Reverse Heart Disease in 24 days (20)

Hi there,

Twenty days in.. just four days more to heart and circulatory heart! It is time to maximise your nutritional intake and supplementation where necessary. To put it another way, how nutrient dense is the food you eat? Truly organic fruit and vegetables are among the most nutrient dense food sources available, so how much of your nutritional intake is composed of these? Supplementation, where deficiencies have been clinically identified by investigation, may be necessary.

One excellent example is high quality cod liver oil, a nutritional supplement derived from liver of cod fish. As with most fish oils, it has high levels of the omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA. Cod liver oil also contains vitamin A and vitamin D. Also, high potency vitamins and anti oxidant supplementation where indicated can support the reversal of heart and circulatory disease by providing essential nutrients, vitamins and anti oxidants for the process. Indeed, there is research available that indicates that by implementing these measures heart disease risk could be reduced by twenty four percent.


So pick a high potency supplement with a minimum of 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid, 500 mg of vitamin C, and no more than 50 mg of vitamin B6. There is also Co enzyme Q10 to consider, among others...


To your abundant excellent health,


Dr Ike
Holistic Health Mentor and Functional Health Expert


Sources:

http://www.prevention.com/health/health-concerns/reverse-heart-disease-24-days?page=5#ixzz2645dKZSl

http://www.crsociety.org/

http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=faq&dbid=4

Reverse Heart Disease in 24 days (19)

Hi there,

Nineteenth day, six days to go to heart and circulatory health. So what now? It is time to use sound anger management and elimination principles. Research has shown that losing your rag can double your risk of heart attack within two hours of the anger episode. Duke University Medical Center psychiatrist Redford Williams suggests some questions you can ask yourself:


- Is what's upsetting me really important?

- Is what I'm thinking and feeling appropriate?

- Is the situation modifiable?

- Is taking action worth it?

Find some legitimate channel to use the energy built up due to anger instead. Call a "strife break". Anger usually arises because we percieve our security, self - worth or significance have been challenged. This is why it is crucial to question our emotion of anger. It might be a perception which on reflection can be changed into a more constructive one! If possible leave the vicinity, give yourself time to think and question your anger. What could be the possible result of losing your rag? Are these consequences that would be beneficial? What could you do instead? What could be the results?

So to summarise, here are 7 questions you are likely to find helpful:

- Do you know that the first step in anger management is to realize that you are angry?

- Do you know that you can control the amount of anger you experience by how you perceive the situation?

- Do you need to take a “strife break” in order to have time to control your anger?

a) If the other person refuses to take the break, the person calling for the strife break has the right to retire to the nearest bathroom and lock the door so that he or she can take the required break.

b)In extreme cases, if the other person refuses to take the strife break and might be so violent as to try to break through the bathroom door, that person has the right to leave the home and go to a public place from which they can call after the thirty minutes. If an anger problem still exists, they can hang up and continue to call back at thirty minute intervals until they are able to resolve the problem and return home. If not, the problem should be taken to counseling.

- Do you need to de-anger or talk yourself down from high levels of anger?

- Do you need to use your anger to resolve the situation, give it to God or drop it? These are the three acceptable uses of anger. Since anger is energy to resolve problems or injustices we should use it first for its primary purpose—to resolve the problem. In cases where we have done everything we can do, but are unable to resolve the problem, we should give our anger to God. In cases where the problem is insignificant and not worth the effort, we should drop it.

- Do you know you should avoid the wrong uses of anger? These are aggression, displacement, depression, passive - aggression, burying it or personalising it.


- Do you take offences personally?


When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down.

Leave no [such] room or foothold for the devil [give no opportunity to him] - Ephesians 4: 26, 27 Amplified Bible.


To your abundant excellent health,


Dr Ike
Holistic Health Mentor and Functional Health Expert

Sources:

Biblical Answers for Anger Management http://www.faiththerapy.org/Anger%20Topic.html

Prevention: http://www.prevention.com/health/health/health-concerns/reverse-heart-disease-in-24-days/article


The Bible; Paul's Letter to the Ephesian Church; Chapter 4; Verses 26 and 27; Amplified Bible.

Reverse Heart Disease in 24 days (18)

Eighteenth day into reversing heart disease - it is time to build or rebuild strong loving ties with family, friends, in a community setting and with God. Take your family out for quality, family time together, have fun, engage. Enjoy an outing with an old dear friend or group of friends. Connect with church members in worship and activities, laugh, enjoy yourself in the company of those who truly love you, warts and all. Why not do something with a group of people who have your genuine interests at heart daily? Then watch your heart - and health - soar.....

The Value of a Friend

Two are better than one,
because they have a good reward for their labour.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.

Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
but how can one be warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NKJV)


To your abundant excellent health,


Dr Ike
Holistic Health Mentor and Functional Health Expert


Sources:


The Bible;Book of Ecclesiastes; Chapter 4; Verses 9 to 12; New King James Version

Prevention: http://www.prevention.com/health/health/health-concerns/reverse-heart-disease-in-24-days/article

http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/coronary.html

http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/religionhealth.html


Tully J, Viner RM, Coen PG, Stuart JM, Zambon M, Peckham C, Booth C, Klein N, Kaczmarski E, Booy R. 2006. Risk and Protective Factors for Meningococcal Disease in Adolescents: Matched Cohort Study. BMJ 332: 445-450.

A study of meningococcal disease in adolescents in the UK showed that religious observance was as effective as meningococcal vaccination for preventing meningococcal disease.

O'Connor P.J., N.P. Pronk, A. Tan, and R.P. Whitebird. 2005. Characteristics of adults who use prayer as an alternative therapy. Am. J. Health Promot. 19:369-375.

A study of prayer use by patients showed that 47% of study subjects prayed for their health, and 90% of these believed prayer improved their health. Those who prayed had significantly less smoking and alcohol use and more preventive care visits, influenza immunizations, vegetable intake, satisfaction with care, and social support, and were more likely to have a regular primary care provider. The study concluded that those who pray had more favorable health-related behaviors, preventive service use, and satisfaction with care.

