Are you ignoring this overlooked risk of heart disease?

homocysteineA little known but critical cardiovascular enemy is elevated homocysteine. A tiny percentage of the population even knows what it is, let alone how important it is keep low.

Homocysteine is an amino acid that is formed in the body as a byproduct from the conversion of methionine to cysteine and other useful substances. If this process gets blocked, it can leave too much homocysteine in the body.

Everyone has homocysteine in their body, just like everyone has cholesterol. However, if levels get too high, problems can occur.

Scientific studies show that even small increases can significantly increase your risk of developing heart attacks, strokes, eye problems, erectile dysfunction, liver problems, depression and more.

vitamin bFortunately, certain vitamins are scientifically proven to reduce homocysteine levels quickly and without side effects.

Folate (vitmain B9), vitamin B12, vitamin B6, Vitamin B2, TMG, zinc, magnesium and a few other nutrients have been shown to reduce and help detox homocysteine.

Folate deficiency is the most common cause of high homocysteine levels. Folate supplementation from .5-5mg per day has been shown to have a significant impact.

If you would like to order optimized folate for homocysteine, click here

Homocysteine levels are associated with Heart attacks and Strokes

heart attackIncreased levels have been labeled as a strong indicator of  heart attacks and strokes as it interfere with the blood vessels ability to expand.

In a Taiwanese study, researchers found that increased homocysteine levels impaired blood flow in people over the age of 50, while people under the age of 40 were not affected.

Homocysteine promotes oxidation of LDL (bad cholesterol) so when levels are elevated, usually so is cholesterol.

In blood vessels, homocysteine activates genes that promote clotting. It also causes smooth muscle cells within the artery to multiply quickly, which can narrow your arteries.

Erectile dysfunction

erectile dysfunctionIf you are currently taking Viagra or Cialis, this is an indicator that you are having circulation issues. If you have never been diagnosed with artery disease and you are taking one of these drugs for impotence, it is important that you have some heart tests done and make sure to check your homocysteine level. Impotence is an early warning sign for many people that they have bad blood vessels and should get their heart checked.

Can Coffee increase my levels?

A recent study in the Netherlands on coffee drinkers, revealed that six cups of unfiltered coffee a day increased homocysteine levels by 10% in as little as 2 weeks.

In a U.S. study, people who consumed 3-4 (filtered) cups of coffee per day had an increase of 1 or 2 micromoles. This is a large number in relation to heart disease.

Scientists are not sure why coffee has this affect, but believe that it is because coffee decreases the amount of vitamin B6 in the body. Vitamin B6 helps to detoxify or clean up homocysteine.

So what can you do?

folateFolate is very important to help reduce homocysteine levels. However, folate is dependant on Vitamin B12 to be effective. Vitamin B6 helps homocysteine to convert to a beneficial cysteine in your body.

Another way to clean out your system of homocysteine is by using betaine (TMG), which does not require any other vitamins to be effective.

TMG can be taken with folate, if folate is not effective enough on it’s own.

“Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) supplementation has been shown to lower homocysteine levels in certain people.

Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) supplementation (1.6 mg per day) has been shown to lower levels by 22 to 40% in a subset of the population that has a certain genetic variant of an enzyme involved in folic acid metabolism (the 677Cà T polymorphism for the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene).22 Approximately 15 to 20% of the population carries this gene and could benefit from taking riboflavin (Vitamin B2). Since genetic testing is expensive and not readily available, it would seem reasonable for all people trying to lower their homocysteine levels to include riboflavin in their regimen of B vitamin supplementation. “

University of Michigan Health

Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12 and TMG are all in the Tikva product.

Folate (Folic Acid) is not in the Tikva product. Results published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggest dietary folate intake may be positively associated with postmenopausal breast cancer.

Unfortunately there is so much controversy surrounding Folic acid and breast cancer, that we chose to eliminate it and substitute the more potent ingredient TMG in its place.

Does your diet have any effect?

fruit and vegetable heartFolate is found mostly in vegetables and legumes. One recent study showed that a vegan / Vegetarian diet combined with vitamin B12 (since Vitamin B12 is crucial for Folate to be affective) actually lowers homocysteine levels by as much as 13% in just one week, without any other supplementation.

Since Vitamin B12 is almost exclusively found in meat sources, most vegetarians are deficient in it and so it must be supplemented.

People who have high levels should avoid foods or supplements containing iron. As when these two combine, they create damaging free radicals.

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