In addition to the numerous studies on beta-carotene's effectiveness
for heart disease and cancer, researchers have been exploring
the nutrient's potential for treating chronic fatigue syndrome,
Alzheimer's disease, fibromyalgia, male infertility, and psoriasis.
Interestingly, low levels of beta-carotene and other antioxidants
have been linked to the development of cataracts, a clouding
of the eye's lens that impairs vision.
Beta-carotene may have a role to play in staving off heart disease,
apparently a function of its ability to keep harmful LDL cholesterol
from damaging the heart and coronary arteries. In a preliminary
study done in 1982 of more than 300 doctors taking part in the
Harvard University Physicians' Health Study, researchers found
that ingesting 50 mg (85,000 IU) of beta-carotene daily cut in
half the subsequent risk of risk of heart attack or stroke, or
death from cardiovascular disease.
Interestingly, in a follow-up to the Harvard study published
in 2001 and involving more than 15,000 male physicians, investigators
found that a high intake of vegetables rich in beta-carotene
made a big difference on heart health. Participants who consumed
at least two and a half servings of vegetables a day over the
12-year study were far less likely to develop coronary heart
disease than those who consumed less than one vegetable serving
a day.
Vitamin C
When a crack develops in a blood vessel wall due to a shortage
of C ascorbate, certain fat packages in the blood have
the ability to plug the leak by forming a kind of plaster cast.
These packages of fat are known as cholesterol, lipids, low
density lipoproteins (LDL or “bad cholesterol”),
and one especially effective leak plugger, lipoprotein(a),
a special type of LDL.
LDL is a bag of several thousand cholesterol and other fat molecules
with the bag itself made of protein. In itself, despite all the
hype in the media, ordinary LDL is no problem. However, there
is one type of LDL, namely lipoprotein(a) which has an extra
protein cover on the outside of the usual protein cover. Lipoprotein(a)
is a double bag of fat. This outer bag is called apoprotein(a)
or apo(a). The "a" could well stand for adhesive,
because it is a very sticky substance. When a crack develops
in the wall of a blood vessel, this sticky double-bagged fat
sack finds its way through the crack. Once there, the apo(a)
adhesive outer bag glues it down and begins the process of plugging
the leak. This both avoids death by scurvy and sets the stage
for blood vessel disease.
Once having plugged the leak the apo(a) outer bag sticks to
whatever other bags of cholesterol (i.e. LDL) float by and glues
them down as well. The process looks like the following:
The scorbutic (C ascorbate deficient) crack in the blood
vessel wall is the first step in atherosclerosis.
The plugging of the leak with lipoprotein(a) is the second
step.
The gluing down of other LDL (single layer bags of cholesterol
and lipids which are not sticky in themselves) is the third
step.
The fourth step is the stimulation, by lipoprotein(a), of
the muscle cells in the artery wall to multiply, thus forming
a tumor (swelling).
Then the cleanup crew arrives, also known as macrophages,
and they try to eat the whole mess and carry it away. However,
many of them overeat, get fat, and become part of the problem
by dying and being glued down into the plaque. Because they
contain so much fat, they appear under the microscope to be
full of foam, and they are therefore known as "foam cells."
The tumor, i.e., the proliferation of excess smooth muscle cells
is not cancerous. Nevertheless, it can cause death by pushing
this mass of plaque into the lumen (passage way) of the blood
vessel in which this process is happening. This narrows the passage
way through which blood passes and can eventually lead to heart
attack, stroke and other problems, depending on where in the
body it develops.
All The Known Actions of Ascorbate
Increases HDL (high density lipoprotein or “good cholesterol”)
production.
Decreases the production of lipoprotein(a). (Somehow the
liver knows when there is plenty of ascorbate on board, and
therefore no need for high levels of lipoprotein(a) which is,
after all, a repair factor for the cracks in blood vessel walls
which come up in the absence of sufficient ascorbate.)
Down-regulates cholesterol and triglyceride production in
the liver. Lowers blood sugar and insulin requirements.
By relaxing the blood vessel walls, lowers blood pressure
when hypertension is present.
Inhibits inappropriate intravascular clot formation (the
final and sometimes deadly event in cases of heart attacks
and strokes).
The bottom line is that lipoprotein(a) is the real risk factor
in cardiovascular disease and that ascorbate and niacin are major
lines of defense against high levels of lipoprotein(a). Cholesterol,
even LDL cholesterol, can serve as a statistical risk factor
only to the degree that it is correlated with the level of the
real problem: the special type of LDL called lipoprotein(a).
The best test, by far, for risk of cardiovascular disease is
the direct measurement of this special type of LDL, namely a
lipoprotein(a) level. A lipoprotein(a) level is ten times more
accurate and specific for prediction of vascular disease.
Even Linus Pauling discussed vitamin C's connection with lipoprotein-a,
a substance whose levels in the blood have been linked to cardiovascular
disease.
Pauling is convinced that doses of vitamin C can help prevent
the onset of cardiovascular disease, inhibiting the formation
of disease-promoting lesions on blood vessel walls and perhaps
decreasing the production of lipoprotein-a in the blood. Vitamin
C's link to healthy blood vessels, Pauling said, is further supported
by studies of scurvy, the disease caused by vitamin C deficiency.
