Cholesterol Heart Health Book PDF

CHOLESTEROL
CHOLESTEROL AND HEART HEALTH

YOU CAN BEAT THE ODDS
Cardiovascular health is a major concern in North America, but optimal cardiovascular
health is possible. Tune up your body, and promote ideal cholesterol and blood pressure
AND HEART
levels through simple but effective natural methods – diet, lifestyle, attitude, and
proper supplementation.
IN THIS BOOK YOU WILL LEARN:

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HEALTH
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and how it can lead to future problemst
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proper supplementation
s 4HEKEYDIETARYFACTORSPROVENINOVERCLINICALSTUDIESTODRAMATICALLYIMPROVE
YOU AND YOUR DOCTOR DOESN’T KNOW

WHAT THE DRUG COMPANIES WON’T TELL
your heart health
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it comes to healthy cholesterol levels WHAT THE DRUG COMPANIES WON’T TELL
s
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(OWTOSUPPORTPROPERBLOODPRESSURELEVELSTHROUGHDIETEXERCISEANDKEYSUPPLEMENTS
.ATURALMEASURESTOPROMOTEWELLNESSAFTERAHEARTATTACKORSTROKE YOU AND YOUR DOCTOR DOESN’T KNOW
THE NATURAL SOLUTIONS

MICHAEL T. MURRAY, ND
Michael T. Murray, ND, is widely regarded as one
of the world’s leading authorities on natural medicine. THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE
He has been featured on numerous television programs,
including Primetime Live, 20/20, Dateline NBC, and PBS.
Visit him online at doctormurray.com.
)3".
FPO - Printer to supply

ISBN/EAN barcode
39105
$19.95 U.S./Canada
CHOLESTEROL AND HEART DISEASE
WHAT THE DRUG COMPANIES WON’T TELL YOU AND YOUR DOCTOR DOESN’T KNOW
Our focus is education
COPYRIGHT © 2013 MICHAEL T. MURRAY, N.D.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission,
except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT

Mind Publishing Inc.
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Editor: Donna Dawson
This publication contains the ideas and opinions of its author. It is intended to provide helpful and informative material on the subjects
addressed in the publication. It is sold with the understanding that the author and the publisher are not engaged in rendering medical,
health, or any other kind of personal professional services in the book. The reader should consult his or her medical, health, or other
competent professional before adopting any of the suggestions in this book or drawing inferences from it.
The author and publisher specifically disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as
a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this book.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgments ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................I
Preface ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................III
CHAPTER 1 – The Heart of the Matter is the Matter of the Heart.................................................................................................................................................... 1
A Brief Guide to Cardiovascular Disorders ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 2
Understanding Atherosclerosis .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 4
Clinical Evaluation for Cardiovascular Disease............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Determining Your Risk......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9
A Quick Look at Risk Factors ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................12
Other Risk Factors................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Final Comments ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................23
CHAPTER 2 – Basic Dietary and Supplement Strategies for Heart Health .......................................................................................................25
Olive Oil and Omega-3 Fatty Acids ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................27
Nuts and Seeds ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................29
Vegetables, Fruit, and Red Wine ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................30
Eat a “Rainbow” Diet ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................32
Keep Salt Intake Low, Potassium Intake High...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................34
Magnesium....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................37
Antioxidant Nutrients ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................38
Vitamin E and Selenium............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................38
Vitamin C ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................39
Vitamin D ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 42
Final Comments ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................43
Dietary Recommendations................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................43
Nutritional Supplements ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................44
CHAPTER 3 – The Truth About Statins, Cholesterol, and Natural Alternatives .........................................................................................45
What is Cholesterol? ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................46
Recommended Blood Cholesterol Levels............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 47
Elevations of Triglycerides ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................48
Inherited Elevations of Cholesterol and Triglycerides ............................................................................................................................................................................49
Lowering Cholesterol .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................50
The Statin Drug Empire...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................51
A Closer Look at How Statins Work .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................54
An Honest Appraisal of the Benefits of Statins in Primary Prevention ................................................................................................56
Why Statins Failv...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................58
Diet vs. Statins .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................58
The Uphill Battle ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................60
Calculate the Impact of Lowering Cholesterol with a Statin Yourself .......................................................................................................60
Effect of Dietary Cholesterol on CVD Risk......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 61
Importance of Soluble Dietary Fiber in Lowering Cholesterol.......................................................................................................................................62
Fish Oils to Lower Triglyceride Levels ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................64
Natural Products to Lower Cholesterol Levelsv ....................................................................................................................................................................................................64
Final Comments ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................74
CHAPTER 4 – Beyond Cholesterol: The Role of Insulin Resistance........................................................................................................................................77
What Causes Insulin Resistance? .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................79
How Big is the Problem? .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................80
How Do You Know if You Have Insulin Resistance?................................................................................................................................................................................................. 81
Improving Insulin Sensitivity ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 81
The Importance of Dietary Fiber in Improving Insulin Sensitivity............................................................................................................................84
PGX® is a Key Tool for Improving Insulin Sensitivity...................................................................................................................................................................................85
Final Comments ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................90
Diet ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................90
Nutritional Supplements for Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes ................................................................................................................................90
CHAPTER 5 – The Heart Healthy Lifestyle...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................93
From Grizzly Bear to Teddy Bear .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................95
Learning to Calm the Mind ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................97
Learning to Breathe .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................98
The Importance of Sleep........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................99
Elimination of Inhibitors of Sleep......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................99
Blood Sugar Control and Sleep Quality...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................101
Special Dietary Supplements to Promote a Good Night’s Sleep......................................................................................................................101
The Importance of Regular Exercise............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 102
Physical Fitness and Longevity...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 105
Creating an Effective Exercise Routine...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................106
Final Comments ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................109
CHAPTER 6 – High Blood Pressure .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 111
Advantages of Natural Approaches to Lowering Blood Pressure ..................................................................................................................................112
Antihypertensive Drugs ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................113
Diuretics ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................113
Beta Blockers....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................114
Calcium Channel Blockers ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................116
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................117
Current Drug Treatment of High Blood Pressure ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................117
High Blood Pressure – A Rational Approach ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................118
Key Dietary Recommendations........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................118
Botanical Medicines that Lower Hypertension ...................................................................................................................................................................................................124
Final Comments ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 127
Borderline (130–139/85–89) or Mild (140–159/90–99) Hypertension ............................................................................... 127
Moderate Hypertension (160–179/100–109) .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 128
Severe Hypertension (180/110 or higher) ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 128
CHAPTER 7 – Improving Heart Function, Plus Some Special Considerations
(Angiograms, Bypass, Chelation, and Stroke Recovery) ................................................................................................................... 129
Improving Heart Function............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 130
Magnesium.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 130
Thiamin................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................131
Carnitine ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 132
Coenzyme Q10 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 133
Hawthorn ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 135
Coronary Angiogram, Angioplasty, and Artery Bypass Surgery......................................................................................................................................... 136
When an Angiogram is Unavoidable................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 139
Intravenous Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid Chelation Therapy................................................................................................................... 140
Stroke Recovery.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................142
Medical Care of the Stroke Patient ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 143
Natural Products in Stroke Recovery ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 145
Final Comments ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 146
Nutritional Supplements .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 146
Botanical Medicines ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 146
RESOURCES
Appendix A – Dietary Fiber Content of Selected Foods..........................................................................................................................................................................................147
Appendix B – Glycemic Index, Carbohydrate Content, and Glycemic Load of Selected Foods................. 151
Appendix C – Frequently Asked Questions on PGX® ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 159
REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 167
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
To my wife, Gina, for being the answer to so many of my dreams.
To my children, Lexi, Zach, and Addison, for being so incredibly

magnificent and for teaching me so much about life.
To Roland Gahler and everyone at Natural Factors for their tremendous

friendship and support over the years.
And finally, I am eternally grateful to all the researchers, physicians,

and scientists who over the years have strived to better understand
the use of natural medicines.
I
PREFACE
There is a lot of very good news in this book. Foremost is that heart dis-
ease can be prevented, cholesterol levels reduced, and normal blood pressure
achieved through safe, effective, clinically proven natural methods – diet,
lifestyle, attitude, and proper supplementation. While this book provides
many answers for various heart and vascular conditions, it is not intended
as a substitute for appropriate medical care. Please keep the following in
mind as you read:
s $/./43%,& $)!'./3% If you have concerns about any subject discussed

in this book, please consult a physician, preferably a naturopathic doctor
(ND), nutrition-oriented medical doctor (MD), doctor of osteopathy
(DO), chiropractor (DC), or other natural health care specialist. Go to
www.naturopathic.org to find an ND in your area.
t -!+%9/520(93)#)!.!7!2% of all the nutritional supplements or herbal

products you are currently taking to avoid any negative interactions
with any drugs you are taking.
s you ab-
)& 9/5 !2% #522%.4,9 4!+).' ! 02%3#2)04)/. -%$)#!4)/.
solutely must work with your doctor before discontinuing any drug or
altering any drug regimen.
s -/34(%!,4(#/.$)4)/.32%15)2%!-5,4)&!#4/2)!,3/,54)/. med-
ical, nutritional, and lifestyle changes. Do not rely solely on a single
area of focus. You can’t just take pills and not change your diet, or do
III
the diet and the pills but ignore other lifestyle issues. Any truly effective
approach to health must be truly integrated.
With the above in mind, remember that the information in this book is to
be applied, not simply read. Commit yourself to following the guidelines
of natural health care as detailed in this book and I believe you will be re-
warded immensely
Michael T. Murray, N.D.

March 2013
IV
CHAPTER 1
THE HEART OF THE

MATTER IS THE MATTER
OF THE HEART
Every second of every minute of your life, your heart is going to beat. The
force of this vital pump pushes blood, carrying its payload of oxygen and
nutrients, to every one of your tissues and organs and the cells that comprise
them. Ultimately, the blood returns to the heart, where the process repeats.
Each day the human heart beats about 100,000 times and pumps up to
5,000 gallons of fluid. In an average lifetime, the heart will beat 2.9 trillion
times and pump 146 million gallons of blood. That’s a lot of work!
The function of the heart is absolutely critical to every other part of your
body – including your brain. Everything functions better when the heart
1
CHAP TER 1 · THE HE AR T OF THE MAT TER IS THE MAT TER OF THE HE AR T
works as it should. Unfortunately, millions of people operate at a deficit and

are at risk of dying too soon from damage to the heart and blood vessels.
Cardiovascular diseases – heart attacks and strokes – are the leading cause
of premature death in this country, accounting for more than 30% of all
deaths in the United States. Both are referred to as “silent killers” because
the first symptom or sign in many cases is a fatal event.
Here’s the very good news: Heart disease can be prevented. What’s more,
prevention doesn’t require costly drugs or dangerous medical procedures.
You can tune up your heart through simple but effective natural methods –
diet, lifestyle, attitude, and proper supplementation.
Significant evidence shows that simply adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle
dramatically reduces deaths due to cardiovascular disease (CVD). A large
clinical trial enrolling over 20,000 men and women found that the com-
bination of four healthy behaviors (not smoking, being physically active,
moderate alcohol consumption, and eating at least five servings of fruit and
vegetables per day) reduced total mortality fourfold compared with those
who exhibited none of these behaviors.1
A BRIEF GUIDE TO CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS
The term “heart disease” is so broad that it often causes confusion. Most often
doctors use the term to describe atherosclerosis (hardening of the artery walls
due to a buildup of plaque containing cholesterol, fatty material, and cel-
lular debris) of the blood vessels supplying the heart – the coronary arteries.
Atherosclerosis is one main cause of heart attacks and strokes. Atherosclerosis
results from the buildup of a waxy material called plaque along the walls of
the blood vessel. Normally your arteries are very flexible, like a rubber tube.
Plaque causes them to become stiff and can even block blood flow.
The plaque can also lead to the formation of blood clots – thickened clumps
of blood that form when disk-shaped particles called platelets collect at the
site of blood vessel damage. The platelets are held in place by stringy protein
2
strands called fibrin, which is made from smaller particles called fibrinogen.
Usually what happens is that the clot forms in a large vessel, where it may slow
down – but not stop – blood flow. But if a piece of the clot breaks off, it will
eventually circulate into a vessel that is too small to allow it to pass. As a result,
blood flow to that part of the body stops, and the nearby organ or tissue can
die. The bigger the clot, the bigger (and more important) the vessel it can
block. The technical term for this condition is thrombosis (from the Greek
word for clot.) A thromboembolism indicates that the clot has traveled away
from its site of origin (embol- comes from the Greek meaning “to throw”).
A heart attack (also called a myocardial infarction) occurs when something

blocks the flow of blood to the heart – it can be a clot, a spasm of a coronary
artery, or accumulation of plaque. Like each of your other organs, the heart
needs its own supply of blood. This hard-working pump requires a steady
supply of oxygen and other nutrients. The coronary arteries feed the heart.
If something interrupts the blood supply, the starved muscle tissue begins to
die very rapidly. The longer the blockage lasts, the greater the risk that the
heart attack will be fatal.
A stroke is brain damage that occurs when the blood flow in the brain is in-
terrupted or when a vessel bursts, causing blood to spurt into the surround-
ing tissue. While heart attacks involve coronary arteries, strokes involve ar-
teries feeding the brain (carotid arteries). When the supply of blood is shut
off, nerves in the brain die almost immediately. Sometimes the pressure
of blood gushing through a ruptured vessel slices through delicate nerves,
severing their millions of connections. Depending on which part of the
brain is affected, damage can include loss of movement, speech, memory,
or virtually any function of the body. About one third of strokes are fatal.
High blood pressure can play a critical role in the development of heart disease
and strokes. In fact, it is generally regarded as the most serious risk factor for a
stroke. The higher the pressure, the greater the stress on the arteries. If the ves-
sel has a weak spot, high pressure can cause the spot to bulge or, in the case of
some of the small blood vessels in the brain, possibly burst, resulting in a stroke.
3
Angina pectoris refers to a squeezing or pressure-like pain in the chest.

It’s usually caused by an insufficient supply of oxygen to the heart muscle.
Angina usually precedes a heart attack. Since physical exertion and stress in-
crease the heart’s need for oxygen, they are often the triggering factors. The
pain may radiate to the left shoulder blade, left arm, or jaw and typically
lasts for only 1–20 minutes. Angina can be a sign of a very serious condition
that needs immediate medical attention.
An arrhythmia is a disruption of the heart’s complex pumping action. This

action is governed by electrical signals. If those signals are disrupted, the cham-
bers can start contracting in the wrong sequence. When that happens, the
heart may become unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs.
Congestive heart failure (CHF) refers to the inability of the heart to effec-
tively pump enough blood. Chronic CHF is most often due to long-term
effects of high blood pressure, previous heart attack, disorder of a heart
valve or the heart muscle, or chronic lung diseases such as asthma or em-
physema. Weakness, fatigue, and shortness of breath are the most common
symptoms of CHF.
UNDERSTANDING ATHEROSCLEROSIS
To fully understand the important ways that the various natural measures
described in this chapter affect the health of the arteries and the treatment
of CVD, it is necessary to closely examine the structure of an artery and the
process of atherosclerosis.
STRUCTURE OF AN ARTERY
An artery is divided into three major layers:

1. The intima is the internal lining of the artery (the medical term is “en-
dothelium”). The intima consists of a layer of cells known as endothelial
cells. Molecules known as glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) line the exposed
4
endothelial cells to protect them from damage and to promote repair.

Beneath the surface endothelial cells is the internal elastic membrane,
composed of a layer of GAGs and other compounds, which supports the
endothelial cells and separates the intima from the smooth muscle layer.
2. The media, or middle layer, consists primarily of smooth muscle cells.

Interspersed among the cells are GAGs and other structures, which pro-
vide support and elasticity to the artery.
3. The adventitia, or external elastic membrane, consists primarily of con-

nective tissue, including GAGs, providing structural support and elas-
ticity to the artery.
Figure 1.1 Structure of an Artery
THE PROCESS OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS

No single theory of the development of atherosclerosis satisfies all investi-
gators. The most widely accepted explanation theorizes that the lesions of
5
atherosclerosis are initiated as a response to injury to the cells lining the

inside of the artery, the arterial endothelium. Details of the progression of
atherosclerosis are illustrated in Figure 1.2.
Atherosclerosis begins when something happens to damage the GAG layer

that protects the inner lining of the blood vessel. That “something” might
be the presence of a pathogen, such as a virus; a drug or environmental
toxin; physical damage due to a spasm or high blood pressure; or an over-
eager immune response.
Like a leak in a dike, even a small amount of damage to the inner lining can
set a deadly chain of events in motion. One critical thing that happens is
that fat-carrying proteins (lipoproteins), always circulating in the blood, start
attaching themselves to the GAGs, like unwanted bystanders at a traffic ac-
cident. The low-density lipoproteins (LDL) carry cholesterol away from the
liver. Thus, their arrival causes cholesterol to build up. When LDL binds to
the site, it begins to break down, or oxidize. This releases free radicals, which
further damage nearby cells. This mechanism is why dietary cholesterol is
such a major risk factor for heart disease. The more you have in your blood,
the more it can pile up at the site of damage to the blood vessel.
Vessel damage sets off alarms, spurring your body’s repair mechanism into
action. The damaged cells secrete growth factors that stimulate cells to re-
produce and replace damaged cells. The cells also release fibrinogen, the
sticky, stringy protein that collects platelets so a clot can form to prevent
blood from leaking out of the vessel. White blood cells, ever helpful, arrive
at the site and attach themselves to the vessel wall, turning into macro-
phages. These cells are on duty to destroy any harmful particles, such as
oxidized LDLs. But once they become stuffed with LDL, they change into
useless blobs called foam cells and lose their scavenging ability.
Macrophages also contribute their own supply of growth factor. All this
growth factor causes cells from the smooth muscle layer of the vessel to start
migrating toward the inner layer. Once there, they begin replicating. In the
process these cells dump cellular debris, such as fiber-like proteins, into the
6
intima, adding more trash to the heap. Soon a kind of scar tissue, called a
fibrous cap, appears on the surface of the artery lining. This combination
of lipoprotein, cholesterol, fibrous protein, and biological litter forms a stiff
patch called atherosclerotic plaque. Over time the plaque continues to grow
until eventually it blocks the entire artery.
Your blood flow can be reduced by up to 90% before you feel any symptoms
of atherosclerosis. By then it may be too late. You are a heart attack waiting
to happen.
Figure 1.2 Development of Atherosclerosis
CAUSES
Prevention of atherosclerosis and CVD involves reducing and, when possible,
eliminating various risk factors. Risk factors are divided into two primary
7
categories: major risk factors and other risk factors (Table 1.1). Keep in mind
that some of the “other” risk factors have actually been shown to be more
important than the so-called major risk factors. For example, a strong argu-
ment could be made that insulin resistance and elevations in high-sensitivity
C-reactive protein (hsCRP), a marker for inflammation, are much more im-
portant than elevated cholesterol levels. It is also important to point out that
the risk for a heart attack increases exponentially with the number of risk
factors a person has (see Table 1.2).
Table 1.1 Risk Factors for Atherosclerosis
Major Risk Factors Other Risk Factors

Smoking Elevations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein
Elevated blood cholesterol levels
Insulin resistance
(especially oxidized LDL, known as oxLDL)
High blood pressure Low thyroid function
Diabetes Low antioxidant status
Physical inactivity Low levels of essential fatty acids
Increased platelet aggregation
Increased fibrinogen formation
Low levels of magnesium or potassium
Elevated levels of homocysteine
“Type A” personality
Table 1.2 Association of Major Risk Factors with Incidence of Atherosclerosis
Major Risk Factors )NCREASEIN)NCIDENCE

Presence of one major risk factor 30
High cholesterol and high blood pressure 300
High cholesterol and smoking 350
High blood pressure and smoking 350
Smoking, high blood cholesterol, and high blood pressure 720
8
CLINICAL EVALUATION FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
Since CVDs are such a major cause of death, I recommend consulting a

physician to have a complete cardiovascular assessment, which could in-
clude the tests listed in Table 1.3. This recommendation is especially impor-
tant if you have any major risk factor for atherosclerosis or a strong family
history of heart disease.
Table 1.3 Assessment of the Cardiovascular System
,ABORATORY4ESTS /THER0ROCEDURES
Total cholesterol (oxLDL more predictive) Exercise stress test
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol Electrocardiography
High-density lipoprotein cholesterol Echocardiography
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein
Lipoprotein(a)
Fibrinogen
Homocysteine
Ferritin (an iron-binding protein)
Lipid peroxides
DETERMINING YOUR RISK

To help determine your overall risk for having a heart attack or stroke, I de-
veloped the following risk-determinant scale. Although this risk assessment
does not take into consideration several other important factors – such as the
level of fibrinogen and coping style – the score provides a good indication
of your relative risk for a heart attack or stroke. Each of these risk factors is
briefly discussed below and many will be further discussed in more detail in
subsequent chapters.
9
Table 1.4 Risk Determination Scale for Heart Disease and Stroke
Risk Factor Risk Scale

1 2 3 4 5
Blood pressure (systolic) ≤125 125–134 135–149 150–164 ≥165
Blood pressure (diastolic) ≤90 90–94 95–104 105–114 ≥115
Smoking (cigarettes per day) None 1–9 10–19 20–29 ≥30
Heredity I * None ≥65 50–64 35–49 ≤35
Heredity II† 0 1 2 4 ≥4
Diabetes duration (years) 0 1–5 6–10 11–15 ≥15
Total cholesterol (mg/dl) ≤200 200–224 225–249 250–274 ≥275
HDL (mg/dl) ≥75 65–74 55–64 35–54 ≤35
Total cholesterol/HDL ratio‡ ≤3 3–3.9 4–4.9 5–6.4 ≥6.5
High-sensitivity CRP (mg/l) ≤1 1–1.9 2–2.9 3–4 ≥4
Exercise (hours per week) ≥4 3–4 2–3 1–2 ≤1
Supplemental EPA/DHA intake (mg) ≥600 400–599 200–399 100–199 ≤100
Vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, PCO
source, lutein supplementation 5 3 2 1 0
(number of items)
Average daily servings of fruit and
≥5 4–5 3 1–2 0
vegetables
Age ≤35 36–45 46–55 56–65 ≥65
4/4!,3
HDL = high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; CRP = C-reactive protein;

EPA = eicosapentaenoic acid; DHA = docosahexaenoic acid;
PCO = procyanidolic oligomer.
*Age of patient when he or she had a heart attack or stroke.
†Number of immediate family members having had a heart attack before age 50.
‡Total cholesterol value is divided by HDL value.
Risk = sum of all five columns:
14–20 = very low; 21–30 = low; 31–40 = average; 41–50 = high; ≥51 = very high.
10
EARLOBE CREASE
The presence of a diagonal earlobe crease has
been recognized as a sign of CVD since 1973.
More than 30 studies have been reported in
the medical literature. The earlobe is richly
vascularized, and a decrease in blood flow
over an extended period is believed to result
in collapse of the vascular bed. This leads to
a diagonal crease.2,3
Figure 1.3 Diagonal Earlobe Crease
In one study, angiographs performed on 205

consecutive patients showed an 82% accuracy
in predicting heart disease, with a false positive rate of 12% and a false negative
rate of 18%. In another study of 112 consecutive patients, the earlobe crease
was highly correlated with demonstrable heart disease and less strongly with a
previous heart attack.2
The crease is seen more commonly with advancing age, until the age of 80,
when the incidence drops dramatically. However, the association with heart
disease is independent of age. Although the presence of an earlobe crease
does not prove heart disease, it strongly suggests it, and examination of the
earlobe is an easy screening procedure. The correlation does not hold with
Asians or Native Americans.3
11
A QUICK LOOK AT RISK FACTORS
SMOKING
Cigarette smoking is perhaps the most important risk factor for atheroscle-
rosis and CVD: Statistical evidence reveals that smokers have a 70% greater
risk of death from CVD than nonsmokers do.4 The more cigarettes smoked
and the more years a person has smoked, the greater the risk of dying from
a heart attack or stroke. Overall, the average smoker dies 7–8 years sooner
than the average nonsmoker.
Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, of which more than
50 have been identified as carcinogens. These chemicals are extremely
damaging to the cardiovascular system. Specifically, they are carried in the
bloodstream on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL; the “bad” cho-
lesterol), where they either damage the lining of the arteries directly or they
damage the LDL molecule (creating oxidized LDL), which then damages
the arteries. An elevated LDL level worsens the effect of smoking on the
cardiovascular system because more cigarette toxins travel through it.
Smoking contributes to elevated cholesterol presumably by damaging feed-

back mechanisms in the liver, which control how much cholesterol the
liver manufactures.3 Smoking also promotes the formation of blood clots
because it increases both platelet aggregation and blood fibrinogen levels,
two other important independent risk factors for CVD. In addition, it is
a well-documented fact that cigarette smoking contributes to high blood
pressure.5
Even passive exposure to cigarette smoke is damaging to cardiovascular

health: Convincing evidence links environmental (secondhand or passive)
smoke to CVD. Analysis of 10 population-based studies indicates a con-
sistent dose-response effect related to exposure.6 In other words, the more
you are exposed to cigarette smoke the greater your risk for CVD. Evidence
indicates that nonsmokers appear to be more sensitive to smoke, including
its negative effects on the cardiovascular system.
12
Environmental tobacco smoke actually has a higher concentration of some

toxic constituents than the smoke that smokers inhale. Data collected after
short- and long-term environmental tobacco smoke exposure shows chang-
es in the lining of the arteries and in platelet function as well as exercise
capacity similar to those in active smoking. In summary, passive smoking is
a relevant risk factor for CVD. In the United States it is estimated that more
than 37,000 coronary heart disease (CHD) deaths each year are attributable
to environmental smoke.
The good news is that the magnitude of risk reduction achieved by quitting
smoking in patients with CVD is quite significant. Results from a detailed
meta-analysis showed a 36% reduction in relative risk of mortality for pa-
tients with coronary artery disease who quit compared with those who con-
tinued smoking.7
Various measures – including nicotine skin patches or chewing gum, acu-

puncture, and hypnosis – have all been shown to provide some benefit in
helping patients quit smoking, but not much. A systematic review of the
efficacy of interventions intended to help people to stop smoking analyzed
data from 188 randomized controlled trials.8 Encouragement to stop smok-
ing by physicians during a routine office call resulted in a 2% cessation rate
after one year. Supplementary measures such as follow-up letters or visits
had an additional effect. Behavioral modification techniques such as relax-
ation, rewards and punishments, and avoiding trigger situations in group
or individual sessions led by a psychologist had no greater effect than the
2% rate achieved by simple advice from a physician. Eight studies with
acupuncture have produced an overall effectiveness rate of roughly 3%.
Hypnosis has been judged to be ineffective even though trials have shown a
success rate of 23%. Hypnosis was judged to be ineffective because no bio-
chemical marker was used to accurately determine effectiveness. Nicotine
replacement therapy (gum or patch) is effective in about 13% of smokers
who seek help in quitting. All together, these results are not encouraging. It
appears that the best results occur when people quit “cold turkey.”
13
TIPS TO STOP SMOKING

1 List all the reasons you want to quit smoking and review them daily.
2 Set a specific day to quit, tell at least 10 friends that you are going to quit
smoking, and then DO IT!
3 Throw away all cigarettes, butts, matches, and ash trays.
4 Use substitutes. Instead of smoking, chew on raw vegetables, fruit, or gum. If

your fingers seem empty, play with a pencil.
5 Take one day at a time.
6 Realize that 40 million Americans have quit. If they can do it, so can you!
7 Visualize yourself as a nonsmoker with a fatter pocketbook, pleasant breath,

unstained teeth, and the satisfaction that comes from being in control of
your life.
8 Join an Internet support group. While the research is early, it appears that
doing so can double or even triple success rates.
9 When you need to relax, perform deep breathing exercises rather than
reaching for a cigarette.
10 Avoid situations that you associate with smoking.
11 Each day, reward yourself in a positive way. Buy yourself something with the
money you’ve saved or plan a special reward as a celebration for quitting.
ELEVATED BLOOD CHOLESTEROL LEVELS

The evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that elevated cholesterol levels
greatly increase the risk of death due to CVD, especially elevations in LDL
cholesterol.8 It’s currently recommended that the total blood cholesterol level
be less than 200 mg/dl. In addition, it is recommended that the LDL be less
than 130 mg/dl, the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL; “good” cho-
lesterol) greater than 35 mg/dl, and the triglyceride level less than 150 mg/dl.
14
Cholesterol is transported in the blood by lipoproteins. The major catego-

ries of lipoproteins are very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), LDL, and
HDL. Because VLDL and LDL are responsible for transporting fats (pri-
marily triglycerides and cholesterol) from the liver to body cells, while HDL
is responsible for returning fats to the liver, elevations of either VLDL or
LDL are associated with an increased risk for developing atherosclerosis, the
primary cause of heart attacks and strokes. In contrast, elevations of HDL
are associated with a lower risk of heart attacks.
The ratios of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol and LDL to HDL are
referred to as the cardiac risk factor ratios because they reflect whether cho-
lesterol is being deposited into tissues or broken down and excreted. The
ratio of total cholesterol to HDL should be no higher than 4.2, and the
LDL:HDL ratio should be no higher than 2.5. The risk of heart disease
can be reduced dramatically by lowering LDL while simultaneously raising
HDL levels: For every 1% drop in the LDL level, the risk of a heart attack
drops by 2%. Conversely, for every 1% increase in HDL level, the risk for
a heart attack drops 3–4%.9,10
Lowering total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides, and increasing HDL,

are clearly associated with reducing CVD risk. Strategies for accomplishing
these goals are given in Chapter 3, The Truth About Statins, Cholesterol,
and Natural Alternatives.
DIABETES
Atherosclerosis is one of the key underlying factors in the development of
many chronic complications of diabetes. Individuals with diabetes have a two-
fold to threefold higher risk of dying prematurely of heart disease or stroke
than those who are not diabetic, and 55% of deaths in diabetic patients are
caused by CVD. However, even mild insulin resistance and poor glucose con-
trol have both been shown to dramatically affect the incidence and progression
of CVD. The role of diabetes and insulin resistance is discussed in more detail
below and in Chapter 4, Beyond Cholesterol: The Role of Insulin Resistance.
15
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

Elevated blood pressure is often a sign of considerable atherosclerosis and
is a major risk factor for heart attack or stroke. In fact, the presence of
high blood pressure is generally regarded as the most significant risk factor
for stroke. Strategies to lower blood pressure are given in Chapter 6, High
Blood Pressure.
PHYSICAL INACTIVITY
A sedentary lifestyle is another major risk factor for CVD. “Physical activ-
ity” refers to “bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires
energy expenditure” and produces health benefits. Exercise, a type of physi-
cal activity, is defined as “planned, structured, and repetitive bodily move-
ment done to improve or maintain one or more components of physical
fitness.” Physical inactivity denotes a level of activity less than that needed
to maintain good health. It applies to most Americans, as roughly 54% of
adults report little or no regular physical activity; there has also been a sharp
decline in regular exercise among children and adolescents.11
Physical activity and regular exercise protect against the development of

CVD and also favorably modify other CVD risk factors, including high
blood pressure, blood lipid levels, insulin resistance, and obesity. Exercise
is also important in the treatment and management of patients who have
CVD or are at increased risk, including those who have high blood pres-
sure, stable angina, a prior heart attack, peripheral vascular disease, or heart
failure, or who are recovering from a cardiovascular event. For more infor-
mation, see Chapter 5, The Heart Healthy Lifestyle.
OTHER RISK FACTORS

In addition to the major risk factors for CVD described above, a number of
other factors have, on occasion, been shown to be more significant than the
so-called major risk factors. In fact, more than 300 different risk factors have
16
RELIGION AND THE HEART

Researcher Jeff Levin, PhD, author of God, Faith and Health, is recognized
as one of the leading researchers in the field of spirituality and health. As a
first-year graduate student in the School of Public Health at the University of
North Carolina in Chapel Hill, Levin became intrigued by two articles that found
a surprising and significant connection between spirituality and heart disease, a
connection that remains one of the best-researched areas of the positive effects
of religious behavior on health. His curiosity led to an in-depth evaluation and
pioneering research on the impact of religious practices on disease.
In God, Faith and Health, Dr. Levin notes that in more than 50 studies, religious
practices were found to protect against heart disease, including death due to heart
attacks and strokes, as well as the incidence of numerous risk factors, including
high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In particular,
Dr. Levin highlights the strong inverse correlation between strong religious com-
mitment and blood pressure that was evident no matter what religion an individual
chose to practice or his or her geographical location or ancestry.
been identified. Although there is considerable evidence that all of these risk
factors and more can play significant roles in the progression of atherosclero-
sis, much of the current research has focused on the central roles of inflamma-
tory processes, insulin resistance, platelet aggregation, and fibrinogen.
SILENT INFLAMMATION
Inflammation is a reaction designed to protect us after an injury or infec-
tion. The term owes its origin to the Latin word inflammare, which means
to set on fire. In the classic response to injury or infection, the injured area
becomes red, swollen, hot, and painful. But there is another type of inflam-
17
mation that is not so obvious. This silent inflammation reflects an underly-

ing low-grade stimulation of the inflammatory process with no outward
signs of inflammation. The only way it is apparent is by looking at blood for
markers of inflammation, such as C-reactive protein (discussed in detail be-
low). Silent inflammation is a major factor in the development of virtually
every major chronic degenerative disease, including CVD, type 2 diabetes,
cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Many factors trigger silent inflammation, including resistance to the hor-

mone insulin, obesity, emotional stress, environmental toxins, low antioxi-
dant intake or increased exposure to free radicals (e.g., from radiation or
smoking), chronic infections, imbalances of dietary fats, and increased in-
testinal permeability.
Inflammatory mediators influence many stages in the development of ath-

erosclerosis, from initial leukocyte recruitment to eventual rupture of unsta-
ble atherosclerotic plaque. In particular, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein,
a blood marker that reflects different degrees of inflammation, has been
identified as an independent risk factor for CAD. Although the hsCRP level
has been shown to be a stronger predictor of cardiovascular events than the
LDL level, screening for both biological markers provides a better predic-
tion than screening for either alone.12
Elevations in hsCRP are closely linked to insulin resistance, which means

cells of the body become unresponsive to the hormone insulin (see Chapter
4, Beyond Cholesterol: The Role of Insulin Resistance).13 Insulin resistance
is a key underlying factor not only in type 2 diabetes, but also in metabolic
syndrome, defined as a combination of at least three of the following meta-
bolic risk factors:
s #ENTRALOBESITYAWAIST TO HIPRATIOGREATERTHANFORMENANDGREATERTHAN
FORWOMEN
s "LOODTRIGLYCERIDESGREATERTHANMGDLANDLOW($,BELOWMGDL
INMENANDBELOWMGDLINWOMEN
18
s (IGHBLOODPRESSUREMM(GORHIGHER
s )NSULINRESISTANCEORGLUCOSEINTOLERANCEFASTINGBLOODSUGARLEVELSABOVE
MGDL
s 0ROTHROMBOTICSTATEEGHIGHlBRINOGENORPLASMINOGENACTIVATORINHIBITOR
INTHEBLOOD
s 0RO INmAMMATORYSTATEEGELEVATEDHS#20INTHEBLOOD
Metabolic syndrome has become increasingly common in the United States.

