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DEALING WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE FROM A NUTRITIONAL PERSPECTIVE

 
       The number one degenerative problem that we continue to deal with in this country is heart disease.  Hundreds of thousands of people die every year from heart disease and yet the first heart attack ever recorded in a medical journal was in 1912.  It is only in the past fifty to sixty years that heart disease has become a significant killer.  American soldiers killed in World War I and autopsied, were seldom found to have cardiovascular disease.  Soldiers killed in the Vietnam War and autopsied, were rarely found not to have the beginning or even the advanced stages of cardiovascular disease (CVD).  CVD includes congestive heart problems, arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries due to disposition of calcium in arterial walls), atherosclerosis (narrowing of arteries due to build up of plaque), and high blood pressure.

       It is interesting to note that the raise in CVD parallels our nations shift from whole foods to refined foods and from very active life styles to very sedentary life styles.   Add the thousands of chemicals that have entered our environment in the last fifty years and the stressful lives many live, it becomes apparent we have greatly compromised our health and one of the results is CVD.

       We may not be able to do a lot about the chemicals or even the stress in our lives.  We can do a great deal about our diets and sedentary lives.  If you are overweight you must lose weight.  Overweight is a major risk factor in CVD.  Increased weight places increased stress on the heart and the entire cardiovascular system.  Many overweight people are diabetic. High blood sugar damages the vascular system and therefore increases the risk for CVD. 

       The pathway to weight loss, reduced blood sugar levels and reduced risk of CVD is the same. Diet and exercise are the two most important dynamics!

       DIET IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DYNAMIC:  The diet must be adjusted to include a predominance of raw and mildly cooked vegetables and fruit, lightly processed grains and legumes (beans), nuts and seeds, and limited amounts of animal products.  Eating at a fast food restaurant must become a very occasional event.  Boxed, canned and packaged foods must be largely avoided. Soda water should be eliminated and alcoholic beverages consumed in moderation.  The diet must become nutritionally dense and not calorie dense.  A nutritionally dense diet will provide the body with a wide spectrum of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, glyconutrients, anti-oxidants and other food factors which are required by the body on a daily basis.  Most Americans eat a diet high in refined foods which supply calories but have little nutrition due to nutrients being destroyed in food processing.  Your diet should contain 40 to 50 grams of water and non-water soluble fiber on a daily basis.  Fiber helps regulate blood sugar and facilitates the removal of cholesterol and other fats through the stool.

       EXERCISE IS A MUST:  Our bodies were designed to be active.  Exercise is critical to lowering the risk of CVD and improving health in general.  Exercise will burn calories and lower blood sugar.  Exercise is not, however, a quick pathway to weight loss.  The average pound of stored fat in the body is equal to 3,600 calories of stored energy.  Running an eight minute mile will burn up approximately 100 calories.  Dancing for twenty minutes, bicycling two and one-half miles in nine minutes or walking one mile in twenty minutes will do the same.  To put it another way, you would have to run thirty six miles at eight minutes a mile to lose one pound of stored fat.  You can readily see that exercise, in and of itself, is not a quick pathway to weight loss.  This is why diet is the more critical dynamic.

         What exercise will do for you is strengthen the heart muscle and the entire vascular system. Exercise dilates blood vessels and improves circulation.  Exercise increases the oxygen utilization capacity of the body.  Exercise will raise your basic metabolic rate and keep it elevated for hours after you have finished exercising.  This results in an increase in the rate at which calories are burned.  This can help to reduce weight through more efficient metabolism.  For example, walking one hour per day with no increase in daily calorie intake could result in the loss of thirty pounds in one year.            

        Exercise will increase the rate at which fat is burned while at the same time increasing the synthesis of protein.  Exercise will also increase the burning of brown fat, which is felt to be a primary factor in weight management.  Brown fat is a metabolically active fat that is found close to the skeleton and is responsible for the production of body heat. Overweight individuals are often found to poorly utilize brown fat.

