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Cardiovascular Disease (Heart Disease)
By Steven Horne, RH (AHG) & Kimberly Balas, ND
See also Arteriosclerosis, Blood Clots (prevention of),
Hypertension and Cholesterol (high)
Cardiovascular disease is still the leading cause of death
in western civilization. One out of two people die from it.
So, it makes sense to do what we can to reduce our risk of
becoming one of the "one in two" statistics.
Unfortunately,
much of the information in the popular media about reducing one's risk of heart disease is based on outdated research.
For instance, most people beliewe that high cholesterol
causes heart disease and that the lower your cholesterol
level, the less risk you have of dying of heart disease. This
simply isn't true. More recent research shows that chronic
inflammation (not cholesterol) is the cause of heart disease
and that having your cholesterol get too low is more dangerous to your health than having high cholesterol.
Most people also believe that fats cause heart disease and
that low fat diets will prevent heart disease. This is partially
true because the wrong kinds of fats (such as margarine and
partially hydrogenated vegetable oils) do contribute to the
development of heart disease. However, it is also true that
good fats (such as olive oil, omega-3 essential fatty acids and the medium chain saturated fats found in organic butter
from grass fed cows) actually protect your heart and reduce
your risk of heart disease. Foods marketed as "fat free" or
"low fat" often contain high amounts of refined sugars that
increase inflammation and heart disease risk.
Furthermore, eating refined carbohydrates is far worse for
your heart than eating fats. This is because Sugar, white flour
and other products spike insulin levels. High insulin levels
are a bigger risk factor for heart disease than high cholesterol
or high triglycerides. So, if this information comes as a surprise to you, it's time to update your knowledge a little by
reading this article.
But first, let's look at some tools for
evaluating your risk of heart disease.
Evaluating Your Risk of Heart Disease
Most people feel that heart disease strikes without warning, but the truth is that there are many subtle clues that
demonstrate the heart needs help long before a person has
a heart attack. Besides high blood pressure and high cholesterol, here are some things to consider.
Gum Disease
There is a high correlation between inflammation of the gums and the risk of dying of a heart attack. If
your gums are inflamed, so are your arteries.
Varicose Veins and Hemorrhoids
These problems are reflections of sluggish circulation and poor blood vessel tone.
Fatigue and Shortness Of Breath
Feeling no desire for
physical activity, getting winded with minor exertion and
feelings of pressure or pain in your chest are early warning
signs your heart may need some help.
Facial Clues
A red, bulbous tip on the nose, spider veins
on nose and vertical crease in the left earlobe are all early
warning signs that your heart may need help. A bright red
tip and pointed tongue is also an indicator of heart stress.
Iridology
If you know an iridologist or are familiar with
iridology, markings in the heart area of the iris, having a
spleen heart transversal and/or having a lipemic diathesis
(lipid ring) are all indicators of a genetic tendency to heart disease.
Blood Tests
Besides cholesterol and triglycerides, consider tests for homocysteine, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein,
hemoglobin AIC Lp(a) and ferritin (iron) checked. These
tests can be more revealing of heart disease risk. If you are
concerned about your heart and circulation, consider getting these blood tests done.
If you show signs of needing help with your heart, take
action now. Here are five steps to take.
1. Reduce Inflammation and Free Radical
Damage with Antioxidants
Oxidative stress and the inflammation that accompanies
it is what allows cholesterol and minerals to stick to our arteries, forming arterial plaque. This lessens blood flow to the
heart, brain and other parts of the body, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke and other arterial blockages.
That is why the single most important thing you can do
to reduce your risk of heart disease is to obtain adequate
amounts of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients. If
you are one of the millions of Americans who are not eating
enough fresh fruits and vegetables, supplementing your diet
with extra antioxidants is one of the best things you can do
to reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, dementia and other degenerative diseases associated with aging.
When it comes to protecting your heart, one of the best
antioxidants is Co-Q10. It reduces blood pressure, aids recovery from heart attacks, keeps LDL cholesterol from Oxidizing and improves energy production in the heart muscle.
Statin drugs deplete Q-10, so this supplement should always be taken by people using statin drugs to lower cholesterol.
Other options include Thai-Go, Super ORAC and IF
Relief.
2. Get an Oil Change
For a long time we have heard the dogma preached to us that
high fat diets contribute to heart disease, and that margarine
and vegetable oils are healthier for us than butter, coconut oil or animal fats. In response to this propaganda many people have adopted low fat diets, avoiding whole milk
and red meat in an effort to stay healthier. Unfortunately,
this hasn't reduced deaths from heart disease.
The fact is that fatty acids are the preferred fuel of the
heart. In other words, the heart needs fats to be healthy, but
not just any kind of fats; it needs good fats.
Margarine, shortening, processed vegetable oils and most
deep, fat-fried foods are examples of bad fats. These fats
have been molecularly altered and do contribute to chronic
inflammation, heart disease and other health problems. But,
the natural fats found in high quality foods actually have
the opposite effect. So, if you want a healthy heart, keep it
"well-oiled" with the right kinds of fats. So don't eliminate
them from your diet, just make an "oil change" and change
the kinds of fats you eat.
Super Omega 3
What has blown the whole high fat equals heart disease
myth is the discovery of cultures (such as Mediterranean
and Eskimo) that have both high fat diets and low incidence of heart disease. Part of the secret is an essential fatty
acid called Omega-3, an essential fatty acid in short supply
in most western diets. Taking omega-3 fatty acids actually
reduces the risk of heart disease.
Besides omega-3 supplements, use other good fats. Butter from organically raised, grass-fed cows is a very healthy
fat. So is organic, virgin coconut Oil. The medium chain
saturated fats in these oils are the preferred fuel of the heart
and are also important for your immune system. For a particularly healthy spread, try blending one pound of softened
butter with 1 cup of flax seed oil to make a tasty and nutritious soft spread butter. The flax seed oil will add additional
Omega-3s.
3. Get Physically Active
The benefits of exercise on the heart are well-known. You
don't have to go to the gym, just get out and walk, or hike,
swim, play golf, garden, or do anything else pleasurable that
gets your body moving. This helps keep your blood flowing
properly and helps maintain a healthy cardiovascular system.
4. Control Your Temper
Anger damages the heart. It is well documented that angry people are more prone to heart disease. If you have a
problem with your temper, learn how to manage your anger
and develop closer relationships. Having loving relationships reduces your risk of heart disease.
5. Use appropriate supplements
to support heart health.
There are numerous herbs and nutritional supplements
that can help to both prevent and reverse heart disease. We
cannot cover them all, but here are a few of the most important ones besides Co-Q10 and Omega 3 (which we have already discussed).
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