It is now estimated that more than 60 million U.S. adults may have it. Insu-
lin resistance and metabolic syndrome are closely tied to obesity (particular-
ly abdominal obesity), elevations in hsCRP, and a significant risk for CAD.
Strategies for dealing with insulin resistance and diabetes are discussed fully
in Chapter 4, Beyond Cholesterol: The Role of Insulin Resistance.
PLATELET AGGREGATION
Excessive platelet aggregation is another independent risk factor for heart
disease and stroke. Once platelets aggregate, they release potent compounds
that dramatically promote the formation of atherosclerotic plaque. They can
also form a clot that can lodge in small arteries and produce a heart attack
or stroke. The adhesiveness of platelets is determined largely by the type of
fats in the diet and the level of antioxidants. While saturated fats and cho-
lesterol increase platelet aggregation, omega-3 oils (both short-chain and
long-chain) and monounsaturated fats have the opposite effect. The role
of dietary fats as well as antioxidant nutrients and flavonoids is discussed
in detail in the next chapter. In addition to these factors, vitamin B6 also
inhibits platelet aggregation and lowers blood pressure and homocysteine
levels.14,15
One study determined the effect of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride)

supplementation on platelet aggregation, cholesterol, and serum zinc levels
in 24 healthy male volunteers (19–24 years old) given either B6 at a dosage
of 5 mg/kg body weight or a placebo for four weeks.14 Results demonstrated
that pyridoxine inhibited platelet aggregation by 41–48%, while there was
19
no change in the control group. Vitamin B6 was also shown to lower total
cholesterol levels considerably from pretreatment levels. Total cholesterol was
reduced from 156 to 116 mg/dl. HDL increased from 37.9 to 48.6 mg/dl.
Another study showed the blood level of the active form of vitamin B6 –
pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P5P) – to be inversely related to both hsCRP and
fibrinogen.15 In other words, the lower the level of P5P, the higher the level
of hsCRP. Low P5P concentrations were associated with a calculated 89%
increased risk for CVD.
Non-antioxidant vitamins and minerals may also be important in support-

ing the effectiveness of antioxidants. Taking a multivitamin/multimineral
supplement rather than simply taking vitamin B6 seems to make the most
sense. In one double-blind study, hsCRP levels were significantly lower in
a group taking a multivitamin than in a placebo group. The reduction in
hsCRP levels was most evident in patients who had elevated levels (1 mg/l
or more) at baseline.16 Researchers found that serum vitamin B6 and vita-
min C levels were inversely associated with the hsCRP level. The results
from all these studies provide clear evidence of the possible role of vitamin
B6 supplementation in reducing the risk of CVD mortality.
Garlic preparations standardized for alliin content, as well as garlic oil, have
also demonstrated inhibition of platelet aggregation. In one study, 120
patients with increased platelet aggregation were given either 900 mg/day
of a dried garlic preparation containing 1.3% alliin or a placebo for four
weeks.17 In the garlic group, spontaneous platelet aggregation disappeared,
the microcirculation of the skin increased by 47.6%, plasma viscosity de-
creased by 3.2%, diastolic blood pressure dropped from an average of 74
to 67 mm Hg, and fasting blood glucose concentration dropped from an
average of 89.4 to 79 mg/dl.
FIBRINOGEN
Fibrinogen is a component of blood clots and atherosclerotic plaque. El-
evated fibrinogen levels are another clear risk factor for CVD. Early clinical
20
studies stimulated detailed population-based investigations into the pos-

sible link between fibrinogen and CVD. The first such study was the North-
wick Park Heart Study in the United Kingdom. This large study involved
1,510 men 40–64 years of age who were randomly recruited and tested for
a range of clotting factors, including fibrinogen. At the four-year follow-up,
there was a stronger association between cardiovascular deaths and fibrino-
gen levels than for cholesterol. This association has now been confirmed in
at least five other large population-based studies.18
Natural therapies designed to promote fibrinolysis include exercise, ome-

ga-3 oils, niacin, garlic, and nattokinase. In addition, the Mediterranean
diet alone significantly reduces fibrinogen and other markers of inflam-
mation.19 This diet is described in detail in Chapter 2, Basic Dietary and
Supplement Strategies for Heart Health. Adherence to the Mediterranean
diet was shown to be associated with a 20% lower CRP level, 17% lower
interleukin-6 level, 15% lower homocysteine level, and 6% lower fibrino-
gen level.
Natto is a traditional Japanese food prepared from soybeans fermented with

Bacillus subtilis. Nattokinase is a protein-digesting enzyme isolated from
natto; it has potent fibrinolytic and thrombolytic (“clot-busting”) activity
that has shown significant potential in improving CVD.20 Specifically, nat-
tokinase has been shown to:
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CLOTDISSOLUTIONANDREDUCESRISKOFSEVERECLOTTINGTOPREVENTSTROKESAND
HEARTATTACKS
s 2EDUCE,$,BAD CHOLESTEROLANDINCREASES($,GOOD CHOLESTEROL
s 2EDUCEBLOODVISCOSITYIMPROVESBLOODmOWANDLOWERSBLOODPRESSURE
The ability to improve blood vessel health was quite obvious in a double-
blind study in patients with high blood pressure.21 In the study, 73 subjects
with baseline untreated moderate high blood pressure of 130–159/100–120
mm Hg were randomized to take either nattokinase (2000 FU/capsule per
day) or placebo. After eight weeks, subjects in the nattokinase group showed
21
a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (5.5 mm Hg) and diastolic

blood pressure (2.84 mm Hg), compared with subjects in the placebo group.
The typical dosage for nattokinase is 100 mg (2000 FU) once or twice daily.
HOMOCYSTEINE
Homocysteine is an intermediate in the conversion of the amino acid methio-
nine to cysteine that can damage the lining of arteries, as well as the brain. If a
person is functionally deficient in folic acid, vitamin B6, or vitamin B12, there
will be an increase in homocysteine. Elevated homocysteine levels are an in-
dependent risk factor for heart attack, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.
Elevations in homocysteine are found in approximately 20–40% of patients
with heart disease and are significantly associated with CVD.22–25
Although folic acid supplementation (400 mcg daily) alone can reduce ho-
mocysteine levels in many people, given the importance of vitamins B6 and
B12 to proper homocysteine metabolism, all three should be used together.
In one study the suboptimal levels of these nutrients in men with elevated
homocysteine levels were 56.8% for folic acid, 59.1% for vitamin B12, and
25% for vitamin B6, indicating that folic acid supplementation alone would
not lower homocysteine levels in many cases.26 In other words, folic acid
supplementation will lower homocysteine levels only if there are adequate
levels of vitamins B6 and B12.
In 1998 the Food and Drug Administration mandated the fortification of some
food products with folic acid. Although homocysteine levels have decreased
modestly since then, the effect on mortality has been minor at best.27 This indi-
cates the importance of supplementing all three nutrients, not just one.
“TYPE A” PERSONALITY
“Type A” behavior is characterized by an extreme sense of time urgency, com-
petitiveness, impatience, and aggression. This behavior carries with it a two-
fold increase in CHD compared with non-type A behavior.28–30 Particularly
22
damaging to the cardiovascular system is the regular expression of anger. In

one study, the relationship between habitual anger coping styles, especially an-
ger expression, and serum lipid concentrations were examined in 86 healthy
people.29 Habitual anger expression was measured on four scales: aggression,
controlled affect (mood), guilt, and social inhibition. A positive correlation
between serum cholesterol level and aggression was found: The higher the
aggression score, the higher the cholesterol level. A negative correlation was
found between the LDL:HDL ratio and the controlled affect score – the
greater the ability to control anger, the lower this ratio.
In other words, those who learn to control anger experience a significant

reduction in the risk for heart disease, while an unfavorable lipid profile is
linked with a predominantly aggressive (hostile) anger coping style.
Anger expression also plays a role in CRP levels. In one study, greater anger
and severity of depressive symptoms, separately and in combination with
hostility, were significantly associated with elevations in CRP in apparently
healthy men and women.30 Other mechanisms explaining the link between
the emotions, personality, and CVD include increased cortisol secretion,
endothelial dysfunction, high blood pressure, and increased platelet aggre-
gation and fibrinogen levels.31
FINAL COMMENTS
One of the most popular recommendations given by physicians for reduc-

ing the risk of a heart attack is to take low-dose aspirin (e.g., less than 325
mg/day). While aspirin has been shown to decrease the risk of heart attacks
and strokes both in people who have not had a heart attack (primary pre-
vention) and those with a history of a heart attack (secondary prevention),
it may not be the best approach.
The best approach to preventing first or subsequent heart attacks may be

one that is too often overlooked by many physicians – diet. Several studies
have shown that dietary modifications are not only more effective in pre-
23
venting recurrent heart attack than aspirin but can also reverse the blockage
of clogged arteries.32–34 The benefits of the important dietary and supple-
ment strategies given in Chapter 2 far exceed any possible benefit from the
simplistic recommendation of taking aspirin to prevent a heart attack.
There is also some risk of ulcer formation with aspirin use, even at low
dosages. The risk of gastrointestinal bleeding due to peptic ulcers has been
evaluated for aspirin at daily dosages of 300, 150, and 75 mg. Essentially,
there is an increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding due to peptic ulcers at
all dosage levels. However, the dosage of 75 mg/day was associated with a
2.3-fold increased risk of ulcers, compared with a 3.2-fold increased risk at
150 mg/day and a 3.9-fold increased risk at 300 mg/day.35
It is important to point out that there are only positive side effects with the
use of dietary, lifestyle, and proven supplement strategies to reduce heart
attack and stroke risk. When additional factors that affect platelet aggrega-
tion are considered, such as fish oils, garlic and onions, and special factors
such as nattokinase, there is little doubt that a natural approach can be con-
structed that goes well beyond the small benefit that aspirin may produce.
24
CHAPTER 2
BASIC DIETARY
AND SUPPLEMENTAL
STRATEGIES FOR
HEART HEALTH
It is now well established that certain dietary practices cause heart disease,
while others can prevent it. Clearly, the standard American diet contributes
greatly to heart disease. It’s not just that the standard American diet is too
high in fat, cholesterol, fried foods, and animal protein, it’s also high in sug-
ar and other refined carbohydrates. High-sugar “junk food” diets contribute
to heart disease in a major way by leading to poor blood sugar regulation,
obesity, and ultimately type 2 diabetes. A study of more than 48,000 par-
25
CHAP TER 2 · BASIC DIE TARY AND SUPPLEMEN TAL STR ATEGIES FOR HE AR T HE ALT H
ticipants followed for an average of eight years found that the consumption
of foods that caused a rapid rise in blood sugar levels (a high-glycemic-load
diet) increased the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by 68%.1
As for diet in the prevention of heart disease, one of the most widely stud-
ied dietary interventions in CVD is the traditional “Mediterranean diet.”
This diet reflects food patterns typical of some Mediterranean regions in the
early 1960s, such as Crete, parts of the rest of Greece, and southern Italy.
Unfortunately the modern Mediterranean diet has deviated significantly
from its healthful origin. The original Mediterranean diet had the following
characteristics:
s /LIVEOILISTHEPRINCIPALSOURCEOFFAT
s 4HEDIETCENTERSONANABUNDANCEOFPLANTFOODFRUITPOTATOESBEANSAND
OTHERVEGETABLESBREADSPASTANUTSANDSEEDS
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LOCALLYGROWNFOODS
s &RESHFRUITISTHETYPICALDAILYDESSERTWITHSWEETSCONTAININGCONCENTRATED
SUGARSORHONEYCONSUMEDONLYAFEWTIMESAWEEKATMOST
s $AIRYPRODUCTSPRINCIPALLYCHEESEANDYOGURT ARECONSUMEDDAILYINLOW
TOMODERATEAMOUNTS
s &ISHISCONSUMEDREGULARLY
s 0OULTRYANDEGGSARECONSUMEDINMODERATEAMOUNTSUPTOFOURTIMES
WEEKLY ORNOTATALL
s 2EDMEATISCONSUMEDINLOWAMOUNTS
s 7INEISCONSUMEDINLOWTOMODERATEAMOUNTSNORMALLYWITHMEALS
One study examined the effect of the Mediterranean diet on the lining of
blood vessels and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in patients
with metabolic syndrome.2 Patients in the intervention group were instruct-
ed to follow the Mediterranean diet and received detailed advice on how
to increase their daily consumption of whole grains, fruit, vegetables, nuts,
and olive oil. Patients in the control group followed the American Heart As-
sociation (AHA) diet. After two years, patients following the Mediterranean
26
diet consumed more foods rich in monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated

fat, and fiber and had a lower ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids.
Compared with patients consuming the AHA diet, patients consuming
the Mediterranean diet had significantly reduced serum concentrations of
hsCRP and other inflammatory mediators, improved blood vessel function,
and greater weight loss.
Although several components of the Mediterranean diet deserve special

mention, it is important to stress that the total benefits reflect an interplay
among many beneficial compounds rather than any single factor.3 Some of
the key benefits of the Mediterranean diet are that it reduces silent inflam-
mation, aids in blood sugar stability, and improves insulin sensitivity.
OLIVE OIL AND OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS
Another important aspect of the Mediterranean diet may be the combina-

tion of olive oil (a source of monounsaturated fats and antioxidants) and the
intake of omega-3 fatty acids. Olive oil contains not only monounsaturated
fatty acid (oleic acid) but also several antioxidant agents that may account
for some of its health benefits. In addition to a mild effect in lowering low-
density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL; “bad” cholesterol) and triglycerides,
olive oil increases high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL; “good” cho-
lesterol) and helps prevent LDL from being damaged by free radicals, creat-
ing oxidized LDL, which is even more damaging to the arteries.4
More than 300 clinical trials have also demonstrated the benefits of the
longer-chain omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and doco-
sahexaenoic acid (DHA) for cardiovascular health. These fatty acids exert
considerable benefits on reducing the risk for CVD. Supplementation with
EPA and DHA has little effect on cholesterol levels but does lower triglyc-
eride levels significantly and produces myriad additional beneficial effects,
including reduced platelet aggregation, improved function of the lining of
blood vessels, improved arterial flexibility, improved blood and oxygen sup-
ply to the heart, and a mild effect in lowering blood pressure.5
27
The levels of EPA and DHA within red blood cells have been shown to be
highly significant predictors of heart disease. This laboratory value has been
termed the omega-3 index. An omega-3 index of 8% was associated with the
greatest protection, whereas an index of 4% was associated with the least. One
analysis showed the omega-3 index to be the most significant predictor of
CVD, better than hsCRP; total cholesterol, LDL, or HDL; or homocysteine.
Researchers subsequently determined that 1000 mg daily of EPA and DHA
combined is required to achieve or surpass the 8% omega-3 index target.6,7
The omega-3 index findings are not surprising, as a wealth of information has
documented a clear relationship between dietary consumption of omega-3
fatty acids and the likelihood of developing CVD: The higher the omega-3
fatty acid intake, the lower the likelihood of CVD. It has been estimated that
raising the levels of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids through diet or supple-
mentation may reduce overall cardiovascular mortality by as much as 45%.8,9
In general, for preventive effects against CVD, the dosage recommendation

is 1000 mg EPA+DHA per day; for lowering triglycerides, the dosage is
3000 mg per day. In a double-blind study, after eight weeks of supplemen-
tation, a daily dosage of 3400 mg EPA+DHA lowered triglycerides by 27%,
while a lower dosage of 850 mg had no effect. These results clearly indicate
that the effective dosage for lowering triglycerides with fish oils is 3000 mg
EPA+DHA per day.10
Although the longer-chain omega-3 fatty acids exert more pronounced ef-
fects than alpha-linolenic acid – the shorter-chain omega-3 fatty acid from
vegetable sources (e.g., flaxseed oil, walnuts) – it is important to point out
that the two populations with the lowest rates of heart attack have a rela-
tively high intake of alpha-linolenic acid: the Japanese who inhabit Kohama
Island and the inhabitants of Crete.11,12 Typically, Cretans have a threefold
higher serum concentration of alpha-linolenic acid than residents of oth-
er European countries, owing to their frequent consumption of walnuts
and the vegetable purslane.11 Of course another important dietary factor in
both the Kohamans and Cretans is their use of oils containing oleic acid.
28
However, although the oleic acid content of the diet offers some degree of
protection, the rates of heart attack among the Kohamans and Cretans are
much lower than those in populations that consume only oleic acid sources
and little alpha-linolenic acid. The intake of alpha-linolenic acid is viewed
as a more significant protective factor than oleic acid.
TAKE A HIGH-QUALITY
FISH OIL SUPPLEMENT
One of the major advances in nutritional medicine is the ability to produce a
fish oil supplement that is a highly concentrated form of long-chain omega-3
fatty acids and also free from lipid peroxides, heavy metals, environmental
contaminants, and other harmful compounds. These “pharmaceutical grade” fish
oil concentrates are so superior to earlier fish oil products that they are literally
revolutionizing nutritional medicine because of the health benefits they produce.
When selecting a fish oil supplement, it is essential to use a brand that you trust.
Quality control is an absolute must to ensure the product is free from heavy
metals such as lead and mercury, pesticides, damaged fats (lipid peroxides),
and other contaminants. For general health, the recommended dosage is 1000
mg of EPA+DHA daily. Read the label carefully – it’s not 1000 mg of fish oil,
it’s 1000 mg of EPA+DHA that is required. For therapeutic purposes such as
reducing inflammation or lowering triglyceride levels the dosage recommendation
is usually 3000 mg EPA+DHA daily.
NUTS AND SEEDS
Higher consumption of nuts and seeds has been shown to significantly re-
duce the risk of CVD in large population-based studies.13 Researchers esti-
mate that substituting nuts for an equivalent amount of carbohydrates in an
29
average diet resulted in a 30% reduction in heart disease risk. Researchers

calculated an even more impressive risk reduction, 45%, when fat from nuts
was substituted for saturated fats (found primarily in meat and dairy prod-
ucts). Nuts have a cholesterol-lowering effect, which partly explains this
benefit, but they are also a rich source of arginine. By increasing nitric oxide
levels, arginine may help to improve blood flow, reduce blood clot forma-
tion, and improve blood fluidity (the blood becomes thinner and therefore
flows through blood vessels more easily).
Walnuts appear to be especially beneficial because they are also a rich source
of both antioxidants and alpha-linolenic acid. One study randomly assigned
men and women with high cholesterol to either a cholesterol-lowering
Mediterranean diet or a diet of similar energy and fat content in which wal-
nuts replaced approximately 32% of the energy from monounsaturated fat
(olive oil). Participants followed each diet for four weeks. Compared with
the Mediterranean diet, the walnut diet improved endothelial cell function
(it increased endothelium-dependent vasodilation and reduced levels of vas-
cular cell adhesion molecule-1). The walnut diet also significantly reduced
total cholesterol (a decrease of 4.4%) and LDL (a decrease of 6.4%).14
VEGETABLES, FRUIT, AND RED WINE
An important contributor to the benefits noted with the Mediterranean

diet is the focus on carotenoid- and flavonoid-rich fruit, vegetables, and
beverages (e.g., red wine). Numerous population studies have repeatedly
demonstrated that a higher intake of dietary antioxidants significantly re-
duces the risk of heart disease and stroke. Higher blood levels of antioxidant
nutrients from dietary and supplemental sources are also associated with
lower levels of hsCRP.15,16 The importance of antioxidant intake in the pre-
vention and treatment of CAD is discussed further below.
Two valuable sources of antioxidants in the Mediterranean diet are tomato

products and red wine. Tomatoes are a rich source of the carotene lycopene.
In large clinical studies evaluating the relationship between carotene status
30
and heart attack, lycopene, but not beta carotene, was shown to be pro-
tective. Lycopene exerts greater antioxidant activity than beta carotene in
general but specifically against LDL oxidation.17
The cardiovascular protection offered by red wine is popularly referred to

as the “French paradox.” Because the French consume more saturated fat
FLAXSEED OIL
In addition to taking a high-quality fish oil, I think it’s also a good idea to take
a tablespoon of flaxseed oil daily. Flaxseed oil is unique because it contains
monounsaturated fatty acid as well as appreciable amounts of the essential fatty
acids alpha-linolenic (the essential omega-3 fatty acid) and linoleic acid (the
essential omega-6 fatty acid). The best way to take flaxseed oil is by adding it to
foods. Don’t cook with flaxseed oil – use olive or canola oil. Because flaxseed oil
is easily damaged by heat and light, you must add it to foods after cooking.
Taking flaxseed oil by the tablespoon is not very palatable. I recommend trying
to incorporate it into your food as much as possible. You can use it as a salad
dressing, dip bread into it, add it to hot or cold cereal, or spray it over popcorn.
Here is a sample salad dressing featuring flaxseed oil:
FLAXSEED OIL BASIC SALAD DRESSING

This recipe is quick and delicious!
4 tbsp organic flaxseed oil

1½ tbsp lemon juice
1 medium garlic clove, crushed
Pinch of seasoned salt or salt-free seasoning
Fresh ground pepper to taste
Place all ingredients in a bowl and whisk together until smooth and creamy. Jazz
up this basic recipe to your personal taste by using your favorite herbs and spices.
31
than people in the United States and the United Kingdom yet have a lower
incidence of heart disease, red wine consumption has been suggested as
the reason. Presumably this protection is the result of flavonoids and other
polyphenols in red wine that protect against oxidative damage to LDL, as
well as helping to reduce the levels of inflammatory mediators.18 However,
moderate alcohol consumption alone has been shown to be protective in
some studies by exerting positive effects on the HDL:LDL ratio and CRP
as well as levels of fibrinogen, although red wine typically exerts the most
significant effects.19 Importantly, the effects of alcohol on CVD risk, mor-
bidity, and total mortality are counterbalanced by alcohol’s addictive and
psychological effects and excessive consumption resulting in depletion of
glutathione and increased risk of colon cancer.
The major benefit of red wine consumption in protecting against CVD

may ultimately be the effect that the polyphenols have on improving the
function of the cells that line the blood vessels (endothelial cells).20 The
consumption of green tea and dark chocolate, like that of red wine, has
also been shown in population studies to be associated with a reduced risk
for CVD. As with red wine, much of the benefit of green tea and chocolate
consumption may be the result of several different mechanisms, including
improving endothelial cell function.21
Other foods and beverages rich in antioxidants have shown benefit in fighting
atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Pomegranate (Punica granatum)
juice appears to be particularly useful. It is remarkably rich in antioxidants,
such as soluble polyphenols, tannins, and anthocyanins. Research has indicat-
ed that components of pomegranate juice can retard atherosclerosis, reduce
plaque formation, and improve arterial health at an intake of 8 oz daily.22–24
EAT A “RAINBOW” DIET
One of the best ways to ensure an adequate intake of dietary antioxidants is

to focus on eating a “rainbow” assortment of fruit and vegetables regularly.
“Rainbow” simply means that selecting colorful foods – red, orange, yellow,
32
green, blue, and purple – provides the body with the full spectrum of pig-
ments with powerful antioxidant effects as well as the nutrients it needs for
optimal function and protection against disease (Table 2.1).
TAKE GRAPE SEED

OR PINE BARK EXTRACT
One of the most beneficial groups of plant flavonoids are the proanthocyanidins,
also referred to as procyanidins or procyanidolic oligomers (PCOs). Although
PCOs exist in many plants as well as in red wine, commercially available sources
of PCOs include extracts from grape seeds and the bark of the maritime (Landes)
pine. These extracts offer protection to the heart and vascular system via several
different mechanisms, including their antioxidant activity and effects on the
endothelial cells that line blood vessels. PCOs have shown significant benefits in
clinical studies, as antioxidant therapy and for the following health conditions:
s !STHMA
s !THEROSCLEROSISHIGHBLOODPRESSUREMETABOLICSYNDROMEAND
TYPEDIABETES
s !TTENTIONDElCITDISORDER
s -ALEINFERTILITY
s /STEOARTHRITIS
s 0ERIODONTALDISEASE
s 6ARICOSEVEINSVENOUSINSUFlCIENCYANDCAPILLARYFRAGILITY
s 6ISUALDYSFUNCTIONRETINOPATHYANDMACULARDEGENERATION
Studies show that supplementation with PCOs for six weeks at dosages of
150–300 mg considerably improves the total antioxidant capacity in the blood.
Because of this effect (and others) it simply makes a lot of sense to supplement
at this level on a daily basis with either grape seed extract or pine bark extract.
33
Table 2.1 The Rainbow Assortment
9ELLOWAND,IGHT
2ED $ARK'REEN 'REEN /RANGE "LUEAND0URPLE
Apples
Apples (red) Artichokes Apricots Beets
(green or yellow)
Bell peppers Bell peppers
Asparagus Avocados Blackberries
(red) (orange)
Cherries Bell peppers (green) Bananas Butternut squash Blueberries
Cranberries Broccoli Bell peppers (yellow) Cantaloupe Cabbage (purple)
Grapefruit Brussels sprouts Bok choy Carrots Cherries
Grapes (red) Chard Cabbage Mangoes Currants
Plums (red) Collard greens Cauliflower Oranges Eggplant
Radishes Cucumbers Celery Papaya Grapes (purple)
Raspberries Green beans Fennel Pumpkin Onions (red)
Strawberries Grapes (green) Kiwi fruit Sweet potatoes Pears (red)
Tomatoes Honeydew melon Lemons Yams Plums (purple)
Lettuce
Watermelon Kale
(light green types)
Leeks Limes
Lettuce
Onions
(dark green types)
Pears
Mustard greens
(green or yellow)
Peas Pineapple
Spinach Squash (yellow)
Turnip greens Zucchini (yellow)
KEEP SALT INTAKE LOW, POTASSIUM INTAKE HIGH
Electrolytes – potassium, sodium, chloride, and magnesium – are mineral

salts that can conduct electricity when dissolved in water. For optimal health,
it is important to consume these nutrients in the proper balance. Too much
sodium in the diet from salt (sodium chloride) can disrupt this balance.
Many people know that a high-sodium, low-potassium diet can cause high
34
EASY TIPS TO REACH s 0

ACKAPIECEOFFRUITORSOMECUT UP
vegetables in your briefcase or
YOUR GOAL OF FIVE backpack; carry moist towelettes for
SERVINGS OF FRUIT AND easy cleanup.
VEGETABLES PER DAY s !
DDFRUITANDVEGETABLESTOLUNCHBY
having them in soup, salad, or cut-up raw.
s "
UYMANYKINDSOFFRUITANDVEGETABLES
when you shop so you have plenty of s 5
SETHINLYSLICEDPEARSORAPPLESINYOUR
choices. next omelet.
s 3
TOCKUPONFROZENVEGETABLESFOREASY s !
TDINNERSERVESTEAMEDORMICROWAVED
cooking so that you always have a vegetables.
vegetable dish with every dinner. s )NCREASEPORTIONSWHENYOUSERVE
s 5
SETHEFRUITANDVEGETABLESTHATGOBAD vegetables. One easy way of doing so is
quickly (peaches, asparagus) first. Save adding fresh greens such as Swiss chard,
hardier varieties (apples, acorn squash) collards, or beet greens to stir fries.
or frozen goods for later in the week. s #
HOOSEFRESHFRUITFORDESSERT&ORA
s +
EEPFRUITANDVEGETABLESWHEREYOUCAN special dessert, try a fruit parfait with
see them. The more often you see them, low-fat yogurt or sherbet topped with
the more likely you are to eat them. lots of berries.
s +
EEPABOWLOFCUT UPVEGETABLESONTHE s !
DDEXTRAVARIETIESOFVEGETABLES
top shelf of the refrigerator. when you prepare soups, sauces, and
casseroles (for example, add grated
s -
AKEABIGTOSSEDSALADWITHSEVERAL
carrots and zucchini to spaghetti sauce).
kinds of greens, cherry tomatoes, cut up
carrots, red pepper, broccoli, scallions s 4 AKEADVANTAGEOFSALADBARSWHICH
and sprouts. Refrigerate in a large glass offer ready-to-eat raw vegetables and
bowl with an air-tight lid so a delicious fruit and prepared salads made with fruit
mixed salad will be ready to enjoy for and vegetables.
several days. s 5
SEVEGETABLE BASEDSAUCESSUCHAS
s +
EEPAFRUITBOWLONYOURKITCHEN marinara, and juices such as low-sodium
counter, table, or desk at work. vegetable cocktail or tomato juice.
s 4 REATYOURSELFTOAFRUITSUNDAE4OPA s & REEZELOTSOFBLUEBERRIES4HEYMAKE

bowl full of your favorite cut-up fruits a great summer replacement for ice
with vanilla yogurt, shredded coconut, cream, ice pops, and other sugary foods.
and a handful of nuts.
35
blood pressure and that the opposite can lower blood pressure,25,26 but not as
many are aware that the former diet also raises the risk of cancer.27
In the United States, only 5% of sodium intake comes from the natural
ingredients in food. Prepared foods contribute 45% of our sodium intake,
45% is added during cooking, and another 5% is added as a condiment.
You can reduce your salt intake by following these tips:
s 4AKETHESALTSHAKEROFFTHETABLE
s /MITADDEDSALTFROMRECIPESANDFOODPREPARATION
s )FYOUABSOLUTELYMUSTHAVETHETASTEOFSALTTRYSALTSUBSTITUTESSUCHAS
!LSO3ALT.O3ALTAND.U 3ALT4HESEPRODUCTSAREMADEWITHPOTASSIUM
CHLORIDEANDTASTEVERYSIMILARTOSODIUMCHLORIDE
s ,EARNTOENJOYTHEmAVORSOFUNSALTEDFOODS
s 4RYmAVORINGFOODSWITHHERBSSPICESANDLEMONJUICE
s 2EADFOODLABELSCAREFULLYTODETERMINETHEAMOUNTSOFSODIUM,EARNTO
RECOGNIZEINGREDIENTSTHATCONTAINSODIUM3ALTSOYSAUCESALTBRINEAND
ANYINGREDIENTWITHhSODIUMvASPARTOFITSNAMESUCHASMONOSODIUM
GLUTAMATEORBAKINGSODASODIUMBICARBONATE CONTAINSODIUM
s 7HENREADINGLABELSANDMENUSLOOKFORWORDSTHATSIGNALHIGHSODIUM
CONTENTSUCHASSMOKEDBARBECUEDPICKLEDBROTHSOYSAUCETERIYAKI
#REOLESAUCEMARINATEDCOCKTAILSAUCETOMATOBASE0ARMESANAND
MUSTARDSAUCE
s $ONOTEATCANNEDVEGETABLESORSOUPSWHICHAREOFTENEXTREMELYHIGHIN
SODIUM
s #HOOSELOW SALTREDUCED SODIUM PRODUCTSWHENAVAILABLE
Most Americans have a potassium to sodium (K:Na) ratio of less than 1:2.
In other words, they ingest twice as much sodium as potassium. But experts
believe that the optimal dietary potassium to sodium ratio is greater than
5:1–10 times higher than the average intake. However, even this may not be
optimal. A natural diet rich in fruit and vegetables can easily produce much
higher K:Na ratios, because most fruit and vegetables have a K:Na ratio of
at least 50:1. The average K:Na ratios for several common fresh fruits and
vegetables are as follows:
36
s "ANANAS s 0OTATOES s #ARROTS

s /RANGES s !PPLES
MAGNESIUM
Magnesium is absolutely essential to the proper functioning of the entire

cardiovascular system. Its critical role in preventing heart disease and strokes
is now widely accepted. In addition, there is a substantial body of knowledge
demonstrating that supplementation with magnesium, potassium, or both
is effective in treating a wide range of CVDs, including angina, arrhythmia,
congestive heart failure, and high blood pressure. In many of these applica-
tions, supplementation with magnesium or potassium, or both, has been
used for more than 50 years.
The average intake of magnesium by healthy adults in the United States is

143–266 mg/day. This level is well below even the recommended daily al-
lowance (RDA) of 350 mg for men and 300 mg for women. Food choices
are the main reason. Because magnesium occurs abundantly in whole foods,
most nutritionists and dietitians assume that most Americans get enough
magnesium in their diets. But most Americans are not eating whole, natu-
ral foods. They are consuming large quantities of processed foods. Because
food processing refines out a large portion of magnesium, most Americans
are not getting the RDA for magnesium.
The best dietary sources of magnesium are tofu, legumes, seeds, nuts, whole
grains, and green leafy vegetables. Fish, meat, milk, and most commonly
eaten fruit are quite low in magnesium. Most Americans consume a low-
magnesium diet because their diet is high in low-magnesium foods such as
processed foods, meat, and dairy products.
People dying of heart attacks have been shown to have lower heart magnesium
levels than people of the same age dying of other causes.28 Low magnesium
levels contribute to atherosclerosis and CVD via many mechanisms, includ-
ing causing dysfunction of the endothelial cells, resulting in inflammation.29
37
ANTIOXIDANT NUTRIENTS
Although diets rich in antioxidant nutrients have consistently shown tremen-

dous protection against CVD, clinical trials using antioxidant vitamins and
minerals have produced inconsistent results.30,31 This failure may be due to
several factors, most importantly the fact that the human antioxidant system
is a complex arrangement of interacting components. It is unlikely that any
single antioxidant would be proven to be effective, especially in the absence of
a supporting cast. Most antioxidants require some sort of “partner” antioxi-
dant, allowing them to work more efficiently. The most salient example of this
is the partnership between the two primary antioxidants in the human body
– vitamins C and E. Vitamin C is an “aqueous (water) phase” antioxidant,
while vitamin E is a “lipid (fat) phase” antioxidant. Although some studies
have shown that supplementation with these nutrients reduces atherosclerotic
lesions, more protection is likely required to ensure optimal effect.32
In addition to vitamin C, vitamin E also requires selenium and coenzyme

Q10 to work efficiently (discussed in more detail later). Further adding to
the shortcomings of many studies on antioxidant nutrients is the lack of
consideration of the importance of phytochemicals and plant-derived anti-
oxidants that, in addition to being beneficial on their own, are well known
to enhance the activities of vitamin and mineral antioxidants.
VITAMIN E AND SELENIUM