       Additional benefits of regular exercise include a decrease in the resting pulse rate and blood pressure, an increase in hemoglobin and therefore better oxygen carrying capacity of the blood, increase in HDL cholesterol, a decrease in LDL cholesterol, and an increase in the number of capillaries carrying blood throughout the body.  Typical forms of exercise include walking, running, rebounding, swimming, biking, push-ups, chin-ups and working out with free weights, weight machines and stretching equipment such as Xertubes      

       CHOLESTEROL AND CVD:  Cholesterol is not a bad guy!  Cholesterol has the very important function of keeping the membranes of our cells functioning properly.  Every cell in your body has the ability to synthesize cholesterol.  The liver, intestines, adrenal glands and sex glands also make cholesterol as necessary. All steroid hormones are made from cholesterol.  Vitamin D is, in part, synthesized from cholesterol.  Bile acids, secreted into the small intestine from the gall bladder, are made from cholesterol and play a vital role in the digestion of fats consumed in the diet.  Finally, cholesterol is secreted by the glands in the skin to protect the skin from dehydration.

       Cholesterol can become a risk factor for CVD when LDL and VLDL (low and very low density lipo protein) cholesterol becomes oxidized and creates free radical activity causing damage to the walls of the arterial system. The body repairs this damage which leads to the build up of plaque in the arteries.  One way to guard against such oxidation is to insure that you are consuming a large variety of anti-oxidant nutrients on a daily basis.  HDL (high density lipo protein) cholesterol helps to remove LDL cholesterol by collecting it and returning it to the liver. Aerobic and resistive exercise is effective in raising HDL levels.  Japanese researches found that eating a raw onion per day raised HDL levels by 30%.

       Since excessive cholesterol in the blood can lead to excessive oxidative damage of the arterial system, it is wise to maintain a total cholesterol of around 200 or less mg per deciliter of blood with an HDL of 60 or more mg per deciliter of blood. This gives you an ideal 3:1 ratio of HDL to total cholesterol. Most Americans fall far short of the ideal with ratios of 5:1 and higher.  As your ratio increases so do your risks increase for oxidized cholesterol causing arterial damage.

       You can lower LDL cholesterol levels in the body by moving bile through the colon and out the stool.  Bile is basically a cholesterol waste product and failure to remove it can result in excess cholesterol circulating in the arterial system, which may end up as deposits in the arteries. Consuming forty to fifty grams of water soluble and other fibers per day will insure the elimination of cholesterol waste.  Oat bran, rice bran, apple pectin, flax fiber and psyllium are all examples of fibers that will facilitate this process.

       Many people are using prescription Statin drugs such as Zocor, Lipitor and Mevacor to lower cholesterol levels. Statins lower cholesterol by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA Reductase that catalyzes the production of cholesterol in the liver.  The mechanism by which Statin drugs lower cholesterol also inhibits the biosynthesis of CoQ10 in the liver.  CoQ10 is absolutely necessary for proper function of the heart as it is vital to the energy making process of the heart muscle.  Some doctors have observed a marked increase in heart failure, among those using statin drugs.  It even has a name, “Statin Cardiomyopathy.”    Anyone using Statins or experiencing cardio problems should take a CoQ10 supplement.  CoQ10 can also be taken as a preventive as it will support cardio function and perform strong antioxidant activity in the body.

       A natural substance called Red Yeast Rice Extract contains similar compounds to that found in Statins.  Red yeast Rice extracts lower cholesterol levels by the same mechanism as Statins but because they are weaker, they don’t have the negative side effects of toxicity to the liver or muscle weakness that Statins tend to have.  Since Red Yeast Rice extracts interfere with COQ10 production just like Statins, users should supplement with COQ10.

       Cautionary note:  When Statins or Red Yeast Rice products are consumed in conjunction with Grapefruit juice, the blood concentration of their active ingredient Mevinolin is increased by up to 15-fold.  Such increases are dangerous.  Don’t drink grapefruit juice when taking these products.

        Another natural substance shown to lower cholesterol is Policosanol, a lipid alcohol derived from sugar cane wax.  A number of studies show this substance to effectively lower total cholesterol, raise HDL levels and guard against LDL oxidation.  This product is well tolerated and has no significant side effects. 

       Most of your cholesterol is made in the liver.  Only animal products contain cholesterol and eating them is not a major cause of high cholesterol levels as is often assumed.  On the other hand, triglyceride fats, which are also found in animal products, will tend to push up your own livers production of cholesterol as will the consumption of hydrogenated fats.  All hydrogenated fats such as margarine should be eliminated from the diet.  Hydrogenated fats are man-made fats that create what are called trans fatty acids.  Trans fats are stickier than normal “cis” fats like found in butter. They encourage fatty deposits in the arteries, liver, and other body organs.  These fats also make your blood clotting platelets more sticky and therefore increase the risk of stroke and heart attack. Trans fats have been shown to raise blood levels of both cholesterol and triglycerides and in general create free radicals.  Trans fats also interfere with the action of what are called the essential fatty acids. 

       ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS AND CVD:  Of all the fats you consume, the two essential fatty acids (EFA’s), linoleic (omega 6) and linolenic (omega 3), are the most important to your health.  These fats must be obtained from the diet, as your body does not make them.  In the body, omega 3 EFA linolenic acid converts to the fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoate acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).  EPA and DHA lead to reduction in inflammation, help thin the blood, and play a role in the regulation of cholesterol and blood sugar metabolism.       

       As we get older or become diabetic, our bodies do not efficiently convert linolenic acid to EPA and DHA.  Fortunately, you can obtain EPA and DHA direct from the diet by eating fish such as salmon, sardines, cod and herring.  Taking a fish oil supplement will insure a steady intake of these important omega 3 fatty acids.  We recommend Carlson fish oil products, as well as the fish oil supplement Eskimo 3 from Enzymatic Therapy Company.   

        HOMOCYSTEINE AND CVD:  Homocysteine is an amino acid formed when the amino acid methionine found in red meat and dairy products is metabolized in the body.  Excessive Homocysteine may cause abnormal blood clotting, aneurysms, hardening of the arteries, deposition of cholesterol around the heart muscle, angina, stroke and other cardiovascular problems.  When homocysteine builds up to excessive levels in the blood it creates inflammation which damages the walls of arteries creating the need for the body to repair such damage which results in plaque buildup.  Elevated homocysteine has been identified as a major risk factor in CVD.

       The body will break down homocysteine and convert it back to methionine with the help of vitamins B6, folic acid and B12.  An underlying cause of elevated homocysteine levels appears to be under active thyroid function, also known as hypothyroidism.   Research has shown that correction of underactive thyroid function automatically normalizes homocysteine levels in the blood. The minerals iodine and selenium are important to proper thyroid function and are often lacking in the diet due the depletion of these minerals in our soil.  It has also been found that chlorine and fluoride in our water supple and various pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, interfere with thyroid function. 

       You can easily determine thyroid activity with the following simple test:  Before going to sleep, place an oral thermometer at an accessible place beside your bed. The very moment you awake, after a good night of sleep, stay in bed and place the thermometer firmly in the armpit and leave it there for ten minutes.  If your reading is lower than 97.8, (normal resting temperature), it’s an indication that your thyroid is underactive.  It is wise to repeat this test several times in a row in order to make a proper determination.  If you are a women of child bearing years, perform this test on only the second and third days of menstruation for a more accurate reading.

       You can improve thyroid function by taking a good quality thyroid supplement such as Thyroid Formula from Enzymatic Therapy Company and adding a iodine and selenium supplement to your diet.  I recommend drinking distilled or reverse osmosis treated water to get rid of chlorine and fluoride and eating organically grown fruits and vegetables as much as possible to limit ingestion of chemicals used on these foods.  A good quality B-vitamin complex will insure you are getting the B-6, B-12 and folic acid necessary for the breakdown of homocysteine.

       C-REACTIVE PROTEIN AND CVD:  C-reactive protein (CRP) is a special type of protein produced by the liver that is only present during episodes of acute inflammation. The most important role of CRP is its interaction with the “complement system” which is one of the body's immunologic defense mechanisms.  Recently, new studies have suggested that CRP may also be elevated in heart attacks. The role of CRP in coronary artery disease remains unclear. It is not known whether it is merely a marker of disease or whether it actually plays a role in causing atherosclerotic disease. Many consider elevated CRP to be a positive risk factor for coronary artery disease. 

        Many studies have shown an association between elevated levels of inflammatory markers (including CRP) and the future development of heart disease. This is true even for apparently healthy men and women who have normal cholesterol levels. In patients already suffering from heart disease, doctors can use CRP levels to determine which patients are at high risk for recurring coronary events by performing a simple blood test.  The best way to reduce inflammation is to follow the dietary guidelines discussed above, supplement with a high quality green food concentrate such as BarleyLife and take a high quality multiple such as Life Essence from Pure Essence Labs or Life Force from Source Naturals.  If necessary, an additional antioxidant specific supplement can be added.  A very good one is Renewal Antioxidants from Source Naturals. A good overall product for treating cardiovascular concerns is Cholestrex from Sources Naturals.      