Fifty percent of patients who die of scurvy do so because of
ruptured blood vessels.
Now you know why it is so important to take Vitamin C!
L-Carnitine
L-Carnitine is integral to a healthy cardiovascular system because
it transports the fatty acids to the inner mitochondrial membrane
where the fatty acids are burned as fuel. This energy, in turn,
allows your body to support healthy immune function, supply more
oxygen to the heart, and improve overall well being.
Although L-Carnitine is found naturally in many sources of protein,
including mutton, lamb, beef, and pork, supplementing this important
nutrient helps guarantee enough of this amino acid.
L-carnitine’s actions appear to be particularly important
in the heart. As an example, patients with diabetes and high
blood pressure were given 4 grams of L-carnitine per day in a
preliminary study. After 45 weeks, irregular heartbeat
and abnormal heart functioning decreased significantly compared
with nonsupplemented patients. For CHF (congestive heart failure),
one double-blind trial, using 500 mg per day led to a 26% increase
in exercise capacity after six months. In other research,
patients with congestive heart failure given 1.5 grams daily
for 15 days had a 21% increase in exercise tolerance and a 45%
increase in oxygen consumption.
Garlic Extract
We’ve known for a long time that garlic provides many
benefits to the cardiovascular system. Garlic is a natural
aspirin, causing natural thinning of your blood and helps every
aspect of blood flow in the body. But unlike aspirin, it
won’t hurt your stomach.
Garlic also helps to get rid of the LDL or bad cholesterol.
In fact, in parts of Europe garlic supplements are considered
drugs used for the treatment of heart disease and are only available
by prescription from a medical doctor.
In a placebo-controlled double-blind trial of 23 subjects with
coronary artery disease who had 1 to 3 major coronary arteries
that were 75% blocked or higher, 300 mg of garlic powder, 2 and
4 hours after a single dose, showed the atherogenicity of the
patients’ serum to be markedly decreased.
The ability of LDL (“bad cholesterol”) to induce
intracellular cholesterol accumulation was decreased by 38%.
The ability of LDL to stimulate proliferation of cultured cells
was also decreased as a result of long-term therapy with garlic.
Citrus Bioflavinoids
Researchers believe that bioflavonoids help maintain capillaries.
Capillaries are microscopic blood vessels that allow the oxygen,
hormones, nutrients, and antibodies to pass from the body’s
bloodstream to individual cells. If a capillary’s walls
are too fragile they will allow blood to drain out of the vessels
and into the cells. The result of this is easy bruising, brain
and retinal hemorrhages, bleeding gums and other cardiovascular
abnormalities.
Bioflavonoids and vitamin C are found in many of the same foods
and the body metabolizes both of these in the same manner. Researchers
have discovered that some of the functions that vitamin C is
credited with is actually from the bioflavonoids. Since they
work so close together numerous reports have stated that vitamin
C and many bioflavonoids need each other to produce the effects
that they have on the immune system.
These uses of bioflavonoids are the main reason that they are
accredited with the use they have at preventing heart disease.
Many laboratory studies show how bioflavonoids stop or slow the
growth of malignant cells, they also help protect against cancer-causing
substances invading the heart and blood cells. Bioflavonoids
also act as natural antibiotics for the human body.
Calcium
Calcium protects your heart. If you're low on calcium, you're
more likely to have high blood pressure. Your body releases the
hormone calcitriol in response to a calcium shortage, and calcitriol
acts on the smooth muscle walls of your arteries, constricting
them and elevating your blood pressure. In fact, your calcium
intakemay be almost as important to
blood pressure as your sodium intake. An adequate supply
of calcium helps muscles, including your heart muscle, do their
work of contracting and relaxing. Calcium also helps your
nervous system regulate the level of pressure in your arteries.
Recent research points to calcium deficiency as being a possible
cause of hypertension (high blood pressure) and of colon cancer.
Calcium is the mineral most likely to be deficient in the average
diet. It helps to contract muscles and helps regulate the
contractions of the heart.
Calcium deficiency is a condition in which we fail to receive
or to metabolize an adequate supply of Calcium. Calcium
is the chief supportive element in bones and teeth. Calcium salts
make up about 70 percent of bone by weight and give your bone
its strength and rigidity. About 99 percent of the
calcium in the human body is held in the bones and teeth. The
remaining 1 percent of calcium circulates in the bloodstream,
where it performs a variety of important functions.
Magnesium
Magnesium deficiency is very common and many believe that it
is one of the single most correctable factors to preventing heart
and other diseases. It lowers the risk of heart disease
and stroke, helps prevent or treat diabetes, and strengthens
bones.
Adequate magnesium levels may help keep the heart healthy in
a variety of ways. The mineral is important for the activity
of the heart muscle and the nerves that initiate the heartbeat.
It may help prevent arrhythmias, as well as keep blood vessels
healthy and prevent spasms of coronary arteries that cause angina.
And it helps regulate blood pressure.
A magnesium deficiency can thus lead to cardiovascular abnormalities
that increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Some studies
have found that people with several types of heart problems or
heart disease benefit from increased magnesium intake. Many
population studies have found that people with a diet rich in
magnesium have a lower risk of heart disease and stroke.