Clinical studies have shown inconsistent effects for vitamin E.33 This could
be a result of a lack of selenium or other cofactor for proper vitamin E ac-
tion. Low levels of selenium are associated with increased risk for CVD.34
While vitamin E does play a role in protecting against oxidation of LDL,
what is probably of greatest importance is to use vitamin E within the con-
text of a comprehensive dietary and supplementation strategy to boost an-
tioxidant status, such as the strategy recommended in this chapter. In this
context, vitamin E supplementation definitely plays a role in protecting
against heart disease and strokes by its ability to do the following:
38
s 2EDUCE,$,PEROXIDATIONANDINCREASEPLASMA,$,BREAKDOWN
s )NHIBITEXCESSIVEPLATELETAGGREGATION
s )NCREASE($,LEVELS
s 2EDUCE#20LEVELS
s )MPROVEENDOTHELIALCELLFUNCTION
s )MPROVEINSULINSENSITIVITY
VITAMIN C
A high dietary intake of vitamin C has been shown to significantly reduce
the risk of death from heart attacks and strokes in numerous population
studies. One of the most detailed studies providing insight analyzed the
vitamin C intake of 11,348 adults over five years and divided them into
three groups:
,ESSTHANMGDAILYDIETARYVITAMIN#INTAKE
'
REATERTHANMGDAILYDIETARYVITAMIN#INTAKEWITHNOVITAMIN#
SUPPLEMENTATION
'
REATERTHANMGDAILYDIETARYVITAMIN#INTAKEPLUSVITAMIN#
SUPPLEMENTATIONESTIMATEDTOBEMGORMORE
Analysis showed that the average death rate was up to 48% lower in the
high vitamin C intake group than in the low-intake group for CVD and
overall mortality. These differences correspond to an increase in longevity of
5–7 years for men and 1–3 years for women.
Vitamin C works as an antioxidant in aqueous (water-based) environments

in the body, both outside and inside human cells. Vitamin C has also been
shown to be extremely effective in preventing LDL from being oxidized,
even in smokers.36 Vitamin C and E supplementation of 500 mg and 272
IU daily, respectively, for six years has been shown to reduce the progression
of carotid atherosclerosis by 53% in men and 14% in women.32
39
Dozens of observational and clinical studies have shown that vitamin C

levels correspond to total cholesterol and HDL. One of the best-designed
studies showed that the higher the vitamin C content of the blood, the
lower the total cholesterol and triglycerides and the higher the HDL.37 The
benefits for HDL were particularly impressive. For each 0.5 mg/dl increase
in vitamin C content of the blood, there was an increase in HDL of 14.9
mg/dl in women and 2.1 mg/dl in men. This study is significant in that it
demonstrated that the association of vitamin C and HDL levels persists
even in well-nourished individuals with normal serum levels of vitamin C
who supplement their diets with additional vitamin C.
IN SUMMARY, VITAMIN C LOWERS THE RISK OF CVD BY DOING THE FOLLOWING:

s !CTINGASANANTIOXIDANT
s 3TRENGTHENINGTHECOLLAGENSTRUCTURESOFTHEARTERIES
s ,OWERINGTOTALCHOLESTEROLLIPOPROTEINA ANDBLOODPRESSURE
s 2AISING($,LEVELS
s )NHIBITINGPLATELETAGGREGATION
s 0ROMOTINGlBRINOLYSIS
s 2EDUCINGMARKERSOFINmAMMATION
s 2EGENERATINGVITAMIN%
TAKE A HIGH-QUALITY
MULTIVITAMIN AND MINERAL FORMULA
The best way to get the necessary antioxidant nutrients, such as vitamin C
and E, selenium, and beta carotene, as well as other critical nutrients such as
magnesium, is by taking a high-quality multivitamin and mineral supplement.
Think of it as a nutritional “insurance formula.” As noted in the previous chapter,
taking a multivitamin and mineral supplement reduces hsCRP levels and may
help prevent heart disease. The following recommendations provide an optimum
intake range to guide you in selecting a high-quality multi. (Note that vitamins
and minerals are measured in different units: IU = International Units, mg =
milligrams, and mcg = micrograms.)
40
6ITAMIN $AILY$OSEFOR!DULTS NOTES

Vitamin A (retinol) a 2500–5000 IU a Women of childbearing age who
may become pregnant should not
Vitamin A (from beta carotene) 5000–25,000 IU take more than 2500 IU retinol
daily because of the possible risk of
Vitamin B1 (thiamin) 10–100 mg birth defects.
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) 10–50 mg b It may be easier to take vitamin C
Vitamin B3 (niacin) 10–100 mg separately.
c Elderly people in nursing homes
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) 25–100 mg living in northern latitudes should
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) 25–100 mg supplement at the high end of the
range.
Vitamin B12 (methyl cobalamin) 400 mcg
d It may be more cost effective to
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) b
250–1,000 mg take vitamin E separately rather
than as a component of
Vitamin Dc 1000–2000 IU a multivitamin.
Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) d
100–200 IU e Women who have or who are at risk
Vitamin K1 or K2 60–300 mcg of osteoporosis may need to take
a separate calcium supplement to
Biotin 100–300 mcg achieve the recommended level of
1000 mg daily.
Choline 10–100 mg
f For diabetes and weight loss, doses
Folic acid 400 mcg of 600 mcg of chromium can be
used.
Inositol 10–100 mg
g Most men, as well as most women
Niacinamide 10–30 mg who have gone through meno-
-INERALS 2ANGEFOR!DULTS pause, rarely need supplemental
iron.
Boron 1–6 mg
h The Food and Drug Administration
Calciume 250–1000 mg restricts the amount of potassium
in supplements to no more than
Chromiumf 200–400 mcg 99 mg. Potassium needs are best
Copper 1–2 mg met through diet and the use of
potassium salts used as a salt
Iodine 50–150 mcg substitute.
Irong 15–30 mg Read labels carefully to find
multivitamin/mineral formulas that
Magnesium 250–500 mg contain doses in these ranges. Be
Manganese 3–5 mg aware that you will not find a formula
that provides all of these nutrients at
Molybdenum 10–25 mcg these levels in a single pill – it would
simply be too big. Most people will
Potassium N/Ah need to take at least 3–6 tablets per
Selenium 100–200 mcg day to meet these levels. While many
“one-a-day” supplements provide
Silica 1–25 mg good levels of vitamins, they tend to
be insufficient in the amount of some
Vanadium 50–100 mcg
of the minerals they provide. Your body
Zinc 15–30 mg needs the minerals as much as the
vitamins – the two work hand-in-hand.
41
WHEN TO TAKE YOUR SUPPLEMENTS

s -
ULTIVITAMINANDMINERALsupplements are best taken with meals. Whether
you take them at the beginning or end of a meal is up to you. If you are taking
more than a couple of pills, you may find that taking them at the beginning of
a meal is more comfortable. Taking a handful of pills on a full stomach may
cause a little stomach upset.
s &LAVONOID RICHHERBALEXTRACTSCANBETAKENWITHMEALSORANYTIMEDESIRED
s '
REENDRINKSMAKEGREATBETWEEN MEALSNACKSESPECIALLYIFYOUARETRYINGTO
lose a little weight, as they can quell an overactive appetite).
s &
ISHOILSUPPLEMENTSAREBESTTAKENATORNEARTHEBEGINNINGOFAMEALTOAVOID
any fishy aftertaste – some people burp up a little of the oil if they take it at
the end of the meal on a full stomach.
s 6ITAMIN$3 is best taken with meals.
VITAMIN D
Another useful supplement consideration to protect against heart disease is
vitamin D. A huge and growing amount of research has now shown that in
the U.S. vitamin D deficiency is very common (at least 50% of the general
population and 80% of infants) and that it plays a major role in the develop-
ment in many of the chronic degenerative diseases, including heart disease.38,39
Data from a detailed study involving over 8,000 people indicates that indi-
viduals with vitamin D (25-OH) levels below 30 ng/ml had a much higher
risk for CVD.38 Another study of more than 3,000 men and women found
that those with low vitamin D blood levels had a more than twofold in-
crease in CVD mortality.39
The ideal method for determining vitamin D status is a readily available

blood test for 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, or 25(OH)D3. While some people can
42
achieve an optimal level with just 600 IU per day (or 20 minutes of daily
sunlight exposure), others have a genetic requirement for as much 10,000 IU
per day. The only way to determine where you fall is by testing. Many doctors
are now routinely checking the vitamin D status of their patients. You can
also order a test from www.vitaminDcouncil.org. To take the test, collect a
small blood sample by skin prick and send it to the lab. For optimum health,
25(OH)D3 blood levels should be around 50–80 ng/ml (125–200 nmol/l).
If you prefer to just “wing it,” take a daily dosage of 1000–2000 IU of vitamin D.
RISK FACTORS FOR VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY

s ).35&&)#)%.4%80/352%4/35.,)'(4 Working and playing indoors,
covering up with clothes or sunscreen when outside, and residing at a high
latitude reduce exposure to the sun.
s !').' Seniors are at greater risk because of lack of mobility and skin that is
less responsive to ultraviolet light.
s $
!2+%23+). People of African descent are at greatest risk of vitamin D
deficiency owing to higher skin melanin content.
s "
2%!34&%%$).' Breastfeeding will result in vitamin D deficiency in the
baby if the mother fails to ensure that her own levels are high enough to
provide for her baby’s needs.
s /"%3)49 Fat-soluble vitamin D gets trapped in fat tissue, preventing its
utilization by the body.
FINAL COMMENTS
Here is a summary of the key recommendations given in this chapter.
DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS
t '
PMMPXUIFHVJEFMJOFTPGUIFUSBEJUJPOBM.FEJUFSSBOFBOEJFU4QFDJëDBMMZ
it is important to do the following:
43
s #ONSUMELESSSATURATEDFATANDCHOLESTEROLBYREDUCINGORELIMINATING
THEAMOUNTOFANIMALPRODUCTSYOUEAT
s )NCREASEYOURCONSUMPTIONOFlBER RICHANDANTIOXIDANT RICHPLANTFOODS
FRUITVEGETABLESGRAINSLEGUMESANDRAWNUTSANDSEEDS
s )NCREASEYOURCONSUMPTIONOFMONOUNSATURATEDFATSEGNUTSSEEDS
ANDOLIVEOIL ANDOMEGA FATTYACIDS
s &OLLOWALOW GLYCEMIC LOADDIET
s %ATARAINBOWASSORTMENTOFFRUITANDVEGETABLESTOENSUREAHIGHINTAKE
OFPLANTPIGMENTS
s 4AKEONETABLESPOONOFmAXSEEDOILDAILY
s )NCREASEYOURINTAKEOFPOTASSIUM RICHFOODSWHILEDECREASINGYOURINTAKE
OFSODIUM
NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS
t 5BLFëTIPJMBNJOJNVNPGNH&1"%)"EBJMZ
t 5
BLFBIJHIQPUFODZNVMUJWJUBNJOBOENJOFSBMGPSNVMBBDDPSEJOH
to the guidelines given above. Key individual nutrients include:
s 6ITAMIN#nMGnTIMESDAILY
s 6ITAMIN%MIXEDTOCOPHEROLS n)5DAILY
s 6ITAMIN$n)5DAILY
s 6ITAMIN"nMGDAILY
s &OLICACIDMCGDAILY
s 6ITAMIN"MCGDAILY
s -AGNESIUMnMGDAILY
s #HOOSEONEOFTHEFOLLOWING
s 'RAPESEEDEXTRACTMORETHANPROCYANIDOLICOLIGOMERS
nMGDAILY
s 0INEBARKEXTRACTMORETHANPROCYANIDOLICOLIGOMERS
nMGDAILY
44
CHAPTER 3
THE TRUTH ABOUT

STATINS, CHOLESTEROL
AND NATURAL
ALTERNATIVES
The evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that elevated cholesterol and

triglyceride levels greatly increase the risk of death due to cardiovascular
disease (CVD). Yet while the drug companies would like us all to believe
that it’s as simple as taking a statin drug to reduce your risk of a heart attack
or stroke, it’s just not that simple. Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs are sold
primarily under the premise that they will save lives by lowering cholesterol
levels, but in reality they have not demonstrated an ability to extend life in
over 80% of the patient population these drugs are currently prescribed for.
CHAP TER 3 · T HE TRU T H ABOU T STAT INS, CHOLESTEROL AND NAT UR AL ALTER NAT IVES
Annual sales of these drugs now exceed $25 billion. They are a huge profit gen-
erator for the drug companies. Without a doubt the creation of the statin drug
empire is perhaps the greatest accomplishment of the modern drug era. But
this is an achievement the drug companies and doctors should be ashamed of.
While high cholesterol is an important risk factor, it is important to note that

more than half of people dying from a heart attack or stroke have low to nor-
mal cholesterol levels. The drug companies’ and government’s response to this
fact is to lower the suggested target cholesterol levels even further, thereby ef-
fectively casting an even wider net for potential customers. Their goal is to turn
all of us into patients hooked on statins. It is very interesting that six of the
nine expert members of a government panel that drafted the new cholesterol
guidelines had either received grants from or were paid consulting or speakers’
fees by the companies that make some of the most popular statin drugs.
Before more fully addressing what the data really tells us about the efficacy
and safety of statins, let’s first take a closer look at cholesterol and its role in
CVD.
WHAT IS CHOLESTEROL?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that has many critical functions in

the body. It’s found in all cells of the body, where it functions as a necessary
structural component of cell membranes. Cholesterol is also used by the
body to make many hormones, particularly the sex hormones estrogen and
testosterone, but also adrenal hormones such as cortisol and aldosterone.
The body also uses cholesterol to make vitamin D. Cholesterol is far from a
“bad” substance – it’s actually very important to our health.
Cholesterol is transported in the blood on carrier molecules known as li-

poproteins. The major categories of lipoproteins are very-low-density lipo-
protein (VLDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipopro-
tein (HDL). Since VLDL and LDL are responsible for transporting fats
(primarily triglycerides and cholesterol) from the liver to body cells, while
46
HDL is responsible for returning fats to the liver, elevations of either VLDL
or LDL are associated with an increased risk for developing atherosclerosis
(hardening of the arteries), the primary cause of heart attacks and strokes. In
contrast, elevations of HDL are associated with a low risk of heart attacks.
RECOMMENDED BLOOD CHOLESTEROL LEVELS

It is currently recommended that the total blood cholesterol level be less
than 200 mg/dl and triglyceride levels be lower than 150 mg/dl. In addi-
tion, it is recommended that the LDL cholesterol level be less than 130 mg/
dl and HDL cholesterol greater than 35 mg/dl.
The total cholesterol to HDL and LDL:HDL ratios are referred to as the
cardiac risk factor ratios because they reflect whether cholesterol is being
deposited into tissues or broken down and excreted. The total cholesterol to
HDL ratio should be no higher than 4.2, and the LDL:HDL ratio should
be no higher than 2.5. The risk for heart disease can be reduced dramatically
by lowering LDL while simultaneously raising HDL levels: For every 1%
drop in the LDL level, the risk for a heart attack drops by 2%. Conversely,
for every 1% increase in HDL levels, the risk for a heart attack drops 3–4%.
Although LDL is referred to as “bad cholesterol,” there are some forms

that are worse than others. For example, oxidized LDL is a persistent pro-
inflammatory trigger for the progression of atherosclerosis and plaque rup-
ture. LDL molecules of higher density are associated with greater risk than
larger, less dense LDL. Small, dense LDL are more likely to cause athero-
sclerosis than are larger and less dense LDL, and are markers for CVD risk.1
The reason is that these smaller particles (LDL3) are more likely to be at-
tached with sugar molecules (glycated) over the larger, more buoyant LDL.
This highlights again the importance of avoiding high blood sugar levels
and subsequent glycation.2
Another marker that deserves mention is lipoprotein (a), or Lp(a), a plas-

ma lipoprotein whose structure and composition closely resemble those
of LDL, but with an additional molecule of an adhesive protein called
47
apolipoprotein(a). Elevated plasma levels of Lp(a) are an independent risk

factor for coronary heart disease, particularly in patients with elevated LDL
levels. In fact, in one analysis a high level of Lp(a) was shown to carry with
it a 10 times greater risk for heart disease than an elevated LDL level.3 That’s
because LDL on its own lacks the adhesive apolipoprotein(a). As a result,
LDL does not easily stick to the walls of the artery. Actually, a high LDL
level carries less risk than a normal or even low LDL with high Lp(a). Levels
of Lp(a) below 20 mg/dl are associated with a low risk for heart disease, lev-
els of 20–40 mg/dl are associated with a moderate risk, and levels above 40
mg/dl are associated with an extremely high risk for heart disease.
ELEVATIONS OF TRIGLYCERIDES
In the past, the relation between elevations in blood triglycerides (hypertri-

glyceridemia) and coronary heart disease (CHD) has been uncertain. How-
ever, a large body of accumulating evidence indicates that high triglycerides
are an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease.4,5 When high triglyc-
erides are combined with elevations in LDL, it’s a recipe for an early heart
attack. In one analysis, high triglycerides combined with elevated LDL and
a high LDL:HDL cholesterol ratio (above 5) increased the CHD event risk
approximately sixfold.
Table 3.1 Recommended Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels
,IPID4YPE ,EVELMGDL 2ESULT

Total cholesterol Less than 200 Desirable
200–239 Borderline
240 or more High risk
LDL cholesterol Less than 100* Desirable
100–130 Borderline
130–159 Borderline high risk
160 or more High risk
48
,IPID4YPE ,EVELMGDL 2ESULT

HDL cholesterol Less than 35 Low (undesirable)
35–59 Normal
60 or more Desirable
Triglycerides Less than 150 Desirable
150–199 Borderline high
200–499 High
500 or more Very high
*For very-high-risk patients (those having signs and symptoms of CVD, a prior cardiovas-
cular event, or with multiple risk factors such as diabetes, continued smoking, and high
blood pressure), an LDL of less than 70 mg/dl is often recommended.
INHERITED ELEVATIONS OF CHOLESTEROL AND TRIGLYCERIDES

Elevations of blood cholesterol, triglycerides, or both can be due to genetic
factors. These conditions are referred to as familial high cholesterol, familial
combined hyperlipidemia (FCH), and familial high triglycerides. Relatively
speaking, these disorders are among the most common inherited diseases –
they affect about one in every 500 people.
The basic problem in familial high cholesterol is a defect in the receptor pro-
tein for LDL in the liver. Under normal situations the LDL receptor is re-
sponsible for removing cholesterol from the blood. When a liver cell takes up
LDL after it has bound to a receptor, the LDL signals the liver cell to stop
making cholesterol. In familial high cholesterol the defect in the LDL recep-
tor results in the liver not receiving the message to stop making cholesterol.
Damage to the LDL receptor occurs with normal aging and in several dis-
ease states, diabetes chief among them because of increased glycosylation of
the receptor proteins. As a result of LDL receptor damage, cholesterol levels
tend to rise with age. In addition, a diet high in saturated fat and choles-
terol decreases the number of LDL receptors, thereby reducing the feedback
mechanism that tells the liver cell that no more cholesterol is necessary.
49
Fortunately, lifestyle and dietary changes can increase the function or num-
ber of LDL receptors, or both. The most dramatic effects are in people
without inherited causes of elevated cholesterol or triglycerides, but even
people with familial high cholesterol can benefit.
FCH and familial high triglycerides result in defects similar to familial high
cholesterol. In FCH the basic defect appears to be an accelerated production
of VLDL in the liver. These individuals may have only a high blood triglycer-
ide level or only a high cholesterol level, or both. In familial high triglycerides
there is only an elevation in blood triglyceride levels, and HDL levels tend
to be low. The defect in familial high triglycerides is that the VLDL particles
made by the liver are larger than normal and carry more triglycerides. Familial
high triglycerides is made worse by diabetes, gout, and obesity.
LOWERING CHOLESTEROL
Lowering total cholesterol, as well as LDL and triglycerides, is clearly as-

sociated with reducing CVD risk. Most of the benefits noted with lowering
LDL are based on a large number of randomized clinical trials involving
the use of 3-hydroxy-3 methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase
inhibitors known collectively as statin drugs. Statin drugs owe their origin
to red yeast (Monascus purpureus) fermented on rice.
This traditional Chinese medicine has been used for its health-promoting
effects in China for more than 2,000 years. Red yeast rice is the source of a
group of compounds known as monacolins (e.g., lovastatin, also known as
monacolin K, one of the key monacolins in red yeast rice extract). The mar-
keting of an extract of red yeast fermented on rice standardized for monaco-
lin content as a dietary supplement in the United States caused controversy
in 1997 because it contained a natural source of a prescription drug. The
Food and Drug Administration eventually ruled that red yeast rice products
could be sold only if they were free of monacolin content.
50
THE STATIN DRUG EMPIRE
The statin drug empire consists of popular cholesterol-lowering drugs such

as Crestor (rosuvastatin), Lipitor (atorvastatin), Zocor (simvastatin), Meva-
cor (lovastatin), and Pravachol (pravastatin), along with similar drugs that
lower cholesterol by inhibiting an enzyme in the liver (HMG-CoA reduc-
tase) that manufactures cholesterol. Annual sales of these drugs now exceed
$25 billion. Millions of prescriptions are filled yearly with the hope of re-
ducing people’s risk of developing heart disease.
But looking at the results of detailed studies, the majority of people on statin
drugs are deriving no real benefit from them. In fact, relying on these drugs
and not focusing on effectively reducing heart disease risk through diet, life-
style, and proper nutritional supplementation is costing many people their
lives. In addition, while drug companies and many doctors state that statins
are so safe and effective they should be added to drinking water, the real-
ity is that they are very expensive medicines, provide very limited benefit,
and carry with them considerable risks for side effects. For example, a 2012
study by the Mayo Clinic found that the use of statins in postmenopausal
women increased their risk for type 2 diabetes by 74%.6 Some of the other
side effects noted with statins include the following:
s ,IVERPROBLEMSANDDECREASEDLIVERFUNCTION
s )NTERFERENCEWITHTHEMANUFACTUREOFCOENZYME1#O1 AKEY
SUBSTANCERESPONSIBLEFORENERGYPRODUCTIONWITHINTHEBODY
s 2HABDOMYOLYSISTHEBREAKINGDOWNOFMUSCLETISSUEWHICHCANBEFATAL
s .ERVEDAMAGEnTHECHANCESOFNERVEDAMAGEARETIMESHIGHERIN
STATINUSERSTHANINTHEGENERALPOPULATION
s )MPAIREDMENTALFUNCTIONWITHPROLONGEDUSE
s 0OSSIBLEINCREASEDRISKOFCANCERANDHEARTFAILUREWITHLONG TERMUSE
s )NCREASEDMUSCLEDAMAGECAUSEDBYEXERCISEANDREDUCEDEXERCISE
CAPACITY
s 7ORSENINGENERGYLEVELSANDFATIGUEAFTEREXERTIONINABOUTOFCASES
51
The medical consensus, based on numerous long-term studies, has now

shown quite convincingly that in people with a history of a heart attack,
stroke, or current signs and symptoms of existing CVD, statins do produce
some benefits in reducing deaths due to a heart attack, but the overall ef-
fect on life expectancy remains somewhat controversial. In other words, the
drugs reduce deaths due to heart attacks, but overall life expectancy is no
different than in the placebo group. For example, in the large Heart Protec-
tion Study, men with CVD taking a statin for five years only reduced their
chances of death from 15% to 13%.7 The reduced rate of heart attacks and
strokes may be offset by an increase in other causes of death (e.g., possibly
cancer).
The larger issue is whether statins produce any benefit in people without
evidence of CVD. About 75% of the prescriptions for statins are written
for people with no clinical evidence of CVD. So, while there is some evi-
dence, though not all that impressive, in the prevention of a second heart
attack (secondary prevention), the benefit of statins in preventing a first
heart attack or stroke (primary prevention) has not been proven to any suf-
ficient standard. So, the writing of prescriptions for statins for the primary
prevention of death due to CVD is not consistent with scientific studies. If
your doctor is pushing a statin on you even though you have no evidence of
CVD, he or she is simply not practicing evidence-based medicine.
Large evaluations of studies in people without a history of heart attack or

stroke who took statin drugs and lowered their cholesterol have shown they
did not live any longer than the people in the placebo group.8–11 For example,
the largest and most thorough review of statins analyzed 11 clinical trials
involving 65,229 participants and was published in the Archives of Internal
Medicine in June 2010.11 The analysis provides the most reliable evidence
available on the impact of statin therapy on all-cause mortality among high-
risk individuals without prior CVD. The results showed that the use of statin
therapy did not result in reduction in all-cause mortality in these high-risk
patients.
52
These results are consistent with other quality reviews and call into question
the widespread use of statins not only in high-risk patients without CVD,
but also in patients with the only risk present being elevated LDL. This is-
sue will be further discussed below.
While there is the occasional positive study with a statin drug showing some
benefit in reducing mortality (of course, funded by the drug company), the
effect noted pales in comparison with the effect of dietary and lifestyle inter-
ventions. For example, one study appearing in The New England Journal of
Medicine followed the activity level and health of retired men in Honolulu
between the ages of 61 and 81.12 These men were followed for over 10 years
and divided into two groups; one group walked less than one mile per day
IS A SIESTA MORE EFFECTIVE

THAN A STATIN DRUG?
Taking an afternoon nap (a siesta) is common in populations with low rates of
heart attack (coronary) deaths. To study the benefit of a siesta on heart health,
researchers carefully selected subjects to prevent confounding variables such as
physical activity and diet from interfering with a statistical analysis. The analysis
was conducted on results from the Greek European Prospective Investigation into
Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study involving 23,681 individuals who at enrollment
had no history of coronary heart disease, stroke, or cancer and had complete
information on frequency and duration of midday napping.13
These people were followed for an average of nearly 6.5 years. The results were
astounding. People who took a siesta of any frequency or duration had a 34%
reduced rate of having a heart attack. Further analysis showed that occasionally
napping produced a 12% lower coronary mortality rate, whereas those who
regularly napped had a 37% lower coronary mortality. These results are far
superior to the results demonstrated with statin drugs in the primary prevention of
CVD and raise the question, “Is taking a nap more effective in preventing a heart
attack than taking a statin?”
The answer appears to be yes.
53
while the other group walked more than two miles per day. The group that
walked more than two miles per day had almost 50% fewer deaths during
that period than those who walked less than one mile per day. Interesting – a
drug-free plan that costs nothing offers better benefits on mortality than the
high-priced cholesterol-lowering drugs.
A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW STATINS WORK

Statins work by blocking an enzyme (HMG-CoA reductase) that produces
a compound (mevalonate) that is the direct precursor to cholesterol (see
Figure 3.1). The problem is that statins not only inhibit the production
of cholesterol but of a whole host of other substances that have important
bodily biochemical functions. Figure 3.1 illustrates the cholesterol pathway
and its intermediary products as well as end products that include not only
cholesterol but also CoQ10 and dolichols.
CoQ10 is a critical component in the manufacture of ATP – the energy

currency of our cells. Basically, CoQ10’s role in our cells is similar to the
role of a spark plug in a car engine. Just as the car cannot function without
that initial spark, the cell cannot function without CoQ10. Although the
body makes some of its own CoQ10, considerable research shows significant
benefits with supplementation. Also, people with any sort of heart disease,
including high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure, and those taking
cholesterol-lowering drugs are known to have low CoQ10 levels.
Since statin drugs reduce the production of CoQ10, taking them would ob-
viously produce some serious consequences, since organs like the heart, liver,
muscles, and brain require large amounts of CoQ10 to function properly. The
research seems to support this observation since the serious side effects of statin
drugs appear to be related to lowering CoQ10 levels.14 In addition, deaths attrib-
uted to heart failure have nearly doubled since 1989 – an interesting fact since
statins first hit the market in a big way in 1988. If you are taking a statin drug,
you definitely need to supplement with CoQ10 at a dosage of 100–200 mg daily.
Choose products in soft gel capsules with rice bran oil for maximum absorption.
54
Acetyl-CoA
HMG-CoA
Mevalonate
Mevalonate Pyrophosphate
Isopentenyl Pyrophosphate
Geranyl Pyrophosphate
Farnesyl Pyrophosphate
Squalene
Coenzyme Q10 Dolichol

reduced reduced
Cholesterol
reduced
Figure 3.1 Cholesterol manufacture in the liver showing the end products affected by statin drugs.
Another less talked about component of the cholesterol pathway, produc-

tion of which is also inhibited by statin drugs, is dolichols. Like CoQ10,
dolichols are very important in human biology. One of their key functions
is to help direct proteins to their targeted cells. In other words, when your
liver or other tissue makes certain proteins, those proteins need to be deliv-
ered to specific destinations; dolichols make that possible. Since statin drugs
can reduce the amounts of dolichols in the circulation, they may be pro-
ducing significant chaos in our body processes. A good analogy would be
having a very large city with no street signs or addresses; mail would never
be delivered and outsiders could never find their destinations.
55
AN HONEST APPRAISAL OF THE BENEFITS OF STATINS IN PRIMARY PREVENTION

There is no question that individuals with clinical evidence of CVD, i.e.,
signs and symptoms such as angina, shortness of breath, or peripheral artery
disease are present, need to be aggressive with lowering of cholesterol and
triglycerides, but this does not necessarily mean with a statin. The com-
bination of dietary, lifestyle, and supplement recommendations given in
this chapter can easily achieve targets. In the rare cases in which after three
months these targets are not met, then a statin may be appropriate in these
extremely high risk individuals.
In individuals with moderate risk due to diabetes, high blood pressure, or

extremely high cholesterol (LDL higher than 150 mg/dl), again it is impor-
tant to achieve targets, but nondrug therapies should be attempted for at
least three months before opting for a statin. Statins have not been shown
to reduce all-cause mortality in this group (see below).
The consensus of expert opinion is that in individuals at low risk or having

the only major risk factor of high LDL, statins are not likely to produce any
benefit. In fact, doctors have been cautioned against writing prescriptions
for statins for these patients, yet the reality is that this group represents a
very large percentage of statin users. Your doctor may tell you that a statin
will cut your risk for a heart attack or stroke in half. If they do, they are
listening too much to the drug company sales rep or propaganda and not
thinking for themselves.
The bottom line is that in low-risk patients statins produce no meaningful

benefit and carry with them significant risks. It’s just not very good medi-
cine and not very cost effective to prescribe statins to this group. Further-
more, I think better results would be produced in actually reducing mortal-
ity and extending life by following the guidelines given in Chapter 2, along
with those in this chapter, for lowering cholesterol and triglycerides.
The drug companies and most doctors want us to believe that since statins
lower cholesterol, they most assuredly reduce the risk of heart attacks and
strokes in people without CVD. But the truth is that while there is no ques-
56
tion that lower levels of cholesterol equate to a reduced number of deaths

due to CVD based on population studies, lowering cholesterol levels with
statins has not been proven to produce the same risk reduction and increase
life expectancy in people without CVD, despite a considerable effort by the
drug companies. Again, careful review of the major statin drug studies in
people without clinical evidence of CVD shows that there are no signifi-
cant differences in mortality between people who took cholesterol-lowering
agents and those who took a placebo. Pooled data from all randomized trials
that compared statins with placebo in primary prevention of CVD mortal-
ity showed that total mortality was not reduced by statins. For example:
s $ATAFROMCLINICALTRIALSINVOLVINGPARTICIPANTSCONSIDEREDHIGH
RISKINDIVIDUALSBUTWITHOUTPRIORHEARTATTACKORSTROKESHOWEDUSEOF
STATINTHERAPYDIDNOTRESULTINREDUCTIONINALL CAUSEMORTALITY
s 3TATINSDIDNOTREDUCETOTALHEARTATTACKSORSTROKESINWOMENIN
THEPRIMARYPREVENTIONTRIALS
s )NMENANDWOMENOLDERTHANYEARSSTATINSDIDNOTREDUCETOTAL
HEARTATTACKSORSTROKES5SEOFSTATINSASAPRIMARYPREVENTERINTHISAGE
GROUPISNOTSUPPORTEDBYRESEARCH
s )NPATIENTSWITHHIGHBLOODPRESSUREWHOWERERANDOMIZED
TORECEIVEAPLACEBOORDRUGTHERAPYUSINGASTATINMGDAYOF
PRAVASTATIN THEREWASNOSIGNIlCANTDIFFERENCEINTHERATEOFDEATHHEART
DISEASEORHEARTATTACK
s )NASTUDYINVOLVINGPATIENTSWITHOUT#6$RESEARCHERSGAVE
PARTICIPANTSEITHERMGOFSIMVASTATINORAPLACEBO4HEREWASNO
CORRELATIONBETWEENTREATMENTANDAMOUNTOF,$,LOWERINGANDDEATH
rate.
s 3TATINSMAYSIGNIlCANTLYINCREASETHERISKOFDIABETESINPOSTMENOPAUSAL
WOMEN
The consensus among most medical experts not aligned with or supported
by the drug companies is that statins should not be prescribed for the pri-
mary prevention of CVD mortality in anyone without prior heart attack
or stroke or current clinical signs and symptoms of CVD. Obviously, rely-
ing on statin drugs, in lieu of important dietary, lifestyle, and nutritional
supplement approaches, just does not make very much sense.
57
WHY STATINS FAIL

CVD is a multifactorial disease. Trying to simplify it by addressing only
one risk factor is doomed to failure. Simply stated, there are significant-
ly more important things to consider than the level of LDL. The whole
premise on reducing LDL levels with statins is the faulty belief that it will
reduce the buildup of arterial plaque, but researchers at Beth Israel Medi-
cal Center in New York City demonstrated the real reason statins do not
work.19
They examined coronary plaque buildup in patients who took statins at a

dosage of either more than 80 mg/day or less than 80 mg/day. At the begin-
ning of the study all patients had their coronary arterial plaques measured
using electron beam tomography. At the end of the 12-month study, cho-
lesterol levels and coronary plaques were again measured. Although both
groups were successful in lowering their cholesterol, this did not produce
any effect in the progression of the plaque buildup. In other words, the
buildup of plaque (which is why doctors try to lower cholesterol) didn’t ap-
pear to be related to blood cholesterol levels.
Again, there are other factors involved in the process of atherosclerosis that
are significantly more important than lowering cholesterol, but are largely
ignored because they do not involve drug therapy.
DIET VS. STATINS

Dietary measures alone are often extremely effective in lowering cholesterol
levels. For example, one interesting study compared the “portfolio diet,”
comprising plant-based cholesterol-lowering foods, to lovastatin.20 The par-
ticipants were randomly assigned to undergo one of three interventions on
an outpatient basis for one month: a diet low in saturated fat, based on
milled whole-wheat cereals and low-fat dairy foods (the control diet); the
same diet plus 20 mg/day lovastatin (the lovastatin diet); or a diet high in
plant sterols (1 g/1000 kcal), soy protein (21.4 g/1000 kcal), viscous fibers
(9.8 g/1000 kcal), and almonds (14 g/1000 kcal) (the portfolio diet).
58
The three groups had average decreases in LDL as follows: control diet, 8%;
statin diet, 30.9%; and portfolio diet, 28.6%. Respective reductions in C-
reactive protein (CRP) were 10%, 33.3%, and 28.2%.
This and subsequent studies show that diversifying cholesterol-lowering

components in the same dietary portfolio increased the effectiveness of
diet as a treatment for high cholesterol and produced results comparable to
those of a statin drug, with lipid-lowering effects similar to statins in terms
of both LDL and LDL size, but without the side effects.21,22
The key point is that while individual dietary changes may produce benefit
in improving blood lipids, the best clinical approach is to incorporate a
broad-spectrum dietary approach that incorporates a wide array of dietary
components shown to positively affect lipid levels.
Here is another example: A meta-analysis of 27 randomized controlled tri-

als in which isolated soy protein supplementation was the only interven-
tion demonstrated that soy protein supplementation was associated with a
significant dose-dependent reduction in serum total cholesterol, LDL, and
triglycerides. But the effect shown was less than the effect noted above, in
which the soy protein was used in conjunction with other dietary interven-
tions in the portfolio diet.23 In addition, the effects of isolated soy protein
appear to be considerably less than the effect of increasing soy food con-
sumption in general.
Much of the cholesterol-lowering effect of soy foods may relate more to the
isoflavone and soluble fiber content than to the protein. In an earlier meta-
analysis based more on soy protein intake from other sources in addition to
soy protein isolate, reductions were much more significant for total choles-
terol (−23.2 mg/dl), LDL (−21.7 mg/dl), and triglycerides (−13.3 mg/dl),
but still relatively modest from a clinical perspective.24
While these results do support the recommendation to increase soy protein

intake as part of the dietary approach to high cholesterol, given the rela-
tively small effect of soy protein on lipids, it is imperative that other dietary
59
recommendations, such as reducing the dietary intake of saturated fat, trans

fatty acids, and cholesterol, as well as increasing intake of monounsaturated
fats, soluble fiber, and nuts, also be promoted.
THE UPHILL BATTLE

Despite research showing that statins offer no benefit in reducing mortality
in patients without a history of CVD, and despite all the research docu-
menting the benefits of nondrug approaches, it is unlikely that lowering
LDL with statin drugs will be supplanted as the primary therapy in lipid
management and prevention of CAD anytime in the near future. In 2011,
it was estimated that more than one of every six adults – nearly 40 million
people – were taking a statin drug to lower LDL.
Therefore the focus for many will be on the support of statin therapy. For
example, as described above, it is important that individuals taking statin
drugs supplement with CoQ10. Researchers have concluded that inhibi-
tion of CoQ10 synthesis by statin drugs could explain the most commonly
reported side effects, especially fatigue and muscle pain, as well as the more
serious side effects, such as rhabdomyolysis.25,26 CoQ10 supplementation in
people on statin drugs has also been shown to reduce markers of oxidative
damage.
CALCULATE THE IMPACT OF LOWERING CHOLESTEROL WITH A STATIN YOURSELF

