Aspirin
is NOT the best defense against Heart Disease. Click
Here for Reference
Heart
Disease
Herbs
Hydrogenation:(also
see Trans fats)
Homogenization:(see Milk)
Heart Disease: (also
see: Essential Fatty Acids,
Sugar or Trans
fats)
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See Statistics Here
Insulin
production (from high-carb diet) and heart disease:
Scientists around the world have discovered that, once again, insulin
overproduction appears to have a huge part to play. It reduces the elasticity
of arterial walls, increasing the risk of plaque formation, and causes
the kidneys to increase salt and fluid retention – all of which
increase blood pressure and heighten risk of heart disease and stroke.
Reference: American Diabetes Association's 59th Annual
Scientific Sessions, June 1999, Basic Medical Biochemistry, pgs 25,
26, 475, 512, 566.
Factors that
are known to contribute to [Heart Disease] include intake of carbohydrates
with high glycemic indexes... Reference: Parks EJ,
Hellerstein MK. Carbohydrate-induced hypertriacylglycerolemia: historical
perspective and review of biological mechanisms. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;71:412-33.
Blood
clots and insulin:
"Elevated levels of fasting insulin [stimulated by carbohydrates]
are associated with impairment of the bodily system that helps prevent
blood clots from blocking blood vessels....These findings suggest a
mechanism for the observed increased risk for CVD (cardiovascular disease)
associated with hyperinsulinemia (insulin resistance in response to
eating carbohydrates)." Reference: Journal of
the American Medical Association, 2000; 283:221-228
“Saturated
Fat: and Cholesterol: in the diet are not the cause of coronary heart
disease. That myth is the greatest ‘scientific’ deception
of the century, and perhaps any century.” George
V. Mann M.D. (1991), Professor of Biochemistry and Medicine –
Vanderbilt University.
Saturated
fat and heart disease:
No saturated fats found in aortic plaque! Reference:
Lancet 1994;344:1195-96. [Eating saturated fat did not cause
their heart disease.]
Dietary
intervention by lowering saturated fat intake does not lower the incidence
of nonfatal CAD; nor does such dietary intervention lower coronary disease
or total mortality. Reference: Ravnskov U. The questionable
role of saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in cardiovascular
disease. J Clin Epidemiol 1998;51:443-60. & Hooper L, Summerbell
CD, Higgins JP, et al. Dietary fat intake and prevention of cardiovascular
disease: systematic review. BMJ 2001;322:757-63.
Heart disease and trans-fats:
Researchers found that Trans-fats are more detrimental to the ability
of blood vessels to dilate, a marker for heart disease risk. Trans fats
reduced this blood vessel function by a third – and lowered (good)
HDL-cholesterol by a fifth – compared to saturated fats. Both
increased (bad) LDL-cholesterol levels. "This suggests that trans
fatty acids increase the risk of heart disease more than the intake
of saturated fats," concluded the scientists at Wageningen University
in the Netherlands. It suggests that if French fries were cooked in
saturated fat instead of in hydrogenated vegetable oils, they would
probably be safer. Reference: Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis
and Vascular Biology, July 2001, American Heart Association/Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins January 1995, Division of Cardiology, UCLA School
of Medicine, 0833 LeConte Avenue, Room 47-123, CHS, Los Angeles, CA
90095-1679
Aspirin
and heart disease:
Aspirin is NOT the best defense against Heart Disease. "Men with
higher blood pressures may be exposed to the risk of bleeding while
deriving no benefit [aspirin increased the stroke rate]." ... For
lower blood pressure there is still a serious risk of (non cerebral)
bleeding that outweigh any possible cardiovascular benefit [at best
a mere 0.5%!]. Reference: British Medical Journal
(2000; 321:13-17)
EFAs and heart disease:
Researchers have found that both GLA (omega-6) and EPA (omega-3) can
effectively lower blood cholesterol and other lipid risk factors for
cardiovascular disease (1, 2). EFAs may also help prevent coronary
heart disease because their eicosanoid products can decrease platelet
aggregation and relax vascular smooth muscle (3, 4).
References:
1. Harris WS. Fish oils and plasma lipid and lipoprotein metabolism
in humans: a critical review. J Lipid Res 30(6):785-807, 1989.
2. Chaintreuil J, et al. Effects of dietary gamma-linolenate supplementation
on serum lipids and platelet function in insulin-dependent diabetic
patients. Hum Nutr Clin Nutr 38:121-130, 1984.
3. Karmazyn M,et al. The mechanism of coronary artery spasm: foles
of oxygen , prostaglandins, sex hormones and smoking. Med Hypoth
5:447-452, 1979.
