Nobel Prize Winner's Breakthrough

You probably haven't heard of Dr. Louis Ignarro, a Nobel Prize winning scientist. His discoveries are important but there is no money in them for the pharaceutical industry so they haven't made big news.

Dr. Ignarro, Ph.D., a member of the faculty at the School of Medicine, won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1998 for his discovery of the effect of Nitrix oxide (NO) on heart health. His research shows that NO helps control blood pressure and inhibit the accumulation of arterial plaque. His research has shown that NO:

• Expandes blood vessels thus reducing blood pressure in hypertensive patients,
• Controls platelet function -- a vacular network that is enhanced by NO sheds platelets and inhibits the development of clots,
• Reduces alterial plaque by 50%,
• Lowers total cholesterol by 10% to 20%.

NO levels in the blood stream gradually decline with age, probably due to damage to the endothelial cells (inner lining) in the blood vessels. You can't take an NO supplement because its a gas. However, the following supplements increase NO production in the body. You can get them at your local health food store.

• L-arginine -- A Mayo clinic study demonstarted that people taking L-arginine (an amino acid) showed significant improvement in endothelial function and blood flow.
• L-citrulline -- This amino acid, found in mellons and cucumbers, is needed to get the L-arginine into the cells.

For good health you should also be taking a Vitamine E supplement and Vitamine C.

Other heart-healthy things that you can do include:

• Getting at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise three times a week,
• Minimize your intake of saturated fats.
• Eat more fiber.