regime of drugs started as a daily course. handful of medicines costing approx. 1200-1600 per month. More than the drugs and costs, these were leaving me with despair apart from the insecurities and the constant fear of ralpse or repeat, or that stenosis could occur if not a repeat infarction. My age in 2007 was 42 years.

Slowly I also started to realise that some drugs were affecting me adversely as well in terms of side effects such as weakening of the muscles and lack of strength in the body, in coherent and sporadic pains in the legs, knees, arms etc.

It is a well known and established fact that statins regime which are cholesterol reducing family have this effect on muscles, which is to do with lowering the water content in them gradually causing a change in their output and endurance, hence weakening.

This is while we are not discussing other drugs in combination. My cardiologist also did not see or explain to me the drug interactions involved as I am supposed to have 5 different salts and combinations at one go.

The heart must not be under stress at any given point of time therefore not missing even a single dose daily for the rest of my life is the mantra.

To think of it one way is the brighter side here. Atleast I know what goes on inside my cardiac annals. Atleast there is now a monitor in place but at what cost??

I kept on religiously however as there was not alternative. Is there any???? The eternal question started to smither within.

This is more specifically explained as cholesterol reducing drug of the statins family acts in the liver and after a certain while since all cholesterol from the blood is extracted here turns the liver into fatty liver, a condition of the liver with high levels of fat deposits ultimately impairing it’s digestive and conversion functions, a condition which can be easily monitored through blood serum tests such as SGOT and SGPT.

Similar adverse effect has been noticed in patients or people exposed to sustained intake of statin drugs or anti hypertention drugs.

I started probing my vicinity for answers. Some were – Build an exercise regimen lasting for about 45 minutes a day.-

Controlled diet, rid of oil,fried foods,heavy foods laden with cheese or butter or ghee, high fat content foods such as red meat, yellow of egg, pure milk etc.

Primarily a low salt diet which keeps a strong check on the blood pressure levels which if uncontrolled is the mother or root cause of all cardiac problems. Artheroscelerosis is the blocking of arteries caused by hypertension as one of it’s major reasons of occurence.

High BP makes artery walls rigid thereby more susceptible to blockage due to friendly environment for fat deposits to accumulate with a higher blood pressure and flow on the inner artery walls. Blood clots get stuck in them causing Infarction.

The answers which I found there was no oral substitute which could reduce if not completely stop the quantity of drugs I was having such as may be a reduction of statin from 10 mg to 5 mg so that it did minimum damage and organs could sustain for a longer period of time.

I consulted many Ayurvedic,Allopaethic,natural cure doctors and multiple advise emerged. Broadly I became increasingly attracted to Ayurvedic or Herbal alternative as Herbs did not have any side effects.

As long as we had quality controlled herbal formulation which conformed to international standards of QC such as allowed levels of substances in it such as heavy metals, microbiological limits etc we could in tandem with our drugs have such a formulation if any which was effective existed.

I could not zero down on any on the net or otherwise. I was although given Arjuna to eat by one of the doctors I visited and many elixirs were proposed, however no referential existed or validation of the claim.

I never wanted to have something which was not proven in it’s effect. the whole purpose would get defeated if formulation I was having turned out to be ineffective ! Months passed by but I was still to start my Alternate Therapy for as a heart medication.

A popular brand or school of ayurvedic medicines was available but effectivity was again not proven. I was also dumped on what kind of formulation would be suitable…… Contd in next blog.