Nutritional Support for Cardiovascular Health

Self Care for Heart Disease / Nutritional Support for Cardiovascular Health

submitted by Dr. Gary Farr
Last Updated June, 21, 2002

Page: 1

There is one very important nutritional factor concerning the heart and nutrition. The heart is a muscle that never stops working. All muscles in the body require the nutrient magnesium for their continued ability to rest after contraction. Because the heart never stops working, it is estimated that the heart requires eight times the amount of magnesium than other muscles in the body. A 1995 survey revealed that seventy-two percent of the American population is magnesium deficient. Magnesium deficiency is a matter of concern for people of all ages, but it can be particularly dangerous for the elderly, who have increased incidence of heart disease, muscle cramps, and diabetes (all linked to magnesium deficiency). It is important to note that a magnesium deficiency is associated with low blood levels of calcium and potassium. These three minerals work in combination in many areas of the body and being deficient in one will limit the body’s ability to utilize the other two.

One of the most common causes of poor circulation or poor oxygenation of the blood is a deficiency of essential fatty acids. Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s) bond oxygen to hemoglobin, improving blood oxygen levels and circulation. The fatty acids that are necessary for health and that cannot be made by the body are called essential fatty acids. EFA’s must be supplied through the diet or nutritional supplements. EFA’s provide desirable effects in a variety of health disorders, including aiding in the prevention of arthritis, improving many skin and hair conditions, lowering triglyceride and cholesterol levels, and reducing high blood pressure. Deficiencies or imbalances of EFA’s are known to contribute to these and other adverse health conditions. Approximately 100 years ago the vegetable oil industry began to hydrogenate oil, which reduces the Omega-3 content. At the same time, the domestic livestock industry began to use feed grains, which happen to be rich in Omega-6 fatty acid and low in Omega-3. As a result, the American Diet has an essential fatty acid ratio of 20-25:1 Omega-6 to Omega-3, rather than the 1:1 ratio with which humans evolved. Essential fatty acids bond oxygen to the hemoglobin portion of the blood. Many times when we see people who are complaining of cold hands and feet, we find that the addition of a balanced ratio of Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids to the diet work well for these problems. Some of the Standard Process Products listed below contain the essential fatty acids.

It is important that the body receives an adequate amount of pure water on a daily basis. Our bodies are made of approximately 70 per cent water. Pure water is probably the most important nutrient. It is used in every cell, tissue, gland, organ and system in the body. It is a component of all the fluids in the body; blood, digestive juices, lymph, saliva, sweat, tears, and urine.

Water is used in most bodily functions, including absorption of nutrients, blood and lymph circulation, digestion, and elimination of various wastes from the body. The nervous system depends on water to carry the electrolytes, mineral salts which carry the electrical current throughout the body, including calcium, chloride, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. It is important that people understand that it is not healthy to drink tap water for many reasons. There are many books you can find at a health food store about water. We recommend that people drink only purified, filtered water, and avoid or reduce alcohol, caffeinated drinks (coffee and tea), carbonated sodas, and excessive amounts of fruit juice. Regular exercise (aerobic if possible) on a regular basis is essential for improving circulation and blood flow in the body. We recommend fast walking and rebounding on a mini trampoline. These are both low-impact exercises that get the heart pumping and assist in improving lymphatic flow in the body.