In the past magnesium received far less attention than superstar
nutrients such as calcium or vitamin C. But recent research
has uncovered new aspects of its crucial roles in health. This
has led many people to make claims about the health benefits
of magnesium—from food or supplements. There certainly
are many good reasons to eat magnesium-rich foods.
Magnesium does hundreds of important jobs in the body—involving
energy production, the functioning of the heart, nerves, and
muscles, bone health, and the clotting of blood.
NAC (n-acetyl L-cysteine)
Produced by the body, N-acetylcysteine (commonly called NAC)
is a form of the amino acid cysteine. Because it enhances the
production of the enzyme glutathione, one of the body's powerhouse
antioxidants, NAC can both stave off heart disease and play an
important role in boosting the immune system.
In some studies, NAC appears to significantly lower levels of
homocysteine and
lipoprotein(a), substances associated with an increased risk
of heart disease. As an antioxidant, it also helps prevent the
damaging oxidation--and thereby the precipitation--of LDL ("bad")
cholesterol from the material that lines blood vessels.
Supplemental antioxidants--NAC is one of many-- are believed
to protect the body's cells from altered oxygen molecules called
free radicals. Damage from free radicals is thought to be a significant
factor in such degenerative conditions as cancer and heart disease.
Of course, factors other than oxidative damage, such as life
style factors and genetic susceptibility, play strong roles in
disease development as well. The hope is that by reducing susceptibility
to free radical damage, a person may further lower susceptibility
to a variety of chronic medical conditions. Incidentally, it
is by means of its antioxidant actions that NAC helps the liver
eliminate potentially dangerous environmental and biological
toxins from the body.
L-Taurine
Taurine is an amino acid found in the heart muscle, white blood
cells, skeletal muscle, and central nervous system. It is a building
block of all the other amino acids, as well as a key component
of bile, which is needed for the digestion of fats, the absorption
of fat-soluble vitamins, and the control of serum cholesterol
levels.
Regular supplements of taurine contribute to our antioxidant
defenses, reinforce the immune system, strengthen the heart muscle,
stabilize heart rhythm, prevent blood clots, guard against diabetes,
and aid digestion.
In addition to encouraging the excretion of excess fluid, this
amino acid dampens the sympathetic nervous system (which can
constrict blood vessels), thereby relieving arterial spasms that
cause blood pressure to rise.
Taurine strengthens the heart muscle and maintains the calcium
balance. It plays a major role in regulating the heart's contractility,
and it guards against the toxic threat of drugs like Adriamycin
(doxorubicin), a medication used in chemotherapy that frequently
causes heart attacks, cardiac arrest, and arrhythmia.
L-Arginine
"Our findings suggest that people who take dietary supplements
of L-arginine, an amino acid, and antioxidants, such as vitamins
C and E, might be at a lower risk for atherosclerosis and heart
disease," said Dr. Louis J. Ignarro, a 1998 Nobel laureate
in medicine and UCLA professor of molecular and medical pharmacology. "This
is significant because cardiovascular disease is still the No.
1 cause of death in the United States."
The early lesions and cholesterol deposits that mark atherosclerosis
first develop where blood vessels branch in different directions.
Blood rushing around these tight corners constantly exposes cells
to a pounding force, causing inflammation. As the inflamed blood
vessels narrow, plaques build up inside, blocking blood flow
and often leading to serious disease, such as stroke and heart
attacks.
"Atherosclerotic plaques act like trash caught in a river
bend, impeding the flow," Ignarro said. "But our research
shows that treatment with antioxidants and L-arginine may prevent
blood vessel inflammation and subsequent damage."
Ignarro's lab exposed human cells in a culture dish to varying
forces of fluid flow and found that high shear stress induced
inflammatory molecules. When the scientists added antioxidants
and L-arginine to the cells, the production of harmful molecules
decreased. In addition, this step increased production of eNOS,
a molecule that promotes dilation of the blood vessels and prevents
clotting.
The UCLA team also showed that combining L-arginine and antioxidants
blunted the damaging effects of shear stress in a strain of mice
bred with high cholesterol levels.
"It's likely that L-arginine and the antioxidants act synergistically
to reduce the levels of inflammatory molecules and increase eNOS
levels," Ignarro said. "Although the experiments were
conducted in mice, we believe that these observations may predict
the same outcome in patients who suffer from atherosclerosis
and heart disease."
Arginine is a powerful vasodilator and taken with L-carnitine
helps improve blood flow and thus is very beneficial to supporting
the cardiovascular system as well as helping with, believe it
not, erectile dysfunction.
Red Yeast Rice
During the last several years, red yeast rice, an Asian dietary
staple made by fermenting red yeast (Monascus purpureus)
on rice, gained rapid recognition in the United States as a cholesterol-lowering
agent. This was because a careful fermentation process yielded
specific amounts of statins--the compounds largely held responsible
for reducing cholesterol levels. In 2001, however, red yeast
rice extract, a "natural" unregulated nutritional supplement,
was withdrawn by the FDA. This decision followed the agency's
determination that it was chemically too similar to the prescription
statin medication Mevacor, Crestor and others, and thus should
be classified as a "drug," which by law is strictly
controlled by the federal government.
