Oftentimes the phrase “underlying conditions” is tossed around when we hear doctors or the media talk about health problems or disease. For example, during cold and flu season, there is talk about how people with underlying conditions are more likely to contract the flu or have more severe symptoms than those without such conditions. Although the list of underlying conditions in this article is far from complete, these are common underlying conditions for many.
So what are underlying conditions and what can we do to prevent and manage them naturally?
What are underlying conditions?
Medical conditions or health issues that persistent or are long-term, involve systemic inflammation, and have a weakening impact on the immune system are considered to be underlying conditions. These typically include type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and chronic kidney disease, among others.
If you have one or more underlying conditions, you should be especially careful to protect yourself against exposure to damaging pathogens or to engage in lifestyle choices that may result in a serious illness. Here’s a quick breakdown of some common underlying conditions and what you and your family can do to protect yourself.
Read about aged garlic extract loves your heart
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is caused by certain lifestyle factors, such as eating an unhealthy diet, being sedentary, and obesity. If you have diabetes, your body is challenged by how it uses blood sugar. When there is too much sugar in your blood, you can develop serious health issues, including cardiovascular disease and kidney problems.
Optimal prevention and management of type 2 diabetes includes eating whole foods and avoiding refined carbs, getting 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking. To help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, the results of three recent studies provide answers.
Research shows that the use of aged garlic extract reduces several risk factors for atherosclerosis and the chances of having a heart attack or stroke. In fact, the extract reduces calcium deposits and the amount of soft plaque in the arteries. In addition, the aged garlic extract reduces left ventricular myocardial mass, which is an important indicator to predict a heart attack or premature death.
Two other supplements that can benefit diabetes are chromium and milk thistle. Chromium, and chromium picolinate, in particular, boosts insulin activity and reduces insulin resistance while also helping reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. You might try milk thistle for diabetes, as it may lower fasting glucose levels and have a positive impact on levels of hemoglobin, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
Hypertension
Also referred to as high blood pressure, hypertension is a common condition that affects nearly half the people in the United States and more than 1.3 billion people around the world. Elevated blood pressure significantly increases a person’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, brain, and other diseases. It’s a major cause of premature death worldwide.
Natural ways to lower your blood pressure include cutting down the amount of sodium in your diet, limiting alcohol use, managing stress daily, not smoking, and exercising regularly. On the natural supplement side, the use of aged garlic extract resulted in an average 10 mmHg decline in systolic blood pressure and a 5.4 mmHg drop in diastolic blood pressure in more than half of people taking the supplement. Another supplement that can lower blood pressure safely is coenzyme Q10. A meta-analysis showed that CoQ10 reduced systolic pressure by 17 mmHg and diastolic pressure by up to 10 mmHg.
Read about aged garlic extract, AGE for a healthier you
Chronic kidney disease
The gradual loss of kidney function is known as chronic kidney disease or chronic kidney failure. One challenging thing about chronic kidney disease is that many people have few signs or symptoms until the disease reaches a dangerous level. Conditions that cause chronic kidney disease include type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Controlling these conditions is critical if you want to avoid kidney problems. Overuse of nonprescription pain relievers such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin can lead to kidney damage as well.
Garlic is a helpful supplement for people who have chronic kidney disease because it helps lower cholesterol, reduces inflammation, and fights the accumulation of plaque, all of which can be involved in promoting chronic kidney disease. Other natural ways to help avoid or manage chronic kidney disease is to avoid foods with added salt, choose foods that are lower in potassium, and limit the amount of protein you eat.
Obesity
More than 40 percent of Americans are obese, and one-third of the world’s population is living with obesity. With obesity comes an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and other health problems. Obesity impairs immune function, which in turn increases the risk of developing infections.
Losing pounds and maintaining a healthy weight requires lifestyle changes that includes eating a nutritious diet and regular exercise. In addition, the use of natural supplements that can boost immune function and reduce inflammation can help with weight loss. Aged garlic extract has been shown to assist in achieving both of these goals in recent research. In addition, cayenne pepper kicks up your metabolism slightly. The use of capsaicin capsules (an active ingredient in cayenne) was shown to reduce calorie intake while increasing feelings of fullness.
Bottom line
The presence and impact of underlying conditions need to be considered whenever we want to prevent, diagnose, and treat symptoms and medical issues. Lifestyle choices, including the use of natural supplements such as aged garlic extract, play an important role in managing underlying conditions and overall health in general.
[Editor's Note: Kyolic makes supplements that contain aged garlic extract. They also have a greens supplement that can help you increase the number of antioxidants you consume each day. This can also help with inflammation.]
