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By Dr. Michelle Kmiec
Contributing Writer for Wake Up World
There is a new buzz word regarding a possible predictor of a stroke, coronary heart disease or peripheral vascular disease, and that word is homocysteine; a non-protein α-amino acid derivative from the amino acid cysteine. Many epidemiological studies have shown that too much homocysteine in the blood (specifically the plasma portion) is related to a higher risk of cardiovascular events and atherosclerosis, the plaquing of the arteries.
So how does one collect so much homocysteine in the blood that it can result in such serious health risks?
The answer is simple: diet, lifestyle factors and chronic stress.