Krucoff, M. W., et al. 2005. Music, imagery, touch, and prayer as adjuncts to interventional cardiac care: the Monitoring and Actualisation of Noetic Trainings (MANTRA) II randomised study. Lancet 366:211-217.

This double blind study used prayer in combination with music, imagery, and touch in four randomly assigned groups of cardiac patients. Intercessory prayer groups included Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist religious traditions. Overall, the study found no significant effect of prayer. However, major adverse cardiac events were reduced in the prayer group (23% to 27%), as were death and readmission rates (33% to 35%). The inclusion of intercessors of multiple religious traditions may have reduced the effectiveness of prayer, especially since Buddhists (who do not believe in God) were included in the study.

D'Souza, R.F. and A. Rodrigo. 2004. Spiritually augmented cognitive behavioural therapy. Australas Psychiatry 12: 148-152.

This study used spiritually augmented cognitive behavior therapy in a mental health study. The study demonstrated that spiritually augmented cognitive behavior therapy helped reduce hopelessness and despair, improved treatment collaboration, reduced relapse, and enhanced functional recovery.

Palmer, R. F., D. Katerndahl, and J. Morgan-Kidd. 2004. A Randomized Trial of the Effects of Remote Intercessory Prayer: Interactions with Personal Beliefs on Problem-Specific Outcomes and Functional Status. J. Alt. Compl. Med. 10: 438-448.

A randomized clinical trial found a significant reduction in the amount of pain in the intercessory prayer group compared to controls. In addition, the amount of concern for baseline problems at follow-up was significantly lower in the prayer group when the subject initially believed that the problem could be resolved. Those who did not believe that their problem could be resolved did not differ from controls. Better physical functioning was observed in the prayer group for those with a higher belief in prayer. However, better mental health scores were observed in the control group with lower belief in prayer scores.

Krucoff, M. W., S. W. Crater, C. L. Green, A. C. Maas, J. E. Seskevich, J. D. Lane, K. A. Loeffler, K. Morris, T. M. Bashore, and H. G. Koenig. 2001. Integrative noetic therapies as adjuncts to percutaneous intervention during unstable coronary syndromes: Monitoring and Actualization of Noetic Training (MANTRA) feasibility pilot. Am. Heart J. 142: 760-767.

A pilot study8 (limited to 150 patients) examining the efficacy of noetic (non-pharmacological) therapies (stress relaxation, imagery, touch therapy, and prayer) found that "Of all noetic therapies, off-site intercessory prayer had the lowest short- and long-term absolute complication rates." The results did not reach statistical significance due to the small sample size, but a full study is planned.

Pargament, K. I., H. G. Koenig, N. Tarakeshwar, J. Hahn. 2001. Religious Struggle as a Predictor of Mortality Among Medically Ill Elderly Patients A 2-Year Longitudinal Study. Arch. Intern Med. 161: 1881-1883.

A study examined the effect of "religious struggle" (defined by such things as being angry at God or feeling punished by God) was predictive of poorer physical recovery and higher mortality. According to the authors, "Our findings suggest that patients who indicate religious struggle during a spiritual history may be at particularly high risk for poor medical outcomes. Referral of these patients to clergy to help them work through these issues may ultimately improve clinical outcomes; further research is needed to determine whether interventions that reduce religious struggles might also improve medical prognosis."

Hughes M. Helma, Judith C. Haysb, Elizabeth P. Flintb, Harold G. Koeniga and Dan G. Blazera. 2000. Does Private Religious Activity Prolong Survival? A Six-Year Follow-up Study of 3,851 Older Adults. The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 55: M400-M405.

A six year study of 3,851 elderly persons revealed that those who reported having rarely to never participating in private religious activity had an increased relative hazard of dying over those who participated more frequently in religious activity. Whereas most previous studies showed a positive effect for organized religious activities, this study showed that personal religious activity was also effective at reducing mortality.

Koenig HG, Hays JC, Larson DB, et al. 1999. Does religious attendance prolong survival? A six-year follow-up study of 3,968 older adults. J Gerontol Med Sci. 54A: M370-M377.

Hummer R, Rogers R, Nam C, Ellison CG, 1999. Religious involvement and U.S. adult mortality. Demography 36: 273-285.

This study examined the effect of religious attendance on mortality. People who never attended religious activities exhibited 1.87 times the risk of death compared with people who attend more than once a week, which results in a seven-year difference in life expectancy at age 20 between those who never attend and those who attend more than once a week. People who did not attend church or religious services were more likely to be unhealthy and, consequently, to die. However, religious attendance also increased social ties and behavioral factors to decrease the risks of death.

Koenig, H.G. 1998. Religious attitudes and practices of hospitalized medically ill older adults. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 13: 213-224.

When a random sample of 338 hospitalized patients were asked an open-ended question about what the most important factor was that enabled them to cope, 42.3% mentioned their religious faith.

Koenig H.G, et al. 1998. The relationship between religious activities and blood pressure in older adults. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine 28: 189-213.

The relationship between religious activities and blood pressure was examined in 6-year prospective study of 4,000 older adults. Among subjects who attended religious services once a week or more and prayed or studied the Bible once a day or more, the likelihood of diastolic hypertension was 40 percent lower than among those who attended services and prayed less often (p<.0001, after controlling for age, sex, race, smoking, chronic illness and body mass index).

Koenig, H.G., Pargament, K.I., and Nielsen, J. 1998. Religious coping and health status in medically ill hospitalized older adults. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease 186: 513-521.

The authors concluded that religious coping behaviors related to better mental health were at least as strong, if not stronger, than were non-religious coping behaviors. A survey of 577 hospitalized medically ill patients age 55 or over examined the relationship between 21 different types of religious coping and mental and physical health. Religious coping behaviors that were associated with better mental health were re-appraisal of God as benevolent, collaboration with God, and giving religious help to others. Re-appraisals of God as punishing, re-appraisals involving demonic forces, pleading for direct intersection, and spiritual discontent were associated with worse mental and physical health. Of the 21 religious coping behaviors, 16 were significantly related to greater psychological growth, 15 were related to greater cooperativeness, and 16 were related to greater spiritual growth.

