Eating for a healthy heart
As much as I advise that consulting solely with Dr. Google is not to be recommended, I will admit that there are times I use the internet to “research” my own aches and pains. I did exactly that when I was diagnosed with “high risk” prostate cancer and, more recently when I was experiencing chest pains. Rather than dismiss the latter as probably a Pectoralis Minor muscle in need of stretching, I allowed my partner to call for an ambulance.
First I would like to offer a big thank-you to the thoroughness of the paramedics and the hospital staff and doctors. With what seemed like an inordinately long wait at the hospital to be seen, I was wondering whether I would succumb to old age before any heart related issue, if that was what I had. In my visit to the hospital, I wanted not only a diagnosis of my condition but followup to give me an understanding of this seeming glitch in my good health. This they have given me. The healthcare system here in Canada has served me well.
Back to my Dr. Google activities, whenever I have some ailment, I wonder what I am doing wrong. I expect of myself to have endlessly good health. I look for natural solutions and remedies before looking at prescription or over the counter medications. I am loath to take some chemical which might have a myriad of side effects. My fear is that these formulas will result in the long slippery downward path into ill health.
That is not to say that the foods we buy from the supermarket are risk free and beyond reproach. I choose to avoid processed foods despite their convenience. When I look at a package, I try to interpret the list of ingredients and that understanding seems almost to require an advanced degree in food science. It’s confusing and sugar seems to have so many different names. Similarly, if you are as allergic to Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) as I am - (it used to give me massive headaches) - try googling all the different names for this chemical. Used frequently in Chinese Food, and also contained in most soy sauces, MSG is often an ingredient in many canned products found at your local supermarket. Include many of the Campbell’s Soup brand among the list.
I google eating for a healthy heart and come up with someone’s healthy list of ingredients. They list oatmeal whole grain, soy, chocolate 70% cocoa plus, green tea, coffee, avocados, tomatoes, red wine, legumes, salmon, leafy greens, walnuts, almonds, berries, garlic and fruit. I am ecstatically happy because this is what I already consume. However, there is a no magic bullet and although the above list sounds reasonable, I wonder whether it is that simple. I do understand that science evolves and that there is very little that can be called a universal truth. Remember that I am of an age where the debate about the virtues, or otherwise, of butter has been going on for decades.
If the jury is still out on the benefits of wine, then with moderation in mind I will choose quality.
So, we can do our due diligence and research something as much as possible but, at the same time, be wary of that mass of information that is out there. In other words, to take advice given with a good pinch of salt - the non-sodium variety, of course.
The same with chocolate - moderation in all things. I don’t find the higher content of cocoa so addictive.
As in the principles of Taoism, well illustrated with the TaiChi symbol, nothing is absolute and within Yang is an element of Yin: Nothing is either entirely good or bad. In other words, you could overdose on even the most healthy food so I recommend adopting moderation in all things.
