The Western diet is loaded fried foods, meat and salty junk food snacks. This is something people in 52 countries are doing to themselves that is causing heart attacks. Add the depression some people have and you create another serious health crisis.

Scientist has found that when people's diets include high intake of fruits and vegetables, like natural health advocates have been urging for decades, heart Attack risk plummeted.

A study conducted by Dr. Salim Yusuf and team showed that 30 percent of the risk of heart disease in a population could be related to poor diet.

After adjusting for known cardiovascular risk factors, the scientist found:

* People who consumed more fruits and vegetables had a 30 percent lower risk of heart attack compared to people who ate few or no fruits and vegetables.

* People who ate a typical Western diet, no matter what part of the world they lived in, had a 35 percent greater risk of having a heart attack compared to people who consumed little or no fried foods and meat.

Instead of waiting for some "miracle drug" that the drugs companies might come up with that would slash the risk of heart attack by a third; why not just take charge of your health and get on a healthy daily regimen of foods that are good for you.

Vitamins, micronutrients, minerals, fiber rich and delicious fruits and vegetables make more sense. Adapting this style of eating can help reduce the risk of a host of other diseases like diabetes and cancer too.

Depression is another concern people should have regarding a risk of a heart attack. Now a new study has found that depressed patients have a worst heart function after a heart attack, which could be the source of their increased risk of death.

The nervous system helps to control blood pressure, the heart's rhythm, and it's ability to contract. These functions are collectively known as the heart rate variability (HRV) and reflect the organ's ability to handle stress or exertion.

People with poor HRV are more likely to die after having a heart attack.

Major depression can quadruple a person's risk of dying within six months after a heart attack. Treating depression medically or with psychotherapy may help prolong the lives of some patients following a heart attack.

But everyone should know if you initiate some form of prevention in the first place, you should never have to experience a heart attack.

Now for those who eat perfect diets, sometimes even these people struggle with depression and other emotional illnesses.

In this case, even though some individual adhere to a perfect diet and exercise, depression is the major reason they get chronic illnesses such as heart attacks and cancer.

There are programs that deal with depression and many are very effective for solving the problem.

One other factor that is very important to implement is get enough daily sunlight. Now in areas of the country where there's a limited amount of sunshine, this can be a problem.

It is well known fact that because of the lack of sunlight in some areas of the country heart attacks in these areas peak in the winter months.

There has been a lot of controversy about tanning beds but those doctors that promote sunlight believe this is definitely a good choice since you may not be able to get it naturally.

Of course the exposure to sun has its limits no matter whether it's artificial or natural.

If you just follow certain guidelines for exposure you will get a lot of benefit from it eventually in more ways than one.

Whenever the discussion comes up about your health there is always a certain recommended regimen that should be followed everyday.

It's the same message you hear all the time from those who know what it takes to be healthy, stay healthy and increase your odds for living a rich and fulfilling live. So let me repeat it again.

You should adopt a healthy diet, do daily exercise, initiate stress management and have a nutritional program that adds nutrients to your diet because food doesn't always provide enough of it.

The only way that you will ever make all this happen is you must take total charge of your health. Don't let others steer you in the wrong direction.

Only get guidance from those who have your best interest at heart and that is usually people who are extremely knowledgeable about nutrition. 

To your good health,

Sonny Julius

Sonnyj@TheSunnySenior.com

www.AHealthyLifeForSure.com