Why is Heart Disease the #1 Killer of Women?

The statistics we hear are true: Heart disease is the number one killer of women. The question is, why? Have doctors been indifferent to women? Horrors, no. Here is the answer:

Heart disease never used to be such a big killer of women because other things got to them first. Now people live longer - and unlike men, women's hearts are protected by their hormones until menopause (estrogen enormously raises HDL, the good cholesterol). After menopause, until a generation ago, other diseases were the common killers of women: cancer, smoking-related diseases, infections like pneumonia, appendicitis, & gall bladder disease, which was common.

Plus most people smoked. Until the surgeon general’s warning in 1964,  men in their 40s & 50s were dropping like flies from smoking's effects, and no one knew the medical connection. Those already addicted usually continued to smoke, but women got away with it because their hormones protected them until menopause. So the old idea persisted among physicians that women didn't get heart disease.

Now we're living longer, and putting on weight. Junk food which never existed now does; trans fats & saturated fats are still clogging our arteries, and each pound gained is an extra load for the heart. Men arriving in E.R.s complaining of heart attack symptoms get treated aggressively, women less aggressively because womens’ symptoms are often different from men’s. Or women dismiss their symptoms as "just a stomach ache," or "I feel faint, think I'll lie down." This compounds the problem, since many women show up in emergency rooms after heart damage has already occurred.

Diabetes raises a special concern, since diabetes sufferers are 3-4 times more vulnerable to cardiovascular complications (heart attack & stroke) than the general population. Animal-sourced foods containing saturated fat may help to control blood sugar, but raise the risk of heart attack and stroke. For optimum health skinless chicken, fish, and other sources of lean protein are recommended for both men and women with diabetes.

Heart attack & Stroke Warning Signs

A new generation of ingredients make the healthiest snacks & meal replacements; best sugar control too for diabetes!

Blondies, each 122 calories, 16 g protein, less than 3 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 0 g saturated fat, 2 g healthy monounsaturated fat, & 2,674 antioxidants

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Pancakes: each 98 calories, 15 g protein, 3 g carbs, 0 g saturated fat, and 2 g monounsaturated fat

Cake Brownies: each 74 calories, 12 g protein, less than 1 g carb, 2 g fiber, 1.5 g monounsaturated fat, 0 g saturated fat, & 4,666 antioxidants

Fudge Brownies: each 109 calories, 20 g protein, 4 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 1 g monounsaturated fat, 0 g saturated fat, and 1,866 antioxidants.

Blondies: each 122 calories, 16 g protein, less than 3 grams carbs, 2 g fiber, 2 g monounsaturated fat, 0 g saturated fat, & 2,674 antioxidants

Tortillas, each 61 calories, 11 grams protein, 0 g carbs, 3 g monounsaturated fat, and 36,000  lignan antioxidants

Quesadillas, each 59 calories, 10 grams protein, 2 grams carbs, 1 g monounsaturated fat, 0 g saturated fat, and 12,000 lignan antioxidants

Banana nut bread, each slice 110 calories, 11 g protein, 7 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 2 g monounsaturated fat, 0 g saturated fat, 2,250 lignan antioxidants, and 975 Omega-3 acids

Pizza, each slice (1/6th of a pizza) 161 calories, 23 g protein, 3 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 1.5 g monounsaturated fat, 0 g saturated fat, & 1,000 lignan antioxidants

Homemade Protein Bread: Each slice contains 92 calories, 19 g protein, 0 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 2 g monounsaturated fat, 0 g saturated fat, & 1,500 lignan antioxidants

Burger rolls, each 177 calories, 36 g protein, 0 g carbs,  2 g fiber, 2 g monounsaturated fat, 0 g saturated fat, & 11,502 antioxidants