If you doubt the research I’ve cited on the failure of statins to reduce the
risk of having a heart attack, I encourage you to use the math predicting
the risk of having a heart attack in the next 10 years based on cholesterol
levels by visiting The National Cholesterol Education Program calculator at
hp2010.nhlbihin.net/atpiii/calculator.asp. Just for this exercise, enter data
for a 55-year-old nonsmoking woman with total cholesterol of 240 mg/dl
(high enough to make most physicians prescribe a statin), HDL of 50 mg/
dl (which is quite low for women), and systolic blood pressure of 110 mm
Hg. The results should show that this woman has a 1% chance of having a
60
heart attack over the next decade. Now change her total cholesterol to 190
mg/dl – a huge decline. Her risk is still 1%. A 65-year-old man with those
first numbers has an 11% chance of having a heart attack over the next de-
cade; lowering his cholesterol to 190 mg/dl brings that down to 9% – not
a big drop.
Now enter your own data to see what your risk is. Now, play around with
different levels of cholesterol. Not that big of a difference, is there? Why?
Well, it turns out that while cholesterol levels are important, they are not
as strongly predictive of CVD as once thought or as important as the drug
companies would like us to believe. Remember, roughly half of people who
have a heart attack do not have high cholesterol levels.
EFFECT OF DIETARY CHOLESTEROL ON CVD RISK
While the liver is the major source of blood cholesterol, dietary cholesterol
can be an important contributor. Diets high in cholesterol are associated
with an increased risk for heart disease, cancer, and strokes. However, it may
be that the level of saturated fats in these foods is more relevant than their
cholesterol content.
This opinion is supported by a statistical analysis of 224 dietary studies car-

ried out over the past 25 years that investigated the relationship between
diet and blood cholesterol levels in over 8,000 people.27 What investiga-
tors found was that saturated fat in the diet, not dietary cholesterol, is what
influences blood cholesterol levels the most. The data indicates that dietary
cholesterol in most people has very little effect on blood cholesterol lev-
els. Nonetheless, it is generally recommended that a healthy person should
restrict dietary cholesterol intake to 300 mg per day. Someone with high
cholesterol or heart disease should consume no more than 200 mg of cho-
lesterol daily. In addition, it is important to keep the daily saturated fat
intake to a bare minimum. Certainly, no more than 10–15 g per day is
recommended – ideally less.
61
Table 3.2 Cholesterol and Fat Content of Selected foods
3ERVING Total 3ATURATED -ONOUNSATURATED 0OLYUNSATURATED Cholesterol

&OOD Size &ATG &ATG &ATG &ATG MG
Beef, lean 3 oz. 7.9 3.0 3.3 0.3 73
Beef liver, braised 3 oz. 4.2 1.6 0.6 0.9 331
Chicken breast,
3 oz. 3.0 0.9 1.1 0.6 72
roasted
Chicken leg, roasted 3 oz. 7.2 2.0 2.6 1.7 79
Egg yolk 1 large 5.1 1.6 1.9 0.7 213
Fish, cod 3 oz. 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.3 40
Lobster, boiled 3 oz. 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.1 61
Pork, lean 3 oz. 11.1 3.8 5.0 1.3 79
Shrimp, boiled 3 oz. 0.9 0.2 0.2 0.4 166
Turkey, dark, roasted 3 oz. 6.1 2.1 1.4 1.8 73
Turkey, light, roasted 3 oz. 2.7 0.9 0.5 0.7 59
Cheese, cheddar 1 oz. 9.4 6.0 2.7 0.3 30
Ice cream, regular ½ cup 7.2 4.5 2.1 0.3 30
Milk, low fat 2% 1 cup 4.7 2.9 1.4 0.2 18
Milk, skim 1 cup 0.4 0.3 0.1 neg 4
Milk, whole 1 cup 8.2 5.1 2.4 0.3 33
Butter 1 tbsp 11.5 7.2 3.3 0.4 31
IMPORTANCE OF SOLUBLE DIETARY FIBER IN LOWERING CHOLESTEROL

It is well established that the soluble dietary fiber found in legumes, fruit,
and vegetables is effective in lowering cholesterol levels.28 The greater the
degree of viscosity or gel-forming nature, the greater the effect a particular
dietary fiber has on lowering cholesterol levels.
PGX® is a new, highly viscous, soluble fiber matrix that is showing greater
effect than previously used single-source fibers, leading to more reasonable
dosage recommendations (the cholesterol-lowering effect of soluble fiber is
62
clearly dose dependent).29,30 PGX® will be discussed more fully in Chapter 4

for its ability to improve blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity.
Table 3.3 shows the average doses and reductions noted in clinical trials with
soluble fiber products, mainly oat preparations containing either oat bran or
oatmeal.31 The overwhelming majority of these studies demonstrated that indi-
viduals with high cholesterol levels experience significant reductions with fre-
quent oatmeal or oat bran consumption. In contrast, individuals with normal
or low cholesterol levels see little change. In individuals with high cholesterol
levels (above 200 mg/dl), the consumption of the equivalent of 3 g of soluble
oat fiber typically lowers total cholesterol by 8–23%. This is highly significant,
as with each 1% drop in serum cholesterol level there is a 2% decrease in the
risk of developing heart disease. Approximately one bowl of ready-to-eat oat
bran cereal or oatmeal contains 3 g of fiber. Although oatmeal’s fiber content
(7%) is less than that of oat bran (15–26%), it has been determined that the
polyunsaturated fatty acids it contains contribute as much to the cholesterol-
lowering effects of oats as the fiber content. Although oat bran has a higher
fiber content, oatmeal is higher in polyunsaturated fatty acids.
In an effort to lower cholesterol with dietary fiber, try to eat 35 g of fiber

daily from fiber-rich foods, a full listing of which is found in Appendix A.
Achieving higher fiber intake is not only associated with lower cholesterol
levels, but also lower inflammatory mediators, such as CRP.32
Table 3.3 Impact of Sources of Fiber on Serum Cholesterol Levels
&IBER$OSAGEG 4YPICAL2EDUCTIONIN4OTAL#HOLESTEROL
Oat bran (dry), 50–100 15–20
PGX®, 3–15 15–20
Psyllium, 10–20 10–20
Guar gum, 9–15 10
Vegetable fiber, 27 10
Pectin, 6–10 5
63
FISH OILS TO LOWER TRIGLYCERIDE LEVELS

The benefits of the longer-chain omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid
(EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on cardiovascular health have been
demonstrated in more than 300 clinical trials. While supplementation with
EPA+DHA has little effect on cholesterol levels, it does lower triglyceride
levels significantly and produces myriad additional benefits in protecting
against CVD.33 In general, for prevention of CVD, the dosage recommen-
dation is 1000 mg EPA+DHA per day, but for lowering triglycerides the
dosage is 3000–5000 mg EPA+DHA.34
Lower dosages of EPA+DHA exert only mild effects on triglyceride levels.

For example, intakes of 200–500 mg/day lower triglyceride levels by 3.1–
7.2%.35 In one double-blind study, after eight weeks of supplementation a
daily dosage of 3400 mg EPA+DHA lowered triglycerides by 27%, while a
lower dosage of 850 mg had no significant effect.36
These results clearly indicate that the effective dosage for lowering triglycer-
ides with fish oils is 3000 mg EPA+DHA per day. The degree of reduction in
triglycerides with fish oil is on par with other drug therapies. For example,
in patients with triglyceride levels above 500 mg/dl, approximately 4000
mg/day of EPA+DHA reduces triglyceride levels by 45%. Fish oils work
to lower triglyceride levels via several mechanisms that basically reduce the
formation of triglycerides while increasing their breakdown into energy.37
NATURAL PRODUCTS TO LOWER CHOLESTEROL LEVELS

In many cases dietary therapy, while important, is not sufficient alone to
reduce lipid levels to the desired ranges. Fortunately, several natural com-
pounds can lower cholesterol levels and other significant risk factors for
CVD. In fact, when all factors are considered (e.g., cost, safety, effective-
ness), the natural alternatives presented here may offer significant advan-
tages to the standard drug therapy, especially when used together rather
than as isolated therapies.
64
NIACIN
Since the 1950s niacin (vitamin B3) has been known to be effective in lower-
ing blood cholesterol levels. In the 1970s the famed Coronary Drug Project
demonstrated that niacin was the only cholesterol-lowering agent to actu-
ally reduce overall mortality. Niacin typically lowers LDL levels by 16–23%
while raising HDL levels by 20–33%. These effects, especially the effect
on HDL, compare quite favorably with conventional cholesterol-lowering
drugs.38,39
It is now known that niacin does much more than lower total cholesterol.
Specifically, niacin has been shown to lower LDL, the more harmful Lp(a)
lipoprotein, triglyceride, CRP, and fibrinogen levels while simultaneously
raising beneficial HDL levels. Despite the fact that niacin has demonstrated
better overall results in reducing risk factors for CHD than other cholester-
ol-lowering agents, physicians are often reluctant to prescribe niacin. The
reason is a widespread perception that niacin is difficult to work with be-
cause of the bothersome flushing of the skin.
In addition, because niacin is a widely available generic product, no phar-

maceutical company stands to generate the huge profits that the other lipid-
lowering agents have enjoyed. As a result, niacin does not benefit from in-
tensive research and advertising, like statin drugs do. Despite the advantages
of niacin over other lipid-lowering drugs, it accounts for less than 10% of
all cholesterol-lowering prescriptions. Niaspan, a prescription niacin prod-
uct, accounted for 952,000 prescriptions in 2002, translating to sales of
$145.7 million – a dramatic 73% increase from 2001 levels. By 2010, sales
reached over $927 million and approximately 100,000 prescriptions per
week. The increasing sales of niacin reflect a growing physician awareness of
the advantages of niacin over statin drugs.
Several studies have compared niacin with standard lipid-lowering drugs,

including statins. These studies have shown significant advantages for nia-
cin. In the first published clinical study, niacin was compared with lov-
astatin directly in 136 patients with LDL levels greater than 160 mg/dl
65
and with either CHD or more than two CHD risk factors, or both; or
in patients with LDL levels greater than 190 mg/dl and without CHD
or with fewer than two CHD risk factors.40 The controlled, randomized,
open-label, 26-week study was performed at five lipid clinics. Patients were
first placed on a four-week diet run-in period, after which eligible patients
were randomly assigned to receive treatment with either lovastatin (20 mg/
day) or niacin (1500 mg/day). On the basis of the LDL response and pa-
tient tolerance, the doses were sequentially increased to 40 and 80 mg/day
of lovastatin or 3000 and 4500 mg/day of niacin after 10 and 18 weeks of
treatment, respectively. In the two patient groups, 66% of patients treated
with lovastatin and 54% of patients treated with niacin underwent full dos-
age increases. Table 3.4 shows the results.
These results indicate that while lovastatin produced a greater LDL reduc-
tion, niacin provided better overall results despite the fact that fewer pa-
tients were able to tolerate a full dosage of niacin because of skin flushing.
The percentage increase in HDL, a more significant indicator for CHD,
was dramatically in favor of niacin (33% vs. 7%). Equally impressive was
the percentage decrease in Lp(a) for niacin: Niacin produced a 35% reduc-
tion in Lp(a) levels, while lovastatin did not produce any effect. Niacin’s
effect on Lp(a) in this study confirmed a previous study that showed niacin
(4000 mg/day) reduced Lp(a) levels by 38%; a subsequent study showed
similar reductions in Lp(a) in patients with diabetes.41,42
Table 3.4 Comparison of Niacin to Lovastatin
,IPOPROTEIN 'ROUP 7EEK 7EEK 7EEK
LDL cholesterol Lovastatin 26 28 32

(reduction) Niacin 5 16 23
HDL cholesterol Lovastatin 6 8 7

(increase) Niacin 20 29 33
Lp(a) lipoprotein Lovastatin 0 0 0

(reduction) Niacin 14 30 35
66
Another comparative study evaluated the lipoprotein responses to niacin,

gemfibrozil, and lovastatin in patients with normal total cholesterol levels
but low levels of HDL.43 The first phase of the study compared lipoprotein
responses with lovastatin and gemfibrozil in 61 middle-aged men with low
HDL. In the second phase, 37 patients agreed to take niacin; 27 patients
finished this phase at a dose of 4500 mg/day. In the first phase, gemfibrozil
therapy increased HDL levels by 10% and lovastatin by 6%. In the second
phase, niacin therapy was shown to raise HDL by 30%.
Another study compared niacin with atorvastatin (Lipitor).44 The aver-

age dosage was 3000 mg for niacin and 80 mg for Lipitor. The patients
selected had abnormal LDL particle size in that the molecules were small
and dense – these LDL molecules are considerably more likely to cause
atherosclerosis than are larger, less dense LDL particles. The patients se-
lected also had low levels (less than 40%) of HDL2 – a type of HDL2
associated with greater protection than HDL alone. Although Lipitor re-
duced total LDL levels substantially more than niacin, niacin was more
effective at increasing LDL particle size and raising HDL and HDL2 than
Lipitor (Table 3.5).
Table 3.5 Effect of Atorvastatin (Lipitor) and Niacin on Lipid Profiles
!TORVASTATIN .IACIN !TORVASTATIN.IACIN

Parameter "EFORE !FTER "EFORE !FTER "EFORE !FTER
Total LDL (mg/dl) 110 56 111 89 123 55
LDL peak
251 256 253 263 250 263
diameter (Å)
Lipoprotein(a)
45 44 37 23 54 35
(mg/dl)
HDL (mg/dl) 42 43 38 54 38 54
HDL2 (%) 30 42 29 43 32 37
Triglycerides
186 100 194 108 235 73
(mg/dl)
67
Because taking niacin at higher dosages (e.g., ≥3000 mg) can impair glucose
tolerance, many physicians have avoided niacin therapy in diabetics, but newer
studies with slightly lower dosages (1000–2000 mg) of niacin have not shown
it to adversely affect blood sugar regulation.45 For example, during a 16-week,
double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 148 type 2 diabetes patients were ran-
domized to placebo or 1000 or 1500 mg/day of niacin. In the niacin-treated
groups there was no significant loss of glycemic control, and the favorable ef-
fects on blood lipids were still apparent.46 Other studies have actually shown
hemoglobin A1C to drop, indicating improvement in blood sugar control.
The most common blood lipid abnormalities in type 2 diabetes patients are
elevated triglyceride levels; decreased HDL levels; and a preponderance of
smaller, denser LDL particles. Niacin has been shown to address all these ar-
eas much more significantly than statins and other lipid-lowering drugs.44–46
In addition to lowering cholesterol and triglycerides, niacin exerts addition-

al benefits in battling atherosclerosis. Specifically, niacin produces beneficial
lipid-altering effects on particle distribution in patients with coronary artery
disease that are not well reflected in typical lipoprotein analysis. In addition,
systemic markers of inflammation decrease in patients receiving niacin. In
one study, when a modest dosage of niacin (1000 mg daily) was added to
existing therapy for three months in 54 patients with stable coronary artery
disease, there was a 32% increase in large-particle HDL, an 8% decrease
in small-particle HDL, an 82% increase in large-particle LDL, and a 12%
decrease in small-particle LDL.47 Niacin therapy also decreased lipoprotein-
associated phospholipase A2 and CRP levels (20% and 15%, respectively).
No significant changes from baseline were seen in any tested parameter in
patients who received a placebo.
These results indicate that the addition of niacin to existing medical regi-
mens for patients with coronary artery disease and already well-controlled
lipid levels favorably improves the distribution of lipoprotein particle sizes
and inflammatory markers in a manner expected to improve protection
against a cardiovascular event.
68
While niacin exerts significant benefit on its own, it does not appear to
enhance the benefits of statins in well-controlled patients. The AIM-HIGH
study funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recruited
3,400 patients who were at risk for heart trouble despite the fact that their
LDL was under control with the use of a statin drug, simvastatin (Zocor).
The study ended 18 months early because no additional cardiovascular ben-
efit was seen in those taking niacin. Nonetheless, other studies are under-
way to determine the effect of niacin combined with a statin in patients
with very low HDL levels and/or poorly controlled LDL levels.
SIDE EFFECTS OF NIACIN

The side effects of niacin are well known. The most common and bother-
some side effect is the skin flushing that typically occurs 20–30 minutes
after taking it. Other occasional side effects of niacin include gastric irrita-
tion, nausea, and liver damage. In an attempt to combat the acute reaction
of skin flushing, several manufacturers began marketing sustained-release,
timed-release, or slow-release niacin products. These formulations allow the
niacin to be absorbed gradually, thereby reducing the flushing reaction.
However, although these forms of niacin reduce skin flushing, earlier timed-
release preparations were proven to be more toxic to the liver than regular
niacin. In one analysis, 52% of the patients taking the earlier sustained-re-
lease niacin preparations developed liver toxicity, while none of the patients
taking immediate-release niacin developed liver toxicity.48
The newer timed-released preparations on the market, referred to as “in-

termediate-release,” appear to have solved this problem, as relatively large
clinical trials have shown them to be extremely well tolerated even when
combined with statin drugs.49–52 For example, the safety and tolerability of
an intermediate-release niacin preparation was evaluated in a multicenter
study of 566 patients.52 The target dose was achieved by 65% of patients.
Flushing was the most common side effect (42%), as expected, and 9.7% of
patients withdrew because of flushing. Other drug-related adverse reactions
69
occurred at low frequency (18.6%); 8.7% withdrew for adverse reactions

other than flushing. Most adverse reactions were mild or moderate in sever-
ity. There were no liver toxicity or serious muscle adverse events.
Another safe form of niacin is inositol hexaniacinate. This form of niacin

has long been used in Europe to lower cholesterol levels and to improve
blood flow in a type of painful leg cramp known as intermittent claudica-
tion. It yields slightly better clinical results than standard niacin but is much
better tolerated, in terms of both flushing and, more importantly, long-term
side effects.53,54
Regardless of the form of niacin you choose, you need your doctor to pe-
riodically check (at a minimum, every three months) your cholesterol and
liver function. Niacin should not be used in those with preexisting liver
disease or elevation in liver enzymes. For these people, plant sterols, garlic,
or pantethine are recommended.
For best results, niacin should be given at night, as most cholesterol syn-
thesis occurs while sleeping. If pure crystalline niacin is being used, begin
with a dose of 100 mg/day and carefully increase over 4–6 weeks to the full
therapeutic dose of 1500–3000 mg daily. If a timed-released preparation
(intermediate release only!) or inositol hexaniacinate is used, take a 500 mg
dosage at night and increase to 1500 mg after two weeks. If after one month
of therapy the dosage of 1500 mg per day fails to effectively lower LDL,
increase the dosage to 2000 mg. If that dosage fails to lower lipids, increase
the dosage to 3000 mg/day before discontinuing owing to lack of efficacy.
Typically, niacin (1000–2000 mg at night) reduces total cholesterol by 50–

75 mg/dl in patients with initial total cholesterol levels above 250 mg/dl
within the first two months. In patients with initial cholesterol levels above
300 mg/dl, it may take 4–6 months for cholesterol levels to begin to reach
recommended levels. Once cholesterol levels are reduced below 200 mg/
dl for two successive blood measurements at least two months apart, the
dosage can be reduced for two months. If the cholesterol levels creep up
above 200 mg/dl, then the dosage of niacin should be raised back up to
70
previous levels. If the cholesterol level remains below 200 mg/dl, then the
niacin can be withdrawn completely and the cholesterol levels rechecked in
two months, with niacin therapy restarted if levels have exceeded 200 mg/
dl. The same sort of schedule applies to other natural cholesterol-lowering
agents.
SYTRINOL
A few years ago, a friend asked me if there were any natural alternatives to
the statin drug Lipitor. His physician had prescribed the drug after a routine
yearly physical showed that his cholesterol level was 294 mg/dl and his LDL
level was 195 mg/dl. I told him there are many choices, but I wanted him to
try a new product on the market, Sytrinol (a special flavonoid extract from
citrus peels), combined with plant sterols. The research on Sytrinol is ex-
tremely impressive and I was looking for a test subject, so I asked my friend
to take three capsules in the morning and three at night to provide a daily
intake of 1200 mg of the plant sterols and 450 mg of Sytrinol.
His repeat blood test two months later showed that his total cholesterol
had dropped to 190 mg/dl and his LDL was now 105 mg/dl. Both of these
numbers are outstanding, representing a drop of more than 30% for the
total cholesterol and roughly 45% for the LDL. Fantastic! It was just the
response I had hoped for.
Clinical results have shown that Sytrinol exerts effects very similar to those
of statin drugs, but without side effects.55 Specifically, it has been shown to
lower total cholesterol levels up to 30% and LDL levels up to 27%. But
while statins do not lower triglyceride levels, Sytrinol is able to lower them
by 34% within 4–12 weeks of use.
For best results, the recommended dosage is 150 mg of Sytrinol twice daily.
For larger individuals and for people with total cholesterol levels over 300
mg/dl, I generally recommend 450 mg of Sytrinol daily.
71
PLANT STEROLS AND STANOLS

Phytosterols and phytostanols are structurally similar to cholesterol and
can act in the intestine to lower cholesterol absorption by displacing cho-
lesterol from intestinal micelles (an aggregate of water-insoluble mole-
cules – like cholesterol – surrounded by water-soluble molecules, which
facilitates absorption into the body). Because phytosterols and phytosta-
nols are poorly absorbed themselves, blood cholesterol levels will drop
owing to increased excretion. These compounds are showing up in func-
tional foods (e.g., margarine and other spreads, orange juice), as well as in
dietary supplements.
Phytosterols and phytostanols are effective in lowering LDL in some peo-

ple. A meta-analysis of 41 trials showed that a daily intake of 2000 mg of
stanols or sterols reduces LDL by 10%.56 Taking higher dosages added little
additional benefit. The effects of phytosterols and phytostanols are addi-
tive with diet or drug interventions: Eating foods low in saturated fat and
cholesterol and high in stanols or sterols can reduce LDL by 20%; adding
sterols or stanols to statin medication is more effective than doubling the
statin dose alone. Individuals most likely to respond have been identified
as having high cholesterol absorption and low cholesterol biosynthesis.
Phytosterols and phytostanols have also shown antiplatelet and antioxi-
dant effects.57–59
Be aware, however, that phytosterol or phytostanol intake at higher dos-

ages may reduce carotenoid absorption. People consuming 6600 mg/day
of phytosterols showed cholesterol-adjusted plasma reduction of alpha and
beta carotene levels (down 19–23%), lutein (14%), and lycopene (11%).
This effect was partially reversed by increased fruit and vegetable intake.60
PANTETHINE
Pantethine is the stable form of pantetheine, the active form of vitamin B5,
or pantothenic acid. Pantothenic acid is the most important component of
72
coenzyme A (CoA). This enzyme is involved in the transport of fats to and

from cells, as well as to the energy-producing compartments within the cell.
Without coenzyme A, the cell’s fats cannot be metabolized to energy.
Pantethine has significant lipid-lowering activity while pantothenic acid has

little (if any) effect in lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels, owing to
pantethine’s ability to be converted to cysteamine. Pantethine administra-
tion (standard dose 900 mg/day) has been shown to significantly reduce se-
rum triglycerides (by 32%), total cholesterol (19%), and LDL (21%) levels
while increasing HDL (23%) levels.61,62 It appears to be especially useful in
diabetics.63–65
The lipid-lowering effects of pantethine are most impressive when its toxic-
ity (virtually none) is compared with that of conventional lipid-lowering
drugs. Its mechanism of action is due to inhibited cholesterol synthesis and
acceleration of the use of fat as an energy source.
GARLIC (ALLIUM SATIVUM) AND ONION (ALLIUM CEPA)

Garlic appears to be an important protective factor against heart disease and
stroke owing to its ability to affect the process of atherosclerosis at so many
steps. A major area of focus on garlic’s ability to offer significant protec-
tion against heart disease and strokes has been the evaluation of its ability
to lower blood cholesterol levels, even in apparently healthy individuals.
According to the results from numerous double-blind, placebo-controlled
studies in patients with initial cholesterol levels greater than 200 mg/dl,
supplementation with commercial preparations providing a daily dose of
at least 10 mg alliin or a total allicin potential of 4000 mcg can lower total
serum cholesterol by about 10–12%; LDL decreases by about 15%, HDL
usually increases by about 10%, and triglycerides typically drop by 15%.
However, most trials not using products that can deliver this dosage of al-
licin fail to show a lipid-lowering effect.66–70
Although the effects of supplemental garlic preparations on cholesterol lev-

els are modest, the combination of lowering LDL and raising HDL can
73
greatly improve the HDL:LDL ratio, a significant goal in the prevention of

heart disease and strokes. Garlic preparations have also demonstrated blood
pressure lowering effects; inhibition of platelet aggregation; reduction of
plasma viscosity; promotion of fibrinolysis; prevention of LDL oxidation;
and an ability to exert positive effects on endothelial function, vascular re-
activity, and peripheral blood flow.
Table 3.6 Comparative Effects on Blood Lipids of Several Natural Compounds
%FFECT .IACIN 'ARLIC 0ANTETHINE

Total cholesterol (% decrease) 18 10 19
LDL cholesterol (% decrease) 23 15 21
HDL cholesterol (% increase) 32 31 23
Triglycerides (% decrease) 26 13 32
FINAL COMMENTS
I recognize that this chapter is probably a bit overwhelming and may be in

direct conflict with the recommendations of your physician. Here are some
key takeaway points:
s 3TATINSARELARGELYPRESCRIBEDBASEDONMISINFORMATIONTHEDOCTOR
HASRECEIVEDFROMTHEDRUGCOMPANIESANDTHEIRREPRESENTATIVES
s .IACINISASUITABLEALTERNATIVETOASTATINANDCANBEACOMPROMISE
ALTHOUGHTHERESEARCHSHOWSNIACINPRODUCESTHEBESTOVERALLEFFECT
s #ONSUMINGADIETRICHINCHOLESTEROL LOWERINGFACTORSCANPRODUCETHE
SAMELEVELOFCHOLESTEROLREDUCTIONASALOWERDOSAGEOFASTATIN
s +EEPINMINDTHATCHOLESTEROLLEVELSAREJUSTONEPIECEOFTHEPUZZLE
OFREDUCINGCARDIOVASCULARDISEASE
s 4HOUGHlSHOILSDONOTUSUALLYAFFECTCHOLESTEROLLEVELSTHEYDOLOWER
TRIGLYCERIDESANDPRODUCEBENElTSTHATFAREXCEEDTHEIREFFECTONBLOODLIPIDS
74
If you are still confused and wondering what to do, here’s what I recommend:
s $OEVERYTHINGYOUCANTOGETYOURCHOLESTEROLLEVELSINTHEIDEALRANGE
WITHOUTTAKINGASTATINDRUGlRST&OLLOWTHEDIETARYRECOMMENDATIONS
ABOVE)NCASESWHERETHEINITIALTOTALCHOLESTEROLLEVELISABOVEMG
DLOR,$,ISGREATERTHANMGDL)RECOMMENDTAKINGACOMBINATIONOF
3YTRINOLMGTWICEDAILY ANDNIACINMGDAILY )FTHENUMBERS
ARELOWERTHENTAKEEITHERNIACINOR3YTRINOLANDREPEATBLOODTESTSEVERY
TWOMONTHS
s )FYOUHAVEAN($,LEVELOFLESSTHANMGDLTHENTAKEMGOF
NIACINATNIGHTAGARLICPRODUCTPROVIDINGADAILYDOSEOFATLEASTMG
ALLIINORATOTALALLICINPOTENTIALOFMCGANDGETMOREEXERCISE
s )FYOUARECURRENTLYTAKINGASTATINDRUGORREDYEASTRICEANDYOUR
CHOLESTEROLLEVELSAREINTHERECOMMENDEDRANGE)WOULDRECOMMEND
WORKINGWITHYOURDOCTORANDSTARTINGTHEDIETARYRECOMMENDATIONSAND
THECOMBINATIONOFNIACINAND3YTRINOL!FTERnWEEKSREDUCETHESTATIN
DOSAGEBYHALF)TISVERYIMPORTANTTORECHECKTHECHOLESTEROLLEVELSn
WEEKSAFTERREDUCINGTHESTATINDOSAGE)FEVERYTHINGLOOKSGREATTRY
ELIMINATINGTHESTATINENTIRELYANDRECHECKAGAININnWEEKS
s )FYOURCHOLESTEROLLEVELSARENOTINTHEIDEALRANGEEVENTHOUGHYOUARE
ONASTATIN)WOULDDElNITELYRECOMMENDADDINGNIACINTOYOURREGIMEN
#ONTINUETOMONITORYOURCHOLESTEROLLEVELSWITHYOURDOCTOR
s )FYOUMUSTTAKEASTATINBECAUSEITISMEDICALLYINDICATEDINYOURCASE
PLEASESEEDISCUSSIONABOVE THENYOUMUSTABSOLUTELYSUPPLEMENTYOUR
DIETWITHMGOF#O1DAILY
s )FYOUHAVEHIGHTRIGLYCERIDESTAKEAHIGH QUALITYlSHOILSUPPLEMENTATA
DOSAGETHATWILLDELIVERMGOF%0!$(!COMBINED PERDAY
Also, keep in mind that regular physical exercise is extremely important

in reducing the risk of heart disease and strokes. It accomplishes this goal
by lowering cholesterol levels, improving blood and oxygen supply to the
heart, increasing the functional capacity of the heart, reducing blood pres-
sure, reducing obesity, and exerting a favorable effect on blood clotting.
75
CHAPTER 4
BEYOND CHOLESTEROL:
THE ROLE OF INSULIN
RESISTANCE
In Chapter 1, I stated that a strong argument could be made that insulin

resistance is much more important than elevated cholesterol levels as a risk
factor for atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and cardiovascular dis-
ease (CVD). In fact, if we look at the big picture it’s easy to conclude that
insulin resistance is the biggest factor contributing to an increased risk of
heart disease in most North Americans.
Insulin resistance means that your body becomes less sensitive to the actions
of your own insulin. One of the key actions of insulin is to drive glucose
from blood into the cells. Insulin resistance promotes atherosclerosis and
77
#6$"94(%&/,,/7).'-%#(!.)3-3
t &
MFWBUFE CMPPE TVHBS MFWFMT BSF BTTPDJBUFE XJUI JODSFBTFE BUUBDINFOU
of glucose to receptor proteins, leading to loss of key feedback mecha-
nisms. For example, if the receptor for low-density lipoprotein choles-
terol (LDL; “bad” cholesterol) on the surface of a liver cell becomes
damaged by the attachment of glucose, the liver cell does not get the
feedback message that there is plenty of cholesterol. In fact, without the
feedback the liver cell thinks it needs to make more cholesterol.
t &
MFWBUFEMFWFMTPGCMPPETVHBSBSFBMTPBTTPDJBUFEXJUIJODSFBTFEPYJEB-
tive stress leading to damage to LDL, as well as adding fuel to the fire of
silent inflammation. In fact, insulin resistance is the key factor in caus-
ing silent inflammation and high levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive
protein (hsCRP). Much of the inflammatory effect of insulin resistance
is due to its negative effects on the endothelium, the lining of the blood
vessel wall.
t 4 JODFUIFSFJTBSFMBUJWFEFëDJFODZPGHMVDPTFXJUIJODFMMTCFDBVTFPGJOTV-
lin resistance, even though blood sugar levels are high, the pancreas be-
gins dumping larger quantities of insulin into the blood. Higher blood
insulin levels are now a well-established risk factor for heart disease. A
high level of insulin in the blood promotes atherosclerosis by several
mechanisms, including stimulating smooth muscle cell proliferation in
the arterial wall, leading to thickening and stiffness of the arterial wall
as well as narrowing of the artery.
t * OTVMJO SFTJTUBODF JT BTTPDJBUFE XJUI IJHI CMPPE QSFTTVSF *U OPU POMZ
contributes to more rigid and constricted blood vessels, it causes reten-
tion of sodium and water from the kidneys, which then leads to high
blood pressure.
t * OTVMJOSFTJTUBODFQSPNPUFTHSFBUFSGBUCSFBLEPXO MFBEJOHUPUIFDIBS-
acteristic blood lipid pattern of elevated LDL and triglycerides with
lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL; “good” cho-
78
CHAP TER 4 · BE YOND CHOLESTEROL: THE ROLE OF INSULIN RESISTANCE
lesterol). In normal individuals, one of the functions of insulin is to

suppress the breakdown of fat from the fat cells into the bloodstream.
With insulin resistance this effect is blocked, leading to an exaggerated
breakdown of fat from the fat cells and the release of free fatty acids into
the blood. The liver takes up these free fatty acids and converts them
into triglycerides in the form of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL),
which ultimately lowers HDL levels. Insulin resistance also increases
the formation of the smaller, more dense LDL.
t * OTVMJO SFTJTUBODF JODSFBTFT QMBUFMFU BHHSFHBUJPO BOE ëCSJOPHFO MFWFMT

This scenario greatly increases the risk for clot formation. In addition,
insulin resistance blocks the action of tissue plasminogen activator, a
clot-busting compound produced by the cells that line the artery.
t * OTVMJOSFTJTUBODFJTBTTPDJBUFEXJUIJODSFBTFEMFWFMTPGUIFBESFOBMIPS-
mone cortisol.
WHAT CAUSES INSULIN RESISTANCE?
Insulin resistance is tied to abdominal obesity. If your waist circumference is

larger than your hips, there is an extremely strong likelihood that you suffer
from insulin resistance. As fat cells in the abdomen grow in size or number,
they secrete a number of biologic products (e.g., resistin) that dampen the
effect of insulin, impair glucose utilization in skeletal muscle, and promote
glucose (blood sugar) production by the liver. Also important is that as the
number and size of fat cells increase, they lead to a reduction in the secre-
tion of compounds that promote insulin action, including a novel protein
produced by fat cells known as adiponectin.
Adiponectin is not only associated with improved insulin sensitivity, it also

has anti-inflammatory activity, lowers triglycerides, and blocks the develop-
ment of atherosclerosis. The net effect of all these actions by fat cells in the
overweight individual is that they severely stress blood sugar control mecha-
nisms and lead to the development of the major complication of diabetes
79
– atherosclerosis. Because of all these newly discovered hormones secreted

by fat cells, the collective fatty tissue in the body is considered part of the
hormonal (endocrine) system.
HOW BIG IS THE PROBLEM?
If you are overweight you are definitely not alone. Current estimates are
that eight out of 10 adults in the United States are overweight, with about
half of these people, 40% of our adult population, meeting the criteria for
obesity. It’s a huge issue that is crippling our health care systems and our
productivity. Each year obesity-related conditions cost over $100 billion
and cause an estimated 300,000 premature deaths in the U.S., making a
very strong case that the obesity epidemic is the most significant threat to
the future of the United States, as well as other nations.
In addition to the epidemic of obesity there is a parallel epidemic of type

2 diabetes. Currently, 20 million Americans meet the criteria for type 2
diabetes and another 80 million suffer from prediabetes – a condition char-
acterized by insulin resistance – and/or metabolic syndrome. All told, over
100 million people in the United States show signs of significant insulin
resistance.
OBESITY AND MORTALITY

