Heart diseases have become just another epidemic and major cause of death in many countries of the world including America; some major causes of heart diseases are Myocardial Infarction or heart attack, Hypertension or high blood pressure, Arteriosclerosis, High Cholesterol and Heart Failure. Though medical advancement has lead to many improved ways of treating heart patients still both patients and doctors are trying to find out natural treatment ways to minimize the side effects associated with the medication.
The Acai berry is just a result of these efforts and it has been found to have positive effects on the heart health. The Amazon Acai berry (Euterpe oleracea), is a Superfood from the Amazon, and offers hope for those with heart disorders.
The Acai berry is rich in fatty acids, giving it the oily feel. It holds two essential fatty acids called Omega 6 (Linoleic acid) and Omega 9 (Oleic acid). The Omega 6 is a polyunsaturated essential fatty acid that lowers both LDL (bad cholesterol) and HDL (good cholesterol) levels. The Omega 9, which is a monounsaturated, essential fatty acid, aids lower only the LDL, while preserving a good level of HDL.
The Brazilian Acai berry is also abnormally rich in beta-sitosterol, which is a phytosterol that competes with dietary cholesterol for absorption, therefore reducing blood cholesterol. The high fiber substance of the Acai berries may also reduce bad cholesterol levels.
The dark pigmentation of the Acai berry is credited to anthocyanins, which are strong antioxidants. Even in trace amounts, anthocyanins efficiently guard against LDL oxidation. The antioxidant properties of the Acai berry help heal the cell membranes and linings of arterial wall and help defend the integrity of smaller blood vessels. This stops the development of arteriosclerosis and the later increase in blood pressure.
Free radicals can accelerate the process of arteriosclerosis and aggravate ischemia (the lack of oxygen supply to an organ). With the highest antioxidant content of the Acai berry, the damaging effects of the free radicals are taken care of.
Be cautious when choosing among the many Acai Berry supplements available in the marketplace. The Acai berry juice form uses other components and preservatives, with only little concentration of the Acai berry. It has undergone the irradiation which is something you may want to pass up The Acai berry pill form, on the other hand, contains 100% Acai berry, without preservatives. It has not undergone any procedures known to damage your health.
Acai Berry Together with Heart Medications!
With early avoidance, the Acai berry can lessen your need for pricey heart medications. However, if preservation drugs should be used, no facts have been found as to the drug-drug or drug-food interactions with the Acai berry and the general heart conditions.
Be careful when taking medications containing anti-coagulants or blood thinners because Acai berry includes vitamin k, which exercises the opposite effect.
Potassium is abundant in the Acai berry, so you might as well be careful with drugs reacting to potassium:
• ACE-inhibitors which are used for the handling of hypertension. Examples are captopril, enalapril, lisinopril. Potassium levels may boost further with ACE inhibitors particularly those with diminished kidney function.
• Potassium-sparing diuretics like spironolactone, triamterene, or amiloride may boost potassium levels in the blood.
• Heparin which is a blood thinner, used for the deterrence of heart attacks. Potassium levels may be further increased with concomitant use of the Acai berry, aside from with the antagonistic effect of vitamin K present in Acai.
• Beta blockers such as metoprolol and propranolol that are used to alleviate high blood pressure can potentially boost blood potassium levels when mixed with the Acai berry.
The high quantity of calcium in the Acai berry may generate potential reactions with certain medications:
• Beta-blockers. Calcium may interfere with the blood levels of beta-blockers and vice versa.
• Calcium-channel blockers are a class of anti-hypertensives. Calcium may undo the therapeutic effects of calcium-channel blockers, although studies are conflicting.
• Digoxin is used to take care of irregular heart rhythms. Calcium may make this drug fruitless.
• Anti-cholesterol drug, particularly bile acid sequestrants such as cholestyramine, colestipol, and colesevelam, may interfere with calcium absorption and amplify loss of calcium in the urine.
Antioxidants in common, are not recommended to be taken along with most chemotherapeutic agents that act by producing free radicals to execute the tumor.
There are no recognized effects of the above drugs interacting with the Acai berry supplements, only doable risks. However, care must be taken to avoid unpleasant reactions.
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