Koenig, H.G., George, L.K., Peterson, B.L. 1998. Use of health services by hospitalized medically ill depressed elderly patients. American Journal of Psychiatry 155: 536-542.

Found that depressed patients who had a strong intrinsic religious faith recovered over 70% faster from depression than those with less strong faith; among a subgroup of patients whose physical illness was not improving, intrinsically religious patients recovered 100% faster.

Koenig, H.G., and Larson, D.B. 1998. Use of hospital services, religious attendance, and religious affiliation. Southern Medical Journal 91: 925-932.

Found an inverse relationship between frequency of religious service attendance and likelihood of hospital admission in a sample of 455 older patients. Those who attended church weekly or more often were significantly less likely in the previous year to have been admitted to the hospital, had fewer hospital admissions, and spent fewer days in the hospital than those attending less often; these associations retained their significance after controlling for covariates. Patients unaffiliated with a religious community had significantly longer index hospital stays than those affiliated. Unaffiliated patients spent an average of 25 days in the hospital, compared with 11 days for affiliated patients (p<.0001); this association strengthened when physical health and other covariates were controlled.

Koenig, H.G., et al. 1998. The relationship between religious activities and cigarette smoking in older adults. Journal of Gerontology A Biol Sci Med Sci 53: 6.

Substantially lower rates of smoking among persons more religiously involved is likely to translate into lower rates of lung cancer, hypertension, coronary artery disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cigarette smoking and religious activities were examined in a 6-year prospective study of 3,968 persons age 65 or older in North Carolina. Both likelihood of current smoking and total number of pact years smoked were inversely related to attendance at religious services and private religious activities. Higher participation in religious activities at one wave predicted lower rates of smoking at future waves. If persons both attended religious services at least weekly and read the Bible or prayed at least daily, they were 990% less likely to smoke than persons involved in these religious activities less frequently (p<.0001, after multiple covariates were taken into account).

Oman, D., and Reed, D. 1998. Religion and mortality among the community-dwelling elderly. American Journal of Public Health 88: 1469-1475.

In a 5-yer prospective cohort study of 1,931 older residents of Marin County, California, persons who attended religious services were 36% less likely to die during the follow up period. When the variables (including age, sex, marital status, number of chronic diseases, lower body disability, balance problems, exercise, smoking status, alcohol use, weight, two measures of social functioning and social support, and depression) were controlled, persons who attended religious services were still 24% less likely to die during the 5-yer follow up. During the 5-year follow up, there were 454 deaths. Subjects were divided into 2 categories: "attenders" (weekly or occasional attenders) and "non-attenders" (never attend).

Idler, E.L., & Kasl, S.V. 1997. Religion among disabled and nondisabled persons II: attendance at religious services as a predictor of the course of disability. Journal of Gerontology 52: S306-S316.

A longitudinal study of 2,812 older adults in New Haven, CT, found that frequent religious attenders in 1982 were significantly less likely than infrequent attenders to be physically disabled 12 years later, a finding that persisted after controlling for health practices, social ties, and indicators of well-being.

Koenig HG, et al. 1997. Attendance at religious services, interleukin-6, and other biological parameters of immune function in older adults. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine 27: 233-250.

Findings suggest that persons who attend church frequently have stronger immune systems than less frequent attenders, and may help explain why both better mental and better physical health are characteristic of frequent church attenders. Reported that frequent religious attendance in 1986, 1989, and 1992 predicted lower plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in a sample of 1,718 older adults followed over six years. IL-6 levels are elevated in patients with AIDS, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and other serious medical conditions, and is an indicator of immune system function.

Strawbridge, W.J., et al. 1997. Frequent attendance at religious services and mortality over 28 years. American Journal of Public Health 87: 957-961.

Frequent church attendees were more likely to stop smoking, increase exercising, increase social contacts, and stay married; even after these factors were controlled for, however, the mortality difference persisted.

Study reports the results of a 28-year follow-up study of 5,000 adults involved in the Berkeley Human Population Laboratory. Mortality for persons attending religious services once/week or more often was almost 25% lower than for persons attending religious services less frequently; for women, the mortality rate was reduced by 35%.

Kark, JD., G Shemi, Y Friedlander, O Martin, O Manor and SH Blondheim. 1996. Does religious observance promote health? mortality in secular vs religious kibbutzim in Israel. American Journal of Public Health 86: 341-346.

Even after eliminating social support and conventional health behaviors as possible confounders, members of religious kibbutzim still lived longer than those in secular kibbutzim. A 16-year mortality study, where 11 religious kibbutzim were matched with 11 secular kibbutzim (n=3,900); careful matching was performed to ensure that secular and religious kibbutzim were as similar as possible in characteristics that might affect mortality (social support, selection and retaining of members, etc.), and controlled for conventional risk factors (drinking, smoking, plasma cholesterol levels. Of the 268 deaths that occurred, 69 were in religious and 199 in secular kibbutzim; hazard ratio was 1.93 (95% CI 1.44-2.59, p<.0001).

Oxman, T.E., Freeman, D.H., and Manheimer, E.D. 1995. Lack of social participation or religious strength and comfort as risk factors for death after cardiac surgery in the elderly. Psychosomatic Medicine 57: 5-15.

The mortality rate in persons with low social support who did not depend on their religious faith for strength, was 12 times that of persons with a strong support network who relied heavily on religion; even when social factors were accounted for, persons who depended on religion were only about one-third as likely to die as those who did not. Followed 232 adults for six months after open-heart surgery, examining predictors of mortality.

Bliss, J.R., McSherry, E., and Fassett, J. 1995. NIH Conference on Spirituality and Health Care Outcomes

Chaplain Intervention Reduces Costs in Major DRGs. Patients in the intervention group had an average 2 day shorter post-op hospitalization, resulting in an overall cost savings of $4,200 per patient. Randomized 331 open-heart surgery patients to either a chaplain intervention ("Modern Chaplain Care") or usual care.

Propst, L.R., et al. 1992. Comparative efficacy of religious and nonreligious cognitive-behavioral therapy for the treatment of clinical depression in religious individuals. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 60: 94-103.