Nutritional Support for Cardiovascular Health
	Cardio-Plus® CARDIO-PLUS ® is a special combination product containing the vitamin complexes E2, B,and G; plus bovine heart PMG ™ extract. Cardio-Plus contains 24-mg of Coenzyme Q10 per tablet. Coenzyme Q10 plays a key role in numerous metabolic activities and is vital for the healthy functioning of a strong heart and cardiovascular system.*
	Cardiotrophin PMG® CARDIOTROPHIN PMG ® is uniquely formulated to help maintain the healthy functioning of the heart. The protomorphogen™ extracts found in this product contain units of the cellular "blueprint" assembly. These concentrated components of cell chromosomes are the primary facilitators of regular cell growth, repair, and function. Scientific literature establishes the relationship between cell growth and differentiation controlled specific growth factors.*
	Cataplex E2® CATAPLEX ® E2>is a glandular extract that contains an important component of the vitamin E complex. It is a natural phospholipid concentrate, high in chromatin material and trace elements. This concentrate contains nutrients that support healthy oxygen metabolism in addition to protective antioxidants.*
	Garlic GARLIC (organically grown) enjoys a long history of supporting healthy cardiovascular function and can help maintain normal blood lipid levels. Garlic is beneficial in maintaining the healthy flow of blood throughout the circulatory system. Garlic also proves a powerful protector against cell damage from free radical assault. Sulfur containing compounds such as those found in garlic can help maintain healthy cell growth and division.*>
	Black Currant Seed Oil Black Currant Seed Oil is the cold processed concentrate of the oil of the black currant seed. It is used because of its unique content of gamma linolenic acid (GLA). This is a superior source of GLA compared to the commonly used Evening Primrose Oil. GLA is the converted form of linolenic acid that a healthy liver would produce. In cases like eczema or severe skin dryness, the body is not converting essential fatty acids into the form that the sebaceous glands under the skin use, which is GLA. GLA is also a prostaglandin precursor for several potent body chemicals known as prostaglandins including the PGE1, which plays an important role in multiple physiological functions. If a person cannot utilize the essential fatty acids naturally found in LINUM B6 or CATAPLEX F PERLES, use BLACK CURRANT SEED OIL. Seeds from the black currant, or Ribes Nigrum, contain large amounts of essential fatty acids. Nineteen percent of black currant seed oil is made up of gamma linolenic acid (GLA), making it one of the best known and most popular sources for this type of fatty acid. *
	Chlorophyll Complex Chlorophyll is the essence of the life-supporting nutritional pattern of our planet Earth. From oxygen production to carbon dioxide consumption, green plants (chlorophyll) provide the life support pattern from the oceans to the forests to the grasslands. Cooking green foods destroys the chlorophyll content. 99.9 percent of the chlorophyll supplements sold are water-soluble, thus void of any nutrition. Fat soluble chlorophyll contains vitamins A, E, F, and K. *
	Cataplex F Perles® Flaxseed oil is the primary health-giving constituent of the flax plant, L. usitatissimum, which has been cultivated since at least 5,000 BC. Its health-giving properties were known to the Greeks, and Hippocrates recommended it for inflammation of the mucous membranes. In recent times, people have turned to plant sources for omega-3 oils, as ocean pollution has affected fish as a source. This is made from flax seed oil and a few other things (LINUM B6 is our primary Omega 3 fatty acid flax seed oil product). It has some beef lipids. It is really an extract of vitamin F, put into a football-shaped perle. In most cases, the dry CATAPLEX F tablet is better to use than the perle. The perle contains no iodine. That's a good point to remember. Cataplex F Tablets tends to raise the blood iodine level-it contains some protein-bound iodine. *
	Linum B6 Linum B-6 is vitamin F in the form of fresh flaxseed oil with just enough B-6 added to assist in the utilization of the F. Flaxseed oil is especially high in linolenic acid. We put it in capsules instead of in bulk because it goes rancid so easily. This is the most fragile of all oils, and sesame is probably the most stable. This is why sesame oil is often used in administering injectible materials. The sesame oil insures a slow release of the injectible material into the body. Flaxseed oil is the primary health-giving constituent of the flax plant, L. usitatissimum, which has been cultivated since at least 5,000 B.C. Its health-giving properties were known to the Greeks, and Hippocrates recommended it. In 18th-century France, Charlemagne passed laws requiring the seeds to be consumed to keep his subjects healthy. Mahatma Gandhi said, “Wherever flaxseeds become a regular food item among the people, there will be better health.” In recent times people have turned to plant sources for omega-3 oils, as ocean pollution has affected fish as a source.
* These statements have not been evaluated y the Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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