As a result, supplements containing red yeast rice disappeared
for a while from retail stores. Fortunately, it has returned
and can easily be found on many internet sites. The FDA
has backed off in banning this but there is no telling for how
long. Perhaps if and when it puts a substantial dent in
the pharmaceutical companies’ bottom line, they will most
likely be available only by a doctor’s prescription. The
main reason: it works just as well as Lipitor or any of the other
statins that are making billions for the pharmaceutical companies.
It is a natural statin, which is something we all got in our
diets when we were all more of the hunter-gatherer types, but
no more. Supplementation is needed.
As a substance, red yeast rice extract has a number of heart-healthy
benefits: It helps reduce total cholesterol levels, lower levels
of LDL ("bad") cholesterol, increase levels of HDL
("good") cholesterol, and lower levels of unhealthy
fats called triglycerides.
TMG (Trimethylglycine) (aka Betaine)
Betaine is a substance derived from plant sources that is part
of the methyl group of substances that turns the potentially
dangerous amino acid, homocysteine, into the beneficial amino
acid methionine. Methylation decreases with age, which means
that homocysteine levels will increase leading to increased risk
of developing heart disease, arthritis, and cancer. Health
benefits related to betaine include decreased risk of depression,
Alzheimer's, heart disease and certain cancers.
Hawthorne
Hawthorn (Crataegus) is a shrub commonly found in Europe,
western Asia, North America, and North Africa. Medicinal extracts
primarily use the leaves and flowers. It has been used for many
years for congestive heart failure and to relieve other cardiac
problems including angina, cardiac arrhythmia, hypertension and
atherosclerosis. The leaves, flowers, and berries of hawthorn
contain a variety of bioflavonoids that appear to be primarily
responsible for the cardiac actions of the plant.
Beneficial effects include increased coronary blood flow, decreased
arterial blood pressure Increased skeletal muscle blood flow
and decreased heart rate in vivo; increased heart rate in vitro.
After one month of hawthorn treatment, hyperglycemic patients
displayed significant reductions in serum cholesterol, triglycerides,
LDL-C, and apo-B (a major component of LDL-C).
A 6-week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving multi-morbid
patients (64-82 years) with declining cardiac performance demonstrated
the following benefits of standardized Crataegus (hawthorne)
extract:
Significantly decreased pressure heart rate product during
exercise and recovery.
Decreased blood pressure.
Decreased heart rate.
Increased exercise tolerance.
Improved patient sense of well being.
An 8-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
for Crataegus extract, involving patients with NYHA II cardiac
insufficiency, revealed a significant advantage over placebo
relative to pressure-rate product, exercise tolerance, blood
pressure reduction, reduction in heart rate, and subjective improvement.
Hawthorn has demonstrated the ability to protect the heart from
the permanent loss of mechanical function that can result from
temporary ischemia. This specific protection does not seem to
involve an increase in blood flow to the myocardium.
Choline & Inositol
Fat and cholesterol accumulate around the heart and inner walls
of the arteries. This causes blood flow to slow and blood pressure
to rise. Blood clotting is also a problem when the arteries are
clogged which, if a clot breaks loose, can cause strokes or heart
attacks according to where they end up. Heart disease is usually
advanced before a problem arises. Prevention should be the first
goal.
Choline and inositol act as fat emulsifiers in the bloodstream
and help prevent plaque buildup.
Plant Sterols (phytosterols)
Plant sterols and plant stanols are collectively known as phytosterols.
Plant sterols are plant compounds with chemical structures similar
to that of cholesterol. Especially high sterol levels are found
in rice bran, wheat germ, corn oils, and soybeans. In a more
concentrated form, these substances are called plant stanols.
Structurally these compounds are chemically similar to cholesterol.
However, unlike cholesterol derived from animal sources--which
absorbs easily and raises the body's own cholesterol levels--phytosterols
are present only at very low levels in the body because they
are difficult to absorb.
Interestingly, phytosterols so closely resemble cholesterol
that they can actually block food-based cholesterol from being
absorbed into the bloodstream. The result is that both phytosterols
and dietary cholesterol end up excreted in waste matter.
Because of their ability to block dietary cholesterol absorption,
phytosterols can help lower your cholesterol levels.
By lowering total and LDL cholesterol levels, plant sterols
and stanols may reduce your risk of heart disease. Studies have
shown that daily phytosterols can lower these cholesterol measurements
by an average of 10% to 14%. Because of these strong findings,
the National Cholesterol Education Panel issued a new recommendation
in 2001 that plant stanols and sterols be added to cholesterol-lowering
regimens, along with the more traditional cholesterol-fighting
tools, such as regular exercise, weight loss, and a low-fat diet.
When our bodies are given enough of these concentrated phytosterols
during a meal, most of the cholesterol in the food we eat during
that meal will pass
through the digestive tract and be eliminated. After an hour
or so of taking plant sterols, the phytosterols just "drop
off" the receptor sites and pass through the digestive tract.
Phytosterols are free of any adverse reactions or side effects,
and because of their slight molecular difference from cholesterol,
they do not enter the bloodstream.