Religious therapy resulted in significantly faster recovery from depression when compared with standard secular cognitive-behavioral therapy. Study examined the effectiveness of using religion-based psychotherapy in the treatment of 59 depressed religious patients. The religious therapy used Christian religious rationales, religious arguments to counter irrational thoughts, and religious imagery. What was surprising was that benefits from religious-based therapy were most evident among patients who received religious therapy from non-religious therapists.

Pressman, P., Lyons, J.S., Larson, D.B., and Strain, J.J. 1990. Religious belief, depression, and ambulation status in elderly women with broken hips. American Journal of Psychiatry 147: 758-759.

Reported that among 33 elderly women hospitalized with hip fracture, greater religiousness was associated with less depression and longer walking distances at the time of hospital discharge.

McSherry, E., Ciulla, M., Salisbury, S., and Tsuang, D. 1987. Social Compass 35: 515-537.

Heart surgery patients with higher than average personal religiousness scores on admission and post-op had lengths of stay 20% less than those with lower than average scores.

Chu, C.C., & Klein, H.E. 1985. Psychosocial and environmental variables in outcome of black schizophrenics. Journal of the National Medical Association. 77:793-796.

Studying 128 Black schizophrenics and their families, investigators reported that Black urban patients were less likely to be re-hospitalized if their families encouraged them to continue religious worship while they were in the hospital (p<.001).

Zuckerman DM, Kasl SV, Ostfeld AM, 1984. Psychosocial predictors of mortality among the elderly poor. Am J Epidemiol. 119:410-423.

Thist study examine mortality among 400 elderly poor residents of New Haven, Hartford, and West Haven, Connecticut, in 1972-1974. Results, controlled for demographic variables, showed that religiousness reduced mortality.

Florell, J.L. 1973. Bulletin of the American Protestant Hospital Association 37(2):29-36.

Crisis-intervention in orthopedic surgery: Empirical evidence of the effectiveness of a chaplain working with surgery patients. Randomized patients either to a chaplain intervention, which involved chaplain visits for 15 minutes/day per patient, or to a control group ("business as usual"). The chaplain intervention reduced length of stay by 29% (p<.001), patient-initiated call on RN time to one-third, and use of PRN pain medications to one-third.

Reverse Heart Disease in 24 days (17)

Seventeen days in, seven days to heart health to go..... Time to implement one of the most important (arguably the most important) positive change that supports heart disease reversal - developing a strong spiritual life, especially within a faith community. There is ample research available to show that those involved in a strong, supportive faith led community tend to live for longer, tend to be healthier and are less likely to experience a heart attack. For me, I know the benefits I get from being involved in church activities and the relationships I am developing with church members. But greater than that, the opportunity to pray to God and meditate on His Living Word in the Bible as well as put what I have read into action has been invaluable, especially when everything is stressful and topsy turvy. So why not join or get more involved in a faith community and a strong relationship with the Living God today, and watch your heart health improve (along with countless other benefits, including eternal health)? You are unlikely to regret it....


To your abundant excellent health,


Dr Ike
Holistic Health Mentor and Functional Health Expert

Sources:

Prevention: http://www.prevention.com/health/health/health-concerns/reverse-heart-disease-in-24-days/article

http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/coronary.html

http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/religionhealth.html


Tully J, Viner RM, Coen PG, Stuart JM, Zambon M, Peckham C, Booth C, Klein N, Kaczmarski E, Booy R. 2006. Risk and Protective Factors for Meningococcal Disease in Adolescents: Matched Cohort Study. BMJ 332: 445-450.

A study of meningococcal disease in adolescents in the UK showed that religious observance was as effective as meningococcal vaccination for preventing meningococcal disease.

O'Connor P.J., N.P. Pronk, A. Tan, and R.P. Whitebird. 2005. Characteristics of adults who use prayer as an alternative therapy. Am. J. Health Promot. 19:369-375.

A study of prayer use by patients showed that 47% of study subjects prayed for their health, and 90% of these believed prayer improved their health. Those who prayed had significantly less smoking and alcohol use and more preventive care visits, influenza immunizations, vegetable intake, satisfaction with care, and social support, and were more likely to have a regular primary care provider. The study concluded that those who pray had more favorable health-related behaviors, preventive service use, and satisfaction with care.

Krucoff, M. W., et al. 2005. Music, imagery, touch, and prayer as adjuncts to interventional cardiac care: the Monitoring and Actualisation of Noetic Trainings (MANTRA) II randomised study. Lancet 366:211-217.

This double blind study used prayer in combination with music, imagery, and touch in four randomly assigned groups of cardiac patients. Intercessory prayer groups included Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist religious traditions. Overall, the study found no significant effect of prayer. However, major adverse cardiac events were reduced in the prayer group (23% to 27%), as were death and readmission rates (33% to 35%). The inclusion of intercessors of multiple religious traditions may have reduced the effectiveness of prayer, especially since Buddhists (who do not believe in God) were included in the study.

D'Souza, R.F. and A. Rodrigo. 2004. Spiritually augmented cognitive behavioural therapy. Australas Psychiatry 12: 148-152.

This study used spiritually augmented cognitive behavior therapy in a mental health study. The study demonstrated that spiritually augmented cognitive behavior therapy helped reduce hopelessness and despair, improved treatment collaboration, reduced relapse, and enhanced functional recovery.

Palmer, R. F., D. Katerndahl, and J. Morgan-Kidd. 2004. A Randomized Trial of the Effects of Remote Intercessory Prayer: Interactions with Personal Beliefs on Problem-Specific Outcomes and Functional Status. J. Alt. Compl. Med. 10: 438-448.

A randomized clinical trial found a significant reduction in the amount of pain in the intercessory prayer group compared to controls. In addition, the amount of concern for baseline problems at follow-up was significantly lower in the prayer group when the subject initially believed that the problem could be resolved. Those who did not believe that their problem could be resolved did not differ from controls. Better physical functioning was observed in the prayer group for those with a higher belief in prayer. However, better mental health scores were observed in the control group with lower belief in prayer scores.

