Another health tip

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Docs:

Here's another health tip from Dr. Woliner.

Lyndon McGill, D.C.

EvolvHealth Wellness Advisory Council Member

Salem, Oregon

www.SalemSpineClinic.com

www.EvolvingDaily.com

How to Drink Your Way to Better Heart Health

High blood sugar is a serious problem for millions of Americans.

It can lead to many health issues, including heart trouble. So

when I find an easy – and delicious way – to lower heart risk, I

want to spread the news.

One reason high blood sugar raises heart risk is that it involves

what you could call “systemic irritation.” Tissues all over your

body react as though they were slightly injured. When this

happens, levels of some chemicals linked to injury reactions rise

in your body.

One of these chemicals is called C-reactive protein, or CRP for

short. Numerous studies have shown that when your CRP levels go

up, so does your risk of heart trouble. So, CRP is called a

“marker” for heart risk.

Doctors working in the Middle East recently made a remarkable

discovery. They were worried about an increase in obesity there.

But they also know that many people in the region can only afford

simple remedies. One answer they hit on is not only simple and

effective, it’s absolutely delicious.

Centuries ago, the Persians first made a drink of yogurt and

water called “doogh.” Today, doogh is still enjoyed in many parts

of the Middle East. And though it’s not sweet, it’s really quite

tasty.

These doctors asked volunteers to try three different versions of

doogh. Then they tested the volunteer’s blood for CRP and certain

other risk factors for heart trouble.

Some people drank plain doogh – about 8-1/2 ounces, twice a day.

Another group drank doogh with natural vitamin D added. And a

third enjoyed their doogh with vitamin D plus calcium.

After 12 weeks, the vitamin D and vitamin D-plus-calcium groups

had much lower levels of CRP and several other heart-risk markers.

These same groups also had much higher levels of adiponectin.1

That’s a hormone your body uses to fight systemic irritation.

In other words, by enjoying a refreshing drink twice a day,

they’d lowered their risk of heart trouble.

Doogh is easy to make, healthy and refreshing. And because it’s

mostly water and yogurt, it’s a great alternative to juices and

other drinks that tend to be high in sugar. Here’s a simple

recipe…

Soften one cup of low-fat or non-fat plain yogurt in the

bottom of a pitcher.

Add a pinch or two of salt and ½-tablespoon of crushed dried

mint.

Pour the water into the pitcher and mix thoroughly.

Serve chilled, over ice.

If you prefer your drinks fizzy, you can make this recipe with

sparkling water. And for a more intense flavor, experiment with

fresh mint.

To match this recipe to the one in the study, you’ll have to add

a little natural vitamin D (called D3). But it’s available in most

health food stores in liquid form. Just mix 2,000 International

Units – which probably won’t be more than a couple of drops,

depending on the brand – into the recipe above.

Adding calcium raised the volunteers’ adiponectin levels more

than vitamin D alone. But I think you can skip the extra calcium.

The vitamin D had a significant effect on its own… and omitting

the calcium will save you some hassle.

Besides, yogurt already delivers a fair amount of calcium… along

with high-quality protein. And it contains active bacteria

cultures that promote digestive health.

Doogh makes a wonderful compliment to Middle Eastern dishes. But

you can enjoy it all on its own. It’s a perfect, healthful

refresher for a hot summer day.

Yours in continued good health,

Dr Woliner, M.D.