Tumeric (curcumin)
New research shows that turmeric--and its main bioactive compound,
curcumin--has the power to block inflammation, stop cancer, kill
infectious microbes, and improve heart health.
In the ancient Indian system of Ayurvedic holistic medicine,
turmeric is revered for its ability to quell inflammation and
to treat a variety of maladies.
New research on curcumin's potential benefits involves its apparent
ability to improve cardiovascular health. As with many of curcumin's
protective actions, this ability to improve circulatory system
function may be due to its powerful antioxidant activity. Late
last year, several reports detailed curcumin's ability to protect
test animals against a variety of conditions that model heart
disease in humans.
Researchers in Egypt noted that curcumin protected rats from
oxidative stress injury following experimentally induced stroke.46
Stroke is a common result of thrombosis and/or atherosclerosis,
which leads to clogging of the arteries that supply the brain
with vital oxygen and nutrients. It is believed that such injury,
known as ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) insult, is responsible for
many of the deficits seen in stroke victims. Researchers concluded
that curcumin protected the rats from I/R damage. They noted
that when curcumin was administered at the highest levels, injury-related
oxidants, believed to be responsible for the majority of I/R
damage, were significantly reduced.
Curcumin acts to lower total cholesterol levels. Perhaps even
more important, it prevents peroxidation of LDL ("bad")
cholesterol. LDL peroxidation plays a key role in the development
of atherosclerosis, so it follows that a substance that inhibits
peroxidation should benefit cardiovascular health.
Still more intriguing than its ability to limit peroxidation
is the finding that curcumin raises HDL ("good") cholesterol
levels, even as it reduces LDL levels. In a small study of human
volunteers, researchers reported a highly significant 29%
increase in HDL among subjects who consumed one-half gram (500
mg) of curcumin per day for seven days. Subjects also experienced
a decrease in total serum cholesterol of more than 11%, and a
decrease in serum lipid peroxides of 33%.48 Further human studies
are needed, but these preliminary findings are promising. As
one research team noted: "Administration of a nutritional
dose of C. longa extracts [curcumin]...may contribute to the
prevention of effects caused by a diet high in fat and cholesterol
in blood and liver during the development of atherosclerosis."
Vitamin E
On Thursday, November 19, 1992, New York Newsday carried
a report that vitamin E had decreased the risk of heart disease
between one-third and one-half. The studies reported were conducted
at the Harvard School of Public Health. In one study, Dr. M.
Stampfer found that during an eight year follow-up, women who
had taken at least 100 iu of vitamin E daily for two years had
a 46 percent lower risk of having a heart attack. This was based
on a population study involving 87,245 women. The second study,
on men, by Dr. E. Rimm, based upon 51,529 subjects, showed a
37 percent lower risk. They found that there was not enough vitamin
E in food; Dr. Stampfer was so convinced by the data he is taking
the vitamin himself.
These findings, of course, are not surprising to anyone familiar
with the history of vitamin E and heart disease. In the late
1940s, Drs. Wilfrid and Evan Shute began to treat large numbers
of patients with megadoses of vitamin E, usually above 800 IU
daily. Their clinic eventually had experience with perhaps 30,000
patients who came from all over North America to receive their
treatment.Their work was a model of clinical research,
but the idea was so novel that their work was discounted entirely
and they were considered quacks for recommending these doses
for a disease "known" not to be a vitamin deficiency
disease. Fifty years ago, about the time they began their studies,
hardly anyone knew what vitamin E was, and it was not considered
important or relevant.
B Complex
In the cover story of the August 11, 1997, issue of Newsweek was
the following statement that the Attorney General should mail
to every single person: "An avalanche of new studies suggest
that an amino acid called homocysteine plays a critical role
in destroying our arteries--perhaps as large a role as smoking
or cholesterol."
Homocysteine is as large a risk factor in heart disease as smoking
or cholesterol, but there are steps you can take to reduce the
risk. According to Dr. Kilmer McCully, pathologist at the
VA Medical Center in Providence, RI, the initial injury to our
arteries--that leads to the potentially deadly build-up of atherosclerotic
plaque--is caused by homocysteine. This initial injury is what
makes the vessels vulnerable to LDL cholesterol.
First, you need to know that your body needs homocysteine. It
is used to build and maintain tissue. Homocysteine is not bad.
It is the build-up of homocysteine that is bad. The problem occurs
when there is a deficiency of Vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid. These
3 vitamins should normally sweep this excess of homocysteine
away. But when you don't have enough of these B Vitamins,
you have a problem. Folic acid deficiency is on of the
most nutritional deficiencies in the world, so there is a good
chance that the average person is allowing a toxic build-up of
homocysteine.
It is a good idea to balance the B vitamins in a complex. Because
they are methyl donors, the B-complex also helps to reduce the
build-up of homocysteine, making it an excellent heart-health
supplement. It is well established that a person's measure of
blood plasma homocysteine acts as a biochemical marker inversely
indicating folate levels. When a person's blood plasma
folate levels are high, their homocysteine levels are low. As
folate levels decrease, homocysteine levels increase along with
an increased chance for heart disease. Please note that
people who supplement with a multi or other vitamin containing
folate rarely have inadequate amounts of folate. Folate reduces
homocysteine.
