Dr. Oz: Healthy Heart Kit
Dr. Oz wanted to give everyone a perfect kit to help them keep their heart healthy. Four women in the audience held up briefcases with an item inside. The first woman’s case said “Tape Measure”.
Dr. Oz explained what to put in a Spice Shaker that can be a heart-healthy substitute for salt. (IhBa / Shutterstock.com)
Tape measures can help us measure the circumference of our waist. The rule for a healthy waist circumference is that the waist measurement has to be less than half your height. So if you’re 5’3″, you’re 63 inches tall. If you divide that in half, it’s 31 1/2 inches. The woman who held the tape measure case was 5’3″, but her waist was 38. Dr. Oz said waist circumference was one of the most important numbers when it comes to the heart.
Dr. Oz: Cut Out the Salt for Good Heart Health
The next woman was named Mary and her case said “Spice Shaker”. Dr. Oz said that losing just 1/2 teaspoon of salt a day takes a bunch of pressure off the heart. Instead, replace your typical salt shaker with an elegant spice shaker full of tumeric, garlic powder, and coriander mixed in equal amounts.
Dr. Oz: Sleep is Important for the Heart
The next woman, Aria, had a case that said “Bedtime Alarm.” Aria said she was a bad sleeper. Dr. Oz said it’s important to pay attention to sleep, because it’s a huge risk factor for the heart.
Aria said she usually goes to sleep midnight or after. She usually wakes up around 6:30. Dr. Oz said new research shows that people who sleep less than six hours pay a penalty in their heart. So Aria needs to go to bed at 10:30 to get at least eight hours of sleep.
Dr. Oz: Take Grape Seed & Vitamin C
The last woman, Jen, had a case that said “Supplement with Grape Seed Extract and Vitamin C”. Dr. Oz talked to Dr. Brian Dixon from Usana, who recommended everyone take Usana’s Proflavanol C, which has both Grape Seed Extract and Vitamin C.
He said that vitamin C is important for blood vessels. It helps promote good blood circulation by preventing free radicals from damaging the walls of our blood vessels. Grape seed has flavonoids, which have been shown to be antioxidants and help cardiovascular health. These vitamins work together for good heart health.
Denise says
You may also want to try hibiscus tea. The hibiscus flower contains bioactive phytochemicals that act as a natural ACE inhibitor. ACE is an enzyme that raises blood pressure by creating a protein called angiotensin II, which causes blood vessels to constrict.