During expeditions to high altitudes, the effect of the environment on the state of your heart and blood vessels, greatly determines your health and vitality during your journey. In order to make your way pain free through a hike in high and yielding vistas, you must first make sure your heart and blood vessels are able to cope with the extra strain placed upon this system, when forced into conditions that challenge its ability to cope with stress.
When there is a change in altitude, two major issues arise—a change in the chemical make up of the air and a marked change in environmental temperature. Air is made up of a number of gases, the most important of which to us is oxygen. Oxygen stokes the fire of the body by providing resources to each and every cell, to help in the creation and conduction of energy. Without oxygen, there is no life.
Whereas we breathe in oxygen, we breathe out carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is our body’s waste material, produced as it uses oxygen to its greatest advantage. In cold temperatures, oxygen becomes less available to the body, and carbon dioxide spends too much time in the lungs and in the bloodstream. This state of being is known from a medical perspective as hypoxia.
What are the effects of low oxygen levels?
The risk with hypoxia occurring at high altitude, is the lack of oxygen flowing to tissues. When blood full of oxygen flows to tissues they stay pink, vital and full of energy. When hypoxic, or oxygen deplete blood, flows to tissues, cellular death occurs, leading to blueness and a loss of tissue known as gangrene. Internally, if enough oxygenated blood does not reach the brain, not only will the brain die, but its ability to control breathing will cease, leading to death.
On this basis, reducing the chance of hypoxia occurring is an adventurers number one priority. Though many experienced high altitude climbers do extended high altitude training, as well as monitoring and balancing their food intake, and hydration on expeditions; many forget the importance of strengthening, preserving and protecting, the health of the heart.
Nutrients for heart health
The number one way you can preserve the health of the heart and blood vessels, is by the consumption of antioxidants. By definition, an antioxidant works to support the supply of oxygen to the tissue by removing the harmful effect of free radicals. Free radicals are produced by the body in response to toxins such as cigarette smoke, fog, chemicals and some drugs, and most markedly, hypoxia. Extremely beneficial to the health of the heart and blood vessels, antioxidants can be found in a range of foods and supplements.
Aged Garlic Extract
Now known to contain more than 200 natural chemicals, Garlic is among the most important of traditional remedies used for centuries for a range of common maladies. From its use as an antibacterial remedy for Roman soldiers, to its use in World War II to prevent the onsets of colds and flu’s on the battlefields, Garlic has long been regarded in culinary and medicinal terms, as a highly sort after and beneficial nutrient.
In post world war two Japan, famed German professor Dr Eugene Schnell was charged with the task of finding a nutrient to protect the health and vitality of the Japanese people. Known for their use of fermented foods in the protection of longevity and health, the doctor began working on a new process for ageing garlic. Following a partnership with businessman Manji Wakunaga, the resulting aged garlic extract has been used by the Japanese people since this time, and now with the publishing of over 700 clinical studies, has been found to show benefits in reducing blood pressure and cholesterol levels as well as encouraging healthy immunity, due to the presence of a unique antioxidant compound known as S-Allyl-cysteine.
Not found in raw garlic, S-Allyl-Cysteine develops in the garlic cloves over an up to 20 month ageing process, and works as potent antioxidant to encourage heart and immune health. One other difference between raw garlic and aged garlic extract, is the ageing process changes the nature of sulfur containing nutrients in garlic, building their potency, but reducing their odour. This means with aged garlic extract, you do not get garlic breath (a definite benefit to bush walking and long hikes!).
Co-Enzyme Q10
Found in all tissues naturally, but especially concentrated in heart tissues, co-enzyme Q10 is best described as the ‘spark plug’ for each and every cell in your body. By working to ensure glucose and oxygen are converted into energy, CoQ10 is especially concentrated in the cells of the body that require the most energy to perform their function – namely, the cells that make up heart tissue. As you enter hypoxic, low oxygen environments, CoQ10 becomes quickly depleted as your body cannot keep up with the extra demands of the need for a highly functional heart and reduction in oxygen flow.
Although found in small quantities in red meat, including organ meat, supplementing with CoQ10 may be beneficial to improve oxygen perfusion at a cellular level, to reduce your chance of hypoxia when environmental oxygen levels are low.
Both aged garlic and co-enzyme Q10 can be found in supplemental forms in health food stores and pharmacies.
