Minerals For The Treatment Of Atherosclerosis: Iodine, Selenium, Zinc, Copper

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

Iodine - lowers cholesterol

Iodine takes an active part in the metabolism, in particular, fat. It was found that with the use of iodine-containing drugs in patients with atherosclerosis, there is a tendency to a decrease in blood cholesterol.

In the case of iodine deficiency, it is better to eat seaweed, the iodine content in them reaches 1 g per 100 g of dry weight, in canned sea kale, however, somewhat less - up to 200 mg per 100 g. But it is still a lot, given that the daily requirement in iodine 100-200 mcg.

Use not only seaweed in the form of, say, seaweed, but also other iodine-containing products, sea fish - cod, pollock, navaga, as well as shrimp and squid. Please note only that during long-term storage of food and cooking, only 1/3 of the iodine may remain.

Seaweed provides us not only with iodine, but also with most of the above trace elements, as well as macronutrients and B vitamins necessary for the absorption of iodine. Seaweed also contains alginic acid and its salts - alginates. They are very beneficial for the diet, as they help against obesity.

Antioxidants and atherosclerosis

In the body of a patient suffering from atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, hypertension and other heart diseases, there are many pathological changes. Not the last place among them is given to the process of damage to cells and cellular structures due to the phenomena of the so-called. lipid peroxidation (i.e. oxidation of fatty acids that make up cell membranes, hormones, etc. in the presence and with the participation of free radicals and reactive oxygen species). In addition, similar processes underlie the softening and rupture of atherosclerotic plaques, which leads to heart attacks, strokes and other vascular accidents.

In addition, free radicals can cause gene mutations, make the cell vulnerable to cancer, and provoke the appearance of cancer. Hence the need to constantly maintain in the body a sufficient level of substances that prevent the processes of peroxidation - they are called antioxidants.

It should be noted that many vitamins and trace elements have an antioxidant effect. Among them are selenium, zinc and copper.

Selenium is one of the strongest antioxidants

For several centuries, a mysterious heart muscle disease has mowed down the lives of people, mainly children and young mothers, in several regions of China, and especially in the region of the city of Ke Shan. Salvation came along with the discovery made in the late 70s of our century: in the soil, and therefore in the diet, there was no selenium, an element similar to sulfur, rarely found in the earth's crust. Local residents began to receive small amounts of selenium - about 100 micrograms per day. And thanks to such simple preventive measures, it was practically possible to eliminate this serious disease of the heart muscle, which became known as the Keshan disease.

Selenium is one of the most important elements in our body, a good antioxidant. It helps with heart problems, diabetes, kidney stones, weakened immunity, slows down aging and improves mood. It is probably difficult to list everything.

It is important to note that selenium deficiency is a risk factor for the development of hypertension, atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, and myocardial infarction. Therefore, it is not surprising that measures to introduce selenium into the diet (so-called selenization) are paying off.

Thus, in Finland, selenium was introduced into the diet. And literally in 2 years (1992-1994) they got the effect. The number of cardiovascular diseases has decreased by half, and the number of diseases associated with the endocrine system has decreased by 77%.

The population of Russia also needs selenization, since almost 90% of our population has a selenium deficiency in the body. The daily requirement for selenium is 20-100 mcg. The maximum daily dose for adults is about 6 micrograms per kg of body weight. For a child, the norm is 30-150 mcg and it depends on age.

Foods containing selenium

There is a lot of selenium (significantly more than 10 mcg per 100 g wet weight) in brewer's yeast, bran, seaweed and nuts. Sprouted wheat grains and black bread contain a lot of selenium. So, in whole grain bread - 35 μg of selenium, in sunflower seeds - 50 μg, in whole grain flour there can be up to 50 μg per 100 g of dry weight. All these are approximate figures, since the selenium content in food is highly dependent on its amount in the soil. A few nuts, a bag of seeds, or 50 g of wheat bran for breakfast - and be calm.

