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~ Back to Articles Index Page ~  Since it is February once again, we must ask, what is the human heart? Helen Keller wrote of her heart, “Once I knew only darkness and stillness…my life was without past or future…but a little word from the fingers of another fell into my hand that clutched at emptiness, and my heart leaped to the rapture of living.” For centuries, poets, songwriters, authors, scholars and others have used the heart as a symbol of all that is good, some that is bad, and certainly everything that is romantic. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “Give all to love; obey thy heart.” It has been said that the heart rules the head. The renowned American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, wrote, “The heart is the chief feature of a functioning mind.” Of your heart’s desire, George Bernard Shaw wrote, “There are two tragedies in life. One is not to get your heart’s desire. The other is to get it.” And a more contemporary, anonymous author penned, “Who knew dog saliva could mend a broken heart?” I wonder if the medical community has researched this idea?  As much fun as it is to wax poetic, in this article, we’ll get to the heart of the matter (sorry, couldn’t resist that) about the amazing organ in the center of our chest that keeps us alive. Approaching the heart from a physiological prospective, we’ll look at how it works. Then, from a dietary standpoint, we’ll address some nutritional fundamentals of keeping your heart healthy. And finally, we’ll look at some of the warning signs you shouldn’t play down or ignore if you want the beat to go on. PHYSIOLOGY OF THE HEART The heart is a muscular organ responsible for pumping blood through the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions. The heart is composed of cardiac muscle, an involuntary muscle tissue which is found only within this organ. The average human heart, beating at 72 beats per minute, will beat approximately 2.5 billion times during a lifetime, approximated to be about 66 years.1 Approximately the size of a person’s fist, the hollow, cone-shaped heart weighs less than a pound. The heart is located within the bony thorax (the portion of the body’s trunk between the diaphragm and the neck) and is flanked on each side by the lungs. 
The heart has 4 hollow chambers – 2 atria and 2 ventricles. The atria are primarily receiving chambers. They are less important in the pumping activity of the heart. Deoxygenated blood flows into the atria under low pressure from the veins of the body and then continues on to fill the ventricles. The ventricles are actual pumps. When they contract, oxygenated blood is propelled out of the heart and into the circulation. Route 66 - How Your Blood Travels Through Your Body Upper or Pulmonary Circulation The right side of the heart receives relatively oxygen-poor blood from the veins and pumps it out to the lungs where oxygen is picked up and carbon dioxide is unloaded. Oxygen-rich blood drains from the lungs and is returned to the left side of the heart. This circulation is called the pulmonary circulation because it travels through the lungs. Its only function is to carry blood to the lungs for gas exchange and then return it to the heart. 
Lower or Systemic CirculationBlood returned to the left side of the heart is pumped out into the aorta supplying essentially all body tissues. Oxygen-poor blood circulates from the tissues back to the right atrium. This second circuit is called the systemic circulation because it travels through the entire rest of the body. 2 Confused yet? Well, think of your blood as a taxi. It drops off carbon dioxide in your lungs, picks up oxygen and motors it off to the rest of your body. The taxi’s engine is your heart. BLOOD: It’s Role and Component Parts Blood is to the heart what Robin is to Batman. One doesn’t function without the other. Looking at a drop of blood, you wouldn’t think there was complex harmony of liquid and formed elements working together to keep us healthy. Blood is very much your body’s taxi system, picking up and dropping off vital elements such as respiratory gases, waste materials and nutrients to and from every part of the body. Blood consists of two groups; plasma, which makes up 55% of the composition and formed elements, which makes up the remaining 45%. Plasma Plasma consists of:  Water, which is the solvent for carrying other substances.
Salts, including sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride and bicarbonate. Salts are responsible for osmotic balance (the process of keeping the body’s fluids from becoming too dilute to too concentrated), pH balance and regulation of membrane permeability.
Plasma Proteins, responsible for osmotic balance, pH balance, blood clotting, defense (antibodies) and lipid (fats) transport.Nutrients, such as glucose, fatty acids, vitamins, amino acids, waste products of metabolism, oxygen and carbon dioxide, and hormones.Formed Elements
Erythrocytes (red blood cells), which transport oxygen and help transport carbon dioxide.
Leukocytes (white blood cells), responsible for defense and immunity, including basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocytes.