Krucoff, M. W., S. W. Crater, C. L. Green, A. C. Maas, J. E. Seskevich, J. D. Lane, K. A. Loeffler, K. Morris, T. M. Bashore, and H. G. Koenig. 2001. Integrative noetic therapies as adjuncts to percutaneous intervention during unstable coronary syndromes: Monitoring and Actualization of Noetic Training (MANTRA) feasibility pilot. Am. Heart J. 142: 760-767.

A pilot study8 (limited to 150 patients) examining the efficacy of noetic (non-pharmacological) therapies (stress relaxation, imagery, touch therapy, and prayer) found that "Of all noetic therapies, off-site intercessory prayer had the lowest short- and long-term absolute complication rates." The results did not reach statistical significance due to the small sample size, but a full study is planned.

Pargament, K. I., H. G. Koenig, N. Tarakeshwar, J. Hahn. 2001. Religious Struggle as a Predictor of Mortality Among Medically Ill Elderly Patients A 2-Year Longitudinal Study. Arch. Intern Med. 161: 1881-1883.

A study examined the effect of "religious struggle" (defined by such things as being angry at God or feeling punished by God) was predictive of poorer physical recovery and higher mortality. According to the authors, "Our findings suggest that patients who indicate religious struggle during a spiritual history may be at particularly high risk for poor medical outcomes. Referral of these patients to clergy to help them work through these issues may ultimately improve clinical outcomes; further research is needed to determine whether interventions that reduce religious struggles might also improve medical prognosis."

Hughes M. Helma, Judith C. Haysb, Elizabeth P. Flintb, Harold G. Koeniga and Dan G. Blazera. 2000. Does Private Religious Activity Prolong Survival? A Six-Year Follow-up Study of 3,851 Older Adults. The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 55: M400-M405.

A six year study of 3,851 elderly persons revealed that those who reported having rarely to never participating in private religious activity had an increased relative hazard of dying over those who participated more frequently in religious activity. Whereas most previous studies showed a positive effect for organized religious activities, this study showed that personal religious activity was also effective at reducing mortality.

Koenig HG, Hays JC, Larson DB, et al. 1999. Does religious attendance prolong survival? A six-year follow-up study of 3,968 older adults. J Gerontol Med Sci. 54A: M370-M377.

Hummer R, Rogers R, Nam C, Ellison CG, 1999. Religious involvement and U.S. adult mortality. Demography 36: 273-285.

This study examined the effect of religious attendance on mortality. People who never attended religious activities exhibited 1.87 times the risk of death compared with people who attend more than once a week, which results in a seven-year difference in life expectancy at age 20 between those who never attend and those who attend more than once a week. People who did not attend church or religious services were more likely to be unhealthy and, consequently, to die. However, religious attendance also increased social ties and behavioral factors to decrease the risks of death.

Koenig, H.G. 1998. Religious attitudes and practices of hospitalized medically ill older adults. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 13: 213-224.

When a random sample of 338 hospitalized patients were asked an open-ended question about what the most important factor was that enabled them to cope, 42.3% mentioned their religious faith.

Koenig H.G, et al. 1998. The relationship between religious activities and blood pressure in older adults. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine 28: 189-213.

The relationship between religious activities and blood pressure was examined in 6-year prospective study of 4,000 older adults. Among subjects who attended religious services once a week or more and prayed or studied the Bible once a day or more, the likelihood of diastolic hypertension was 40 percent lower than among those who attended services and prayed less often (p<.0001, after controlling for age, sex, race, smoking, chronic illness and body mass index).

Koenig, H.G., Pargament, K.I., and Nielsen, J. 1998. Religious coping and health status in medically ill hospitalized older adults. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease 186: 513-521.

The authors concluded that religious coping behaviors related to better mental health were at least as strong, if not stronger, than were non-religious coping behaviors. A survey of 577 hospitalized medically ill patients age 55 or over examined the relationship between 21 different types of religious coping and mental and physical health. Religious coping behaviors that were associated with better mental health were re-appraisal of God as benevolent, collaboration with God, and giving religious help to others. Re-appraisals of God as punishing, re-appraisals involving demonic forces, pleading for direct intersection, and spiritual discontent were associated with worse mental and physical health. Of the 21 religious coping behaviors, 16 were significantly related to greater psychological growth, 15 were related to greater cooperativeness, and 16 were related to greater spiritual growth.

Koenig, H.G., George, L.K., Peterson, B.L. 1998. Use of health services by hospitalized medically ill depressed elderly patients. American Journal of Psychiatry 155: 536-542.

Found that depressed patients who had a strong intrinsic religious faith recovered over 70% faster from depression than those with less strong faith; among a subgroup of patients whose physical illness was not improving, intrinsically religious patients recovered 100% faster.

Koenig, H.G., and Larson, D.B. 1998. Use of hospital services, religious attendance, and religious affiliation. Southern Medical Journal 91: 925-932.

Found an inverse relationship between frequency of religious service attendance and likelihood of hospital admission in a sample of 455 older patients. Those who attended church weekly or more often were significantly less likely in the previous year to have been admitted to the hospital, had fewer hospital admissions, and spent fewer days in the hospital than those attending less often; these associations retained their significance after controlling for covariates. Patients unaffiliated with a religious community had significantly longer index hospital stays than those affiliated. Unaffiliated patients spent an average of 25 days in the hospital, compared with 11 days for affiliated patients (p<.0001); this association strengthened when physical health and other covariates were controlled.

Koenig, H.G., et al. 1998. The relationship between religious activities and cigarette smoking in older adults. Journal of Gerontology A Biol Sci Med Sci 53: 6.

Substantially lower rates of smoking among persons more religiously involved is likely to translate into lower rates of lung cancer, hypertension, coronary artery disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cigarette smoking and religious activities were examined in a 6-year prospective study of 3,968 persons age 65 or older in North Carolina. Both likelihood of current smoking and total number of pact years smoked were inversely related to attendance at religious services and private religious activities. Higher participation in religious activities at one wave predicted lower rates of smoking at future waves. If persons both attended religious services at least weekly and read the Bible or prayed at least daily, they were 990% less likely to smoke than persons involved in these religious activities less frequently (p<.0001, after multiple covariates were taken into account).