Obese individuals have an average life expectancy 5–7 years shorter than that
of normal-weight individuals, with a greater relative risk for mortality associated
with a greater degree of obesity.1,2 Most of the increased risk for mortality is due
to CVD, because obesity carries with it a tremendous risk for type 2 diabetes,
elevated cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and other risk factors for
atherosclerosis. In 2009 the annual medical spending due to overweight and
obesity was estimated to be $147 billion.3
80
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE INSULIN RESISTANCE?
One of the most useful clinical determinants of insulin resistance is simply

measuring the waist to hip ratio. However, if the waist circumference for a
man is greater than 40 inches, and for a woman greater than 30 inches, there
is no need to do any further calculation because this measurement alone has
been shown to be a major risk factor for both CVD and type 2 diabetes, two
of the biggest consequences of insulin resistance, as well as high blood pressure
and gout. A waist to hip ratio above 1.0 for men and above 0.8 for women is
highly predictive of insulin resistance. To determine your waist to hip ratio,
1) Measure the circumference of your waist:
2) Measure the circumference of your hips:
3) Divide the waist measurement by the hip measurement:

Waist/Hip = . This is your waist/hip ratio.
IMPROVING INSULIN SENSITIVITY
Improving blood sugar control, whether the goal is weight loss, reduction of
risk factors for CVD, or prevention of type 2 diabetes, is most successfully
done with a combination of lifestyle changes, such as increasing physical
activity and improving diet and nutrition, and targeted nutritional supple-
mentation.
Obviously, dietary carbohydrates play a central role in the cause, preven-

tion, and treatment of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. In an effort to
label carbohydrate sources as good or bad, one useful tool is the glycemic
index (GI). It is a numerical scale used to indicate how fast and how high a
particular food raises blood glucose levels compared with glucose. Refined
sugars, white flour products, and other sources of simple sugars are quickly
absorbed into the bloodstream, causing a rapid rise in blood sugar, severely
stressing blood sugar control. So it is important to avoid junk food and pay
attention to the GI of the food you eat.
81
Studies have shown that an elevated after-meal blood sugar level is a greater
risk factor for heart disease that abnormal fasting plasma glucose.4,5 So even
if you do not have insulin resistance it is critical to avoid high blood sugar
levels at any time to prevent CVD.
Table 4.1 Classification of Foods by Glycemic Index Scores
&RUITSAND.ONSTARCHY6EGETABLES
6ERY(IGH (IGH -EDIUM ,OW
None Bananas Cantaloupe Apples
Raisins Grapes Apricots
Beets Oranges Asparagus
Orange juice Broccoli
Peaches Brussels sprouts
Pineapples Cauliflower
Watermelon Celery
Cherries
Cucumbers
Grapefruit
Green beans
Green peppers
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Onions
Plums
Spinach
Strawberries
Tomatoes
Zucchini
82
'RAINS.UTS,EGUMESAND3TARCHY6EGETABLES

6ERY(IGH (IGH -EDIUM ,OW
Refined sugar and
Bagels Bread (rye) Lentils
flour products
Most cold cereals
(e.g., Grape Nuts,
Bread (white) Bread (whole-grain) Nuts
corn flakes, Raisin
Bran, etc.)
Rice cakes Carrots Brown rice Seeds
Granola Corn Oatmeal
Granola bars Pasta
Kidney beans Peas
Muffins (bran) Pita bread
Potatoes Pinto beans
Pretzels Yams
White rice
Tortillas
The GI is quite useful, but since it doesn’t tell you how much carbohydrate
is in a typical serving of a particular food, another tool is needed. That is
where glycemic load comes in. The glycemic load (GL) is a relatively new
way to assess the impact of carbohydrate consumption. It takes the glycemic
index into account, but gives a more complete picture of the effect that a
particular food has on blood sugar levels based on how much carbohydrate
you actually eat in a serving. A GL of 20 or more is high, a GL of 11–19
inclusive is medium, and a GL of 10 or less is low.
For example, let’s take a look at beets, a food with a high GI, but low GL.
Although the carbohydrate in beets has a high GI, there isn’t a lot of it, so
a typical serving of cooked beets has a very low GL, about 5. Thus, as long
as you eat a reasonable portion of a low-glycemic-load food, the impact on
blood sugar is acceptable, even if the food has a high GI.
83
Table 4.2 Examples of Glycemic Index, Glycemic Load, and Insulin Stress Scores
of Selected Foods
)NSULIN3TRESS
&OOD 'LYCEMIC)NDEX 'LYCEMIC,OAD 'LYCEMIC)MPACT
Carrots, cooked, ½ cup 49 1.5 Low
Peach, fresh, 1 large 42 3.0 Low
Beets, cooked ½ cup 64 3.0 Low
Watermelon, ½ cup 72 4.0 Low
Bread, whole-wheat, 1 slice 69 9.6 Low
Potato, baked, medium 93 14.0 Medium
Rice, brown, cooked, 1 cup 50 16.0 Medium
Banana, raw, 1 medium 55 17.6 Medium
Spaghetti, white, cooked, 1 cup 41 23.0 High
Rice, white, cooked, 1 cup 72 26.0 High
Grape Nuts cereal, ½ cup 71 33.0 Very high
Soft drinks, 375 ml 68 34.7 Very high
To help you design your diet, I have provided a list of the GI, fiber
content, and GL of common foods in Appendix B. In essence, foods
that are mostly water (e.g., apple or watermelon), fiber (e.g., beet root
or carrot), or air (e.g., popcorn) will not cause a steep rise in your blood
sugar even if their GI is high, as long as you exercise moderation in
portion sizes. I recommend keeping the GL for any three-hour period
to less than 20.
THE IMPORTANCE OF DIETARY FIBER IN IMPROVING INSULIN SENSITIVITY

Population studies, as well as clinical and experimental data, show dia-
betes to be one of the diseases most clearly related to inadequate dietary
fiber intake. Different types of fibers possess different actions. The type of
fiber that exerts the most beneficial effects on blood sugar control is the
water-soluble form. Included in this class are hemicelluloses, mucilages,
84
gums, and pectin substances. These types of fiber are capable of slowing
down the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, thereby preventing
rapid rises in blood sugar. These fibers are also associated with increasing
the sensitivity of tissues to insulin and improving the uptake of glucose by
the muscles, liver, and other tissues, thereby preventing a sustained eleva-
tion of blood sugar.6,7
Particularly good sources of water-soluble fiber are legumes, oat bran,

nuts, seeds, psyllium seed husks, pears, apples, and most vegetables. Large
amounts of plant foods must be consumed to obtain enough dietary fiber,
although beans, peas, and legumes are overall the best sources for high fiber
intake in relatively easy amounts to ingest.
Although even the simple change from white-flour products to whole-

grain versions is associated with a reduced risk for type 2 diabetes,8,9 my
recommendation is to consume at least 35 g of fiber a day from various
food sources, especially vegetables. For people with insulin resistance,
it is critical to take PGX® at all meals to reduce after-meal elevations in
blood sugar levels. Human clinical trials with PGX® have shown it to
have an impressive effect in reducing the glycemic impact of any food or
meal.10–12
PGX® IS A KEY TOOL FOR IMPROVING INSULIN SENSITIVITY

PGX® (short for PolyGlycopleX ®) is a completely new and unique fiber
matrix. The effectiveness of any fiber on reducing appetite, blood sugar,
and cholesterol is based directly on the amount of water the fiber is able to
absorb and the degree of thickness or viscosity the fiber imparts when in
the stomach and intestine. For instance, this water solubility and viscosity
is why oat bran lowers cholesterol and controls blood sugar better gram for
gram than wheat bran. With this in mind, researchers have been seeking
to identify and isolate dietary fibers with the highest viscosity and water-
holding capacity in order to make them available as food ingredients or
nutritional supplements.
85
DIETARY FAT AND INSULIN RESISTANCE

Dietary fat also plays a central role in insulin sensitivity. The type of dietary fat profile
linked to insulin resistance is an abundance of saturated fat from animal foods and
trans fatty acids (partially hydrogenated vegetable oils) along with a relative insuffi-
ciency of monounsaturated and omega-3 fatty acids. One of the key reasons appears
to be the fact that because dietary fat determines cell membrane composition, such
a dietary pattern leads to reduced membrane fluidity, which in turn causes reduced
insulin binding to receptors on cellular membranes or reduced insulin action, or both.13
Particularly harmful to cell membrane function are margarine, vegetable oil shorten-
ing, and other foods containing trans fatty acids and partially hydrogenated oils. These
fatty acids interfere with the body’s ability to use important essential fatty acids. One
study estimated that substituting polyunsaturated vegetable oils for margarine that
contains partially hydrogenated vegetable oil would reduce the likelihood of develop-
ing type 2 diabetes by 40%.14
In contrast to the dampening of insulin sensitivity caused by partially hydrogenated

margarine and saturated fats, clinical studies have shown that monounsaturated
fats and omega-3 oils improve insulin action.15 Adding further support is the fact that
population studies have also indicated that frequent consumption of monounsaturated
fats such as olive oil, raw or lightly roasted nuts and seeds, nut oils, and omega-3 fatty
acids from fish protect against the development of type 2 diabetes. Healthy omega-3
fish include wild salmon, trout, anchovies, sardines, halibut, and herring. All of this
evidence clearly indicates that altered cell membrane composition and fluidity play a
critical role in the development of type 2 diabetes.
One of the most useful foods to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes is nuts. Studies
have shown that consumption of nuts is inversely associated with risk of type 2
diabetes, independent of known risk factors, including age, obesity, family history
of diabetes, physical inactivity, smoking, and other dietary factors.16 In addition to
providing beneficial monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats that improve insulin
sensitivity, nuts are also rich in fiber and magnesium and have a low GI. Higher
intakes of fiber and magnesium and foods with a low GI have been associated with
reduced risk of type 2 diabetes in several population-based studies. Eating mostly raw
or lightly roasted fresh nuts and seeds rather than commercially roasted and salted
nuts and seeds is advocated.
86
Through a special process, natural fibers are transformed to make PGX®

the most viscous and soluble fiber ever discovered. What that means is that
all the health benefits linked to soluble dietary fiber – including stabilizing
blood sugar levels – are significantly magnified with PGX®. Detailed analy-
sis has shown that PGX® produces a higher level of viscosity, gel-forming
properties, and expansion with water than the same quantity of any other
fiber alone.
The PGX® matrix is able to bind hundreds of times its weight in water, re-
sulting in a volume and viscosity 3–5 times greater than that of other highly
soluble fibers such as psyllium or oat beta glucan. To put this in perspective,
a small 5 g serving of PGX® in a meal replacement formula or on its own
produces a volume and viscosity that would be equal to as much as four
bowls of oat bran. In this way, small quantities of PGX® can be added to
foods or taken as a drink before meals to have an impact on appetite and
blood sugar control equivalent to eating enormous and impractical quanti-
ties of any other form of fiber.
Detailed clinical studies published in major medical journals and presented

at the world’s major diabetes conferences have shown PGX® to exert the fol-
lowing benefits:10–12,16–18
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s 2EDUCESAPPETITEANDPROMOTESEFFECTIVEWEIGHTLOSSEVENINTHEMORBIDLY
OBESE
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SATIETY
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s 2EDUCESAFTER MEALBLOODGLUCOSELEVELSWHENADDEDTOORTAKENWITHFOOD
s 2EDUCESTHE')OFANYFOODORBEVERAGE
s )NCREASESINSULINSENSITIVITYANDDECREASESBLOODINSULIN
s )MPROVESDIABETESCONTROLANDDRAMATICALLYREDUCESTHENEEDFOR
MEDICATIONSORINSULININDIABETICS
s ,OWERSBLOODCHOLESTEROLANDTRIGLYCERIDES
87
PGX® REDUCES BLOOD SUGAR VOLATILITY

By using new techniques in 24-hour blood sugar monitoring, ground-
breaking research conducted by Michael Lyon, MD, and others at the Ca-
nadian Centre for Functional Medicine has shown that excessive appetite
and food cravings in overweight people are directly correlated with rapid
fluctuations in blood glucose throughout the day and night. Furthermore,
it has now been documented that by using PGX®, these same patients
can dramatically restore their body’s ability to tightly control blood sugar
levels and that this accomplishment is powerfully linked to remarkable
improvements in blood sugar control, reductions in appetite, and safe and
effective weight loss.
Figure 4.1 is an example of what this data looks like before beginning the
PGX® weight loss program. Figure 4.2 shows the data after four weeks of
the program.
400
300
Glucose - mg/dL
200
180
100
70
3:00 AM 6:00 AM 9:00 AM 12:00 PM 3:00 PM 6:00 PM 9:00 PM
Time of Day
Figure 4.1 Continuous glucose graph over 24 hours in typical overweight, nondiabetic patient before beginning the
PGX® program. Patient has elevated glycemic volatility (she is on the “blood sugar roller coaster”). Monitoring for
several days showed that this was her consistent pattern even when she ate healthy food. Frequent food cravings
were reported at times when blood sugar rapidly dropped over short periods. This amounted to several significant
food cravings per day. Feelings of hypoglycemia also occurred when blood sugar dropped rapidly, even when blood
sugar was above the normal range (i.e., 70–100 mg/dl). This patient was spending most of the day outside this
ideal range.
88
400
300
Glucose - mg/dL
200
180
100
70
0.0
3:00 AM 6:00 AM 9:00 AM 12:00 PM 3:00 PM 6:00 PM 9:00 PM
Time of Day
Figure 4.2 Continuous glucose graph over 24 hours in same patient four weeks into the PGX® program. Patient now
has nearly normalized glycemic volatility. Appetite and food cravings have dramatically diminished. Hypoglycemic
symptoms no longer occur. As well, patient has more energy and mental clarity. Weight loss is progressing on target
and with no discomfort. This type of change is typical with PGX® use and it dramatically illustrates the remarkable
changes that can occur.
HOW TO USE PGX®

PGX® works best if it is used with a low-glycemic diet (discussed below).
The dosage of PGX® is based on your needs. If you don’t need to lose weight
and simply want to take advantage of the ability of PGX® to stabilize blood
sugar levels, the dosage is only 750–1500 mg before meals. However, if you
want to lose weight, then the dosage needs to be at least 2500–5000 mg
before meals (start with a dosage of 750–1000 mg and work your way up to
the full dosage over the course of a couple of weeks).
PGX® is available in a variety of different forms: soft gelatin capsules, a zero-

calorie drink mix, granules to be added to food and beverages, and a meal
replacement drink mix containing undenatured whey protein, natural fla-
vors, and sweeteners along with vitamins and minerals (SlimStyles Weight
Loss Drink). It does not matter which form you use, just make sure you
get the required dosage of PGX® before each meal. For weight loss, I like
to recommend taking another dose of PGX® about an hour after dinner to
reduce nighttime eating. Be sure to drink 8 oz of water for each 2500 mg
89
dose. For many people, taking PGX® in soft gelatin capsules 5–15 minutes
before meals with a glass of water is the most convenient way to use PGX®.
Detailed studies in both humans and animals have shown that PGX® is very
safe and well tolerated. There are no specific drug interactions, but it is best
to take any medication either an hour before or after taking PGX®.
For more information see www.PGX.com. Appendix C also provides an-

swers to some of the common questions about PGX®.
FINAL COMMENTS
Here are my concise recommendations for individuals with insulin resis-

tance, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes. Keep in mind that it’s important to
recognize that as the natural therapies described in this chapter take effect,
drug dosages may need to be altered and that a good working relationship
with the prescribing doctor is required. The ultimate goal is to re-establish
normal blood sugar control without drugs and prevent the development of
the complications of diabetes, including CVD – CVD is the cause of death
in 55% of diabetics.
DIET
Start each meal by taking PGX® at a dosage of 2500–5000 mg. It’s im-
portant to follow the dietary guidelines detailed in Chapter 2. All simple,
processed, concentrated carbohydrates must be avoided. A low-glycemic
diet rich in high-fiber foods should be stressed, and sources of healthy fats
should be ingested. Low-glycemic vegetables, onions, and garlic are particu-
larly useful and their liberal consumption is encouraged.
NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR PREDIABETES AND TYPE 2 DIABETES

The recommended supplementation program depends on the degree of blood
glucose control, as shown by self-monitored blood glucose and A1C levels.
90
LEVEL 1 – ACHIEVEMENT OF TARGETED BLOOD GLUCOSE AND A1C LEVELS LESS

THAN 7%, NO LIPID ABNORMALITIES, NO SIGNS OF COMPLICATIONS:
s (IGH POTENCYMULTIVITAMINANDMINERAL
s &ISHOILSMGOF%0!$(!DAILY
s 6ITAMIN#nMGDAILY
s 6ITAMIN%n)5DAILYMIXEDTOCOPHEROLS
s 'RAPESEEDPINEBARKORGREENTEAEXTRACTOROTHERAPPROPRIATEmAVONOID
RICHEXTRACT nMGDAILY
s !LPHA LIPOICACIDnMGDAILY
LEVEL 2 – FAILURE TO ACHIEVE TARGETED BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS, A1C

ABOVE 7%; LEVEL 1 SUPPORT PLUS:
s )NSULINENHANCERnUSEONEOFTHEFOLLOWING
s 'SYLVESTREEXTRACTGYMNEMICACID MGTWICEDAILY
s &ENUGREEKEXTRACTMGDAILY
s 'ARLICMINIMUMMCGOFALLICINDAILY
s -ULBERRYEXTRACTEQUIVALENTTOMGDRIEDLEAFTHREETIMESDAILY
If self-monitored blood glucose levels do not improve after four weeks of

following the recommendations for the current level, move to the next level.
For example, if a person starts out having an A1C level of 8.2% and a fast-
ing blood glucose level of 130 mg/dl, he or she should start on Level 2 sup-
port. After four weeks, if the average reading has not dropped to less than
110 mg/dl, then a prescription medication (either an oral hypoglycemic
drug or insulin) is required.
FOR HIGH CHOLESTEROL LEVELS

For high cholesterol levels and other cardiovascular risk factors (total cho-
lesterol greater than 200 mg/dl or LDL greater than 135 mg/dl, 100 mg/dl
if there is a history of heart attack); HDL below 45 mg/dl; lipoprotein(a)
above 40 mg/dl; or triglycerides above 150 mg/dl:
91
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s 'ARLICMINIMUMOFMCGOFALLICINDAILY
FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

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nMGTHREETIMESDAILY
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s (IBISCUSTHREEMLSERVINGSPERDAYORANEXTRACTPROVIDINGn
MGANTHOCYANIDINSDAILY
92
CHAPTER 5
THE HEART HEALTHY

LIFESTYLE
Without question, a healthy lifestyle improves the quality and length of life.
It’s mostly common sense – develop positive relationships, avoid harmful
habits like smoking and drinking excessively, get a good night’s sleep, and
exercise. Many of these key components of a heart healthy lifestyle were
briefly mentioned in Chapter 1. In particular, the tremendously deadly ef-
fects of cigarette smoking were pointed out. The importance of exercise and
avoiding the expression of hostility and anger were also mentioned.
I want to start this chapter off by once again highlighting the fact that
individuals with type A behavior (e.g., extreme sense of time urgency,
competitiveness, impatience, and aggressiveness) have a twofold increase
in cardiovascular disease (CVD) over non-type A individuals. Particularly
93
CHAP TER 5 · T HE HE AR T HE ALTHY LIF EST YLE
damaging to the cardiovascular system is the expression of negative emo-

tions and anger. Greater expression of anger is associated with a lower ratio
of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to high-density lipoprotein (HDL), in-
creased high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), increased secretion of
stress hormones such as cortisol, dysfunction in the lining of the arteries,
high blood pressure, and excessive blood clot formation.1–3
The bottom line from all this research is that expression of hostility and
anger comes back to cause harm to the individual expressing it as well as the
victims it leaves in its wake. Here are 10 tips to improve your coping strate-
gies and reduce your feelings of anger and hostility:
$/./434!26%9/52%-/4)/.!,,)&% Foster meaningful relationships.

Make time to give and receive love in your life.
,%!2.4/"%!'//$,)34%.%2 Allow the people in your life to really

share their feelings and thoughts uninterrupted. Empathize with them;
put yourself in their shoes.
$/./44294/4!,+/6%2/4(%23 If you find yourself being interrupted,

relax; do not try to outtalk the other person. If you are courteous and
allow other people to speak, eventually (unless they are extremely rude)
they will reciprocate. If not, explain that they are disrupting the commu-
nication process. You can do this only if you have been a good listener.
!6/)$!''2%33)6%/20!33)6%"%(!6)/2 Be assertive, but express your

thoughts and feelings in a kind way to help improve relationships at
work and at home.
by avoiding
!6/)$ %8#%33)6% 342%33 ). 9/52 ,)&% !3 "%34 9/5 #!.
excessive work hours, poor nutrition, and inadequate rest. Get as much
sleep as you can.
Stimulants pro-
!6/)$ 34)-5,!.43 35#( !3 #!&&%).% !.$ .)#/4).%
mote the fight-or-flight response and tend to make people more irri-
table in the process.
94
4!+% 4)-% 4/ "5),$ ,/.' 4%2- (%!,4( !.$ 35##%33 by performing
stress-reduction techniques and deep breathing exercises.
!##%04'2!#%&5,,94(/3%4().'3/6%27()#(9/5(!6%./#/.42/,
Save your energy for those things you can do something about.
!##%049/523%,& Remember that you are human and will make mis-
takes from which you can learn along the way.
" %-/2%0!4)%.4!.$4/,%2!.4/&/4(%20%/0,% Follow the Golden

Rule.
FROM GRIZZLY BEAR TO TEDDY BEAR
My favorite example of the healing power of a merry heart is Jerry. At the

time of his first visit to me he was a 52-year-old United States Postal Service
employee on medical disability leave. In the 11 years since he’d turned 41,
Jerry had undergone seven heart surgeries – three coronary artery bypass
operations and four angioplasties. Despite all these procedures and all the
drugs he was taking, Jerry had tremendous angina with even the slight-
est exertion. The first time I saw him, in fact, he had an angina attack
just walking the few feet from the waiting room to my office. He quickly
popped a nitroglycerine pill; it was just one of the 11 prescription drugs
he was taking, some of which were designed to reduce the side effects of
other drugs.
Jerry was suffering from a severe case of heart failure – these medications
were necessary to keep his weakened heart beating well enough to keep him
alive. Jerry’s heart disease was so severe that he was on the list for a heart
transplant. What was an extremely fascinating feature in Jerry’s case was
that he had no risk factors identifiable by conventional testing. His cho-
lesterol levels were perfect, his blood pressure was actually low, he did not
smoke, and he was not overweight. For years, his doctors had been at a loss
to explain why he had such severe heart disease.
95
It didn’t take long for me to figure it out. Jerry seemed like a very affable,
mild-mannered guy. But when I asked him how he would evaluate his ability
to control his temper I could see that he often “went postal.” I found it ironic
that he was a postal worker. He told me he was a real hothead and that his
temper was a major problem in his life. I once made the mistake of asking
him to give me some examples of what made him mad. His face turned red,
the veins in his neck and forehead popped out, and his voice became quite
loud as he told me a few things that really ticked him off. Shortly into this
tirade he stopped for a second or two to pop another nitroglycerin pill.
At that point, I seized the opportunity to help him make the connection
between his inability to control his anger and his heart disease. He was quite
resistant at first, because he just wanted me to prescribe some natural medi-
cines. While I did provide him with a supplement regimen, I knew that the
real key to getting Jerry better was for him to take a look at his emotional life.
It did not happen all at once, but over the next few visits he really opened up
and became receptive to my ideas. One of my initial prescriptions to Jerry was
to read a book by my friend, noted cardiologist Dr. Stephen T. Sinatra: Heart-
break and Heart Disease: A Mind/Body Prescription for Healing the Heart. It is
an excellent account of the role emotions play in heart disease. I also referred
Jerry to a psychotherapist for biofeedback training and to a yoga instructor so
he could start taking yoga classes.
Within two years from when I first saw Jerry, he went from popping nitroglyc-
erin tablets practically every time he got up out of his chair to walking nearly
four miles per day. His heart function went from less than 20% of normal,
despite being on a long list of drugs, to nearly 80% of normal without any
prescription medicines at all. Even more impressive than the improvements in
his physical health were the changes in his emotional health and personality.
What impressed me most, in fact, was the change in Jerry’s relationship with
his wife and kids.
So what led to the improvement? Was it the natural medicines I prescribed

Jerry, or the changes he made in his emotional responses? No doubt the
96
natural medicines improved his physical well-being. But I am convinced

that the most important factor in Jerry’s remarkable case was the emotional
changes he made. By making those changes Jerry eliminated the major ob-
stacle to wellness in his life.
LEARNING TO CALM THE MIND
An important step in fighting stress is learning to calm the mind and body.
Relaxation exercises are among the easiest methods to learn. The goal of re-
laxation techniques is to produce a physiologic response known as the “re-
laxation response” – a response that is exactly opposite to the stress response
and that reflects activation of the parasympathetic nervous system. Although
an individual may relax by simply sleeping, watching television, or reading a
book, relaxation techniques are designed specifically to produce the relaxation
response.
Relaxation response is a term coined by Harvard professor and cardiologist

Herbert Benson in the early 1970s to describe a physiologic response he found
in people who meditate that is just the opposite of the stress response.4 With
the stress response, the sympathetic nervous system dominates to produce the
fight-or-flight response. With the relaxation response, the parasympathetic
nervous system dominates. The parasympathetic nervous system controls
bodily functions such as digestion, breathing, and heart rate during periods of
rest, relaxation, visualization, meditation, and sleep. The sympathetic nervous
system is designed to protect against immediate danger; the parasympathetic
system is designed for repair, maintenance, and restoration of the body.
The relaxation response can be achieved through a variety of techniques. It

doesn’t matter which technique you choose, because all techniques have the
same physiologic effect – a state of deep relaxation. The most popular tech-
niques are meditation, prayer, progressive relaxation, self-hypnosis, and bio-
feedback. To produce the desired long-term health benefits, you should use
the relaxation technique for at least 5–10 minutes each day.
97
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PRESSUREISREDUCED
s "LOODISSHUNTEDTOWARDINTERNALORGANSESPECIALLYTHOSEORGANSINVOLVED
INDIGESTION
s 4HERATEOFBREATHINGDECREASESnOXYGENDEMANDISREDUCEDDURING
PERIODSOFREST
s 3WEATPRODUCTIONDIMINISHESBECAUSEAPERSONWHOISCALMANDRELAXED
DOESNOTEXPERIENCENERVOUSPERSPIRATION
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LEARNING TO BREATHE
Producing deep relaxation with any relaxation technique requires learning

how to breathe. Have you ever noticed how a baby breathes? With each
breath the baby’s abdomen rises and falls because the baby is breathing with
its diaphragm, a dome-shaped muscle that separates the chest cavity from
the abdominal cavity. If you are like most adults, you tend to fill only your
upper chest because you do not use the diaphragm. Shallow breathing tends
to produce tension and fatigue.
One of the most powerful methods of producing less stress and more energy
in the body is by breathing with the diaphragm. By using the diaphragm to
breath, a person dramatically changes their physiology. It literally activates
the relaxation centers in the brain.
(EREISA STEPTECHNIQUEFORLEARNINGDIAPHRAGMATICBREATHING
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THE IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP
Over the course of a year, over half of the U.S. population will have dif-
ficulty falling asleep. About 33% of the population experiences insomnia
regularly. Many people use over-the-counter sedative medications to com-
bat insomnia, while others seek stronger drugs. Insomnia can have many
causes, but the most common are depression, anxiety, use of stimulants like
caffeine and faulty blood sugar control. In addition, well over 300 drugs
have been identified that can interfere with normal sleep.
Poor sleep quality can reduce insulin sensitivity and set the stage for increas-
ing the risk for not only diabetes, but also CVD.
ELIMINATION OF INHIBITORS OF SLEEP

Coffee, as well as less obvious caffeine sources such as soft drinks, choco-
late, coffee-flavored ice cream, hot cocoa, and tea, must all be eliminated in
people who suffer from insomnia. Even small amounts of caffeine, such as
those found in decaffeinated coffee or in chocolate, may be enough to cause
insomnia in some people.
99
FIVE TIPS FOR PREPARING

FOR A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP
-!+%9/52"%$2//-02)-!2),9!0,!#%&/23,%%0).' It is not a
good idea to use your bed for paying bills, doing work, etc. Help your body
recognize that this is a place for rest or intimacy. Make sure your room is
well ventilated and the temperature consistent. And try to keep it quiet. You
could use a fan or a “white noise” machine to help block outside noises.
).#/20/2!4%"%$4)-%2)45!,3 Listening to soft music, sipping a cup

of herbal tea, etc., cues your body that it’s time to slow down and begin to
prepare for sleep.
2%,!8&/2!7(),%"%&/2%'/).'4/"%$ Spending quiet time can

make falling asleep easier. This may include meditation, relaxation and/
or breathing exercises, or taking a warm bath. Try listening to recorded
relaxation or guided imagery programs.
'%4/54/&"%$)&9/52%5.!",%4/3,%%0 Don’t lie in bed awake. Go

into another room and do something relaxing until you feel sleepy. Worrying
about falling asleep actually keeps many people awake.
$/.4$/!.94().'34)-5,!4).' Don’t read anything job related or

watch a stimulating TV program (commercials and news shows tend to
make people alert). Don’t expose yourself to bright light. The light cues your
brain that it’s time to wake up.
Other food compounds that can act as stimulants include some food col-
orings. Adverse food reactions such as food sensitivities and allergies can
also cause insomnia. Although not considered a stimulant, sugar and re-
fined carbohydrates can interfere with sleep. Eating a diet high in sugar
and refined carbohydrate and eating irregularly can cause a reaction in the
body that triggers the fight-or-flight part of the nervous system, causing
wakefulness.
100
Alcohol must also be eliminated in people with regular insomnia. Alcohol

causes the release of adrenaline and disrupts the production of serotonin (an
important brain chemical that initiates sleep).
BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL AND SLEEP QUALITY

In people who have trouble maintaining sleep throughout the night, I have
found faulty blood sugar control as an important cause. When the blood
glucose level drops, it causes the release of hormones that regulate glucose
levels, such as adrenaline, glucagon, cortisol, and growth hormone. These
compounds stimulate the brain. They are a natural signal that it is time to
eat. To reduce nighttime awakening due to blood sugar volatility, I recom-
mend following the dietary guidelines given in Chapter 2, along with the
recommendations for using PGX® given in Chapter 4.
SPECIAL DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS TO PROMOTE A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP

There are a number of special natural products that I have found to be
extremely reliable in helping to improve sleep quality. Most often I recom-
mend a product that I developed called Tranquil Sleep from Natural Fac-
tors. This formula provides the combination of melatonin (3 mg), 5-HTP
(30 mg), and L-theanine (200 mg) in a great-tasting chewable tablet or an
enteric-coated soft gelatin capsule. These three ingredients work together
to decrease the time required to get to sleep and to decrease the number of
nighttime awakenings.
(EREISTHEINFORMATIONONEACHOFTHESECOMPONENTSANDDOSAGERECOMMENDATIONS
ATBEDTIME
s - %,!4/.). is an important hormone secreted by the pineal gland, a

small gland in the center of the brain. Melatonin is one of the best aids
for sleep. In several studies, supplementation with melatonin has been
found helpful in inducing and maintaining sleep in both children and
adults, for both people with normal sleep patterns and those suffering
from insomnia. However, it appears that the sleep-promoting effects of
101
melatonin are most apparent only if a person’s melatonin levels are low.
In other words, taking melatonin is not like taking a sleeping pill or
even 5-HTP. It will produce a sedative effect only when melatonin levels
are low. A dosage of 3 mg at bedtime is more than enough.
s (9$2/8942904/0(!. (40 is converted in the brain to serotonin

– an important initiator of sleep. 5-HTP has also been reported, in
numerous double-blind clinical studies, to decrease the time required
to get to sleep and to decrease the number of awakenings. The recom-
mended dosage is 50–100 mg in a chewable tablet or enteric-coated
capsule.
s , 4(%!.).% is an important consideration when trying to get a better

night’s sleep. At typical dosages, e.g., 100–200 mg, L-theanine does not
act as a sedative, but it does significantly improve sleep quality. It is an
excellent support agent for melatonin and 5-HTP. These ingredients
exert synergistic effects to promote restful sleep. Note: At higher single
dosages, e.g., 600 mg, L-theanine does exert sedative action.
As for herbal medicines to promote a good night’s sleep, valerian (Valeriana

officinalis) is by far the most popular. Several double-blind clinical studies
have substantiated valerian’s ability to improve sleep quality and relieve in-
somnia. In fact, it has shown effectiveness equal to prescription sleeping pills.
The advantage of valerian is that it does not cause daytime sleepiness, dimin-
ished concentration, or impairment of physical performance. The dosage for
standardized valerian extract (0.8% valerenic acid content) is 150–300 mg,
45 minutes before bedtime. I would reserve use of valerian until after you
have given the combination of melatonin, 5-HTP, and L-theanine a try be-
cause I have found Tranquil Sleep to be much more effective.
THE IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR EXERCISE
Regular physical exercise is obviously a vital key to heart health. We all

know this fact, yet fewer than 50% of Americans exercise regularly. While
102
the immediate effect of exercise is stress on the body, with regular exercise
the body adapts – it becomes stronger, functions more efficiently, and
has greater endurance. These benefits are largely the result of improved
cardiovascular function. Simply stated, exercise enhances the transport
of oxygen and nutrients into cells. At the same time, exercise enhances
the transport of carbon dioxide and waste products from the tissues of
the body to the bloodstream and ultimately to the organs that eliminate
them.
Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for heart disease and is also a key
reason so many Americans are overweight. Exercise promotes the develop-
ment of an efficient method of burning fat. Muscle tissue is the primary
user of calories in the body, so the greater your muscle mass, the greater
your fat-burning capacity. If you want to be healthy and achieve your ideal
body weight, you must exercise.
Regular exercise also exerts a powerfully positive effect on mood. Ten-

sion, depression, feelings of inadequacy, and worries diminish greatly with
regular exercise. Exercise alone has been demonstrated to have a tremen-
dous impact on improving mood and the ability to handle stressful life
situations.
If the benefits of exercise could be put in a pill, you would have the most
powerful health-promoting medication available. Take a look at this long
list of health benefits produced by regular exercise:
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103
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104
PHYSICAL FITNESS AND LONGEVITY

The better shape you’re in physically, the greater your odds of enjoying a
healthier and longer life. Most studies have shown that the risk of having
a heart attack or stroke in an unfit individual is eight times greater than in
a physically fit individual. Researchers have estimated that every hour of
exercise leads to a two-hour increase in longevity. That is quite a return on
investment.
The Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study involved 9,777 men aged 20–82
who had completed at least two preventive medical examinations at the
Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Texas, from December 1970 through December
1989.5 All study participants achieved at least 85% of their age-predicted
maximal heart rate (220 minus their age) during the treadmill tests at both
exams. The average interval between the two exams was 4.9 years. Men were
considered healthy if, in addition to normal resting and exercise electrocar-
diograms (EKGs), they had no history or evidence of heart attack, stroke,
diabetes, or high blood pressure at both exams. Men were considered un-
healthy if they had one or more of these conditions, even though they had
normal resting and exercising EKGs. A total of 6,819 men were classified as
healthy and 2,958 as unhealthy.
Even though by standard definitions all men in the study could be classified
as fit, for the purpose of category analysis, they were further categorized by
their level of fitness based on their exercise tolerance in a standard treadmill
test. This measure is a sound objective indicator of physical fitness – test
time has been shown to correlate positively with maximal oxygen uptake.
The men were divided into five groups, with the first group being labeled
unfit and groups 2–5 being categorized as fit. The higher the group number,
the higher the level of fitness.
The highest age-adjusted death rate (all causes) was observed in men who
were unfit at both exams (122.0 deaths per 10,000 man years); the lowest
death rate was in men who were physically fit at both examinations (39.6
deaths per 10,000 man years). Furthermore, men who improved from unfit
105
to fit between the first and subsequent examinations had an age-adjusted

death rate of 67.7 per 10,000 man years, representing a reduction in mor-
tality of 44% relative to men who remained unfit at both exams. Improve-
ment in fitness was associated with lower death rates after adjusting for
age, health status, and other risk factors for premature mortality. For each
minute increase in maximal treadmill time between examinations, there was
a corresponding 7.9% decrease in risk of mortality.
Follow-up studies have shown the same sort of findings. The most recent
study, involving 40,718 healthy men, showed that physical fitness was
strongly associated with lower CVD mortality, even in those with higher
LDL levels, indicating that physical fitness can reduce some of the risk of
high LDL levels.6
CREATING AN EFFECTIVE EXERCISE ROUTINE

