Heart disease doesn’t just involve the heart
but the whole circulatory system. This includes the arteries and veins
which respectively, carry blood to and away from the heart.
The three
principles of heart disease are:
1. Thicker blood containing clots.
2. Atherosclerosis; the blocking of the arteries
with a deposit called atheroma (the Greek word for porridge).
3.Arteriosclerosis; the “hardening” of the
arteries as they lose elasticity and flexibility.
The result is a heart attack if the blood
supply to the heart is blocked or a stroke if the blood supply to the
brain is blocked.
The Cholesterol Myth
Over the last half century or so much of the
focus of health advice around heart disease prevention has been on
reducing cholesterol. Yet a massive 60% of people who die from heart
attacks have normal or low blood cholesterol levels. In fact people with
normal cholesterol levels are just as likely to die of a heart attack
than those with high cholesterol and blood levels of cholesterol are not
a predictor of a heart attack.
Despite this the NHS continue to concentrate on cholesterol reduction as
first line treatment. Millions of prescriptions are given out each year
for cholesterol medications such as Statins. These drugs have
unpleasant side effects, amongst which are liver damage, nerve damage, cognitive
decline (memory loss and depression has been
reported), violent behaviour, mood alteration and muscle
damage. In addition, Statins are known to block the production of CO Q10 which is
needed for cellular energy production. It is particularly important for
the heart muscle function and anyone taking statins should supplement
60-100mg CO Q10.
The Real Causes of Heart Disease
- Oxidative Stress
Oxidation is a chemical reaction which occurs continuously in the
body. Breathing, digestion, the conversion of fat and carbohydrate into
energy and detoxification of harmful substances such as alcohol or drugs
all involve oxidation. Oxidative stress occurs when potentially harmful
free radicals out number antioxidants which have the capacity to
neutralise them. Lack of exercise, stress and insufficient fruit and
vegetables in the diet lead to an imbalance between free radicals and
protective antioxidants. The heart and blood vessels are a major target
for damage by free radicals produced by oxidation.
In addition, when free radicals attack LDL cholesterol, it converts
into the form that promotes atherosclerosis. It is cholesterol in this
damaged, oxidised form that poses a threat rather than cholesterol per
se. Damaged cholesterol is more difficult to clear from the arteries and
it injures the artery wall.
Insulin Imbalance
Metabolic Syndrome consists of abdominal obesity, high blood pressure
and glucose/insulin disturbances and is clearly linked with increased
risk of cardiovascular disease. The focus of
health advice should be on reducing consumption of high amounts of
refined sugar and carbohydrates (these foods will anyway be turned into
fat if eaten in excess and increase cholesterol and triglycerides).
Their frequent consumption in Western diets causes insulin resistance as
the cells, continuously flooded with insulin become desensitised to it
resulting in more and more insulin being produced. Excessive insulin has
damaging effects on blood vessels, causing them to contract. It is
interesting to note that the increase in CVD parallels the increase in
sugar consumption over the last century.
Elevated Fibrinogen
Fibrinogen is a protein in the blood which is involved in the clotting
process. Elevated levels thicken the blood and causes excess clotting.
In addition high fibrinogen promotes damage to the blood vessel wall by
attaching itself to plaques.
Elevated Homocysteine
Homocysteine is a substance produced from dietary protein. If not
metabolised, homocysteine builds up in the blood. It promotes clotting,
the oxidation of cholesterol and artery damage and is probably a better
predictor of cardiovascular disease than cholesterol. Vitamins B6,
B12 and folic acid are known as methyl donors. This means they allow
the vital process of methylation to take place, on which the metabolism
of homocysteine is dependent. Low levels of these B vitamins lead to
high homocysteine.
Inflammation
A substance in the blood called C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker
for inflammation and a predictor of cardiovascular problems. It is
linked with damage to the delicate lining of the blood vessels
(endothelium) and increased blood coagulation.
Stress
There is a clear link between stress and cholesterol since cholesterol
is the raw material for making stress hormones. So when we are
stressed, cholesterol production will increase. Cholesterol will test
high after stressful events such as surgery. Then it will decrease
again. Stress produces a high amount of free radicals which cause
oxidative damage.
Natural Prevention Action Plan
Dietary Solutions
Research has shown that a diet rich in
antioxidants, despite exposure to other cardiovascular risk factors such
as dietary fat, is associated with lower incidences of cardiovascular
events. The richest dietary sources of
antioxidants are fruit and vegetables.