Oman, D., and Reed, D. 1998. Religion and mortality among the community-dwelling elderly. American Journal of Public Health 88: 1469-1475.

In a 5-yer prospective cohort study of 1,931 older residents of Marin County, California, persons who attended religious services were 36% less likely to die during the follow up period. When the variables (including age, sex, marital status, number of chronic diseases, lower body disability, balance problems, exercise, smoking status, alcohol use, weight, two measures of social functioning and social support, and depression) were controlled, persons who attended religious services were still 24% less likely to die during the 5-yer follow up. During the 5-year follow up, there were 454 deaths. Subjects were divided into 2 categories: "attenders" (weekly or occasional attenders) and "non-attenders" (never attend).

Idler, E.L., & Kasl, S.V. 1997. Religion among disabled and nondisabled persons II: attendance at religious services as a predictor of the course of disability. Journal of Gerontology 52: S306-S316.

A longitudinal study of 2,812 older adults in New Haven, CT, found that frequent religious attenders in 1982 were significantly less likely than infrequent attenders to be physically disabled 12 years later, a finding that persisted after controlling for health practices, social ties, and indicators of well-being.

Koenig HG, et al. 1997. Attendance at religious services, interleukin-6, and other biological parameters of immune function in older adults. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine 27: 233-250.

Findings suggest that persons who attend church frequently have stronger immune systems than less frequent attenders, and may help explain why both better mental and better physical health are characteristic of frequent church attenders. Reported that frequent religious attendance in 1986, 1989, and 1992 predicted lower plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in a sample of 1,718 older adults followed over six years. IL-6 levels are elevated in patients with AIDS, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and other serious medical conditions, and is an indicator of immune system function.

Strawbridge, W.J., et al. 1997. Frequent attendance at religious services and mortality over 28 years. American Journal of Public Health 87: 957-961.

Frequent church attendees were more likely to stop smoking, increase exercising, increase social contacts, and stay married; even after these factors were controlled for, however, the mortality difference persisted.

Study reports the results of a 28-year follow-up study of 5,000 adults involved in the Berkeley Human Population Laboratory. Mortality for persons attending religious services once/week or more often was almost 25% lower than for persons attending religious services less frequently; for women, the mortality rate was reduced by 35%.

Kark, JD., G Shemi, Y Friedlander, O Martin, O Manor and SH Blondheim. 1996. Does religious observance promote health? mortality in secular vs religious kibbutzim in Israel. American Journal of Public Health 86: 341-346.

Even after eliminating social support and conventional health behaviors as possible confounders, members of religious kibbutzim still lived longer than those in secular kibbutzim. A 16-year mortality study, where 11 religious kibbutzim were matched with 11 secular kibbutzim (n=3,900); careful matching was performed to ensure that secular and religious kibbutzim were as similar as possible in characteristics that might affect mortality (social support, selection and retaining of members, etc.), and controlled for conventional risk factors (drinking, smoking, plasma cholesterol levels. Of the 268 deaths that occurred, 69 were in religious and 199 in secular kibbutzim; hazard ratio was 1.93 (95% CI 1.44-2.59, p<.0001).

Oxman, T.E., Freeman, D.H., and Manheimer, E.D. 1995. Lack of social participation or religious strength and comfort as risk factors for death after cardiac surgery in the elderly. Psychosomatic Medicine 57: 5-15.

The mortality rate in persons with low social support who did not depend on their religious faith for strength, was 12 times that of persons with a strong support network who relied heavily on religion; even when social factors were accounted for, persons who depended on religion were only about one-third as likely to die as those who did not. Followed 232 adults for six months after open-heart surgery, examining predictors of mortality.

Bliss, J.R., McSherry, E., and Fassett, J. 1995. NIH Conference on Spirituality and Health Care Outcomes

Chaplain Intervention Reduces Costs in Major DRGs. Patients in the intervention group had an average 2 day shorter post-op hospitalization, resulting in an overall cost savings of $4,200 per patient. Randomized 331 open-heart surgery patients to either a chaplain intervention ("Modern Chaplain Care") or usual care.

Propst, L.R., et al. 1992. Comparative efficacy of religious and nonreligious cognitive-behavioral therapy for the treatment of clinical depression in religious individuals. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 60: 94-103.

Religious therapy resulted in significantly faster recovery from depression when compared with standard secular cognitive-behavioral therapy. Study examined the effectiveness of using religion-based psychotherapy in the treatment of 59 depressed religious patients. The religious therapy used Christian religious rationales, religious arguments to counter irrational thoughts, and religious imagery. What was surprising was that benefits from religious-based therapy were most evident among patients who received religious therapy from non-religious therapists.

Pressman, P., Lyons, J.S., Larson, D.B., and Strain, J.J. 1990. Religious belief, depression, and ambulation status in elderly women with broken hips. American Journal of Psychiatry 147: 758-759.

Reported that among 33 elderly women hospitalized with hip fracture, greater religiousness was associated with less depression and longer walking distances at the time of hospital discharge.

McSherry, E., Ciulla, M., Salisbury, S., and Tsuang, D. 1987. Social Compass 35: 515-537.

Heart surgery patients with higher than average personal religiousness scores on admission and post-op had lengths of stay 20% less than those with lower than average scores.

Chu, C.C., & Klein, H.E. 1985. Psychosocial and environmental variables in outcome of black schizophrenics. Journal of the National Medical Association. 77:793-796.

Studying 128 Black schizophrenics and their families, investigators reported that Black urban patients were less likely to be re-hospitalized if their families encouraged them to continue religious worship while they were in the hospital (p<.001).

Zuckerman DM, Kasl SV, Ostfeld AM, 1984. Psychosocial predictors of mortality among the elderly poor. Am J Epidemiol. 119:410-423.

Thist study examine mortality among 400 elderly poor residents of New Haven, Hartford, and West Haven, Connecticut, in 1972-1974. Results, controlled for demographic variables, showed that religiousness reduced mortality.

Florell, J.L. 1973. Bulletin of the American Protestant Hospital Association 37(2):29-36.