Exercise is clearly one of the most powerful medicines available. Just imag-
ine if all the benefits of exercise could be put in a pill. Unfortunately, it’s
not that easy. The time you spend exercising is a valuable investment in
good health. Here are seven steps to follow to help you develop a successful
exercise program:
STEP 1. REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE
The first step is realizing just how important it is to get regular exercise. We
cannot stress enough just how vital regular exercise is to your health. But as
much as we stress this fact it means absolutely nothing unless it really sinks
in and you accept it as well. You must make regular exercise a top priority
in your life.
STEP 2. CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN
If you are not currently on a regular exercise program, get medical clearance
if you have health problems or if you are over 40 years of age. The main
106
concern is the functioning of your heart. Exercise can be quite harmful (and
even fatal) if your heart is not able to meet the increased demands placed on
it. It is especially important to see a physician if any of the following apply
to you:
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STEP 3. SELECT AN ACTIVITY YOU CAN ENJOY
If you are fit enough to begin, the next thing to do is select an activity you
feel you would enjoy. From the suggestions in the next paragraph, choose
one or two of the activities – or fill in a choice or two of your own – that you
think you may enjoy. Make a commitment to do one activity a day for at
least 20 minutes and preferably an hour. Make the enjoyment of the activity
your goal. The important thing is to move your body enough to raise your
pulse a bit above its resting rate.
The best exercises for your heart are those that elevate your heart rate the
most. Aerobic activities such as walking briskly, jogging, bicycling, cross-
country skiing, swimming, aerobic dance, and racquet sports are good ex-
amples. Brisk walking (five miles an hour) for approximately 30 minutes
may be the very best form of exercise for weight loss. Walking can be done
anywhere; it doesn’t require any expensive equipment, just comfortable
clothing and well-fitting shoes, and the risk for injury is extremely low. If
you are going to walk regularly, we strongly urge you to first purchase a pair
of high-quality walking or jogging shoes.
107
STEP 4. MONITOR EXERCISE INTENSITY
Exercise intensity is determined by measuring your heart rate (the number

of times your heart beats per minute). You can determine this quickly by
placing the index and middle fingers of one hand on the side of your neck
just below the angle of the jaw or on the inside of the opposite wrist. Begin-
ning with zero, count the number of heartbeats for six seconds. Simply add
a zero to this number and you have your pulse. For example, if you counted
14 beats, your heart rate would be 140. Would this be a good number? It
depends on your “training zone.”
A quick and easy way to determine your maximum training heart rate is to
simply subtract your age from 185. For example, if you are 40 your maxi-
mum heart rate is 145. To determine the bottom of the training zone, simply
subtract 20 from this number. In the case of a 40-year-old this would be 125;
the training range would be a heartbeat of 125–145 beats per minute. For
maximum health benefits you must stay in this range but never exceed it.
STEP 5. DO IT OFTEN
You don’t get in good physical condition by exercising once; you must ex-
ercise regularly. A minimum of 15–20 minutes of exercise at your training
heart rate at least three times a week is necessary to gain any significant
cardiovascular benefits from exercise.
STEP 6. MAKE IT FUN
The key to getting the maximum benefit from exercise is to make it enjoy-
able. Choose an activity you enjoy and have fun doing. If you can find
enjoyment in exercise, you are much more likely to exercise regularly. One
way to make it fun is to get a workout partner. For example, if you choose
walking as your activity, here’s a great way to make it fun: Find one or
two people in your neighborhood with whom you would enjoy walking. If
you are meeting one or two people, you will certainly walk more regularly
108
than if you depend solely on your own intentions. Commit to walking 3–5
mornings or afternoons each week, and increase the exercise duration from
an initial 10 minutes to at least 30 minutes.
STEP 7. STAY MOTIVATED
No matter how committed a person is to regular exercise, at some point

they are going to be faced with a loss of enthusiasm for working out. Here is
a suggestion: take a break. Not a long break, just skip one or two workouts.
It gives your enthusiasm and motivation a chance to recoup so you can
come back with an even stronger commitment. Here are some other strate-
gies to help you to stay motivated:
s 3 %4%8%2#)3%'/!,3Being goal oriented helps keep us motivated. Suc-

cess breeds success, so set a lot of small goals you can easily achieve.
Write down your daily exercise goal and check it off when you have
completed it.
s 6!299/522/54).% Variety is very important to help you stay inter-

ested in exercise. Doing the same thing every day becomes monotonous
and drains motivation. Continually find new ways to enjoy working
out.
s +%%0 ! 2%#/2$ /& 9/52 !#4)6)4)%3 !.$ 02/'2%33 Sometimes it’s

hard to see the progress you’re making, but if you write in a journal
you’ll have a permanent record of your progress. Keeping track of your
progress will motivate you to continued improvement.
FINAL COMMENTS
The importance of a health-promoting lifestyle cannot be overstated. Lifestyle

definitely comes down to choices. If you want to be healthy, simply make
healthy choices. Choose not to smoke. Choose to find physical activities you
enjoy and do them often. Make getting a good night’s sleep a priority. Take
109
time out to relax and “sharpen the saw.” What do I mean by that? In the book
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, author Stephen R. Covey made famous
the following analogy:
Suppose you were to come upon someone in the woods working feverishly to
saw down a tree.
“What are you doing?” you ask.
“Can’t you see?” comes the impatient reply. “I’m sawing down this tree.”
“You look exhausted!” you exclaim. “How long have you been at it?”
“Over five hours,” he returns, “and I’m beat! This is hard work.”
“Well, why don’t you take a break for a few minutes and sharpen that saw?” you
inquire. “I’m sure it would go a lot faster.”
“I don’t have time to sharpen the saw,” the man says emphatically. “I’m too busy
sawing!”
For me, sharpening the saw is working out, scheduling a nap or time for re-
laxation exercises, and, of course, spending time with my family. If you want a
full life, you have got to schedule those types of activities – they will keep your
saw sharp. Every night I plan out the following day by creating a prioritized
to-do list and then schedule my day in 15-minute increments. I always plan
some flex time to catch up or sharpen the saw. It helps me keep my type A
behavior in check and reminds me what is really important.
110
CHAPTER 6
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a major risk factor for a heart attack
or stroke. In fact, it is generally regarded as the most significant risk factor for
a stroke. More than 60 million Americans have high blood pressure, includ-
ing more than half (54.3%) of all Americans age 65–74 years and almost
three quarters (71.8%) of all African Americans in the same age group.
High blood pressure is most often due to atherosclerosis (hardening of the

arteries). As a result, it leads to disruption of the regulation of the degree
of constriction of blood vessels and fluid volume. Although genetic factors
play a role, there is little debate that dietary, lifestyle, psychological, and
environmental factors are the underlying causes in most cases of high blood
pressure. Some of the important lifestyle factors include smoking, stress,
and lack of exercise. The most important dietary factors are obesity; high
sodium to potassium ratio; a low-fiber, high-sugar diet; high saturated fat
and low essential omega-3 fatty acid intake; and a diet low in magnesium.
These dietary and lifestyle factors were discussed in Chapters 2 and 5. In
111
CHAPTER 6 · HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
addition, since being overweight and having insulin resistance are major
factors in so many people with high blood pressure, the recommendations
in Chapter 4 are important, especially the use of PGX®.
Table 6.1 Classification of Blood Pressure
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ADVANTAGES OF NATURAL APPROACHES TO LOWERING BLOOD PRESSURE
Because more than 80% of patients with high blood pressure are in the
borderline to moderate range, most cases of high blood pressure can be
brought under control through changes in diet and lifestyle. Therefore, it
112
can be concluded that up to 80% of the prescriptions for high blood pres-
sure are ill advised. In fact, in head-to-head comparisons, many nondrug
therapies such as diet, exercise, and relaxation therapies have proved to be
superior to drugs in cases of borderline to mild hypertension.
And, here is another important point: several well-designed, long-term

clinical studies have found that people taking diuretics or beta blockers –
or both – actually suffered not only from unnecessary side effects, but also
showed an increased risk for heart disease and diabetes. Now keep in mind
that the reason high blood pressure is treated is to reduce the risk for heart
disease and strokes. Although the newer class of drugs, the calcium channel
blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, appear to be
safer and have fewer side effects, they are also not without problems – nearly
every patient taking these drugs experiences some sort of side effect. Most
are mild, but annoying nonetheless.
ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS
The four major categories of blood pressure lowering drugs are diuretics,
beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and ACE inhibitors. Here is a
brief description of each drug, followed by current recommendations for
the drug treatment of high blood pressure.
DIURETICS
Diuretics lower blood pressure by reducing the volume of fluid in the blood
and body tissues by promoting the elimination of salt and water through
increased urination. In addition, diuretics also work to relax the smaller
arteries of the body, allowing them to expand and increase the total fluid
capacity of the arterial system. The net result of diuretics is lower pressure
due to reduced volume in an expanded space. By far the most popular type
are thiazide diuretics; they are often the first drug used in treating mild to
moderate high blood pressure.
113
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Some of the side effects of thiazide diuretics are light-headedness, increased

blood sugar levels, increased uric acid levels, aggravation of gout, and mus-
cle weakness and cramps caused by low potassium levels. Decreased libido
and impotence are also reported. Less-frequent side effects include allergic
reactions, headaches, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Thiazide diuretics also cause the loss of potassium, magnesium, and calcium
from the body. These minerals have all been shown to exert blood pressure
lowering effects and prevent heart attacks. The drugs also increase choles-
terol and triglyceride levels; increase the viscosity of the blood; raise uric
acid levels; and increase the stickiness of the platelets, making them likely to
aggregate and form clots. All of these factors may explain why thiazide di-
uretics may actually increase the risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke.
Thiazide diuretics also have a tendency to worsen blood sugar control, mak-
ing them difficult to use safely in diabetics.
BETA BLOCKERS
Beta blockers reduce the rate and force of the contraction of the heart and re-
lax the arteries. In addition to high blood pressure, beta blockers are also used
114
in treating angina and certain heart rhythm disturbances. Because heart func-
tion is reduced with beta blockers, there is a decreased need for oxygen and
angina is relieved. In the long term, however, this inhibition of heart function
can lead to heart failure. Beta blockers have fallen out of favor owing to the
lack of effectiveness in reducing cardiovascular mortality and because they
have been shown to increase the risk of developing diabetes by about 30%.
Beta blockers produce some significant side effects in many patients. Because
cardiac output is reduced in a more relaxed arterial system, it is often difficult
to get enough blood and oxygen to the hands, feet, and brain. This results in
the typical symptoms described by users of beta blockers, such as cold hands
and feet, nerve tingling, impaired mental function, fatigue, dizziness, depres-
sion, lethargy, reduced libido, and impotence. Beta blockers also raise choles-
terol and triglyceride levels considerably. This may explain some of the nega-
tive effects in the clinical studies, which failed to demonstrate any significant
benefit of beta blockers in reducing mortality from cardiovascular disease.
It is extremely important that a beta blocker not be discontinued suddenly. Stop-

ping the medication suddenly can produce a withdrawal syndrome consisting of
headache, increased heart rate, and dramatic increase in blood pressure.
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115
CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS

Calcium channel blocking drugs, along with ACE inhibitors, have taken over
the top spots in the drug treatment of high blood pressure because they are bet-
ter tolerated than diuretics and beta blockers. Although calcium channel block-
ers have been shown to lower the risk of stroke, they carry the same increased
risk for heart attacks as the older approach of diuretics and beta blockers.
Calcium channel blockers work by blocking the normal passage of calcium

through certain channels in cell walls. Since calcium is required in the func-
tion of nerve transmission and muscle contraction, the effect of blocking
the calcium channel is to slow down nerve conduction and inhibit the con-
traction of the muscle. In the heart and vascular system, this action results
in reducing the rate and force of contraction, relaxing the arteries, and slow-
ing the nerve impulses in the heart.
Although much better tolerated than beta blockers and diuretics, calcium
channel blockers still produce some mild side effects, including constipa-
tion, allergic reactions, fluid retention, dizziness, headache, fatigue, and
impotence (in about 20% of users). More serious side effects include distur-
bances of heart rate or function, heart failure, and angina.
4HEFOLLOWINGAREEXAMPLESOFCALCIUMCHANNELBLOCKERS
s !MLODIPINE.ORVASC
s $ILTIAZEM#ARDIZEM#$#ARTIA84$ILACOR82$ILTIA844IAZAC
s &ELODIPINE0LENDIL
s ,ACIDIPINE-OTENS
s ,ERCANIDIPINE:ANIDIP
s .ICARDIPINE#ARDENE#ARDENE32
s .IFEDIPINE!DALAT##0ROCARDIA8,
s .IMODIPINE.IMOTOP
s .ISOLDIPINE3ULAR
s .ITRENDIPINE#ARDIF.ITREPIN
s 6ERAPAMIL#ALAN#OVERA (3)SOPTIN6ERELAN
116
ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME INHIBITORS

ACE inhibitors prevent the formation of angiotensin II, a substance that
increases both the fluid volume and the degree of constriction of the blood
vessels. ACE inhibitors relax the arterial walls and reduce fluid volume. Un-
like the beta blockers and calcium channel blockers, however, ACE inhibi-
tors actually improve heart function and increase blood and oxygen flow to
the heart, liver, and kidneys. This effect may explain why ACE inhibitors are
the only blood pressure drugs that appear to reduce the risk of heart attacks.
Unfortunately, they do not have any effect on reducing the risk for strokes.
The newer ACE inhibitors are generally well tolerated but share many of the
same side effects as other blood pressure medications, including dizziness,
light-headedness, and headache. The most common side effect is a dry night-
time cough. ACE inhibitors can also cause potassium buildup and kidney
problems, so potassium levels and kidney function must be monitored.
4HEFOLLOWINGAREEXAMPLESOF!#%INHIBITORS
s "ENAZEPRIL,OTENSIN
s #APTOPRIL#APOTEN
s #APTOPRILHYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE#APOZIDE
s %NALAPRILMALEATE6ASOTEC2ENITEC
s &OSINOPRILSODIUM-ONOPRIL
s ,ISINOPRIL,ISODUR,OPRIL.OVATEC0RINIVIL:ESTRIL
s 0ERINDOPRIL#OVERSYL!CEON
s 1UINAPRILMAGNESIUMCARBONATE!CCUPRIL
s 2AMIPRIL!LTACE4RITACE2AMACE2AMIWIN
s 4RANDOLAPRIL-AVIK
CURRENT DRUG TREATMENT OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
For many years the drug of first choice for high blood pressure was a thia-
zide diuretic alone or in combination with a beta blocker. As mentioned
117
earlier, because of the lack of effectiveness in reducing the cardiovascular

death rate, and because of the side effects noted in numerous studies, this
approach has somewhat fallen out of favor. Currently, the most commonly
used medication is a diuretic used alone or in combination with newer
medications designed to relax the arteries, such as calcium channel blockers
and ACE inhibitors.
The use of a diuretic or any of these other drugs alone is referred to as a step
1 approach. Thiazide diuretics are still the most popular step 1 drug but may
soon be displaced by calcium channel blockers or ACE inhibitors. Beta block-
ers are not suitable as step 1 drugs owing to their known side effects. A step 2
drug approach uses two medications, a step 3 approach uses three, and a step
4 approach is composed of four medications. Physicians are instructed to use
single therapies before combinations of medicines. Of course, they are also
instructed to use nondrug therapies first, but that rarely occurs.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE – A RATIONAL APPROACH
There is no question that in most cases of high blood pressure, nondrug

therapy is more than effective at bringing the numbers down into the nor-
mal range. For moderate through severe hypertension, drug therapy may be
necessary initially until the dietary, lifestyle, and supplement strategies take
hold. However, sometimes long-term drug therapy is required, especially in
moderate to severe hypertension, but that does not mean that dietary and
lifestyle strategies should be abandoned.
KEY DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS

The most important long-term dietary goal for most patients with high
blood pressure is achieving normal body weight. Obesity is the major di-
etary cause of high blood pressure. From borderline high blood pressure all
the way to chronic renal failure, weight loss can lead to complete elimina-
tion of the health issue, significant improvement, or at least reduction in the
number of prescription drugs a person is taking.1,2
118
Next to attaining ideal body weight, another very important dietary recommen-
dation is to eat a low-sodium, high-potassium diet. Between 40% and 60% of
people with high blood pressure are salt sensitive. That means that following
a sodium-restricted diet will normalize their blood pressure. Despite this fact,
most doctors do not prescribe a low-sodium, high-potassium diet because they
view it as being “inconvenient.” But it is not as inconvenient as a stroke or the
side effects of the drugs often prescribed to treat high blood pressure. A salt-
restricted diet simply makes great practical sense and may be entirely curative.
It is also important to increase the proportion of plant foods in the diet.

Vegetarians generally have lower blood pressure levels and a lower incidence
of high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases than nonvegetar-
ians.3 Although dietary levels of sodium do not differ significantly between
these two groups, a vegetarian’s diet typically contains more potassium,
complex carbohydrates, beneficial oils, fiber, calcium, magnesium, and vi-
tamin C and less saturated fat and refined carbohydrates, all of which have
a favorable influence on blood pressure.
Increasing fruit and vegetable intake has been shown to lower blood pres-
sure.4 This effect may be the result of increasing antioxidant concentrations.
People with high blood pressure have been shown to have increased oxida-
tive stress and dietary antioxidants have been shown to produce some ben-
efits in high blood pressure.5,6
4HEMOSTUSEFULFOODSFORPEOPLEWITHHIGHBLOODPRESSUREINCLUDETHEFOLLOWING
s #ELERY
s 'ARLICANDONIONS
s .UTSANDSEEDSORTHEIROILSFORTHEIRESSENTIALFATTYACIDCONTENT
s #OLD WATERlSHEGSALMONMACKEREL
s 'REENLEAFYVEGETABLESFORTHEIRCALCIUMANDMAGNESIUM
s 7HOLEGRAINSANDLEGUMESFORTHEIRlBER
s &OODSRICHINVITAMIN#SUCHASBROCCOLIANDCITRUSFRUITS
s &OODSRICHINACTIVEmAVONOIDSINCLUDINGBERRIESCHERRIESGRAPES
ANDSMALLREDKIDNEYBEANS
119
Celery is a particularly interesting recommendation for high blood pressure. It

contains 3-n-butylphthalide (3nB), a compound that has been found to lower
blood pressure. In animals, a small amount of this compound lowered blood
pressure by 12–14% and cholesterol by about 7%.7 The equivalent dose in hu-
mans can be supplied in about 4–6 ribs of celery. The research was prompted
by the father of one of the researchers, who, after eating a quarter pound of
celery daily for one week, observed that his blood pressure had dropped from
158/96 to 118/82 mm Hg. Celery seed extract can also lower blood pressure.
Take an extract providing 85% 3nB at a dosage of 75–150 mg twice daily.
Garlic and onions are also important foods for lowering blood pressure. Al-
though most recent research has focused on the cholesterol-lowering prop-
erties of garlic and onions, both have also been shown to lower high blood
pressure. Commercial garlic supplements may also be of benefit.
A detailed analysis of published clinical trials of garlic preparations was con-

ducted to determine the effect of garlic on blood pressure relative to placebo.8
Eight trials (seven double blind, one single blind) were identified as meeting
analytic criteria. A total of 415 people were included in the analysis. All trials
used a dried garlic powder standardized to contain 1.3% alliin at a dosage of
600–900 mg daily (corresponding to 7.8–11.7 mg of alliin, or the equivalent
of approximately 1.8–2.7 g of fresh garlic daily). The analysis concluded that
garlic preparations designed to yield allicin can lower systolic and diastolic
blood pressures over a 1–3 month period. The typical drop from pooled data
was 11 mm Hg in systolic pressure and 5 mm Hg in diastolic pressure.
THE DIETARY APPROACHES TO STOP HYPERTENSION DIET

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) clinical studies were
funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to fully evaluate the
efficacy of a system of dietary recommendations in the treatment of high blood
pressure. The DASH diet is rich in fruit, vegetables, and low-fat dairy foods
and low in saturated and total fat. It is also low in cholesterol; high in dietary
fiber, potassium, calcium, and magnesium; and moderately high in protein.
120
The first study showed that a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, and low-fat dairy
products can reduce blood pressure in the general population and in people
with high blood pressure.9 The original DASH diet did not require either
sodium restriction or weight loss – the two traditional dietary tools to con-
trol blood pressure – to be effective.10 The second study from the DASH
research group found that coupling the original DASH diet with sodium
restriction is more effective than either dietary change alone.11
In the first trial, the DASH diet produced a net blood pressure reduction
of 11.4 and 5.5 mm Hg in systolic and diastolic pressure, respectively, in
patients with high blood pressure. In the second trial, sodium intake was
also quantified at a “higher” intake of 3300 mg/day, an “intermediate” in-
take of 2400 mg/day, and a “lower” intake of 1500 mg/day. Compared with
the control diet, the DASH diet was associated with a significantly lower
systolic blood pressure at each sodium level. The DASH diet with the lower
sodium level led to an average systolic blood pressure that was 7.1 mm Hg
lower in participants without high blood pressure and 11.5 mm Hg lower
in those with the condition.
These results are clinically significant and indicate that a sodium intake
below 1500 mg daily can significantly and quickly lower blood pressure.
Table 6.2 provides a brief description of the components of the DASH eat-
ing plan on the basis of a 2000-calorie daily diet.
Table 6.2 Components of the DASH Eating Plan (2000-calorie daily diet)
3IGNIlCANCEOF
EACH&OOD'ROUP
$AILY TOTHE$!3($IET
&OOD'ROUP 3ERVINGS 3ERVING3IZES %XAMPLES 0ATTERN
Vegetables 4–5 1 cup raw leafy Artichokes, beans, Rich sources
vegetable broccoli, carrots, collards, of potassium,
kale, peas, potatoes, magnesium,
½ cup cooked
spinach, squash, sweet and fiber
vegetable
potatoes, tomatoes,
6 oz vegetable turnip greens
juice
121
3IGNIlCANCEOF
EACH&OOD'ROUP
$AILY TOTHE$!3($IET
&OOD'ROUP 3ERVINGS 3ERVING3IZES %XAMPLES 0ATTERN
Fruit 4–5 6 oz fruit juice Apricots, bananas, dates, Important sources
grapefruit, grapefruit of potassium,
1 medium fruit
juice, mangoes, melons, magnesium,
¼ cup dried fruit oranges, orange juice, and fiber
½ cup fresh, peaches, pineapples,
frozen, or prunes, raisins,
canned fruit strawberries, tangerines
Low-fat or nonfat 2–3 8 oz milk Skim or 1% milk, skim or Major sources

dairy foods 1 cup yogurt
low-fat buttermilk, nonfat of calcium and
or low-fat yogurt, part protein
1.5 oz cheese skim mozzarella cheese,
nonfat cheese
Meat, poultry, 2 or 3 oz cooked Select only lean meat; Rich sources
and fish fewer meat, poultry, trim away visible fat; of protein and
or fish remove skin from poultry; magnesium
broil, roast, or boil instead
of frying
Nuts, seeds, 4–5 per 1½ oz or 1/3 cup Almonds, filberts, mixed Rich sources
and legumes week nuts nuts, peanuts, walnuts, of energy,
sunflower seeds, kidney magnesium,
½ oz or 2 tbsp
beans, lentils potassium,
seeds
protein, and fiber
½ cup cooked
legumes
ANTI-ACE PEPTIDES
Various naturally occurring peptides have been shown to inhibit the an-
giotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) that leads to the formation of a com-
pound (angiotensin II) that causes large blood vessels to constrict and the
kidneys to hold on to more sodium. The most studied of these peptides is
composed of a purified mixture of nine small peptides (proteins) derived
from muscle of the fish bonito (a member of the tuna family).12–15 Anti-
ACE bonito peptides do not appear to produce the side effects typical
of ACE inhibitor drugs according to human safety studies and do not
lower blood pressure in people with normal blood pressure, even when
administered at levels 20 times greater than the dosage that lowers blood
pressure in people with high blood pressure. A possible reason is that the
122
mechanism of action of bonito peptides in inhibiting ACEs is different

from that of the drugs.
Research bears out this theory. The drugs basically indiscriminately block
ACEs by interfering with their action, while the bonito anti-ACE peptides
interact much differently. ACEs convert angiotensin I to angiotensin II by
cleaving off a small peptide. Drugs work by directly blocking this action.
Naturally occurring anti-ACE peptides work differently, as ACEs actually
react with the peptides instead of angiotensin. In addition to competing
with angiotensin through this effect, anti-ACE peptides are transformed
into even more potent inhibitors of ACEs. Technically, the bonito anti-
ACE peptides are considered a “pro-drug” because the transformed peptides
exert 800% greater activity.
Four clinical studies have shown that fish-derived anti-ACE peptides (three
with the bonito peptides and one with a dipeptide from sardine) exert sig-
nificant blood pressure lowering effects in people with high blood pres-
sure.13–16 The degree of blood pressure reduction in these studies was quite
significant, typically reducing the systolic pressure by at least 10 mm Hg
and the diastolic pressure by 7 mm Hg in people with borderline and mild
hypertension. Greater reductions are seen in people with higher initial
blood pressure readings.
COENZYME Q10
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), also known as ubiquinone, is an essential compo-
nent of the mitochondria. Although the body can make CoQ10, deficiencies
have been reported, especially in people taking statin drugs. In high blood
pressure, CoQ10 deficiency has been shown to be present in 39% of patients.
This finding alone suggests a need for CoQ10 supplementation. However,
CoQ10 appears to provide benefits beyond correction of a deficiency.
A detailed review on CoQ10 in the treatment of high blood pressure (12

clinical trials, 362 patients) concluded that in hypertensive patients, CoQ10
has the potential to lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure, without
123
significant side effects.17 Among all included studies, decreases in systolic

blood pressure ranged from 11 to 17 mm Hg and in diastolic pressure from
8 to 10 mm Hg. In three of the 12 studies, CoQ10 was given in addition
to existing blood pressure medication, and in one of these more than 50%
of the patients were able to cease taking at least one medication during the
trial.
These results are consistent with some of the uncontrolled studies. For ex-
ample, in one uncontrolled study, the dosage of CoQ10 was adjusted in 109
patients with high blood pressure according to clinical response and blood
CoQ10 levels (the aim was to attain blood levels above 2 mcg/ml). The aver-
age CoQ10 dose was 225 mg/day in addition to their usual blood pressure
medications. The need for medications declined gradually, and after an av-
erage treatment period of 4.4 months, about half the patients were able to
discontinue 1–3 of their drugs.18
It is important to keep in mind that the blood pressure lowering effect of

CoQ10 is usually not seen until after 4–12 weeks of therapy. Thus CoQ10 is
not a typical blood pressure lowering drug; rather, it seems to correct some
metabolic abnormality, which in turn has a favorable influence on blood
pressure.
BOTANICAL MEDICINES THAT LOWER HYPERTENSION
OLIVE (OLEA EUROPAEA)

The leaves of the olive tree (Olea europaea L.) have been used since ancient
times to combat high blood pressure and have received significant support
in recent animal and human studies both for high blood pressure and for
lowering cholesterol. The active substances are oleuropein (a polypheno-
lic iridoid glycoside),19 oleacein, and oleanolic acid, which act as natural
calcium channel blocking agents to relax constricted large blood vessels.
Hydroxytyrosol is a metabolite of oleuropein that exerts antioxidant effects.
Often olive extracts are standardized for hydroxytyrosol, but this com-
124
pound is devoid of any significant effect on blood pressure. Oleuropein is

also found in the fruit and oil, but in significantly smaller quantities than
in the leaf.
In an initial small, double-blind study of patients with high blood pressure,

12 consulting a doctor for the first time and 18 currently on blood pressure
drugs, olive leaf extract at a dosage of 400 mg four times daily for three
months produced a modest yet statistically significant decrease in blood
pressure with no side effects.20
More recent studies have used an extract standardized to oleuropein (16–

24%) and polyphenols. In a preliminary clinical study carried out in 20
adult identical twins with mild hypertension, one of the twins in each pair
received either a dose of 500 or 1000 mg daily and the other twin took
a matching placebo. After eight weeks, systolic blood pressure remained
unchanged from baseline in the placebo group and the 500 mg/day group,
but had significantly decreased for the 1000 mg/day group (137 vs. 126
mm Hg).21
In another study, 232 patients with high blood pressure were given either
the olive leaf extract (500 mg twice daily) or the conventional antihyperten-
sive drug captopril (12.5 mg twice daily). Average blood pressure at baseline
was 149.3/93.9 mm Hg in the olive group and 148.4/93.8 mm Hg in the
captopril group. Averages of systolic blood pressure reduction from baseline
to the end of study were 11.5 and 13.7 mm Hg in the olive and captopril
groups, respectively; diastolic pressure was reduced 4.8 and 6.4 mm Hg,
respectively.22
HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA
Hibiscus tea and extracts prepared from the dried flowers (calyces) of Hi-
biscus sabdariffa have demonstrated blood pressure lowering properties in
clinical trials. The active components are anthocyanidin glycosides. One
double-blind trial was conducted in 65 adults aged 30–70 years with bor-
derline or mildly high blood pressure not taking blood pressure medica-
125
tions. They received either three 240 ml servings per day of brewed hibiscus
tea or a placebo beverage for six weeks. At six weeks, hibiscus tea had low-
ered systolic blood pressure more than placebo had (a reduction of 7.2 vs.
1.3 mm Hg). Diastolic pressure was also lower, although this change did
not differ from the change with placebo. Participants with higher systolic
pressure at baseline showed a greater response to hibiscus treatment.23
In another double-blind study, the effect of hibiscus tea was compared with
that of black tea in 60 diabetic patients with mild hypertension, but not
taking blood pressure or lipid-lowering drugs. The average systolic blood
pressure in the hibiscus group decreased from 134.4 mm Hg at the begin-
ning of the study to 112.7 mm Hg after one month, while it increased from
118.6 to 127.3 mm Hg in the black tea group. The interventions had no
statistically significant effect on the average diastolic blood pressure in either
group.24
Another study with hibiscus tea did show an effect on diastolic blood pres-
sure (reduced by 10.7%) as well as systolic pressure (reduced by 11.2%)
after 12 days of treatment.25
Two clinical studies featured a standardized extract of hibiscus. In one dou-

ble-blind study, 193 patients with high blood pressure were given either
hibiscus extract (250 mg of total anthocyanins daily) or 10 mg of lisinopril
(control group). Results showed that the hibiscus extract decreased blood
pressure from 146.48/97.77 to 129.89/85.96 mm Hg, reaching an absolute
reduction of 17.14/11.97 mm Hg. The hibiscus treatment showed thera-
peutic effectiveness of 65.12% as well as tolerability and safety of 100%.
Blood pressure reductions and therapeutic effectiveness were lower than
those obtained with lisinopril. Hibiscus treatment lowered plasma ACE ac-
tivity from 44.049 to 30.1 Units.26
Similar results on blood pressure were shown in another double-blind study

with a standardized hibiscus extract (daily dosage of 9.6 mg of total antho-
cyanins), comparing it with another drug (captopril 50 mg/day). Results
showed no significant differences in lowering blood pressure between the
126
two treatments. Hibiscus extract was able to decrease the systolic blood
pressure from 139.05 to 123.73 mm Hg and the diastolic pressure from
90.81 to 79.52 mm Hg.27
FINAL COMMENTS
A comprehensive program is recommended that uses lifestyle, dietary, and

supplemental strategies to lower blood pressure. Again, the key goal in most
people with high blood pressure is to achieve ideal body weight. Here are
my concise recommendations for the various forms of high blood pressure.
BORDERLINE (130–139/85–89) OR MILD (140–159/90–99) HYPERTENSION

s !CHIEVEIDEALBODYWEIGHT
s 3UBSTANTIALLYDECREASESALTSODIUMCHLORIDE INTAKE
s &OLLOWAHEARTHEALTHYLIFESTYLE!VOIDALCOHOLCAFFEINEANDSMOKING
%XERCISEANDUSESTRESS REDUCTIONTECHNIQUES
s &OLLOWAHIGH POTASSIUMDIETRICHINlBERANDCONSISTENTWITHEITHERTHE
-EDITERRANEANOR$!3($IETANDTHEDIETARYRECOMMENDATIONSGIVENIN
#HAPTER
s )NCREASEDIETARYCONSUMPTIONOFCELERYGARLICANDONIONS
s 2EDUCEORELIMINATETHEINTAKEOFANIMALFATSWHILEINCREASINGTHEINTAKEOF
MONOUNSATURATEDVEGETABLEOILS
s 3UPPLEMENTTHEDIETWITHTHEFOLLOWING
q (IGH POTENCYMULTIVITAMINANDMINERALFORMULA
q 6ITAMIN#nMGTHREETIMESDAILY
q -AGNESIUMPREFERABLYCITRATE nMGnTIMESDAILY
q 'ARLICEQUIVALENTOFMGOFFRESHGARLICDAILY
q &ISHOILSMGTOTAL%0!$(!CONTENTDAILY
If after following these recommendations for three months blood pressure

has not returned to normal, follow the recommendations below.
127
MODERATE HYPERTENSION (160–179/100–109)

Employ all the measures listed above and add the following:
s .ATTOKINASEMG&5 TWICEDAILY
s #O1 nMGDAILY
s !NTI !#%PEPTIDESFROMBONITOMGDAILY
s 4AKEONEOFTHEFOLLOWING
q #ELERYSEEDEXTRACTN BUTYLPHTHALIDE nMGTWICEDAILY
q (
AWTHORNEXTRACTPROCYANIDINSORVITEXIN g RHAMNOSIDE
nMGTHREETIMESDAILY
q /LIVELEAFEXTRACTnOLEUROPEINCONTENT MGTWICEDAILY
q (
IBISCUSTHREEMLSERVINGSOFHIBISCUSTEADAILYORANEXTRACT
PROVIDINGnMGANTHOCYANIDINSDAILY
These guidelines should be followed for 1–3 months. If blood pressure has
not dropped below 140/105 mm Hg, medications may be required.
SEVERE HYPERTENSION (180/110 OR HIGHER)

