Heart health and Cardiovascular

Diet and lifestyle are major determinants of your heart health and can be very effective in maintaining good cardiovascular health naturally.

Often medication e.g. for high cholesterol or high blood sugars has side effects and risks. With dietary and lifestyle changes, and specific supplements, it can be possible to reduce reliance on medications, supporting your cardiovascular health naturally and safely.

Key Facts

While heart health is important for men and women, cardiovascular disease is often underdiagnosed in women and is a major risk factor post-menopause when protective oestrogen declines
Blood tests from your GP are very useful, though functional medicine uses more comprehensive markers and screening to assess and monitor progress
Blood sugar management plays an important role in maintaining healthy weight, a healthy heart and protecting the lining of your blood vessels
Intermittent fasting, low carb or higher healthy fat diets may benefit different people and highly restrictive diets tend not to be healthy longer term. Having a personalised plan with support can make all the difference

Best Test Options

Help Me Find The Right Plan

I wanted help to put together a sustainable healthy eating programme that included weight loss but was primarily aimed at reducing my cholesterol levels. I’m happy to say that three months later, my cholesterol is down from 6.5 to 4.8 and the healthy eating programme continues as a natural part of my daily diet.
Patient
Kilkenny
I want to thank you sincerely for all your help and encouragement. Last September I started out on a journey with you that has vastly improved my health and wellbeing. At 70, it was one of the best life choices I have made. You’ve helped me adopt a completely new approach to food and healthy eating. To date I’ve lost 27lbs. In just 7 weeks my cholesterol had dropped from 5.8 to 4.4. My arthritic joints have vastly improved and friends and family have commented on how well I look. Sincere thanks and appreciation for your excellent blend of professionalism, encouragement and compassion.
Patient
Galway
Thank you for your excellent help in my journey hopefully to have better health. My cholesterol is down from 6.4 to 4.48 - HDL 1.49 and LDL 1.53. I know I have a lot to do but have taken your guidance and advice on board. I am very pleased with the progress I have made but could not have done it without your guidance and expertise. It has made me look at what I eat in a whole new way.
Patient
Dublin

Patient Story

History

Derek (62) attended our clinic concerned about elevated blood sugars and high cholesterol. His GP had suggested that he try dietary changes for 3 months before starting medication including a statin. Derek was overweight and his diet had very little variety.

Tests

Derek carried out a heart health profile and some additional blood tests with our clinic. He had critically low folic acid levels, a risk factor for heart disease, and very low vitamin D.

Plan

Derek and his nutritionist agreed on some basic but simple changes to his regular diet, including increasing the variety of vegetables and fibre in his diet. Derek significantly increased his intake of oily fish and heart healthy fats. He commenced a specific multivitamin and mineral to support cardiovascular health, high dose folate and vitamin D. Derek also incorporated more movement into his day and reduced his alcohol intake from moderate to occasional.

Re-test

At three months, Derek’s HbA1c (blood sugar marker) had significantly improved, almost to the normal range. His cholesterol had also dropped from 7.2 to 5.8. His GP was impressed with his improvements and agreed to monitor his levels every three months and he avoided starting any medications.

“My GP is very happy with my progress, I think he was quite surprised by how far I’d come in such a short period of time. The new changes are easy to keep up, I think I’ll be able to avoid medication which is what I’d hoped for”

Help Me Find The Right Plan

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