Anti-inflammatory foods, e.g. ginger (put a
1oz piece in a juicer with an orange, 2 carrots and 1 apple for a
delicious and healthy drink), garlic, green juices and green vegetables.
Garlic also contains sulphur compounds which with important
cardioprotective properties.
Onions, garlic, kale, French/runner beans and
apples contains bioflavonoids which are anti-inflammatory, promote good
circulation and strengthen capillaries. Hesperidin and rutin, two
flavonoids which are very beneficial for varicose veins, are found in
abundance in citrus fruits. Other flavonoids called catechiins found in
green tea, red wine, peaches and hawthorn berries are also very
protective to the heart.
Bitter foods, according to Chinese medicine,
are very cleansing and supportive to the heart, digestive and
circulatory systems e.g. endive, chicory, asparagus, artichoke, very
dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa solids, green tea.
Minimise refined carbohydrates, for example
white bread or pasta, baked foods and refined cereals and replace with
low glycaemic foods (which are mainly whole grain foods). This will help
maintain balanced insulin levels.
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is an extremely
potent antioxidant, with the ability to significantly reduce oxidation
of fat. In one study 20mg turmeric reduced high
fibrinogen levels. After only
15 days, previously elevated levels of fibrinogen dropped dramatically
in all eight subjects. No adverse effects were noted.
Supplements
Vitamin D. A review involving
100,00 middle-aged and older people, found a clear reduction in
cardiovascular disease associated with vitamin D levels. The much
publicised low vitamin D levels amongst the general population, due to
lack of sun exposure, is now of widespread concern. Oily fish is the
best food source of vitamin D.
Vitamin C forms collagen, the substance which give
arteries their elasticity. Magnesium is important for the functioning of the
heart muscle and for the cardiovascular system generally. It helps keep
blood pressure at a healthy level. Calcium helps
regulate the heart beat.
B vitamins including B6, B12 and folic
acid to help maintain healthy homocysteine levels and support
heart function. A brand new study has shown that low levels of vitamin
B6 increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. The researchers found
that the people with the lowest levels of B6 had the highest levels of
inflammatory marker, CRP and oxidative stress.
Vitamin E has been found to be far more effective
than aspirin in reducing the likelihood of heart attack in patients with
coronary heart disease.
L. plantarum is found in fermented foods of plant
origin and probiotic supplements. It has been found to decrease fibrinogen concentrations
in blood. Healing Oils
The benefits of omega 3 from fish oil, nuts
and seeds have been well publicised in recent years in relation to
cardiovascular health. What is
often forgotten is that omega 6 fats are just as vital. These fats are
needed for many body functions especially the heart and circulatory
system. Modern diets usually supply plentiful amounts of these omega 6
fats in the form of commonly used oils such as sunflower, corn and
safflower. BUT these oils are often heavily refined and processed and
usually heated, which totally destroys their beneficial properties and
results in the formation of unhealthy chemicals. To obtain the
undamaged omega 6 fats, these oils must be pure, unrefined, cold pressed
and eaten cold. Fish contains omega 3 fats in the already
converted forms of DHA and EPA, which the body can take up and use
straight away. So keep eating oily fish (e.g. salmon, mackerel,
sardines, pilchards) 3 times per week.
Sesame oil has a high percentage of omega-6 fatty acids. Make sure
it is cold pressed from raw seeds in order to preserve the full quota of
beneficial fatty acids and antioxidants.
Flax seed oilhas 3 times as much omega 3 to 6 and is useful to
correct an omega 3 deficiency. Of all the oils, flax contains the
largest amount of the type of fat that has a strong dispersing effect on
deposits of saturated fats in the blood. This helps to keep the blood
thin and avoid clots.
Udo’s Oil provides a balanced 2:1 ratio of omega 3 to omega 6. It
contains organic oils of flax, sunflower and sesame with unrefined rice
and oat germ oils and evening primrose oil.
Extra virgin, cold pressed olive oil, whilst beneficial for the
heart, is not a good source of the omega 3 and 6 fats, being a mono
unsaturated fat rather than a polyunsaturated fat.
If the above oils are fried or heated, the beneficial fatty acids
will be destroyed. They can be used in salad dressings, mayonnaise and
yoghurt or poured over warm (not hot) vegetables or grains.
If you are worried about your heart health please contact the Fulham medical centre
to book an appointment with me on 0207 3856001.