Drug intervention is required. All the measures mentioned above should
be employed as well. When satisfactory control of high blood pressure has
been achieved, it may be possible to taper off the medication gradually un-
der a physician’s supervision.
128
CHAPTER 7
IMPROVING HEART
FUNCTION, PLUS
SOME SPECIAL
CONSIDERATIONS
(ANGIOGRAMS, BYPASS, CHELATION AND STROKE RECOVERY)
Whether the issue is angina, arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, or congestive

heart failure (CHF), from a naturopathic perspective the goals are very sim-
ilar: improve the blood flow to the heart muscle and the functional capacity
of the heart. In some cases the natural approach to these conditions will
provide all the support the heart needs to function effectively. However,
129
CHAP TER 7 · IMPROVING HE AR T F UNTION, PLUS SOME SPECIAL CONSIDER ATIONS
many of these heart conditions can be quite serious, requiring careful treat-
ment with prescription medications and close monitoring.
We will look at some natural approaches to improving heart function as

well as some special considerations, such as the use of natural products in
people taking blood thinners, and when angioplasty and bypass surgeries
are advised and when they are not. We will also examine intravenous ethyl-
enediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) chelation therapy.
IMPROVING HEART FUNCTION
Improving energy production within the heart muscle (myocardium) is an

important goal in any heart condition. Whether the issue is angina, arrhyth-
mia, or heart failure, heart conditions are always characterized by impaired
energy production within the myocardium. This impaired energy produc-
tion is often the result of nutrient or coenzyme deficiency (e.g., magnesium,
thiamin, coenzyme Q10 [CoQ10], carnitine, pantethine). The dietary rec-
ommendations given in Chapters 2, 4, and 6 are definitely important. In
addition, the basic supplementation strategy is also critical – a high-potency
multiple, fish oils, and grape seed or pine bark extract.
MAGNESIUM
A low magnesium level (particularly in white blood cells) is a common
finding in patients with angina, arrhythmia, or CHF. This association is
extremely significant because magnesium levels have been shown to cor-
relate directly with survival rates. In addition, in the case of angina or ar-
rhythmia, sometimes magnesium supplementation can produce immediate
and permanent relief. There are many clinical studies that show magnesium
supplementation to be of benefit in treating angina and many types of ar-
rhythmias, including atrial fibrillation.1–4
In addition, magnesium supplementation also prevents the magnesium

depletion caused by the conventional drug therapy for various heart con-
130
ditions. Drugs like diuretics and vasodilators, such as beta blockers and
calcium channel blockers, can cause low magnesium levels. However, mag-
nesium supplementation is not indicated in patients with kidney failure
because this condition predisposes them to elevations in magnesium (hy-
permagnesemia). If you are a candidate for dialysis or on dialysis, do not
take magnesium supplements unless instructed to do so by your physician.
For best results, use a highly bioavailable form of magnesium, such as mag-
nesium citrate or malate. Typical dosages are 150–250 mg 2–3 times per day.
THIAMIN
Interest has recently risen regarding the potential role of thiamin deficiency
in patients on diuretics. Thiamin was the first B vitamin discovered, hence
its designation as vitamin B1. It is well established that thiamin deficiency
can result in the cardiovascular manifestations of “wet” beriberi, sodium re-
tention, peripheral vasodilation, and heart failure. It is also well established
that furosemide (Lasix), the most widely prescribed diuretic, can cause thia-
min deficiency in animals and patients with CHF.
The association between thiamin deficiency and long-term furosemide use

was discovered in 1980, when it was shown that after only four weeks of
furosemide use, thiamin concentrations and the activity of the thiamin-
dependent enzyme transketolase were significantly reduced. The first study
looking at thiamin as a potential support aid in the treatment of CHF
showed only modest benefits. However, several subsequent studies have
shown that daily doses of 80–240 mg of thiamin improved the clinical
picture, as measured by a 13–22% increase in the left ventricular ejection
fraction, a marker that tells us that thiamin improved the heart’s ability to
perform.5,6 This increase is quite significant – an increase in ejection fraction
is associated with a greater survival rate in patients with CHF. One study
found biochemical evidence of severe thiamin deficiency in 98% of patients
receiving at least 80 mg/day of furosemide and in 57% of patients taking
40 mg/day.7
131
Given the possible benefit, lack of risk, and low cost of thiamin supplemen-
tation, administration of 200–250 mg of thiamin daily appears to be a wise
recommendation in patients with CHF, especially if they are on a diuretic
like furosemide.
CARNITINE
Carnitine, a vitamin-like compound, stimulates the breakdown of long-
chain fatty acids by the energy-producing units in cells – the mitochondria.
Carnitine is essential in the transport of fatty acids into the mitochondria.
A deficiency in carnitine results in a decrease in fatty acid concentrations in
the mitochondria and reduced energy production.
Normal heart function is critically dependent on adequate concentrations

of carnitine. Although the normal heart stores more carnitine than it needs,
if the heart does not have a good supply of oxygen, carnitine levels be-
come depleted. This leads to decreased energy production in the heart and
increased risk for angina and heart disease. Since angina patients have a
decreased supply of oxygen, carnitine supplementation makes good sense.
Several clinical trials have demonstrated that carnitine improves angina and
heart disease. Supplementation with carnitine normalizes heart carnitine
levels and allows the heart muscle to use its limited oxygen supply more
efficiently. Improvements have been noted in exercise tolerance and heart
function. The results indicate that carnitine is an effective alternative to
drugs in many cases.
In one study of patients with stable angina, oral administration of 900 mg of

carnitine increased average exercise time and the time before abnormalities
occurred on a stress test (6.4 minutes in the placebo group, compared with
8.8 minutes in the carnitine-treated group).8 These results indicate that carni-
tine may be an effective alternative to other anti-anginal agents such as beta
blockers, calcium channel antagonists, and nitrates, especially in patients with
chronic stable angina pectoris. Similar results have been noted in patients
with CHF. In one double-blind study, only one month of treatment (500 mg
132
three times daily) was necessary to cause significant improvement in heart

function.9 The longer carnitine was used, the more dramatic the improve-
ment. After six months of use, the carnitine group demonstrated a 25.9%
increase in the maximum exercise time and a 13.6% increase in ventricular
ejection fraction. In another double-blind study in similar patients, at the
end of six months of treatment, maximum exercise time on the treadmill
increased 16.4% and the ejection fraction increased 12.1%.10 Even more ob-
vious benefits were seen in a three-year study of 80 patients with moderate to
severe heart failure caused by a condition known as dilated cardiomyopathy.11
COENZYME Q10
CoQ10 is another essential component of the mitochondria, where it plays a
major role in energy production. Like carnitine, CoQ10 can be made within
the body. Nonetheless, deficiencies have been reported. Deficiency can be a
result of impaired CoQ10 production due to nutritional deficiencies, a ge-
netic or acquired defect in CoQ10 synthesis (e.g., statin drugs block CoQ10
formation), or increased tissue needs.
Cardiovascular diseases, including angina, hypertension, mitral valve pro-

lapse, and CHF, are examples of diseases that require increased tissue levels
of CoQ10. In addition, many elderly people may have increased CoQ10 re-
quirements: The decline of CoQ10 levels that occurs with age may be partly
responsible for the age-related deterioration of the immune system.
CoQ10 deficiency is common in individuals with heart disease. Heart tissue

biopsies in patients with various heart diseases show a CoQ10 deficiency in
50–75% of cases. One of the most metabolically active tissues in the body, the
heart may be unusually susceptible to the effects of CoQ10 deficiency. Accord-
ingly, CoQ10 has shown great promise in the treatment of heart conditions.
In one study, 12 patients with stable angina pectoris were treated with CoQ10
(150 mg/day for four weeks) in a double-blind, cross-over trial.12 Compared
with placebo, CoQ10 reduced the frequency of angina attacks by 53%. In
addition, there was a significant increase in treadmill exercise tolerance (time
133
to onset of chest pain and time to development of electrocardiogram abnor-

malities) during CoQ10 treatment. The results of this study and others suggest
that CoQ10 is a safe and effective treatment for angina pectoris.
In the treatment of CHF, studies most often have used CoQ10 as a support
aid (adjunct) to conventional drug therapy. The improvements noted with
CoQ10 were actually found to be more positive than those obtained from
conventional drug therapy alone in these studies.
In the largest study to date, 2,664 patients with mild to moderate CHF
were enrolled in an open study in Italy.13 The daily dosage of CoQ10 was
50–150 mg orally for 90 days, with the majority of patients (78%) receiving
100 mg/day. Table 7.1 shows the proportions of patients with improvement
in clinical signs and symptoms after three months of CoQ10 treatment.
Table 7.1 Improvement in Congestive Heart Failure Symptoms with CoQ10
3IGNSAND3YMPTOMS 0ERCENTOF0ATIRENTSAND2EDUCTION
Sweating 79.8
Edema (fluid retention) 78.6
Cyanosis 78.1
Pulmonary edema 77.8
Heart palpitations 75.4
Vertigo 73.1
Venous congestion 71.8
Insomnia 66.2
Subjective arrhythmia 63.4
Nocturnal urination 53.6
Shortness of breath 52.7
Enlargement of liver area 49.3
Improvement of at least three symptoms occurred in 54% of patients, indi-

cating a significantly improved quality of life with CoQ10 supplementation.
134
The results also showed a low incidence of side effects – only 36 patients
(1.5%) reported mild side effects attributed to CoQ10.
An important consideration in patients with CHF, especially more serious

forms, is that they often fail to achieve adequate plasma CoQ10 levels (i.e.,
more than 2.5 mcg/ml) on supplemental ubiquinone (the common form of
CoQ10), even at dosages of up to 900 mg/day. These patients may respond
better with highly absorbed forms of CoQ10, such as ubiquinol or emulsi-
fied ubiquinone.
In one study, seven patients with advanced CHF with an average plasma
CoQ10 level of 1.6 mcg/ml, taking an average dose of 450 mg of ubiqui-
none daily (150–600 mg/day), were changed to an average of 580 mg/day
of ubiquinol (450–900 mg/day). Follow-up plasma CoQ10 levels, clinical
status, and ejection fraction measurements done with echocardiography
were studied.14 Average plasma CoQ10 levels increased from 1.6 mcg/ml
to 6.5 mcg/ml. The average ejection improved from 22% (range, 10–35%)
to 39% (range, 10–60%). In this study, ubiquinol dramatically improved
absorption in patients with severe heart failure and the improvement in
plasma CoQ10 levels correlates with both clinical improvement and im-
provement in measurement of left ventricular function.
HAWTHORN (CRATAEGUS OXYACANTHA)

Hawthorn berry and flowering top extracts are widely used in Europe for
their cardiovascular activity. They exhibit a combination of effects that are
of great value to patients with angina and other heart problems. Studies
have demonstrated that hawthorn extracts are effective in reducing angina
attacks, lowering blood pressure and serum cholesterol levels, and improv-
ing heart function.15–17
The beneficial effects are due to improvement in the blood and oxygen sup-
ply of the heart resulting from dilation of the coronary vessels, as well as
improvement of the metabolic processes in the heart.
135
Hawthorn’s ability to dilate coronary blood vessels has been repeatedly dem-
onstrated in experimental studies. In addition, hawthorn extracts have been
shown to improve cardiac energy metabolism in human and experimental
studies. This combined effect is extremely important in the treatment of an-
gina because it results in improved myocardial function with more efficient
use of oxygen. The improvement results not only from increased blood and
oxygen supply to the heart muscle but also from hawthorn flavonoids inter-
acting with key enzymes to enhance the heart’s ability to contract properly.
CORONARY ANGIOGRAM, ANGIOPLASTY, AND ARTERY BYPASS SURGERY
An angiogram (cardiac catheterization) is an X-ray procedure in which dye

is injected into the coronary arteries to locate blockages. These blockages are
then most often opened with balloon angioplasty (a surgical procedure in
which the diameter of the blocked artery is increased with the aid of a very
small balloon attached to a flexible tube); the placement of a stent (a tiny
wire mesh tube that acts as scaffolding to maintain and support the opening
of an artery); and/or coronary artery bypass surgery (a procedure in which
the coronary artery is bypassed by constructing an alternate route using a
portion of a vein from the patient’s leg). Patients often agree to these proce-
dures without careful consideration of the risks and benefits.
These procedures – angiograms, bypass surgery, and angioplasty – are big

business. Over one million heart angiograms are performed each year, for
a total annual cost of over $10 billion. But based on extensive analysis, it
appears that most of this money is wasted.
Several studies have challenged the widespread recommendation of angio-

grams made by most cardiologists.18 One study evaluated 168 patients who
were told they needed an angiogram to determine the degree of blockage,
followed by bypass surgery or angioplasty. Using noninvasive tests, such as
the exercise stress test, echocardiography (an ultrasound exam that measures
the size and functional status of the heart), and the Holter monitor (a por-
table heart monitor worn for 24 hours to measure the pulse and characterize
136
beats as normal or abnormal), the researchers determined that 134 of the

patients, or 80%, did not need the catheterization.
Over a five-year period, this group of 168 patients had only a 1.1% rate of
fatal heart attacks annually. This rate is much lower than the mortality rates
associated with either coronary artery bypass surgery (5–10%) and no worse
than that of angioplasty (1–2%). The researchers concluded that “in a large
fraction of medically stable patients with coronary disease who are urged to
undergo coronary angiography (heart catheterization), the procedure can be
safely deferred.” Noninvasive testing to determine the functional state of the
heart is far more important in determining the type of therapy needed than
the dangerous search for blocked arteries. If the heart is not functioning well,
then the angiogram may be needed to see if surgery should be done.
Furthermore, the blockages found by the angiogram are usually not relevant
to the patient’s risk of heart attack. For instance, in the most sophisticated
study of bypass surgery, the Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS), it was
demonstrated that patients with healthy hearts but with one, two, or all
three of the major heart vessels blocked did surprisingly well without sur-
gery.19–21 Regardless of the number or severity of the blockages, each group
had the same low death rate of 1% per year.
That same year, the average death rate from bypass surgery was 10.1%, or
about one death per 10 operations. In other words, the operation being
recommended supposedly to save lives was 5–10 times more deadly than
the disease. The best that can be said about bypass surgery and balloon
angioplasty is that they are irrelevant to the course of the disease in all but
the most serious cases. Patients who elect not to have the surgery live just as
long as, or longer than, those who have the surgery.22
The severity of blockage does not necessarily correlate with reduction in blood
flow in the artery. In one study, Iowa researchers measured blood flow in
over 44 blockages demonstrated by angiogram.23 Much to their surprise, they
found no correlation between blood flow and the severity of the heart artery
blockage. In other words, the angiogram did not provide clinically relevant
137
information. The researchers found that “the coronary artery with a ninety-six-
percent blockage had one of the most brisk blood flows, while a similar artery,
with only forty-percent blockage, had severe blood-flow restriction.” The au-
thors concluded that the blockages found by heart catheterization simply do
not correlate with blood-flow restriction. The researchers also commented that
“the results of these studies should be profoundly disturbing… . Information
cannot be determined accurately by conventional angiographic approaches.”
The bottom line is this: When patients are advised to have a coronary angio-
gram, chances are eight out of 10 that they do not need it. The critical factor in
whether a patient needs coronary artery bypass surgery or angioplasty is how
well the left ventricular pump is working, not the degree of blockage or the
number of arteries affected. The left ventricle (chamber) of the heart is respon-
sible for pumping oxygenated blood through the aorta (the large artery coming
from the heart) and to the rest of the body. Bypass surgery is helpful only when
the ejection fraction (the amount of blood pumped by the left ventricle) is less
than 40% of capacity.23 Up to 90% of all bypass procedures are done when the
ejection fraction is greater than 50%, which is adequate for circulatory needs.
In other words, as many as 90% of all bypass procedures may be unnecessary.
Angioplasty – or as it is known in research circles, percutaneous coronary in-

tervention (PCI) – has largely replaced coronary artery bypass surgery. The re-
sults from large studies of angioplasty procedures, including the use of stents
that release drugs to prevent blockage (drug-eluting stents), show the same
lack of benefit as bypass operations. For example, the main results of the
Clinical Outcomes Utilizing Revascularization and Aggressive DruG Evalua-
tion (COURAGE) trial revealed no significant differences between PCI and
medical therapy alone in the primary end point of all-cause mortality or non-
fatal heart attacks, or in major secondary end points (composites of death/
heart attack/stroke; hospitalization for angina or heart attacks) over a 4.6 year
follow-up in 2,287 patients with stable coronary artery disease.24
When coronary artery bypass surgery or angioplasty is necessary, based on

these accepted criteria, they definitely increase long-term survival and give
138
relief of symptoms for 85% of patients. However, the surgery is not without
risk. Complications arising from coronary bypass operations are common
– this surgery is one of the most technically difficult procedures in modern
medicine. Considering the cost of the procedure, the lack of long-term sur-
vival benefit, and the high level of complications, it appears that electing to
have this surgery is unwise for the majority of patients.
This is particularly true in light of the availability of effective natural alterna-

tives to coronary bypass surgery. Numerous studies have shown that dietary
and lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the risk of heart attack and other
causes of death due to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Simple di-
etary changes – decreasing the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol in the
diet; increasing the consumption of dietary fiber, complex carbohydrates, fish
oils, and magnesium; eliminating alcohol consumption and cigarette smok-
ing; and reducing high blood pressure – would greatly reduce the number of
coronary bypass operations performed in Westernized countries. In addition,
clinical studies have shown that several nutritional supplements and botanical
medicines improve heart function in even the most severe angina cases.
Another important alternative is intravenous EDTA chelation therapy (dis-

cussed below). Although this therapy is controversial, considerable clinical
research has proven its efficacy.
WHEN AN ANGIOGRAM IS UNAVOIDABLE

When an angiogram or angioplasty is deemed necessary, the goal is then to
prevent the damaging effects these procedures produce. This can be accom-
plished with a high-potency multivitamin and mineral formula, along with
additional vitamin C (minimum 500 mg three times daily) and CoQ10
(300 mg daily two weeks prior to surgery and for three months afterward).
It is generally recommended that garlic supplementation and high dosages
of vitamin E (greater than 200 IU) be avoided prior to any surgery, owing
to their ability to possibly promote excessive bleeding by inhibiting platelet
aggregation – a key aspect of blood clot formation.
139
Vitamin C supplementation is rarely employed in hospitals, despite the fact

that it may provide significant benefits; low vitamin C status is quite common
in hospitalized patients. In a study analyzing the vitamin C status of patients
undergoing coronary artery bypass, the plasma concentration of vitamin C
was shown to plummet by 70% 24 hours after coronary artery bypass surgery;
this level persisted in most patients for up to two weeks after surgery.25 In con-
trast, vitamin E and carotene levels did not change to any significant degree,
presumably because they are fat-soluble and are therefore retained in the body
longer. Given the importance of vitamin C, the serious depletion of vitamin
C may deteriorate defense mechanisms against free radicals and infection, and
hinder wound repair, in these patients. Supplementation appears to be essen-
tial in patients recovering from heart surgery, or any surgery for that matter.
Return of blood flow (reperfusion) after coronary artery bypass surgery results
in oxidative damage to the vascular endothelium and myocardium and thus
greatly increases the risk of subsequent coronary artery disease. CoQ10 is recom-
mended in an attempt to prevent such oxidative damage after bypass surgery or
angioplasty. In one study, 40 patients undergoing elective surgery either served
in the control group or received 150 mg of CoQ10 each day for seven days
before the surgery.26 The concentrations of lipid peroxides and the enzyme cre-
atine kinase, which indicate myocardial damage, were significantly lower in pa-
tients who received CoQ10 than in the control group. The treatment group also
showed a statistically significant lower incidence of ventricular arrhythmias dur-
ing recovery. These results clearly demonstrate that pretreatment with CoQ10
can play a protective role during routine bypass surgery by reducing oxidative
damage.
INTRAVENOUS ETHYLENEDIAMINETETRAACETIC ACID CHELATION THERAPY

Intravenous ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) chelation therapy is
promoted as an alternative to coronary artery bypass surgery and angio-
plasty. EDTA is an amino-acid-like molecule that when slowly infused into
the bloodstream binds with minerals such as calcium, iron, copper, and lead
and carries them to the kidneys, where they are excreted. EDTA chelation
140
has been commonly used to treat lead poisoning, but in the late 1950s and
early 1960s it was found to help patients with atherosclerosis.
The discovery of EDTA chelation therapy as a treatment for angina and

other conditions associated with atherosclerosis happened accidentally. In
1956 a battery worker whom Dr. Norman Clarke was treating with EDTA
for lead poisoning noticed that his symptoms of angina disappeared. Clarke
and others began using EDTA chelation therapy in patients with angina,
cerebral vascular insufficiency, and occlusive peripheral vascular disease.
In a series of 283 patients treated by Clarke and his colleagues from 1956
to 1960, 87% showed improvements in their symptoms. Heart patients
improved, and patients with blocked arteries in the legs, particularly those
with diabetes, avoided amputation.27,28
It was originally thought that EDTA opened blocked arteries by chelating

out the calcium deposits in the cholesterol plaque. However, its effective-
ness now seems more related to chelating out excess iron and copper, min-
erals that, in the presence of oxygen, stimulate free radicals. Free radicals
damage the cells in the artery and are a primary reason for atherosclerosis.
In a review of the progression and regression of atherosclerosis, the authors

write that the process of atherosclerosis is “dependent on the presence of
some metals (copper and iron) and can be completely inhibited by chelating
agents such as EDTA.”29
Despite obvious benefits to heart patients, EDTA fell out of favor in the
mid-1960s. Advocates believe this occurred for two reasons: (1) the lucra-
tive surgical approach to heart and vessel disease was on the rise and (2)
the patent on EDTA held by Abbott Laboratories expired, so there was no
financial interest for drug companies to fund any research.
Fortunately, in 1972 a small group of practicing physicians using EDTA

chelation therapy founded an organization now called the American Col-
lege for the Advancement of Medicine to continue education and research
in this important area.
141
In the early days of EDTA chelation therapy, several serious problems were
discovered. Giving too much EDTA or giving it too fast was soon noted
to be dangerous. In fact, several deaths attributed to kidney failure were
caused by EDTA toxicity. Fortunately, additional research resulted in more
appropriate protocols, and EDTA chelation therapy as used now is safe. No
deaths or significant adverse reactions have occurred in more than 500,000
patients who have undergone EDTA chelation therapy. Because EDTA che-
lation improves blood flow throughout the body, the side effects are usually
beneficial and only a few adverse effects are noticed.
A substantial body of scientific evidence exists on the use of EDTA chela-

tion therapy in the treatment of angina, peripheral vascular disease, and
cerebral vascular disease.30–34
To clarify the benefits of EDTA chelation, the National Institutes of Health,

including the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National
Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, sponsored the Trial
to Assess Chelation Therapy, the first large-scale, multicenter study de-
signed to determine the safety and efficacy of EDTA chelation therapy for
individuals with coronary heart disease.35 In the study, 839 subjects were
randomized to receive EDTA infusions; 869 were randomized to receive
placebo infusions. The results showed a slight advantage for chelation over
placebo in the “primary composite endpoint,” a combination of five sepa-
rate outcomes: death, heart attack, stroke, coronary revascularization, and
hospitalization for angina. These results are very encouraging and indicate
that some patients experience the desired outcomes with EDTA chelation.
For more information, go to www.acam.org.
STROKE RECOVERY
A stroke is a vascular event that leads to brain damage. Strokes are the leading
cause of adult disability in the United States and the third leading cause of
death. A stroke can be the result of a lack of blood flow caused by blockage
142
from a blood clot, or the result of a hemorrhage. Without oxygen, the brain
cells become damaged or die, leaving the affected area of the brain unable to
function. A stroke may result in an inability to move one or both limbs on
one side of the body, inability to understand or formulate speech, or inability
to see one side of the visual field. If the stroke is severe enough or occurs in a
certain location, such as parts of the brainstem, it can result in coma or death.
In most cases, a stroke is a consequence of atherosclerosis. Risk factors for

stroke include high blood pressure, previous stroke or transient ischemic at-
tack (TIA, or “mini-stroke”), diabetes, high cholesterol, cigarette smoking,
and atrial fibrillation (a heart abnormality). High blood pressure is by far
the most important risk factor for a stroke.
MEDICAL CARE OF THE STROKE PATIENT

One of the key factors in limiting the damage to the brain caused by a stroke
is how quickly a person receives medical treatment. The conventional medi-
cal treatment uses the drug form of the naturally occurring compound tissue
plasminogen activator (rTPA). It must be administered within a few hours of
a stroke to produce significant benefit. Unfortunately, only 1–3% of stroke pa-
tients receive rTPA treatment.
The results of a stroke can affect patients physically, mentally, and emotion-
ally – or in a combination of ways – and can vary widely depending on the
size and location of the injury. Disability corresponds to the areas in the brain
that have been damaged.
For most stroke patients who have post-stroke disability, recovery is a

concerted effort that involves physical therapy, occupational therapy, and
speech-language pathology. It is important to take advantage of all of these
services because they can greatly aid the rehabilitation process.
Medical care often focuses on preventing another stroke and most often
uses anti-coagulant therapy with warfarin (Coumadin) or anti-platelet ther-
apy with aspirin or clopidogrel (Plavix), ticlopidine (Ticlid), or other drugs.
143
PRECAUTIONS WITH WARFARIN

The drug warfarin (Coumadin) works by blocking the action of vitamin K. Since
green leafy vegetables and green tea contain high levels of vitamin K, these foods
should be avoided while taking warfarin. However, most people can usually eat
the same amounts they are accustomed to as long as they don’t increase their
consumption.
Physicians monitor the effects of warfarin using a test known as the international
normalized ratio (INR) and will adjust the dosage up or down as needed. In addi-
tion to food high in vitamin K, other natural remedies may interact with warfarin,
including the following:
s OENZYME110 and St. John’s wort (YPERICUMPERFORATUM may reduce

#
warfarin’s efficacy.
s EVERALHERBSINCLUDING0ANAXGINSENGDEVILSCLAW(ARPAGOPHYTUMPROCUM-

3
BENS , and dong quai !NGELICASINENSIS , can increase warfarin’s effects. It’s
likely that you can continue using these products, but don’t change the dosage
your body is accustomed to. INR values must be monitored appropriately.
s ARLIC!LLIUMSATIVUM and ginkgo 'INKGOBILOBA extracts may reduce

'
the ability of platelets to stick together, increasing the likelihood of bleeding.
However, neither appears to interact directly with warfarin. Generally, people
taking warfarin should avoid taking these products at higher dosages (more
than the equivalent of one clove of garlic per day for garlic or more than 240
mg per day of ginkgo extract) but need not worry if they are taking just the
typical support dose.
s )RONMAGNESIUMANDZINCMAYBINDWITHWARFARINPOTENTIALLYDECREASING

its absorption and activity. Take warfarin and products containing iron,
magnesium, or zinc at least two hours apart.
s ATTOKINASESHOULDNOTBEUSEDWITHWARFARINUNLESS).2LEVELSARECLOSELY
.
monitored.
To reduce the likelihood of bleeding and easy bruising with warfarin, consider
taking 150–300 mg of either grape seed or pine bark extract daily.
144
These drugs are designed to prevent blood clots from forming and lodging
in the brain, producing another stroke. These drugs are not, of course, used
if the stroke was caused by a hemorrhage.
NATURAL PRODUCTS IN STROKE RECOVERY

From a natural perspective the goals are similar, but more focused on maxi-
mizing blood flow and nutrition to the damaged areas. In particular, nat-
tokinase (see Chapter 1) and Ginkgo biloba extract are very important in
stroke recovery. Ginkgo biloba extract increases blood flow to the brain, im-
proves the production of energy within nerve cells, and favorably affects
blood viscosity (thickness), resulting in improved blood flow characteristics
within the brain. The recommended dosage is 240–320 mg daily.
In addition to nattokinase, a number of other dietary supplements can pre-

vent blood clots from forming. These include omega-3 fatty acids, antioxi-
dant nutrients, flavonoids, flavonoid-rich extracts (e.g., grape seed and pine
bark extract), and garlic preparations standardized for alliin content. Fish oil
supplementation (up to 3000 mg per day EPA+DHA) and flavonoid-rich
extracts appear to be safe in combination with aspirin and other platelet in-
hibitors, but there may be issues if you are using several natural anti-platelet
agents at the same time – doing so may increase bleeding tendencies when
combined with anti-platelet drugs (including aspirin, but especially drugs like
clopidogrel or ticlopidine).
Two highly bioavailable forms of the nutrient choline have shown effects
in aiding stroke recovery: citicoline (also called CDP-choline) and glycero-
phosphocholine (GPC).36 Of these, the research on GPC is a bit stronger.
In six published clinical trials GPC has been given to almost 3,000 stroke
patients.36–41 The single largest trial included 2,044 patients.38 At the end of the
six-month trial, the investigators found that GPC significantly helped more
than 95% of patients and was without side effects. Overall, GPC was judged
by 78% of investigators as “very good” or “good,” by 17% as “moderate,” and
by just 5% as having “poor” or “no” efficacy. Choose either citocoline 1000–
145
2000 mg daily or GPC 600–1200 mg daily. There are no known interactions

between citocoline or GPC and warfarin or anti-platelet drugs.
FINAL COMMENTS
Let me put things in focus by consolidating the supplement recommenda-

tions for angina, CHF, arrhythmias, and other heart ailments.
NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS
s (IGH POTENCYMULTIVITAMINANDMINERALSUPPLEMENTACCORDINGTOGUIDELINES
GIVENIN#HAPTER
s +EYINDIVIDUALNUTRIENTS
q 6ITAMIN#nMGDAILY
q -AGNESIUMPREFERABLYBOUNDTOASPARTATECITRATEOROTHER+REBS
CYCLEINTERMEDIATEnMGnTIMESDAILY
s &ISHOILSMG%0!$(!DAILY
s #HOOSEONEOFTHEFOLLOWING
q RAPESEEDEXTRACTMORETHANPROCYANIDOLICOLIGOMERS
'
nMGDAILY
q 0INEBARKEXTRACTMORETHANPROCYANIDOLICOLIGOMERS
nMGDAILY
s #ARNITINEMGTHREETIMESDAILY
s 0ANTETHINEMGTHREETIMESDAILY
s #OENZYME1 MGnTIMESDAILYINMORESEVERECASESCONSIDER
UBIQUINOLOR"IO13!nAHIGHLYBIOAVAILABLEFORMOF#O1nFOR
ENHANCEDABSORPTION
BOTANICAL MEDICINES
s (AWTHORN#RATAEGUSOXYACANTHA EXTRACTSTANDARDIZEDTOCONTAIN
PROCYANIDINSORVITEXIN g RHAMNOSIDEnMGTHREETIMESDAILY
146
RESOURCES
APPENDIX A – DIETARY FIBER CONTENT
OF SELECTED FOODS
&OOD 3ERVING Calories 'RAMSOF&IBER
&25)4
Apple (with skin) 1 medium 81 3.5
Banana 1 medium 105 2.4
Cantaloupe ¼ melon 30 1.0
Cherries, sweet 10 49 1.2
Grapefruit ½ medium 38 1.6
Orange 1 medium 62 2.6
Peach (with skin) 1 medium 37 1.9
Pear (with skin) ½ large 61 3.1
Prunes 3 60 3.0
Raisins ¼ cup 106 3.1
Raspberries ½ cup 35 3.1
Strawberries 1 cup 45 3.0
6%'%4!",%32!7
Bean sprouts ½ cup 13 1.5
Celery, diced ½ cup 10 1.1
Cucumber ½ cup 8 0.4
Lettuce 1 cup 10 0.9
147
APPENDIX A · DIE TARY F IBER CONTENT OF SELECTED FOODS

Mushrooms ½ cup 10 1.5
Pepper, green ½ cup 9 0.5
Spinach 1 cup 8 1.2
Tomato 1 medium 20 1.5
6%'%4!",%3#//+%$
Asparagus, cut 1 cup 30 2.0
Beans, green 1 cup 32 3.2
Broccoli 1 cup 40 4.4
Brussels sprouts 1 cup 56 4.6
Cabbage, red 1 cup 30 2.8
Carrots 1 cup 48 4.6
Cauliflower 1 cup 28 2.2
Corn ½ cup 87 2.9
Kale 1 cup 44 2.8
Parsnip 1 cup 102 5.4
Potato (with skin) 1 medium 106 2.5
Potato (without skin) 1 medium 97 1.4
Spinach 1 cup 42 4.2
Sweet potatoes 1 medium 160 3.4
Zucchini 1 cup 22 3.6
,%'5-%3
Baked beans ½ cup 155 8.8
Dried peas, cooked ½ cup 115 4.7
Kidney beans, cooked ½ cup 110 7.3
Lentils, cooked ½ cup 97 3.7
Lima beans, cooked ½ cup 64 4.5
Navy beans, cooked ½ cup 112 6.0
2)#%"2%!$30!34!3
Bran muffin 1 muffin 104 2.5
148

Bread, white 1 slice 78 0.4
Bread, whole wheat 1 slice 61 1.4
Crisp bread, rye 2 crackers 50 2.0
Rice, brown, cooked ½ cup 97 1.0
Rice, white, cooked ½ cup 82 0.2
Spaghetti, reg., cooked ½ cup 155 1.1
Spaghetti, whole wheat, cooked ½ cup 155 3.9
"2%!+&!34#%2%!,3
All Bran 1/3 cup 71 8.5
Bran Chex 2/3 cup 91 4.6
Corn Bran 2/3 cup 98 5.4
Corn flakes 1¼ cup 110 0.3
Grape-Nuts ¼ cup 101 1.4
Oatmeal ¾ cup 108 1.6
Raisin Bran-type 2/3 cup 115 4.0
Shredded Wheat 2/3 cup 102 2.6
NUTS
Almonds 10 nuts 79 1.1
Filberts 10 nuts 54 0.8
Peanuts 10 nuts 105 1.4
149
APPENDIX B – GLYCEMIC INDEX,
CARBOHYDRATE CONTENT, AND
GLYCEMIC LOAD OF SELECTED FOODS
A complete list of the glycemic index and glycemic load of all tested foods
is beyond the scope of this book – it would be a book in itself. So I have
selected the most common foods. This listing will give you a general sense
of high GL and low GL foods. We have listed the items by food groups,
from low to high glycemic loads. You may notice that certain food groups
are not listed. For example, you won’t see nuts, seeds, fish, poultry, and
meats listed because these foods have little impact on blood sugar levels
because they are low in carbohydrates.
If you would like to see an even more complete listing, visit mendosa.com –
it’s a free website operated by medical writer Rick Mendosa and an excellent
resource.
&//$ ') #ARBSG &IBERG ',

"%!.3,%'5-%3
Soybeans, cooked, ½ cup, 100 g 14 12 7 1.6
Peas, green, fresh, frozen, boiled, ½ cup, 80 g 48 5 2 2
White navy beans, boiled, ½ cup, 90 g 38 11 6 4.2
Kidney beans, boiled, ½ cup, 90 g 27 18 7.3 4.8
Peas, split, yellow, boiled, ½ cup, 90 g 32 16 4.7 5.1
Lentils, ½ cup, 100 g 28 19 3.7 5.3
Lima beans, baby, ½ cup cooked, 85 g 32 17 4.5 5.4
Black beans, canned, ½ cup, 95 g 45 15 7 5.7
Pinto beans, canned, ½ cup, 95 g 45 13 6.7 5.8
151
A P P E N D I X B · GLY CE MIC INDE X , C A R B OH Y DR AT E C ON T E N T, A ND GLY CE MIC L OA D OF SE L E C T E D F OOD S

