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| Dr. Louis J. Ignarro speaks at the Herbalife Nutrition's 2020 SPECTACULAR event held in Busan, Jan. 11. / Courtesy of Herbalife Nutrition Korea |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Korean diet and eating habits are widely known to be nutritious, but not all of them focus on healthy behaviors.
A typical Korean diet results in excessive intake of carbohydrates and sodium and a lack of essential proteins, according to Dr. Louis J. Ignarro.
Ignarro was the co-recipient of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Robert F. Furchgott and Ferid Murad for discoveries concerning the function of nitric oxide in the cardiovascular system.
Since 2003, he has been working with Herbalife Nutrition to advance heart health around the world. The distinguished physiologist is currently a member of the Herbalife Nutrition Advisory Board.
During his visit to Korea to speak at the company's 2020 SPECTACULAR event held Jan. 10-11, the Nobel Prize winner gave advice on how Koreans can better balance their meals with essential nutrients such as proteins and vitamins.
"Koreans have a tendency to overindulge in high sodium foods such as kimchi and hot soups with every meal. Excessive consumption of sodium causes blood pressure to rise," Ignarro said.
He pointed out that a typical Korean diet lacks essential proteins that are necessary for one's metabolism, cell generation and immune system.
"The key point is to adopt a balanced-nutrition approach," he said.
Herbalife Nutrition's Global Nutrition Philosophy recommends that one's daily diet should consist of 40 percent carbohydrates, 30 percent protein, and up to 30 percent healthy fats.
However, trying to fulfill daily protein requirements with meat alone may lead to an increase of saturated fats and cholesterol that is detrimental to cardiovascular health.
"Instead of fulfilling your protein requirement with meat, my recommendation is to substitute meat with high protein vegetables such as beans or tofu," he said.
"If adding enough protein to your meal is a difficult task, I recommend trying high quality protein shakes that are quick and convenient meal replacements."
Protein shakes, such as Herbalife Nutrition's Formula 1 Healthy Meal, are loaded with essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients. They are satisfying meal replacements, and perfect for busy individuals in the morning.
The causes of cardiovascular diseases are closely tied to one's dietary habits, according to Ignarro.
"For improved cardiovascular health, I have to talk about nitric oxide. Not only does nitric oxide strengthen the cardiovascular system by promoting better vasodilation and blood flow, it is essential for maintaining healthy blood vessels," he said.
Nitric Oxide naturally occurs in the inner layer of our blood vessels and helps with vasodilation and promotes blood flow to prevent cardiovascular diseases. Healthy blood circulation boosts our immune systems and improves bodily functions.
However, nitric oxide only occurs naturally within our body and cannot be ingested. Therefore, it is crucial to ingest amino acids, vitamin C and E, as well as folic acid that help produce nitric oxide.
"If daily consumption of these nutrients seems difficult, I recommend consuming health functional foods with L-arginine, Citrulline, vitamin C and vitamin E to help manage cardiovascular health," he said.
Louis Ignarro's Niteworks Vitamin C, E, Folic Acid supplement is one of Herbalife Nutrition's best-sellers in the Korean market.
Ignarro also highlighted the importance of replenishing nutrients with three meals a day in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
"Due to busy schedules, many find themselves skipping breakfast and consuming large servings of lunch and dinner. However, it is important to properly replenish your body's depleted energy and nutrient needs first thing in the morning," he said.
"Eating breakfast also helps one perform better and prevents overeating later in the day."
He recommended focusing on daily protein intake in the morning for a healthy metabolism.
During an interview, the Nobel Prize winner shared his thoughts on aging well, referring to the healthy aging of both mind and body.
"In order to maintain a healthy active lifestyle, both mental and physical health matter," Ignarro said.
He also emphasized the importance of community in addition to improving individual health choices.
"Establishing yourself within a community helps boost morale and motivates physical activities," he said.
"If you strive for well aging, I highly recommend broadening your interests towards being involved in local communities."
The Nobel laureate stressed that no matter what great health benefits a product may give, it is potentially harmful for individuals to follow fad diets or recklessly consume the latest super food.
"Instead of generalizing and promoting certain health foods for different age groups, it's important to eat according to your own individual health needs," he said.
Ignarro said health management is about developing and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits.
He mentioned that he never eats canned or processed foods and is an avid marathon runner. He regularly consumes specific foods to help his body produce nitric oxide.
"When you consistently make small improvements to your lifestyle, you will soon find yourself effortlessly living a healthier life," he said.
