Yoga and healthy dietary practices enhances the psycho-neuro immune system and
other physiological functions like cardio vascular health. Yoga reduces the action of
sympathetic nervous system and increases the action of parasympathetic nervous
system, and reduces heart rate, stress reactions and the flow of Adrenalin in the
body. Breathing exercises like pranayama and meditation help in the management of
stress and relaxation of the body. They also supply more oxygen to the heart.
Meditations activate the psycho-Neuro-Immune system (PNI) of the body and
release the positive neuro transmitters that help in the reversal of heart disease.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) indeed is a global health burden. Major risk
factors of CVD are obesity and stress. Adequate physical activity and relaxation
technique can lower the risk of CVD. Physical exercise and pranayama are
components of yoga. There are marked abnormalities in the neurohormonal system
in a variety of disease states. Most dramatic examples of heightened neuronal
adrenergic activity of disrupted receptor functions are heart failure, acute myocardial
ischemia, hypertension, coronary artery vasospasm and post-operative arrhythmias.
The levels of catecholamine correlate with the outcome of patients with heart failure
and cardiac arrhythmias. Abnormal neurohormone status has been thought to
contribute to myocardial ischemia; these hormonal disturbances can be settled to a
large extent by practicing yoga. Dietary guidelines recommend a high intake of
vegetables and fruits and a low intake of saturated fatty acids, cholesterol and salt to
reduce cardiovascular morbidity. Large body of evidence indicates that
predominantly plant-based (vegetarian) diets can effectively contribute to the
prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) but not highly explored the significance
of raw diet and yoga in cardiac congestive failure patients. The main objective of
the present study was to assess the effect of yoga and raw diet on functional capacity
and quality of life of patients with CCF. The investigation also sought to evaluate
the changes of some vital signs and some physiological parameters such as total
Cholesterol, LDL, blood sugar, blood electrolytes, body mass index and VO2 uptake.
The investigator has conducted two separate pilot studies to see the effect of yoga on
the reduction of BMI and VO2uptake and found significant changes in the values
after the intervention (P