Niacin / B-3
Of all cholesterol-lowering agents, niacin has the longest clinically
documented record of safety and efficacy, beginning in 1955 and
continuing today. It is recommended by the National Cholesterol
Education Program and the American Heart Association.
Niacin has an impressive profile of benefits unmatched by any
prescription-only drug including the all the prescription statins.
Benefits include:
Lowering of total and LDL cholesterol
Reduction of triglycerides
Lowering of Lp(a), an independent risk factor
Conversion of small, dense LDL to the more benign large,
buoyant LDL particles
Reduction of blood-clot-forming substance called fibrinogen
But by far the most important thing that niacin does is that
it does a fantastic job of raising your HDL, the good cholesterol.
Let’s explain why this is significant. You see,
when LDL, the bad cholesterol arrives in the arteries it is the
HDL, good cholesterol that acts like a molecular garbage truck
that carries away the bad cholesterol from the arteries, thus
preventing the buildup of placque, which is what clogs your arteries.
This is why it is so important to take niacin, which is actually
an FDA approved HDL raiser. They’ve actually approved
it for use in combination with some pharmaceutical statins.
Research at the University of Washington documented that the
use of niacin virtually halted the progression of coronary artery
disease.
Thus taking niacin is crucial for stopping the progression of
cardiovascular disease.
Niacin can give some people a slight warm flush but don’t
worry. It only lasts about 15 or 20 minutes and that flush
will go way completely after taking Cardio 360 for a few days. The
flush is actually extremely beneficial to the vascular system
and also great for your skin too.
So whatever you do don’t be scared away by the flush. It’s
great for your arteries and great for your skin. Just follow
the directions on the Cardio 360 bottle. It goes away completely
in a day or two anyway.
Pantothenic Acid
Although your body produces it through enzyme metabolism, supplementation
has been shown to significantly improve cholesterol levels. As
your body uses it, it slows down cholesterol production in your
liver. It also increases the rate at which your metabolism uses
fats. Because of this effect, pantothenic acid has been clinically
demonstrated to increase your level of good cholesterol (HDL)
while lower the level of bad cholesterol (LDL) in your body.
High levels of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) - the "bad
cholesterol" - is a major contributing factor of heart disease.
The cholesterol forms plaque in the hearts blood vessels, which
restricts or blocks the supply of blood to the heart, and causes
a condition called atherosclerosis, which is a buildup of fatty
substances in the inner layers of the arteries. Pantothenic
acid has been shown to substantially lower LDL levels.
Potassium
A healthy intake of potassium through foods is valuable for
general health and can even help to maintain normal blood pressure.
In fact, a diet high in potassium-rich food can help to protect
against heart disease and stroke, according to various studies.
One study found that people with high blood pressure who had
a daily serving of potassium-rich foods decreased their risk
of fatal stroke by 40%.
Research also indicates that an adequate level of potassium
may have a role to play in regulating heartbeat, staving off
heart-rhythm abnormalities, and preventing kidney stones.
Scientists have long known that potassium helps maintain blood
pressure. According to the latest studies, people who regularly
consume high-potassium foods, such as bananas, avocados, and
yogurt, have lower blood pressure than those who don't. For example,
in a recent review of 33 studies that examined the effect of
potassium on blood pressure, researchers discovered that participants
who started out with normal blood pressure and then added 2,340
mg of potassium daily (from foods, supplements, or both) were
able to lower their risk of developing high blood pressure by
25%. The reductions were ultimately greatest for people who already
had high blood pressure.
A potassium-rich diet may even enable people with high blood
pressure to slash their daily dose of prescription medication.
In one study of 54 adults with high blood pressure, the majority
(81%) of those who were placed on a high-potassium diet--they
ate three to six servings of potassium-rich foods daily--were
able to safely and dramatically reduce their dosage of high blood
pressure medications within 12 months. In contrast, only 29%
of those who continued with their normal diets were able to do
so.
Grape Seed Extract
As its name implies, grape seed extract is derived from the
small seeds (and occasionally the skins) of red grapes--the same
kind that are pressed to make wine. Used extensively in Europe,
grape seed extract is rich in flavinoids, phytochemicals that
have antioxidant properties some consider even greater than the
old standbys vitamin C and vitamin E. Antioxidants are believed
to prevent and control numerous ailments by safeguarding cells
against the ravages The most valuable flavinoids in grape seed
extract are procyanidolic oligomers (also known as proanthocyanidins),
commonly called PCOs. Beyond their antioxidant powers, PCOs are
thought to improve blood circulation and help strengthen blood
vessels. These actions benefit people with heart disease and
cancer.
An alternative source is Pycnogenol (pik-NODGE-en-all), the
brand name for a PCO derived from the bark of the maritime pine.
Experts compare its health benefits to those of grape seed extract. However,
it's more expensive than grape seed extract
European doctors prescribe PCO-containing drugs for various
vascular (vessel) disorders that are likely to benefit from increased
blood flow, such as diabetes, leg cramps, varicose veins, arm
and leg numbness or tingling and even impotence. Macular degeneration
and cataracts--vision-robbers of the elderly--may also improve
by means of the extract's effects on circulation.
