Cardiovascular Health: The First Component of Healthy Aging

Last month’s article on lectins and their damaging potential to our health was a technical introduction to their chemistry. For many it was the fi rst exposure to an extensive and emerging science that has far reaching applications. The fact that lectins interact with us on a day-to-day basis makes it an important topic to become familiar with even though our understanding of lectin effects is a complex one to grasp. It is generally accepted that real health begins with proper digestion demanding an intact and blissfully functioning digestive system. But it would appear from the amount of complaints related to digestion that physicians encounter daily that this fi rst stage of health is being seriously compromised and in need of investigation. There are the probable reasons for faulty digestion like poor food quality, unhealthful eating habits around lifestyle, etc., but lectins give us a reason for poor digestion that is perhaps not so obvious. While the fi rst article was a technical glimpse into the world of lectins, this article will answer the question begged from the last article, “So if lectins are in my foods and many are potentially harmful to me then what can I do to minimize my exposure to them?” As part of the answer to this question, here is a very simplifi ed recap Cardiovascular Health: The First Component of Healthy Aging