Dear Healthy Friend,

I bet you’ve heard this before: An aspirin a day will keep a stroke away.

As a regular reader of Health Bytes, you'll know that we’ve warned against this type of advice for many years. Aspirin can cause serious, sometimes even fatal, gastrointestinal injury and bleeding and (contrary to popular belief) could actually increase your stroke risk, especially if you're over 75.

Francois Lubbe reveals the details of how you could reduce your risk of a stroke, naturally...

In the name of good health,

Taryn Strugnell
Managing Editor of Nutrition & Healing

P.S. What is Barret's oesophagus, what are its causes and what can you do to treat it? Dr Wright tells us the answers.

Reduce your stroke risk with these little-known tips
Francois Lubbe
Editor, Daily Health

According to an article that appeared in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet Neurology in 2007, over the past 25 years the number of strokes associated with blood-thinners – like aspirin – has increased sevenfold.

But there are safer alternatives to cut stroke risk... In a different study, The Lancet reported that having more than the recommended five servings of fruit and veg per day (one serving = half a cup) can reduce the risk of a stroke by 26%.

In addition to regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol consumption, eating wholegrains and increasing your intake of omega-3 fatty acids, the following protective measures could also help:

* Keep your gums healthy: An article published in the Archives of Internal Medicine shows that evidence is accumulating which indicates that periodontal disease may be a risk factor in cardiovascular disease and stroke. A National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research-supported study called INVEST, showed that the presence of pathogenic periodontal bacteria (bacteria causing inflammation and infection) in dental plaque is associated with increased thickness of the carotid artery wall, which can lead to a stroke. The latest research findings suggest that co-enzyme Q10 protects the gums and reduces the risk of infection in the spaces between the teeth. In a study conducted by Italian scientists from the Institute of Biochemistry, Universita Politecnica delle Marche, both coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E were found to help prevent inflammation of the gums. The recommended dosage of vitamin E is 400 IU a day. For co-enzyme Q10 take 30mg 1 to 3 times a day.

* Get enough sunshine: According to a 2009 study published in the journal Current Vascular Pharmacology, vitamin D deficiency may play a role in heart disease and stroke. Exposing your skin to sunlight for 10-15 minutes a day is the best way to get your daily dose of vitamin D. For those of us not getting enough sunlight, supplementing is the best way to boost your levels. Most adults should be taking a minimum of 2, 000IU of vitamin D a day. For best absorption, take vitamin D supplements with meals that contain some fat.

* Keep your lungs healthy: The journal Stroke, says that the health of your lungs is a good indicator of your risk of having a stroke. Smoking, passive smoking and outdoor air pollution have all been linked to strokes. There are a number of ways to protect your lungs from dangerous pollutants: Stop smoking, install ionisers in your home and car, take antioxidants and check the air quality of your local area. When levels of pollution are high, don’t exercise as the faster you breathe, the more pollution will be drawn into your lungs.

* Take supplements: B-vitamins help reduce homocysteine, which has been linked to stroke. According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN), supplementing with low levels of B vitamins can significantly lower homocysteine levels within 6 weeks. The AJCN study recommends taking 1mg folic acid, 10mg vitamin B6 and 400mcg vitamin B12. Another study published in The Lancet, showed that folic acid alone reduced the risk of stroke by 18%, while a combination of beta-carotene, selenium, vitamin E and A, and zinc reduced stroke deaths by 29%.

* Add garlic and ginger to your cooking: Garlic is believed to have several cardiovascular benefits, such as lowering blood pressure and cholesterol and anti-stroke activity. Additionally, garlic oil can also reduce blood coagulation. Ginger can also reduce blood clotting. 5 grams per day of raw ginger for just one week led to a 37% drop in the blood-clotting agent thromboxane.

As for aspirin? Well, if you are using aspirin as a preventative measure against stroke it’s probably best not to stop using it immediately without speaking to your doctor first to assess your personal risk/benefit ratio.

A 2003 study demonstrated how severe angina and fatal heart attacks might be prompted by the sudden halt of daily aspirin intake.

In reviewing more than 1,200 cases of coronary episodes, French researchers found 51 patients suffered heart attacks or other severe coronary problems less than one week after they stopped using aspirin. Subjects with a history of heart disease were at particularly high risk.

To guarantee a long life, you may want to adopt some of the habits that supercentenarians - people who live to be 110 or older - have in common. They share four lifestyle characteristics that may help explain their longevity. Throughout their lives, they have remained:

* Physically active: Even as you get older, daily physical activity should be a priority. Modify your routine to incorporate small steps, such as daily walks, using the stairs instead of the lift or taking up hobbies that involve exercise, such as gardening, playing tennis or hiking.

* Positive: Maintaining an optimistic outlook is important to manage stress and prevent related health issues such as heart disease. You can easily train yourself to start looking at the glass as half full. Begin with some simple self-reflection and meditation, and use humour for coping with negative thoughts.

* Social: A network of family and close friends is vital to optimum health. You can enjoy the benefits of a well developed social life by spending time with people who make you happy, joining community groups or clubs, volunteering and participating in support groups.

Regardless of your religious point of view, feeling a connection with nature, a higher being or purpose cultivates spirituality and is an important part of ageing gracefully.

The basics of Barrett's oesophagus

Q: I had never heard of Barrett's oesophagus until about a week ago. What is it and what causes it?

Dr. Wright: Barrett's oesophagus is a serious erosion of the lining of the lower oesophagus. Contrary to what most mainstream physicians will tell you, however, it is rarely caused by too much stomach acid. The problem is much more likely to be a malfunctioning lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) that has been allowing even very small amounts of stomach acid to "reflux" into the oesophagus. Since the oesophagus can't tolerate any acid at all, continued exposure to acid can possibly cause serious damage like Barrett's oesophagus.

Even though shutting off stomach acid production helps control symptoms, it should be the last option, as it also can lead to many other illnesses. Other things to try first include the "DGL" form of licquorice, chewed and swallowed on an empty stomach several times a day; Preservative-free aloe vera gel, also swallowed on an empty stomach several times daily; And many, many cups of chamomile tea throughout the day. All of these treatments are available from most natural food stores.

Sometimes, a combination of choline, 1 gram three times daily; Pantothenic acid, 1 gram daily; hiamine, 250mg daily; And manganese, 25 to 50 mg daily, will induce enough acetylcholine production to restore LES function.

But since Barrett's oesophagus can be a serious, progressive problem, it's wisest not to do any of these things without checking with a physician skilled and knowledgeable in nutritional therapy. Contact the South African Society for Integrated Medicine on (021) 887 5364 or lucia@integrativemedicine.co.za for details on finding an alternative physician near you.