Specifically, grape seed extract may help to prevent heart disease. The
risk for heart attack and stroke may be reduced with this potent
antioxidant, which is believed to prevent the plaque development
that can clog arteries. A recent study of 38 smokers indicates
that PCOs may function as effectively as aspirin in keeping blood
cells from sticking together and forming blood clots (called
an anticoagulant effect). And the PCOs posed no risk of the gastrointestinal
irritation or bleeding generally associated with aspirin. Interestingly,
another preliminary study using grape seed oil (which is related
to grape seed extract) indicates that using 2 tablespoons a day
to replace other oils in cooking could increase HDL ("good")
cholesterol by 14% and reduce triglycerides by 15% in just four
weeks
Cayenne (Capsicum annum)
Thought to have originated in Cayenne, French Guiana, cayenne
is a spice derived from several varieties of dried hot peppers
in the Capsicum species. Cayenne is a relative of the mild bell
pepper used in salads and also of the fiery peppers found in
chili powders and hot sauces, but it has no connection to black
table pepper. Used for centuries by cooks around the world to
add "heat" to traditional dishes, cayenne has gained
a solid reputation as a painkiller, digestive aid and circulation
stimulant.
Cayenne has been known to stop heart attacks within 30 seconds.
For example, when a 90-year-old man in Oregon had a severe heart
attack, his daughter was able to get Cayenne extract into his
mouth. He was pronounced dead by the medics, but within a few
minutes, he regained consciousness. On the way to the hospital,
he remained in a semi-conscious state, but the daughter kept
giving him the Cayenne extract. By the time they got to the hospital,
he had fully recovered and wanted to go home and mow the lawn.
The doctor asked what she had given him, as he said it was the
closest thing to a miracle he had ever seen.
If a heart attack should occur, it is suggested that a teaspoon
of extract be given every 15 minutes or a teaspoon of Cayenne
in a glass of hot water be taken until the crisis has passed.
Dr. Richard Anderson also knew of a doctor who rushed out into
the parking lot and put cayenne tincture into the mouth of a
man who had died of a heart attack while he was parking his car.
Within a few minutes, the man’s heart starting beating
again.
According to Dr. Anderson, using cayenne and hawthorn berries
together has a most incredible effect upon the heart. He believes
that a regimen of cayenne and hawthorn berries for several months
will greatly strengthen the heart, and possibly prevent heart
attacks. He states further that if an attack were to occur in
someone who had followed this regimen, chances are very good
that no damage would occur.
Green Tea Extract
There is research indicating that drinking green tea, or taking
green tea supplements, lowers total cholesterol levels, as well
as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL)
cholesterol.
The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin
polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG
is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of
cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue.
It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels,
and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter
takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the
formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart
attacks and stroke.
Links are being made between the effects of drinking green tea
and the "French Paradox." For years, researchers were
puzzled by the fact that, despite consuming a diet rich in fat,
the French have a lower incidence of heart disease than Americans.
The answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol,
a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and
a fatty diet. In a 1997 study, researchers from the University
of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol,
which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese
men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent
are smokers.
CoQ10
In addition to maintaining healthy arteries — essential
in promoting a healthy cardiovascular system — CoQ10 will
support a healthy immune system and energy levels as well.
A natural enzyme and antioxidant, Co-Q10 has been used to treat
congestive heart failure with great success. It can thin the
blood of patients with ischemic heart disease and increase resistance
to free radical damage caused by LDL. Another benefit of
this enzyme is an increase in blood volume per heart beat. Scientists
compared cardiac patients treated with traditional methods versus
those treated with Co-Q10. After three years, only 24% of patients
treated with regular methods were alive while 75% of the Co-Q10
patients were still ticking.
Your heart muscle uses a tremendous amount of energy. CoQ10
sparks the creation of energy inside your heart and allows the
heart cells to generate enough energy to function properly. However,
as you age, your body produces less CoQ10.
Co-Q10 can also help normalize blood pressure. When medical
researchers gave Co-Q10 to 109 hypertension patients, 51% of
them were able to discontinue medications within five months.
Renowned cardiologist and author (“The Sinatra Solution”)
Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D. has stated that if he were stranded
on a desert island and could only bring one nutraceutical with
him, CoQ10 would be it.
Lycopene
Lycopene, a carotenoid found in tomato products, prevents oxidation
of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and reduces the
risk of developing atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease
according to a recent study published in the October 1998 issue
of Lipids. This study showed that daily consumption of
tomato products or lycopene supplements, was enough to substantially
reduce low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. High LDL oxidation
is associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis and coronary
heart disease.
This lycopene level can be achieved by drinking just two glasses
of tomato juice a day. Research shows that lycopene in tomatoes
can be absorbed more efficiently by the body if processed into
tomato juice, sauce, paste and ketchup. The bound chemical form
of lycopene found in tomatoes is converted by the temperature
changes involved in processing to make it more easily absorbed
by the body. Ongoing research suggests that lycopene can reduce
the risk of prostate cancer and cancers of the lung, bladder,
cervix and skin.