  ACHIEVING CORONARY HEALTH:

        As already stated, Diet and Exercise are the critical dynamics in guarding against the development of CVD and treating existing CVD.  In addition to these twin dynamics and various nutrients already discussed, following is a list of foods and nutrients that will provide additional protection and thus lower your risk of CVD.

       LECITHIN:  Lecithin is a fatty acid found in egg yolks, soybeans and other foods which in the body acts to make other fats more soluble.  For example, body temperature is 37 degrees centigrade and cholesterol melts at 149 degrees centigrade.  Therefore cholesterol is not easily liquefied in the body unless it is combined with lecithin.  The fat/protein molecules that transport cholesterol as lipo protein contain lecithin with HDL having almost twice the lecithin as LDL. This is why HDL cholesterol is considered the “good cholesterol” as it helps to make LDL cholesterol more soluble and have the liver process it for excretion.   Lecithin has been found to lower cholesterol levels.  Lecithin can be taken as a supplement in either capsules or as granules. 

       PANTETHINE:  Pantethine is the biologically active form of pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) and exerts benefits well beyond pantothenic acid. Pantethine is utilized by key enzymes involved in the transport and breakdown of triglycerides and cholesterol.  Pantethine is found in such foods as liver, salmon and brewers yeast.  Pantethine has been shown to block up to 50% the action of the HMG-CoA enzyme responsible for the livers production of cholesterol.  This results in lower cholesterol production by the liver and causes the liver to compensate for this reduction by removing cholesterol from the blood.  Pantethine can be taken as a supplement and is available at Milk ‘n Honey.

        PLANT STEROLS:  Plant sterols are the fats of plants and are structurally similar to cholesterol and are therefore able to “stand-in” for cholesterol.  Cholesterol is absorbed from the intestines through receptor sites that are shaped exactly like cholesterol molecules.  Because plant sterols look like cholesterol, they fit perfectly into these receptor sites.  The cholesterol that is blocked by these plant sterols being absorbed instead of cholesterol, remains in our intestines and is eventually excreted through the stool.  Our liver will then pull cholesterol from the blood to make up the difference in the same manner as with the use of pantethine.  Products that offer plant sterols in supplement form are Cholesterol Shield from Enzymatic Therapy and Cholesterol Rescue from Source Naturals.     

        GARLIC: Considerable research has shown garlic, when consumed on a daily basic, can lower cholesterol, raise HDL, lower LDL, reduce triglycerides and lower blood pressure if it is high.  This action has been largely attributed to the presence in garlic of sulfur compounds known as thiosulfates of which allicin appears to be the most responsible for garlic’s positive effect on cardio health.  A substance called alliin and an enzyme called alliinase are found in separate chambers of a garlic clove.  When garlic is ruptured, alliinase interacts with alliin to produce allicin.  Garlic should be taken in an enteric-coated tablet so the allicin isn’t destroyed by stomach acid.  We recommend Garlinase from Enzymatic Therapy. 

        NATTOKINASE:  Nattokinase is an enzyme that will break down fibrin in the blood.  Fibrin is a protein that forms in the blood to stop excess blood loss associated with an injury or trauma to the body.  This protein also forms as a result of bacteria, viruses, fungi and toxins in the blood that trigger inflammation.  Under such circumstances, since there is no demand for clotting to prevent blood loss, this fibrin will circulate through the blood and stick to the walls of blood vessels.  This contributes to the formation of blood clots, slows blood flow and increases the viscosity of the blood.   The result is loss of oxygen to body tissue which can contribute to heart attack, stroke, and senile dementia.  While the body does produce enzymes that break down fibrin, it does not always do so efficiently, especially as we grow older.

      Nattokinase is derived from natto, a fermented soy bean food that is commonly eaten by the Japanese.  Nattokinase has been the subject of 17 studies.  These studies have shown Nattokinase to successfully dissolve clots, facilitate better blood flow and lower blood pressure.  The recommended dosage of Nattokinase is 2000 FU (fibrin units) per day.  At Milk ‘N Honey we carry Nattokinase under the brand name Solaray.     