Platelets, which are responsible for blood clotting.The makeup of plasma fluctuates continuously as cells add or remove substances to and from the blood. A regularly healthy diet helps keep the composition of your blood relatively constant. When conditions change, this taxi service is at the beck and call of different organs in your body responsible for its homeostasis (a steady state in your internal environment). For instance, as blood acidity changes, your respiratory system and kidneys are called into action and the blood is responsible for picking up elements produced by the lungs and kidneys that will restore it back to its normal, slightly alkaline, pH range. THE MINERALS YOUR HEART NEEDS - Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium Magnesium Magnesium assists with calcium and potassium uptake in your body and aids in maintaining the body’s proper pH balance and normal body temperature. This essential mineral also protects the arterial linings from stress caused by sudden blood pressure changes. Research has shown that magnesium may help prevent cardiovascular disease. A deficiency of magnesium interferes with the transmission of nerve and muscle impulses and may manifest in symptoms such as rapid heartbeat. Magnesium deficiencies are at the root of many cardiovascular problems such as fatal cardiac arrhythmia, hypertension and sudden cardiac arrest. 3 Foods That Provide Magnesium Green vegetables such as spinach are good sources of magnesium because the center of the chlorophyll molecule (which gives green vegetables their color) contains magnesium. Some legumes (beans and peas), nuts and seeds, and whole, unrefined grains are also good sources of magnesium. Refined grains are generally low in magnesium. When white flour is refined and processed, the magnesium-rich germ and bran are removed. Bread made from whole grain wheat flour provides more magnesium than bread made from white refined flour. Tap water can be a source of magnesium, but the amount varies according to the water supply. Water that naturally contains more minerals is described as "hard". "Hard" water contains more magnesium than "soft" water. Eating a wide variety of legumes, nuts, whole grains, and vegetables will help you meet your daily dietary need for magnesium. Selected food sources of magnesium are listed [below].4 Selected Food Sources of MagnesiumMG's = milligrams
Calcium Calcium is important in the maintenance of a regular heartbeat and in the transmission of nerve impulses. Calcium lowers cholesterol levels and helps prevent cardiovascular disease. It may lower blood pressure and aid in neuromuscular activity. Calcium deficiency can lead to elevated blood cholesterol, heart palpitations and hypertension. 5 Selected Food Sources of CalciumMG's = milligrams
Potassium This mineral is important for a healthy nervous system and a regular heart rhythm. It aids in proper muscle contraction and works with sodium to control the body’s water balance. Potassium is important in transmitting electrochemical impulses. Low potassium intake may be a significant factor in the development of high blood pressure. One signs of potassium deficiency includes fluctuations in heartbeat, high cholesterol levels and low blood pressure. Food sources of potassium include dairy foods, fish, fruit, legumes, meat, poultry, vegetables and whole grains. High amounts are found in apricots, avocados, bananas, lima beans, blackstrap molasses, brewer’s yeast, brown rice, dates, dulse, figs, dried fruit, garlic, nuts, potatoes, raisins, spinach, winter squash, wheat bran, yams and yogurt. 7 WARNING SIGNS YOU SHOULD NOT IGNORE – Messages From The Heart Each year, approximately 1.1 million Americans experience a heart attack; approximately 460,000 of them are fatal. Of those who die, almost half do so suddenly, before they can get to a hospital. Although a heart attack is a frightening event, if you learn the signs of a heart attack and what steps to take, you can save a life—perhaps even your own. Who Is At Risk? Many people think that heart attacks are a "man’s problem," yet heart disease is actually the number one killer of both men and women in the United States. In men, the risk for heart attack increases significantly after the age of 45. In women, heart attacks are more likely to occur in the years after menopause (usually, after the age of 50). However, younger men and women can also have heart attacks. Besides age, factors that increase the risk for heart attack are:
Women and Heart Attack If you're a woman, you may not believe you're as vulnerable to a heart attack as men–but you are. Women account for nearly half of all heart attack deaths. Heart disease is the number one killer of both women and men. There are differences in how women and men respond to a heart attack. Women are less likely than men to believe they're having a heart attack and more likely to delay in seeking emergency treatment. Further, women tend to be about 10 years older than men when they have a heart attack. They are more likely to have other conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and congestive heart failure–making it all the more vital that they get proper treatment fast. Women should learn the heart attack warning signs. These are:
If you feel heart attack symptoms, do not delay. Remember, minutes matter! Do not wait for more than a few minutes–5 minutes at most–to call 9-1-1. Your family will benefit most if you seek fast treatment. 8 To learn more about women and heart disease, and for a free printable handbook, CLICK HERE. Carol Roy is a Natural Health Practitioner, registered with Natural Health Practitioners Canada, who received her diploma from the Alternative Medicine College of Canada in Montreal, Quebec. With 9 years experience in her area of expertise, naturopathic medicine, Carol has also trained to become a fully qualified Reiki Master, Quantum Touch ® Practitioner and Reflexologist. are recommendations only and not a substitute for any medical advice or a replacement for any prescriptions. Seek medical advice for any health concerns. Consult your health care provider before using any recommendations herein. References: 1. www.wikipedia.org 2. Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology, Seventh Edition, Elaine N. Marieb. 3. Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Third Edition, P.A. Balch and J.F. Balch 4. Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health, United States Government http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/magnesium.asp#h2 5. Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Third Edition, P.A. Balch and J.F. Balch 6. Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health, United States Government http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/calcium.asp#h2 7. American Heart Association http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/104/11/1212 8. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, United States Government, http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/actintime/haws/women.htm |
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