Chickpeas, canned, drained, ½ cup, 95 g 42 15 5 6.3
Kidney beans, canned and drained, ½ cup, 95 g 52 13 7.3 6.7
Broad, frozen, boiled, ½ cup, 80 g 79 9 6 7.1
Peas, dried, boiled, ½ cup, 70 g 22 4 4.7 8
Baked beans, canned in tomato sauce, ½ cup, 120 g 48 21 8.8 10
Blackeyed beans, soaked, boiled, ½ cup, 120 g 42 24 5 10
"2%!$
Multigrain, unsweetened, 1 slice, 30 g 43 9 1.4 4
Oat bran & honey, 1 slice, 40 g 31 14 1.5 4.5
Sourdough, rye, 1 slice, 30 g 48 12 0.4 6
Stoneground whole wheat, 1 slice, 30 g 53 11 1.4 6
Wonder, enriched white bread, 1 slice, 20 g 73 10 0.4 7
Sourdough, wheat, 1 slice, 30 g 54 14 0.4 7.5
Pumpernickel, 1 slice, 60 g 41 21 0.5 8.6
Whole wheat, 1 slice, 35 g 69 14 1.4 9.6
Healthy Choice, hearty 7-grain, 1 slice, 38 g 56 18 1.4 10
White (wheat flour), 1 slice, 30 g 70 15 0.4 10.5
Healthy Choice, 100% whole grain, 1 slice, 38 g 62 18 1.4 11
Gluten-free multigrain, 1 slice, 35 g 79 15 1.8 12
French baguette, 30 g 95 15 0.4 14
Hamburger bun, 1 prepacked bun, 50 g 61 24 0.5 15
Rye, 1 slice, 50 g 65 23 0.4 15
Light rye, 1 slice, 50 g 68 23 0.4 16
Dark rye, Black, 1 slice, 50 g 76 21 0.4 16
Croissant, 1, 50 g 67 27 0.2 18
Kaiser roll, 1 roll, 50 g 73 25 0.4 18
Pita, 1 piece, 65 g 57 38 0.4 22
Bagel, 1, 70 g 72 35 0.4 25
"2%!+&!34#%2%!,3
Oat bran, raw, 1 tablespoon, 10 g 55 7 1 4
Bran with psyllium, 1/3 cup, 30 g 47 12 12.5 5.6
Bran, 1/3 cup, 30 g 58 14 14 8
All-Bran Soy n Fiber, ½ cup, 45 g 33 26 7 8.5
All-Bran, ½ cup, 40 g 42 22 6.5. 9.2
Oatmeal (cooked with water), 1 cup, 245 g 42 24 1.6 10
152

Shredded wheat, 1/3 cup, 25 g 67 18 1.2 12
Mini Wheats (whole wheat), 1 cup, 30 g 58 21 4.4 12
All-Bran Fruit n Oats, ½ cup, 45 g 39 33 6 13
Weet-Bix, 2 biscuits, 30 g 69 19 2 13
Cheerios, ½ cup, 30 g 74 20 2 15
Frosties, ¾ cup, 30 g 55 27 1 15
Corn Bran, ½ cup, 30 g 75 20 1 15
Honey Smacks, ¾ cup, 30 g 56 27 1 15
Wheatbites, 30 g 72 22 2 16
Total, 30 g 76 22 2 16.7
Healthwise for heart health, 45 g 48 35 2 16.8
Mini Wheats (blackcurrant), 1 cup, 30 g 71 24 2 17
Puffed wheat, 1 cup, 30 g 80 22 2 17.6
Bran Flakes, ¾ cup, 30 g 74 24 2 18
Crunchy Nut Cornflakes (Kellogg’s), 30 g 72 25 2 18
Froot Loops, 1 cup, 30 g 69 27 1 18
Cocoa Pops, ¾ cup, 30 g 77 26 1 20
Team, 30 g 82 25 1 20.5
Corn Chex, 30 g 83 25 1 20.75
Just Right, ¾ cup, 30 g 60 36 2 21.6
Corn Flakes, 1 cup, 30 g 84 26 0.3 21.8
Rice Krispies, 1 cup, 30 g 82 27 0.3 22
Rice Chex, 1 cup, 30 g 89 25 1 22
Crispix, 30 g 87 26 1 22.6
Just Right Just Grains, 1 cup, 45 g 62 38 2 23.5
Oat n Honey Bake, 45 g 77 31 2 24
Raisin Bran, 1 cup, 45 g 73 35 4 25.5
Grape Nuts, ½ cup, 58 g 71 47 2 33.3
CAKE
Cake, angel food, 1 slice, 30 g 67 17 <1 11.5
Cake, sponge cake, 1 slice, 60 g 46 32 <1 14.7
Cake, cupcake, with icing and cream filling, 1 cake, 38 g 73 26 <1 19
Cake, chocolate fudge, mix, (Betty Crocker), 73 g cake
38 54 <1 20.5
+ 33 g frosting
Cake, banana cake, 1 slice, 80 g 47 46 <1 21.6
Cake, pound cake, 1 slice, 80 g 54 42 <1 22.6
153

Cake, French vanilla, (Betty Crocker), 73 g cake
42 58 <1 24.4
+ 33 g frosting
Cake, Lamingtons, 1, 50 g 87 29 <1 25
Cake, flan, 1 slice, 80 g 65 55 <1 35.75
Cake, scones, made from packet mix, 1 scone, 40 g 92 90 <1 83
CRACKERS
Crackers, Corn Thins, puffed corn, 2, 12 g 87 9 <1 7.8
Crackers, Kavli, 4, 20 g 71 13 3 9.2
Crackers, Breton wheat crackers, 6, 25 g 67 14 2 9.4
Crackers, Ryvita or Wasa, 2, 20 g 69 16 3 11
Crackers, Stoned Wheat Thins, 5, 25 g 67 17 1 11.4
Crackers, Premium soda crackers, 3, 25 g 74 17 0 12.5
Crackers, water cracker, 5, 25 g 78 18 0 14
Crackers, graham 1, 30 g 74 22 1.4 16
Crackers, rice cake, 2, 25 g 82 21 0.4 17
-),+3/9-),+!.$*5)#%3
Milk, full fat, 1 cup, 250 ml 27 12 0 3
Soy, 1 cup, 250 ml 31 12 0 3.7
Milk, skim, 1 cup, 250 ml 32 13 0 4
Grapefruit juice, unsweetened, 1 cup, 250 ml 48 16 1 7.7
Nesquik chocolate powder, 3 tsp in 250 ml milk 55 14 0 7.7
Milk, chocolate flavored, low fat, 1 cup, 250 ml 34 23 0 7.8
Orange juice, 1 cup, 250 ml 46 21 1 9.7
Gatorade, 1 cup, 250 ml 78 15 0 11.7
Pineapple juice, unsweetened, canned, 250 ml 46 27 1 12.4
Apple juice, unsweetened, 1 cup, 250 ml 40 33 1 13.2
Cranberry juice cocktail (Ocean Spray USA), 240 ml 68 34 0 23
Coca Cola, 375 ml 63 40 0 25.2
Soft drinks, 375 ml 68 51 0 34.7
Milk, sweetened condensed, ½ cup, 160 g 61 90 0 55
&25)4
Cherries, 20 cherries, 80 g 22 10 2.4 2.2
Plums, 3–4 small, 100 g 39 7 2.2 2.7
Peach, fresh, 1 large, 110 g 42 7 1.9 3
Apricots, fresh, 3 medium, 100 g 57 7 1.9 4
Apricots, dried, 5–6 pieces, 30 g 31 13 2.2 4
154

Kiwi 1 raw, peeled, 80 g 52 8 2.4 4
Orange, 1 medium, 130 g 44 10 2.6 4.4
Peach, canned, in natural juice, ½ cup, 125 g 38 12 1.5 4.5
Pear, canned, in pear juice, ½ cup, 125 g 43 13 1.5 5.5
Watermelon, 1 cup, 150 g 72 8 1 5.7
Pineapple, fresh, 2 slices, 125 g 66 10 2.8 6.6
Apple, 1 medium, 150 g 38 18 3.5 6.8
Grapes, green, 1 cup, 100 g 46 15 2.4 6.9
Apple, dried, 30 g 29 24 3.0 6.9
Prunes, pitted (Sunsweet), 6 prunes, 40 g 29 25 3.0 7.25
Pear, fresh, 1 medium, 150 g 38 21 3.1 8
Fruit cocktail, canned in natural juice, ½ cup, 125 g 55 15 1.5 8.25
Apricots, canned, light syrup, ½ cup, 125 g 64 13 1.5 8.3
Peach, canned, light syrup, ½ cup, 125 g 52 18 1.5 9.4
Mango, 1 small, 150 g 55 19 2.0 10.4
Figs, dried, tenderized (water added), 50 g 61 22 3.0 13.4
Sultanas, ¼ cup, 40 g 56 30 3.1 16.8
Banana, raw, 1 medium, 150 g 55 32 2.4 17.6
Raisins, ¼ cup, 40 g 64 28 3.1 18
Dates, dried, 5, 40 g 103 27 3.0 27.8
'2!).3
Rice bran, extruded, 1 tbsp, 10 g 19 3 1 0.57
Barley, pearled, boiled, ½ cup, 80 g 25 17 6 4.25
Millet, cooked, ½ cup, 120 g 71 12 1 8.52
Bulgur, cooked, 2/3 cup, 120 g 48 22 3.5 10.6
Brown rice, steamed, 1 cup, 150 g 50 32 1 16
Couscous, cooked, 2/3 cup, 120 g 65 28 1 18
Rice, white, boiled, 1 cup, 150 g 72 36 0.2 26
Rice, Arborio risotto rice, white, boiled, 100 g 69 35 0.2 29
Rice, basmati, white, boiled, 1 cup, 180 g 58 50 0.2 29
Buckwheat, cooked, ½ cup, 80 g 54 57 3.5 30
Rice, instant, cooked, 1 cup, 180 g 87 38 0.2 33
Tapioca (steamed 1 hour), 100 g 70 54 <1 38
Tapioca (boiled with milk), 1 cup, 265 g 81 51 <1 41
Rice, jasmine, white, long grain, steamed, 1 cup, 180 g 109 39 0.2 42.5
155

)#%#2%!-
Ice cream, low-fat French vanilla, 100 ml 38 15 0 5.7
Ice cream, full fat, 2 scoops, 50 g 61 10 0 6.1
*!-
Jam, no sugar, 1 tbsp, 25 g 55 11 <1 6
Jam, sweetened 1 tbsp 48 17 <1 8
-5&&).3!.$0!.#!+%3
Muffins, chocolate butterscotch, from mix, 50 g 53 28 1 15
Muffins, apple, oat and sultana, from mix, 50 g 54 28 1 15
Muffins, apricot, coconut and honey, from mix, 50 g 60 27 1.5 16
Muffins, banana, oat and honey, from mix, 50 g 65 28 1.5 18
Muffins, apple, 1 muffin, 80 g 44 44 1,5 19
Muffins, bran, 1 muffin, 80 g 60 34 2.5 20
Muffins, blueberry, 1 muffin, 80 g 59 41 1,5 24
Pancake, buckwheat, from dry mix, 40 g 102 30 2 30
Pancake, from dry mix, 1 large, 80 g 67 58 1 39
PASTA
Pasta, tortellini, cheese, cooked, 180 g 50 21 2 10.5
Pasta, ravioli, meat-filled, cooked, 1 cup, 220 g 39 30 2 11.7
Pasta, vermicelli, cooked, 1 cup, 180 g 35 45 2 15.7
Pasta, rice noodles, fresh, boiled, 1 cup, 176 g 40 44 0.4 17.6
Pasta, spaghetti, whole meal, cooked, 1 cup, 180 g 37 48 3.5 17.75
Pasta, fettuccine, cooked, 1 cup, 180 g 32 57 2 18.2
Pasta, spaghetti, gluten free, in tomato sauce,
68 27 2 18.5
1 small tin, 220 g
Pasta, macaroni and cheese, packaged, cooked, 220 g 64 30 2 19.2
Pasta, Star Pastina, cooked, 1 cup, 180 g 38 56 2 21
Pasta, spaghetti, white, cooked, 1 cup, 180 g 41 56 2 23
Pasta, rice pasta, brown, cooked, 1 cup, 180 g 92 57 2 52
35'!23
Fructose, 10 g 23 10 0 2.3
Honey, ½ tablespoon, 10 g 58 16 0 4.6
Lactose, 10 g 46 10 0 4.6
Sucrose, 10 g 65 10 0 6.5
Glucose, 10 g 102 10 0 10.2
Maltose, 10 g 105 10 0 10.5
156

SNACKS
Corn chips, Doritos original, 50 g 42 33 <1 13.9
Snickers, 59 g 41 35 0 14.3
Tofu frozen dessert (non-dairy), 100 g 115 13 <1 15
Real Fruit bars, strawberry, 20 g 90 17 <1 15.3
Twix cookie bar (caramel), 59 g 44 37 <1 16.2
Pretzels, 50 g 83 22 <1 18.3
Mars bar, 60 g 65 41 0 26.6
Skittles, 62 g 70 55 0 38.5
SOUPS
Tomato, canned, 220 ml 38 15 1.5 6
Black bean, 220 ml 64 9 3.4 6
Lentil, canned, 220 ml 44 14 3 6
Split pea, canned, 220 ml 60 13 3 8
6%'%4!",%3
Carrots, raw, ½ cup, 80 g 16 6 1.5 1
Carrots, peeled, boiled, ½ cup, 70 g 49 3 1.5 1.5
Beets, canned, drained, 2–3 slices, 60 g 64 5 1 3
Pumpkin, peeled, boiled, ½ cup, 85 g 75 6 3.4 4.5
Parsnips, boiled, ½ cup, 75 g 97 8 3 8
Sweet corn on the cob, boiled 20 min, 80 g 48 14 2.9 8
Corn, canned and drained, ½ cup, 80 g 55 15 3 8.5
Sweet potato, peeled, boiled, 80 g 54 16 3.4 8.6
Sweet corn, ½ cup boiled, 80 g 55 18 3 10
Potatoes, peeled, boiled, 1 medium, 120 g 87 13 1.4 10
Potatoes, with skin, boiled, 1 medium, 120 g 79 15 2.4 11
Yam, boiled, 80 g 51 26 3.4 13
Potatoes, baked in oven (no fat), 1 medium, 120 g 93 15 2.4 14
Potatoes, mashed, ½ cup, 120 g 91 16 1 14
Potatoes, Instant potato, prepared, ½ cup 83 18 1 15
Potatoes, new, unpeeled, boiled, 5 small (cocktail), 175 g 78 25 2 20
Cornmeal (polenta), 1/3 cup, 40 g 68 30 2 20
Potatoes, French fries, fine cut, small serving, 120 g 75 49 1 36
Gnocchi, cooked, 1 cup, 145 g 68 71 1 48
157

LOW GLYCEMIC6%'%4!",%3
Asparagus, 1 cup, cooked or raw

Bell Peppers, 1 cup, cooked or raw
Broccoli, 1 cup, cooked or raw
Brussels sprouts, 1 cup, cooked or raw
Cabbage, 1 cup, cooked or raw
Cauliflower, 1 cup, cooked or raw
Cucumber, 1 cup
Celery, 1 cup, cooked or raw
≈20 ≈7 ≈1.5 ≈1.4
Eggplant, 1 cup
Green beans, 1 cup, cooked or raw
Kale, 1 cup cooked, 2 cups raw
Lettuce, 2 cups raw
Mushrooms, 1 cup
Spinach, 1 cup cooked, 2 cups raw
Tomatoes, 1 cup
Zucchini, 1 cup, cooked or raw
9/'524
Yogurt, low fat, artificial sweetener, 200 g 14 12 0 2
Yogurt, with fruit, 200 g 26 30 0 8
Yogurt, low fat, 200 g 33 26 0 8.5
158
APPENDIX C – FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS ON PGX ®
WHAT IS PGX®?
PGX® (PolyGlycopleX®) is a unique complex of highly purified, water-soluble

dietary fiber developed using advanced EnviroSimplex® technology. This
technology combines these natural compounds in a very specific ratio making
PGX® an effective weight loss aid and dietary supplement. PGX® was invented
by researchers at InovoBiologic Inc., Calgary after many years of extensive
research. PGX® is available in a variety of forms including capsules, soft gela-
tin capsules, granules, meal replacement powders, and pre-meal drink mixes.
WHERE CAN I BUY PGX®?
PGX® products are available under a variety of brand names, in stores

throughout North America that sell natural health products. Visit pgx.com
and select “Where to Buy” under the “About PGX®” main menu, enter an
address, and click the “Find Nearest” button to see the nearest locations.
WHAT IS THE PGX® DAILY ULTRA MATRIX TECHNOLOGY?
PGX® technology has produced PGX® Daily Ultra Matrix Softgels – an ad-
vanced delivery system for optimum results. “Ultra Matrix” refers to PGX® gran-
ules suspended in a matrix of medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) – healthy fats
from purified coconut oil. PGX® Daily disperses and becomes viscous slowly
in the stomach and digestive tract. Most other fibers do not become as viscous
as PGX®, become viscous too quickly, or do not become viscous at all. PGX®
159
A P PE NDI X C · F R E QUE N T LY A S K E D QUE S T IONS ON P G X
maintains its viscosity throughout the entire digestive tract (including the co-
lon) which means that the glycemic index and subsequent blood sugar regula-
tion is greater. Also, thanks to the thermogenic properties of the MCTs in the
capsule, PGX® Daily can result in an extra 25–50 calories burned daily.
HOW DO I USE PGX®?
To enjoy the full benefits of PGX®, try to take some before each and every
meal. Be sure to drink at least 250 ml (8 oz) of water per 2.5 gram serving of
PGX®. Start with 1–2 softgels of PGX® Daily before each meal and increase by
1 softgel per meal every 2–3 days. If you are prone to digestive upset, increase
the dose at a slower rate to give your body time to adjust. Some people find
2–3 softgels or 2.5 grams of PGX® granules to be effective. Others require the
maximum dose of 6 softgels of PGX® Daily or 5 grams of PGX® granules in
order to reduce portion size. Continue to increase the dosage until you experi-
ence a significant reduction in hunger and between-meal food cravings. Do
not exceed 6 softgels or 5 grams up to three times per day.
DOES PGX® HAVE SIDE EFFECTS?
PGX® is a highly concentrated and highly effective form of fiber. It can

take time for your body to adjust. To avoid minor side effects, such as in-
creased gas, bloating, loose stools or constipation, it is best to start with
small amounts of PGX® and then gradually increase your intake as your
body adjusts. If you take PGX® consistently, and increase the dose gradually,
it is likely that you will be able to consume a highly effective dose, without
these effects, within a few days to a week. To decrease any possible side effects, it
is important to drink a large glass of water with each dose of PGX®.
CAN PGX® BE TAKEN WITH MY MEDICATION?
PGX® can slow the rate of absorption of food and therefore it can theoretically
do the same with medication. It is recommended that any oral medication
160
be taken 1 hour before PGX® and/or 2–3 hours after consuming PGX®
products. People with diabetes must monitor their blood glucose carefully
as they may need to adjust medications accordingly. As PGX® helps control
blood glucose, it may lessen the need for insulin or other medications over
time. If you are on any medication consult a health care practitioner prior
to using dietary supplements or changing your nutritional regimen.
CAN I TAKE PGX® WITH OTHER SUPPLEMENTS?
There is no problem taking PGX® along with supplements including essen-

tial fatty acids (EFAs) and multivitamins/multiminerals. A 21-day double-
blind, placebo-controlled human tolerance study where 10 g of PGX® were
given per day showed no statistical difference between levels of minerals and
fat- and water-soluble vitamins in the test and control groups.
HOW FAST CAN I EXPECT TO LOSE WEIGHT?
Participants in a study who exercised and followed a 1,200 calorie/day diet

lost on average 1–2 lbs per week. This is considered healthy weight loss. For
some people weight loss is not immediate, while many people lose more
weight depending upon their consistent use of PGX® and other lifestyle fac-
tors. PGX® makes following a calorie-restricted diet easy because it controls
appetite due to its water solubility (absorbs many times its weight in water)
and its ability to reduce and diminish cravings for starchy and sugary foods.
It is important to differentiate between weight loss and fat loss. As fat weighs
less than muscle tissue, many people actually experience weight gain when
they begin a reducing regime. Also, for some people, the additional water
they drink with PGX® can temporarily add weight, since a liter of water
weighs 1 kg or 2.2 lbs. While fast weight loss may seem ideal, it is important
to remember that we gain weight gradually over a period of time. Losing
weight the same way is “healthy weight loss” and will help reduce the risk
of regaining the lost weight.
161
HOW DO I KNOW PGX® IS WORKING?

HOW MUCH DO I HAVE TO USE TO LOSE WEIGHT?
It is recommended that you start with a lower dose of PGX® for the first
3–7 days to see how your body adjusts to the increase in fiber intake. An
increased amount of PGX®, to its active dosage (10–15 grams per day or
2.5–5 grams per meal) will produce noticeable reductions in appetite and
cravings. Many people who have just started taking PGX® feel energized
and notice their clothes fit better even though they have not changed any-
thing else except taking PGX® everyday.
IF PGX® IS FIBER HOW CAN I GET CONSTIPATED?
PGX® can only cause constipation if your water intake is not adequate for
the amount of PGX® you are consuming. PGX® expands to hold many
times its weight in water. You need to drink at least 250 ml (8 oz) of water
per 2.5 grams (2–3 softgels). It is also important to eat smaller amounts of
food regularly and take PGX® according to label directions. Be sure to take
in adequate fresh water – not drinks such as coffee or alcohol that can cause
you to lose water. During the day you may want to drink non-caffeinated
herbal teas, vegetable juice, or diluted fruit juice (watch the sugar content of
juices). Also, be sure to take PGX® consistently. Do not skip days and, if you
are prone to constipation, take PGX® at the same time every day.
WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT GAS AND BLOATING?
Reduce the amount of PGX® you are taking and once you feel comfortable
(no gas or bloating) gradually increase the amount over a few days (3–
7 days). These side effects are temporary with most people and completely
subside after a week or more of use. You may also want to take probiotic
supplements (friendly intestinal bacteria) to enhance the health of your gas-
trointestinal tract.
162
AFTER TAKING PGX® IS IT POSSIBLE TO STILL BE HUNGRY?
For some people, yes. One explanation is that when blood sugar has been out
of control or imbalanced for a long time, and the body has not been using
insulin properly, the brain can still send out powerful messages to eat. When
you take PGX® every day these strong messages become weaker. The inap-
propriate messages to eat are no longer needed when blood sugar becomes
balanced and the brain is satisfied it will get the glucose required to function.
I’VE TRIED OTHER DIETS. HOW IS PGX® DIFFERENT?
PGX® isn’t a diet, but it can make any weight loss plan or diet work better. Re-
search has shown that people who gain weight and have difficulty losing weight,
often spend much of their day on a “blood sugar roller coaster” with blood sugar
alternately surging and plummeting, leaving them tired or irritable and leading
to frequent and unhealthy food cravings. PGX® helps re-train your body and
eliminate the blood sugar roller coaster so you don’t crave “bad foods” and so
you can better control your appetite. With PGX® you can achieve lasting results.
HOW DOES PGX® CONTROL CRAVINGS?
Often blood sugar levels can make our bodies crave sugar and starchy foods.
Blood sugar levels rise and fall naturally, but rapid changes are harmful and
create many of the cravings we experience. When blood sugar levels drop, our
brain tells us to eat and often we look for foods with lots of sugars, fats, and
starches in order to raise sugar levels. By balancing blood sugar levels, the brain
is no longer demanding fast energy and you will be less likely to crave food.
DOES PGX® CONTAIN GLUTEN?
PGX® softgels and PGX® granules are wheat and gluten free. PGX® meal
replacement and pre-meal drink mix products cannot be considered gluten
or wheat free.
163
DOES PGX® CONTAIN CAFFEINE OR OTHER STIMULANTS?
No. PGX® is a natural, non-addictive dietary supplement containing no

caffeine or other stimulants.
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY BLOOD SUGAR IS “OUT OF BALANCE”?
Your doctor can do tests to determine whether or not your blood sugar levels
are within normal range. The indicators you can see and feel yourself include:
s #RAVINGSnESPECIALLYSWEETSANDCARBOHYDRATES
s &EELINGTIREDANDIRRITABLEFORNOAPPARENTREASON
s 'AININGWEIGHTINSPITEOFANUNCHANGEDDIETORLIFESTYLE
s &EELINGHUNGRYAGAINSHORTLYAFTEREATING
HOW DOES PGX® LOWER THE GLYCEMIC INDEX OF MEALS

AND WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Glycemic Index (GI) is a way of indicating how fast a particular food is turned
into energy by the body. High GI foods are digested quickly and raise blood
sugar fast. Low GI foods are converted to glucose more slowly. PGX® slows
down the rate at which all food is digested, lowering after-meal blood sugar
and virtually lowering the glycemic index of any food. Clinical studies show
that high after-meal blood sugar levels are a major factor for heart disease risk.
HOW LONG DOES A PERSON HAVE TO TAKE PGX®?
After initial weight loss goals have been achieved, a lower “maintenance”
dose of PGX® can effectively help control weight, appetite, blood sugar, and
cholesterol for life. PGX® is non-habit forming but many people find that
its effects – increased self esteem, a healthy weight, and more energy – are
quite “addictive”.
164
WHAT RESEARCH IS THERE TO SUPPORT THE BENEFITS

AND EFFECTIVENESS OF PGX®?
PGX® is the result of many years of intensive clinical and laboratory research
with universities from around the world and specialized research organiza-
tions in collaboration with the Canadian Centre for Functional Medicine.
After years of research involving thousands of participants it is clear that
adding PGX® to meals can: balance blood sugar, reduce the glycemic index
of foods, restore insulin sensitivity (a key factor in weight control), curb
food cravings, and lower cholesterol levels.
IS PGX® SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN?
Yes. Half the adult dose is recommended for children 9 years of age and older,
or 1–3 softgels before each meal until the child notices a reduction in hunger
and between-meal food cravings. However, children have unique develop-
mental nutritional requirements. PGX® suppresses appetite and you should
consult a qualified health care practitioner before giving PGX® to your child.
WHO SHOULD NOT USE PGX®?
Anyone who cannot compensate for a large water intake, such as someone
with renal disease or congestive heart failure.
Anyone taking a large number of medications that must be taken with food
and/or without food, unless advised by a health care practitioner.
Anyone who has difficulty swallowing, including people with gastrointes-

tinal disorders and those with esophageal stenosis, or pre-existing bowel
abnormalities, may be at risk for esophageal or intestinal blockages or ob-
struction and should consult a health care practitioner prior to use.
Pregnant or lactating women should discuss PGX® use with a health care
practitioner prior to use.
165
Anyone under 18 years of age should discuss PGX® use with a health care
practitioner prior to use.
If you have any concerns, consult a health care practitioner.
For more information on PGX® visit pgx.com
166
REFERENCES
The references provided are by no means designed to represent a complete
reference list for all of the studies reviewed or mentioned in this book. In
fact, I have chosen to focus on key studies and comprehensive review ar-
ticles that readers, especially medical professionals, may find helpful.
CHAPTER 1 – THE HEART OF THE MATTER IS THE MATTER OF THE HEART

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6 Kritz H, Schmid P, Sinzinger H. Passive smoking and cardiovascular risk. Arch Intern Med.
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CHAPTER 3 – THE TRUTH ABOUT STATINS, CHOLESTEROL, AND NATURAL

ALTERNATIVES
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with special emphasis on cereals rich in beta-glucan. Diabetes Care. 1997;20(11):1774-80.
7 Slama G. Dietary therapy in type 2 diabetes oriented towards postprandial blood glucose improve-
ment. Diabetes Metab Rev. 1998;14(Suppl 1):S19-24.
8 Montonen J, Knekt P, Jarvinen R, et al. Whole-grain and fiber intake and the incidence of type 2
diabetes. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003;77(3):622-9.
9 Fung TT, Hu FB, Pereira MA, et al. Whole-grain intake and the risk of type 2 diabetes: a prospective
study in men. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002;76(3):535-40.
10 Brand-Miller JC, Atkinson FS, Gahler RJ, et al. Effects of PGX, a novel functional fibre, on acute
and delayed postprandial glycaemia. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2010 Dec;64(12):1488-93.
11 Brand-Miller JC, Atkinson FS, Gahler RJ, et al. Effects of added PGX®, a novel functional fibre, on
the glycaemic index of starchy foods. Br J Nutr. 2012 Jul;108(2):245-8.
12 Jenkins AL, Kacinik V, Lyon MR, et al. Reduction of postprandial glycemia by the novel viscous
polysaccharide PGX, in a dose-dependent manner, independent of food form. J Am Coll Nutr. 2010
Apr;29(2):92-8.
13 Hung T, Sievenpiper JL, Marchie A, et al. Fat versus carbohydrate in insulin resistance, obesity,
diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2003;6(2):165-76.
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CHAPTER 5 – THE HEART HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

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CHAPTER 6 – HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

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9 Appel LJ, Moore TJ, Obarzanek E, et al. A clinical trial of the effects of dietary patterns on blood
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10 Moore TJ, Conlin PR, Ard J, Svetkey LP. DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet is
effective treatment for stage 1 isolated systolic hypertension. Hypertension. 2001;38(2):155-8.
11 Sacks FM, Svetkey LP, Vollmer WM, et al. Effects on blood pressure of reduced dietary sodium
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12 Fujita H, Yoshikawa M. LKPNM: a prodrug-type ACE-inhibitory peptide derived from fish pro-
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13 Fujita H, Yamagami T, Ohshima K. Effects of an ace-inhibitory agent, katsuobushi oligopeptide,
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14 Fujita H, Yasumoto R, Hasegawa M, et al. Antihypertensive activity of “Katsuobushi Oligopeptide”
in hypertensive and borderline hypertensive subjects. Jpn Pharmacol Ther. 1997;25:147-51.
15 Fujita H, Yasumoto R, Hasegawa M, et al. Antihypertensive activity of “Katsuobushi Oligopeptide”
in hypertensive and borderline hypertensive subjects. Jpn Pharmacol Ther. 1997;25:153-7.
16 Kawasaki T, Seki E, Osajima K, et al. Antihypertensive effect of valyl-tyrosine, a short chain pep-
tide derived from sardine muscle hydrolysate, on mild hypertensive subjects. J Hum Hypertens.
2000;14(8):519-23.
17 Langsjoen P, Langsjoen P, Willis R, et al. Treatment of essential hypertension with coenzyme Q10.
Mol Aspects Med. 1994;15(Suppl):S265-72.
18 Ho MJ, Bellusci A, Wright JM. Blood pressure lowering efficacy of coenzyme Q10 for primary hy-
pertension. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009 4:CD007435.
19 Scheffler A, Rauwald HW, Kampa B, et al. Olea europaea leaf extract exerts L-type Ca(2+) channel
antagonistic effects. J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Nov 20;120(2):233-40.
20 Cherif S, Rahal N, Haouala M, et al. A clinical trial of a titrated Olea extract in the treatment of
essential arterial hypertension. J Pharm Belg. 1996;51(2):69-71.
21 Perrinjaquet-Moccetti T, Busjahn A, Schmidlin C, et al. Food supplementation with an olive (Olea
europaea L.) leaf extract reduces blood pressure in borderline hypertensive monozygotic twins. Phy-
tother Res. 2008 Sep;22(9):1239-42.
22 Susalit E, Agus N, Effendi I, et al. Olive (Olea europaea) leaf extract effective in patients with stage-1
hypertension: comparison with Captopril. Phytomedicine. 2011 Feb 15;18(4):251-8.
23 McKay DL, Chen CY, Saltzman E, et al. Hibiscus sabdariffa L. tea (tisane) lowers blood pressure in
prehypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults. J Nutr. 2010 Feb;140(2):298-303.
24 Mozaffari-Khosravi H, Jalali-Khanabadi BA, Afkhami-Ardekani M, et al. The effects of sour tea
(Hibiscus sabdariffa) on hypertension in patients with type II diabetes. J Hum Hypertens. 2009
Jan;23(1):48-54.
25 Haji Faraji M, Haji Tarkhani A. The effect of sour tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa) on essential hypertension.
J Ethnopharmacol. 1999 Jun;65(3):231-6.
26 Herrera-Arellano A, Miranda-Sánchez J, Avila-Castro P, et al. Clinical effects produced by a standard-
ized herbal medicinal product of Hibiscus sabdariffa on patients with hypertension. A randomized,
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27 Herrera-Arellano A, Flores-Romero S, Chávez-Soto MA, et al. Effectiveness and tolerability of a

standardized extract from Hibiscus sabdariffa in patients with mild to moderate hypertension: a
controlled and randomized clinical trial. Phytomedicine. 2004 Jul;11(5):375-82.
CHAPTER 7 – IMPROVING HEART FUNCTION, PLUS SOME SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

(ANGIOGRAMS, BYPASS, CHELATION, AND STROKE RECOVERY)
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180

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CHOLESTEROL

CHOLESTEROL AND HEART HEALTH

IN THIS BOOK YOU WILL LEARN:

YOU AND YOUR DOCTOR DOESN’T KNOW

THE NATURAL SOLUTIONS

FPO - Printer to supply

Our focus is education

COPYRIGHT © 2013 MICHAEL T. MURRAY, N.D.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT

Design: FWH Creative

To my wife, Gina, for being the answer to so many of my dreams.

To my children, Lexi, Zach, and Addison, for being so incredibly

To Roland Gahler and everyone at Natural Factors for their tremendous

And finally, I am eternally grateful to all the researchers, physicians,

s $/./43%,& $)!'./3% If you have concerns about any subject discussed

t -!+%9/520(93)#)!.!7!2% of all the nutritional supplements or herbal

Michael T. Murray, N.D.

THE HEART OF THE

works as it should. Unfortunately, millions of people operate at a deficit and

A BRIEF GUIDE TO CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS

A heart attack (also called a myocardial infarction) occurs when something

Angina pectoris refers to a squeezing or pressure-like pain in the chest.

An arrhythmia is a disruption of the heart’s complex pumping action. This

An artery is divided into three major layers:

endothelial cells to protect them from damage and to promote repair.

2. The media, or middle layer, consists primarily of smooth muscle cells.

3. The adventitia, or external elastic membrane, consists primarily of con-

Figure 1.1 Structure of an Artery

THE PROCESS OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS

atherosclerosis are initiated as a response to injury to the cells lining the

Atherosclerosis begins when something happens to damage the GAG layer

Figure 1.2 Development of Atherosclerosis

Table 1.1 Risk Factors for Atherosclerosis

Major Risk Factors Other Risk Factors

Table 1.2 Association of Major Risk Factors with Incidence of Atherosclerosis

Major Risk Factors )NCREASEIN)NCIDENCE

CLINICAL EVALUATION FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Since CVDs are such a major cause of death, I recommend consulting a

Table 1.3 Assessment of the Cardiovascular System

DETERMINING YOUR RISK

Risk Factor Risk Scale

HDL = high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; CRP = C-reactive protein;

Figure 1.3 Diagonal Earlobe Crease

In one study, angiographs performed on 205

A QUICK LOOK AT RISK FACTORS

Smoking contributes to elevated cholesterol presumably by damaging feed-

Even passive exposure to cigarette smoke is damaging to cardiovascular

Environmental tobacco smoke actually has a higher concentration of some

Various measures – including nicotine skin patches or chewing gum, acu-

TIPS TO STOP SMOKING

3 Throw away all cigarettes, butts, matches, and ash trays.

4 Use substitutes. Instead of smoking, chew on raw vegetables, fruit, or gum. If

5 Take one day at a time.

7 Visualize yourself as a nonsmoker with a fatter pocketbook, pleasant breath,

10 Avoid situations that you associate with smoking.

s $/./43%,& $)!'./3% If you have concerns about any subject discussed

Major Risk Factors )NCREASEIN)NCIDENCE

s 4 REATYOURSELFTOAFRUITSUNDAE4OPA s & REEZELOTSOFBLUEBERRIES4HEYMAKE

s "ANANAS s 0OTATOES s #ARROTS