4. Vericel E, et al. Effects of linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic
acid intake on platelet function in elderly people. Thromb Res
42:499-509, 1986.
Diet
& Heart Disease:
"The problem with low-fat diets is that people replace fats
with carbohydrates, primarily sugars and refined starches which can
have adverse effects on coronary risk, particularly on people with more
sedentary lifestyles." Reference: Dr. Walter
Willett, "Women's Heart Risk."
Herbs:
Burdock
Root – This herb is rich in vitamins B-complex and
E. It also includes the trace minerals: potassium, phosphorous, chromium,
cobalt, iron, magnesium, silicon, zinc, and sodium. Burdock Root increases
circulation to the skin and helps cleanse the epidermal tissues. It
has also been reported to destroy bacteria and fungus cultures. Anti-tumor
properties have also been noted. At Nagoya University in Japan, researchers
found that this root helps reduce cell mutations. Burdock Root is known
as a “blood purifier.” It helps eliminate toxins from the
blood and lymphatic system. It is also reported to be beneficial to
the respiratory and urinary systems. The liver, gall bladder, kidneys,
and digestive system all benefit from its properties. It also helps
with the elimination if excess fluids and the regulation of sugar.
Sheep Sorrel – This herb is rich in vitamin
A, B-complex, C, D, K, and E. It’s minerals include significant
levels of calcium, iron, magnesium, silicon, sulphur, zinc, manganese,
iodine, and copper. This herb has been reported to aid in a wide variety
of skin disorders as well as assisting in the destruction of tumors
and easing some digestive disorders. Vitamin A strengthens the immune
system by aiding in production of white blood cells. White blood cells
attack many of the body’s harmful intruders including cancer.
Sheep sorrel is also rich in chlorophyll. Chlorophyll increases oxygen
content in the blood. High blood oxygen can increase the body’s
action against many invasive conditions like cancer. This herb is also
rich in potassium oxalate, which aids in digestion and has been shown
to strengthen the immune system.
Cat’s Claw Bark – This herb is effective
for treating a variety of digestive disorders. It’s great for
circulation and has also been shown to help in treating rheumatism,
gastritis, ulcers, and some allergies.
Slippery Elm Bark – This herb is a natural
antibiotic and has exceptional cleansing properties. It coats and lubricates
the artery wall, which helps blood flow and can protect against heart
disease. It has also been shown to protect membrane linings in the joints
and can provide relief of inflamed areas.
Turkish Rhubarb Root – This herb has been
used in China for more than 2,000 years. It has very impressive detoxifying
properties, especially in the liver. This herb also has antibiotic,
anti-microbial, and anti-tumor properties.
Homogenization:
(see Milk or Xanthine
Oxidase)
Homogenization is the process, which whips up and breaks down the fat
molecules in milk so that the cream doesn’t separate. This process
releases milk acids (Xanthine Oxidase) that
are damaging to artery walls. See Milk above
to learn more about XO’s.
Hydrogenation:
(see Trans fats)
Hydrogenation is the chemical addition of hydrogen to another chemical.
When applied to oils, the process turns the healthy essential oils into
dangerous trans fatty acids, which are unhealthy for humans. References:
Fats that Heal Fats that Kill, Udo Erasmus, Published by Alive Books,
Burnaby, BC, Canada, 01 January, 1999, ISBN: 0920470386,1-800-661-0303.
Trans-fats
produced by hydrogenation:
The process of hydrogenation requires a metal catalyst, like nickel,
and is stopped when the margarine looks butter-like, without regard
to the "unnatural" fat by-products, which have been produced
(1). These by-products include trans fatty acids, lipid peroxides and
other potentially toxic compounds. Some large studies have been published,
which suggest that ingestion of trans fatty acids are considered a risk
factor for heart disease (2). Trans fatty acids can also block
the body’s ability to use EFAs in the production of eicosanoids
and they may lessen the transfer of the life giving nutrient, oxygen,
across cell membranes (3).
References:
1. Erasmus U. Fats and Oils. Alive Books, Vancouver, Canada, pp
84-89, 1986.
2. Mensink RP, Katan MB. Effect of dietary trans fatty acids on
high-density and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in healthy
subjects. N Eng J Med 323:439-445, 1990.
3. Kinsella JE, et al. Metabolism of trans fatty acids with emphasis
on the effects of trans, trans-octadecadienoate on lipid composition,
essential fatty acids and prostaglandins - an overview. Am J Clin
Nutri 34:2307-2318, 1981.