Chromium Picolinate
A Chromium deficit (in conjunction with other nutrients) may
show up as low blood sugar, and then become a critical factor
in the development of adult-onset diabetes, circulatory issues
and even heart disease. There is also scientific evidence to
suggest that in some people Chromium may play a major role in
reducing sugar cravings, promoting lean body mass, lowering blood
pressure and regulating the appetite. Chromium has also been
shown to reduce the 'bad' cholesterol (LDL), which has been linked
to the development of heart disease.
Science is revealing that increases in chronic diseases like
type II diabetes and heart disease (CVD), are for the most part
traditionally regarded as a normal part of aging. But it is more
likely that the diseases 'of age' may more realistically be due
to poor diets. We have to protect ourselves, because Chromium
levels have also been shown to decrease with strenuous exercise,
pregnancy, diabetes and just plain old psychological stress faster
than normal. And since Chromium is a critical component in the
production of insulin, it is important that you supply it in
adequate amounts everyday.
One form of chromium that seems to be very effective in its
ability to be absorbed, as well as help the body to produce insulin
is Chromium Picolinate. In studies it has been shown to enhance
the body's insulin activity allowing the body to increase carbohydrate,
fat and protein metabolism helping to control glucose levels.
The preventive and longevity increasing potential of Chromium,
or more specifically the more bioavailable forms of Chromium
such as the Picolinate form taken as a supplement increased lifespan
in rats by 33% in one study. Chromium Picolinate is so well absorbed
and utilized that it is now a major component in formulas that
are used for everything from weight loss and diabetes, and other
products that control blood sugar.
Chromium Picolinate, when used as a dietary supplement may be
helpful in suppressing the appetite and for getting rid of those
sugar cravings. Additionally, it is now being used in the athletic
community because is has been shown to build muscle and trim
fat simultaneously.
Selenium
In 1979, Chinese scientists reported an association between
low selenium intake and a condition called Keshan disease, a
form of cardiomyopathy that affects primarily children and women
of childbearing age.
People in certain parts of China were getting little selenium
in their diets because the soil in their region contained almost
none. Chinese veterinarians noticed that some animals suffered
from the heart condition in this region. Their study led to doctors
to make the connection between human cardiomyopathy and selenium.
Chinese doctors found that they can prevent cardiomyopathy with
selenium supplements.
Selenium deficiency alone doesn't seem to cause cardiomyopathy.
Researchers think that cardiomyopathy develops in selenium-deficient
people who have been exposed to certain viruses that affect the
heart muscle.
Research in United States showed that when laboratory animals
were exposed to a virus called Coxsackie, they remained healthy
when they had enough selenium. When the virus was exposed to
animals that were deficient in Selenium, it caused extensive
heart damage.
We do not know how selenium protects the heart muscle from viral
damage. Experts suggest that it may be related to the antioxidant
properties of selenium. Virus attacks can cause the release of
free radicals. This damages the healthy cells in our body. Antioxidants
neutralize the effect of the free radicals, preventing their
damage.
Biotin
Results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical
study show that daily nutritional supplementation with a combination
of chromium picolinate (another nutrient also found in CARDIO
360) and biotin significantly improved coronary risk factors.
This clinical study, which evaluated 24 patients over 30 days,
was presented at the AHA's Annual Conference on Arteriosclerosis,
Thrombosis & Vascular Biology (ATVB) in San Francisco.
The study found the following significant improvements in subjects
who added these supplements to their treatment regimen:
Total cholesterol levels dropped an average of 19.1 mg/dL
LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels dropped an average
of 10.9 mg/dL
Average fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels decreased 26.2
mg/dL
Apo-B dropped -5.3 mg/dl
Ratio of apo-B/apo-A; LDL-C/HDL-C improved
Biotin is found in almost all multi-vitamins and B-complex formulas.
EPA / DHA Complex
This is not included in the actual Cardio 360 Formula. It
is found in the accompanying companion vitamin bottle. We
could have used the O2P technique (oil to powder) and included
it in the formula but since it is much better assimilated by
the body in its original oil form, we decided to keep it that
way.
The EPA and DHA from fish oil can both prevent and treat a number
of actions. Perhaps most well known is fish oil’s ability
to lower levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides thought
to be responsible for an increased risk of artery blockages and
heart attack.
Research in recent years has shown the EPA from fish oil helps
to prevent death from cardiac arrest by reducing the risk of
heart arrythmias (abnormal heartbeat). EPA also helps to reduce
the stickiness of blood platelets. These disc-shaped cells are
vital to blood clotting but if they become too sticky they can
aggregate and accumulate in the arteries, leading to blockages,
and ultimately heart attack or stroke. EPA inhibits the body’s
production of a hormone-like substance that increases blood platelet
stickiness.
Lesions in the arteries that can ‘catch’ passing
cholesterol and platelets to form a blockage are less likely
to form when there is plenty of EPA in the blood plasma. Lowering
of high blood pressure is another of fish oil’s abilities.
Essentially, fish oil helps to keep the arteries wide and free
flowing with viscous blood, while assisting the normal action
of the heartbeat. The end result is a much healthier cardiovascular
system and a reduced risk of heart attack or stroke, whether
you’ve suffered from these problems in the past or not.