Crisis-intervention in orthopedic surgery: Empirical evidence of the effectiveness of a chaplain working with surgery patients. Randomized patients either to a chaplain intervention, which involved chaplain visits for 15 minutes/day per patient, or to a control group ("business as usual"). The chaplain intervention reduced length of stay by 29% (p<.001), patient-initiated call on RN time to one-third, and use of PRN pain medications to one-third.

Reverse Heart Disease in 24 days (16)

Hi all,

Sixteenth day.. heart disease is being reversed, step by step - fantastic! Time to practice mindfulness, focus your awareness on the present and relax, helping you reduce the effects of daily stresses and niggles. Think about the numerous things you are thankful to God for. When stressors come -work, family, illness, situations - close your eyes, focus on breathing deeply, slowly and evenly for about five to ten minutes. Notice how much better you feel already! There is ample evidence to show that such breathing exercises have blood pressure lowering effects. So next time, instead of panic and stress, just breath - and be thankful, you are still here...



To your abundant excellent health,



Dr Ike
Holistic Health Mentor and Functional Health Expert.

Sources:

Prevention: http://www.prevention.com/health/health/health-concerns/reverse-heart-disease-in-24-days/article

Breathing-control lowers blood pressure
E Grossman, A Grossman, MH Schein, R Zimlichman and B Gavish
Journal of Human Hypertension (2001) 15, 263–269
Ó 2001 Nature Publishing Group

Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure
Aram V. Chobanian,George L. Bakris,Henry R. Black,William C. Cushman, Lee A. Green, Joseph L. Izzo Jr, Daniel W. Jones, Barry J. Materson, Suzanne Oparil,Jackson T. Wright Jr,Edward J. Roccella,the National High Blood Pressure Education Program Coordinating Committee (2003) American Heart Association Publication

Reverse Heart Disease in 24 days (15)

Hi all,

Fifteenth day in.... time to be real to yourself.......

To put it another way - who are you really? One of the greatest stressors around is living in a way that is inconsistent with the real, inner you. Are you involved in work and living a lifestyle that fits with your personality, talents, relationships, constitution and needs - including and especially spiritual needs? How often are you of service to others - family, friends, neighbours, strangers? Do you do some serious reassessment and reflection on a regular basis? Do you need to make changes? If you do, make them - your heart and circulatory health may depend on them...


To your abundant excellent health,


Dr Ike
Holistic Health Mentor and Functional Health Expert.

Sources:

Prevention: http://www.prevention.com/health/health/health-concerns/reverse-heart-disease-in-24-days/article

Reverse Heart Disease in 24 days (14)

Hi there,

Two weeks in - time to conduct some experiments! Now before you go out and buy a lab coat, I mean it is time to try some variation and addition to your exercise plan. Try something new, something you used to do for fun and enjoyment. Things like dancing, roller skating, swimming, kicking a ball about, after consultantion with your responsible health professional as well as your exercise consultant. Enjoyable exercise leads to release of beneficial endorphins in the brain, boosting your emotional health and well being as well as reducing the effects of stress on the body. Stress reduction is likely helpful in reversing heart disease, so get some enjoyable variation into your exercise - starting today.....


To your abundant excellent health,

Dr Ike
Holistic Health Mentor and Functional Health Expert.

Sources:

Prevention: http://www.prevention.com/health/health/health-concerns/reverse-heart-disease-in-24-days/article

Horizon - The Truth About Exercise (BBC, 2012)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyQSzx0ofto

Reverse Heart Disease in 24 days (13)

Hi there,

It is time to move.... (no, not from your house!). I am talking about exercise, moving your limbs, your whole body!. A great body of research has revealed that appropriate exercise reduces the risk of heart attack by up to a stunning 50 percent!. Notice I said appropriate. There is no one size fits all approach to exercise. Fortunately, as more evidence is collated by exercise researchers, it is becoming easier for exercise trainers and specialists to plan individualised, tailored exercise approaches for people, as more tools and techniques backed by credible science and practical experience become available. This was shown dramatically in the BBC programme Horizon earlier this year.

In the programme it was shown that people basically fall into two main catergories - responders to high intensity interval training (HIIT) and non responders to such exercise training, and this was predicted by genetic testing. However, before you blame your genes and not do any exercise, a huge body of evidence has also accumulated that doing any level of exercise is better than doing none at all. The data in the programme was mostly for this one exercise training technique, where basically participants pushed themselves to the absolute maximum exertion for a total of 3 minutes (in 20 second bursts) per week had nearly all the health benefits (not the ascetic I hasten to add) and more so than completing 4 hours steady state cardiovascular training per week. The benefits were- glucose release from the muscle stores, and increasing insulin sensitivity by an average of 24%. Vo2 Max (the bench mark of cardiovascular performance) was also increased in around 15% of participants.

What about non responders, you ask? Well, they may not benefit much from HIIT, but as I pointed out earlier, an overwhelming body of evidence does point to some level of benefit for just about everyone when tailored, individualised exercise is undertaken. Seek the advice of your physician, a trained exercise professional and make sure you engage in exercise that you enjoy - that way you will stick to it. Never push yourself above your limit for a prolonged period, that is courting trouble....


To your abundant excellent health,

Dr Ike
Holistic Health Mentor and Functional Health Expert.

Sources:

Prevention: http://www.prevention.com/health/health/health-concerns/reverse-heart-disease-in-24-days/article

Horizon - The Truth About Exercise (BBC, 2012)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyQSzx0ofto

Reverse Heart Disease in 24 days (12)

Day 12, halfway to reversing heart disease...

Have you been taking vegetable protein? It is time to increase your intake - increase your legumes and pulses, hemp protein (NOT marijuana, this is totally different), artichokes, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumbers, eggplant, green peas, green pepper, kale, lettuce, mushroom, mustard green, onions, potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, turnip greens, watercress, yams and zucchini are some examples. Spirulina, blue green algae,wheatgrass, barley grass and chlorella could contain up to seventy per cent protein - higher than beef, chicken or pork.

Soy protein may be eaten by those who are not intolerant, but due to containing estrogen like compounds, I personally avoid (I would advise other men to avoid also, there are so many other vegetable protein sources) and should be taken after medical advice by women with either a personal or family history of breast cancer. Increase your intake of vegetable proteins, and watch your chloesterol levels (especially LDL cholesterol) plummet!