       NIACIN:  Niacin (vitamin B-3) can be taken as a supplement to lower the livers production of cholesterol, reduce LDL, raise HDL, lower triglycerides, and increases circulation. Since niacin dilates blood vessels, you may experience a “flush” in the head and upper body areas which usually goes away in a short period of time.  A buffered form of niacin called niacinamide will not produce this flush but neither will it dilate the blood vessels or have the action on the liver that straight niacin does.  When taking a single B-vitamin such as niacin, it is best to take a B-complex so that imbalances don’t develop between the various B-vitamins the body uses.

       HAWTHORN BERRY:   This herb has been shown to support the strength of the heart muscle and help maintain a proper heart rhythm.  Hawthorne berry also appears to help lower high blood pressure and reduce mild chest pain (angina) associated with arterial blockage.  Hawthorn berry can be taken as an individual supplement or it is found in some nutritional supplements formulated specifically for the heart.

       L-ARGININE:  The amino acid L-Arginine improves blood circulation by stimulating the production of nitric oxide, an endogenous neurotransmitter that helps prevent vasoconstriction and which initiates vasodilation by relaxing the Smooth Muscle cells of the Blood Vessels.  Nitric oxide is what is produced by the breakdown of nitroglycerin which is used by patients experiencing angina.  The amino acid L-Citrulline can also be used for this purpose as it acts as a precursor to L-Arginine and has been seen to regulate L-Arginine levels in the body.  Both of these amino acids are available at Milk ‘N Honey. 

        TAURINE:  Taurine is the most abundant and most important amino acid in the heart. It is present in the heart in greater quantities than all other amino acids combined.  Its primary function is to normalize potassium flow into and out of cardiac muscle cells, normalize the electrical excitability of the hearts cell membranes and enhance the contractile strength of the Cardiac Muscle.  Persons who have experienced a Heart Attack often exhibit very low Taurine levels subsequent to their Heart Attack indicating that supplemental Taurine may be highly advisable for persons who have experienced a Heart Attack or are experiencing coronary issues. The liver makes taurine from the amino acids cysteine and methionine. It is also found in most animal products. Taurine is available in supplemental form at Milk ‘N Honey. 

        L-CARNITINE:  Carnitine is a dipeptide composed of the amino acids lysine and methionine and is chemically similar to choline.  It is manufactured in the liver and kidneys and is found in animal products.  This amino acid facilitates the transportation of fatty acids across cell membranes into the mitochondria of cells.  It is therefore important to the cells utilization of fats as a fuel source for producing energy.  Since the heart is the most energy intense organ in the body, carnitine is of vital importance to coronary health.  People who have cardiovascular disease often exhibit carnitine deficiency.  Some research shows that angina may occur as a result of carnitine deficiency and the taking of 900 - 2,000 mg per day of supplemental carnitine may reduce the pain and other symptoms of angina.  Carnitine is stored primarily in the heart where it facilitates cardiac contractions.  L-Carnitine is available as a supplement at Milk “N Honey.

        CHELATION THERAPY:   Chelation therapy is the process of removing from the body undesirable ionic material by intravenously or orally taking an organic compound which has suitable chelating properties. The word chelation is derived from the Greek word “chele” and means claw (like that of a scorpion or crab).

        Atherosclerotic plaque in the arteries is a combination of cholesterol, other fatty acids and minerals, such as calcium which hold the fatty acids in place.  Chelation of plaque from the arteries is accomplished by using an amino acid complex like EDTA (ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic acid) to come into contact with positively charged metals such as calcium and grab them, thus removing them from the body via the urine which results in the breakup of plaque.

       EDTA is a synthetic amino acid first used in the 1940's for treatment of heavy metal poisoning. Studies by the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council in the late 1960's indicated that EDTA was considered possibly effective in the treatment of occlusive vascular disorders caused by arteriosclerosis. One way to think about the chelation process is to compare it to the way we unclog a plugged sink drain. We add a chemical to the drain and it dissolves the blockage. The resulting compound is removed from the drain using the existing plumbing system. Chelation works in a similar manner in our body.

       Intravenous chelation therapy is available at certain clinics throughout the United States.  You can go to: http://www.drcranton.com/chelation.htm to find a practitioner in your area.  At Milk ‘N Honey we carry several oral chelation products.

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