It is sometimes difficult to obtain daily selenium from food, given the enormous loss of this element. So, the abuse of alcoholic beverages reduces its intake into the body. But the most dangerous enemy of selenium is sugars, sugary flour products, and other refined foods that most of us abuse. Therefore, special additives such as "Neoselen", "Selenzinc", or products enriched with selenium (from selenium concentrator plants) are often used.

A good selenium concentrator is coriander leaves (cilantro).

It should also be borne in mind that selenium has good friends who help him to work effectively. For example, in the prevention and treatment of many diseases (especially cardiovascular), selenium works in tandem with vitamin E. Selenium is also needed vitamin C: it contributes to the normal metabolism of selenium.

Zinc - an immunity enhancer

It is an essential element that is part of several hundred enzymes responsible for respiration, immunity, and much more. Since the amount of zinc decreases markedly with the development of atherosclerosis, you need to know the sources of replenishing zinc reserves in the body.

A good zinc concentrator is birch leaves and buds (drooping birch). So, in birch leaves there are about 16 mg of zinc per 100 g of dry weight (at a rate of 10-15 mg). Therefore, it is no coincidence that a birch leaf in the form of an infusion is drunk 0.5 cups 3-5 times a day. To prepare the infusion, 2 tablespoons of leaves are infused in 0.5 liters of boiling water for two hours.

A good source of zinc is seafood. If possible, it is recommended to consume mussels, oysters, which contain especially a lot of zinc salts, which is indispensable for the synthesis of almost all prostate hormones.

For the majority of the population, a more realistic source of zinc is pumpkin and sunflower seeds, as well as dietary supplements based on zinc, such as Biozinc. Zinc complex compounds such as zinc aspartate, picolinate or zinc lactate are effective and should be taken approximately 50 mg 1-3 times daily between meals.

Note that the effective dose of zinc for acute cases is 50-150 mg. At the same time, the norm of zinc for adults is 15 mg, for pregnant and lactating women, 20-30 mg daily is recommended.

The peculiarities of taking zinc are that it should not be taken simultaneously with fiber and phytin (found in all grains and soy). They bind zinc, making it inaccessible to the body.

Zinc cooking

Wheat sprouts. Eat wheat germ more often. In addition to zinc and selenium, they contain a large amount of vitamin E and B vitamins. And this is their value for our health. For germination, rinse untreated seeds several times, discard the debris that floats above, then pour into a bowl and cover with a little water. Wrap the bowl in a small hole in a plastic bag. The next day, rinse again and refill with a little water. In a day - two, when the size of the sprouts is 1-2 mm, the sprouted grain is ready for use. The last water is useful to drink, and the grain can be scrolled through a meat grinder. Before rolling, you can add steamed dried fruits to the grain. The rolled grain can be eaten as a monofood, for example for breakfast, or added to various dishes.

Pumpkin seeds and some garden plants, in particular, parsley and celery, have the ability to accumulate zinc. Feel free to add their fresh herb to salads, which is not only healthy, but also gives the dishes a spicy taste. You can make a juice at home, which is taken 2 teaspoons 3 times a day.

Copper

Copper is quite an important element for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. First, copper is part of the enzyme ceruloplasmin. The latter protects our body from excess iron, which is bad in that it contributes to the accumulation of excessive amounts of oxidized compounds and thereby the development of atherosclerosis. Copper is also required for the growth of strong connective tissue that resists tearing. Normal copper levels are also important to prevent cholesterol from sticking to the inner surface of the arteries.

On the other hand, excess copper is detrimental in that it creates conditions for cholesterol to adhere to the surface of the walls of blood vessels, thereby increasing the risk of heart and other vascular diseases. There is also evidence that high copper levels and low zinc levels increase the likelihood of coronary heart disease. The daily daily rate of copper is 1.5-2 mg, while the highest therapeutic dose of copper is 3 mg.

Copper deficiency is most common, but it is not difficult to make up for if your diet includes seeds, nuts, and soy products. Copper deficiency can be associated with zinc deficiency and excess iron, for example, if you are taking iron supplements. Alcohol abuse can also cause copper deficiency.

Thus, it is important to control the copper content in the body.

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