To your abundant excellent health,


Dr Ike
Holistic Health Mentor and Functional Health Expert.


Sources:

"Canadian Nutrient File". Health Canada. Retrieved 2012-05-07 - all data unless specified was computed from their database

L P Johnson, J O Reagan, K D Haydon and M F Miller The prediction of percentage of protein in pork carcasses.
J ANIM SCI 1990, 68:4176-4184.

Prevention: http://www.prevention.com/health/health/health-concerns/reverse-heart-disease-in-24-days/article

Reverse Heart Disease in 24 days (11)

Hi all,

Eleventh day - time to drink up, in moderation.....

I am talking about alcohol drinking, about 1-3 oz a day which is approximately 1/8th to 3/8th by volume of a standard cup or glass. Studies have indicated that this level of consumption can lead to a significant reduction in heart disease risk (20 -40 percent reduction), especially in men over 40 and and women after menopause. However, there are some caveats - there shold be no issues with alcohol, including binge drinking or alcoholism. Also you should not have hypertension.

Researchers are not fully sure how alcohol can lead to this reduction, but have put forward some possible reasons:

- increasing elasticity in blood vessel walls, helping blood vessel dilation and thereby reducing blood pressure.

- helping to reduce blood clot formation by decreasing blood stickness and reducing blood platelet clumping.

- Reduces the risk of a heart attack by helping dilate coronary arteries

- It may protect you from a second heart attack

- Red wine seems to be more protective against heart disease than other alcohol types like beer or spirits for the same levels of drinking. This may be because red wine contains chemicals called procyanidins which help provide the protection. However, people who drink red wine also tend on average to make healthier lifestyle choices - smoking less, eating better, for instance, so the evidence is not so clear cut.

So the message is (as you would expect) drink alcohol, especially red wine in moderation....


To your abundant excellent health,


Dr Ike
Holistic Health Mentor and Functional Health Expert.


Sources:

Corder, R, Mullen, W et al 2006, ‘Oenology: Red wine procyanidins and vascular health’, Nature, vol. 444, no. 7119, p.566.

de Lorgeril, M et al 2002, report published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, 2002, reported by McCook, A. ‘Light drinking may lower 2nd heart attack risk’. Reuters (September 3, 2002).

Duke University Center for Integrative Medicine

Emeson, E, Manaves, V, Singer, T et al 1995, ‘Chronic alcohol feeding inhibits atherogenesis in C57BL/6 hyperlipidemic mice’, American Journal of Pathology 147(6), pp. 1749-1758.

Hammerstone, J, Lazarus, S & Schmitz, H 2000, ‘Procyanidin content and variation in some commonly consumed foods’, Journal of Nutrition 130, pp. 2086-2092.

Mukamal, K, Chiuve, S & Rimm, E 2006, ‘Alcohol consumption and risk for coronary heart disease in men with healthy lifestyles’, Archives of Internal Medicine, vol. 166, no.19, pp. 2145-2150.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 1999, Alcohol Alert, no. 45, October, http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa45.htm

Prevention: http://www.prevention.com/health/health/health-concerns/reverse-heart-disease-in-24-days/article

Rubin, R 1999, ‘Effect of ethanol on platelet function’, Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research 23(6), pp. 1114-1118.

Zimlichman, R, ‘Arterial stiffness in health and in disease’, American Journal of Hypertension, vol. 17, issue 5, p. S139.

Reverse Heart Disease in 24 days (10)

Hi all,

Day ten - time to flax regularly....

No, that was not a typo, I am talking about flaxseeds. They are a powerful source of omega 3 fatty acids, which have anti inflammatory properties and are crucial for heart and blood vessel health. In fact, research has shown that when flaxseeds are added long term to your nutritional intake, it reduces your chances of developing heart disease by a staggering 46 percent, as well as stopping red blood cells from sticking together in blood vessels. In this way, clots are prevented, which could block blood vessels like arteries - leading to strokes.

Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed on your cereal or salad daily. It is preferable to grind the flaxseed yourself and refrigerate to prevent the flaxseed from going rancid - use it as soon as possible after grinding!....


To your abundant excellent health,


Dr Ike,
Holistic Health Coach and Functional Health Expert.


Sources:

Duke University Center for Integrative Medicine,

Prevention: http://www.prevention.com/health/health/health-concerns/reverse-heart-disease-in-24-days/article

Reverse Heart Disease in 24 Days..... (9)

Hi all,

After a long hiatus, I am back! Without wasting any more time, let me dive straight in to what you can change on day 9 in your quest to reverse heart disease ASAP....
Change what you spread on your bread. Better yet, change the type of bread you eat. But first things first - do away with margarine immediately. Margarine is full of dangerous trans fat, a confirmed killer and bringer of heart disease. Stop using it NOW. Butter is a much better and healthier option, especially truly organic butter.

Contrary to popular advice, saturated fats are an important part of a balanced nutritional intake, and have anti inflammatory properties. If you doubt this, see the documented evidence for the benefits of saturated fats here: http://www.stop-trans-fat.com/benefits-of-saturated_fats.html Why not try avocado on bread? I find it delicious - and it contains beneficial saturated fats and other nutrients. Natural honey, preferably straight from the bee hive, is also another option. Also, you can make your own peanut butter paste rather than relying on shop bought peanut butter, atleast you know the ingredients then.

Now to bread. The best option is to make your own bread - it is quicker and easier than you think! Notice I wrote make rather than bake. I will go into the difference soon, so keep reading! But to give you a hint, think gourmet fresh...
Failing that, the bread should be as whole grain or as brown as possible. The browner or more whole grain, the lower the GI (glycaemic index) and so the healthier the bread is. Watch out also for sugar and salt content, as well as other additives. The less of these, the better. Make these changes, and watch your cholesterol levels drop.....

To your abundant excellent health,

Dr Ike,
Holistic Health Coach and Functional Health Expert.

Sources:

Duke University Center for Integrative Medicine

Prevention: http://www.prevention.com/health/health/health-concerns/reverse-heart-disease-in-24-days/article