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Heart Disease, Part 2: How Richard Reversed His Heart Disease

Last month, I told you about Richard, a Health & Healing subscriber who was threatened with invasive heart tests and bypass surgery, but "just said 'no.'" He followed a program that reversed his heart disease, and I promised that I'd tell you what he did. First, let's take a look at the underlying causes of heart disease. Not long ago, scientists believed that high cholesterol was the root of heart disease. The theory went that consumption of a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet led to the buildup of cholesterol deposits on artery walls, which set the stage for a heart attack. Then came the realization that the cholesterol issue wasn't quite as simple as previously believed. Researchers discovered that one particular type of cholesterol--high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol--actually has a protective effect on the heart. It was further found that lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a», a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) with a sticky protein molecule that adheres to artery walls, is the ultimate "bad boy" of the cholesterol family. Elevated Lp(a) was shown to be a more reliable indicator of atherosclerosis than any other type of cholesterol. Heart Disease Isn't Just About Cholesterol Things got more complicated when free radicals entered the picture. We now know that cholesterol contributes to heart disease only when it is oxidized, or subjected to free radical damage. When cholesterol is damaged by free radicals, it is taken up by white blood cells called macrophages and deposited in fatty streaks on the artery walls. This fosters plaque buildup in the arteries and is key in the development of heart disease. The most recent piece in the puzzle is homocysteine. Homocysteine is the primary culprit in heart disease; it injures and irritates the arteries, preventing the normal plaque-removing process and contributing to plaque buildup in the arteries. It also causes the blood to thicken and stick to artery walls, and helps oxidize cholesterol. Whew! With all these different things going on, it makes you long for the days when all you had to worry about was avoiding red meat. Clearly, it's not so simple. Preventing and treating heart disease requires addressing all these known factors. The good news is you can do this by following a few simple steps, the same steps Richard took. Start With a Plant-Based Diet and ReRular Aerobic Exercise By eating a diet that emphasizes plant foods--fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, and whole grains--you'll automatically lower your intake of saturated fat and cholesterol. (Only animal products contain cholesterol.) Plant foods are rich sources of antioxidants that counter free radicals, B vitamins needed to control homocysteine levels, and fiber, which helps lower LDL cholesterol levels. One of the most effective means of raising heart-healthy HDL levels is through regular aerobic exercise. I'm not suggesting you take up marathon running. Simply find a physical activity you enjoy and do it regularly. For most people, walking is the ideal exercise, as it requires nothing more than a pair of comfortable shoes. A 30-minute walk four times a week will improve the supply of blood and oxygen to your heart, reduce blood pressure and normalize cholesterol levels. Start with 10 minutes of exercise, then gradually build up over a few weeks. Supplement With Antioxidants and B Vitamins As I said above, it's not simply cholesterol that's the culprit in heart disease- it's cholesterol that's been oxidized by free radicals. We are constantly bombarded by free radicals--from our environment, from the foods we eat, and through chemical reactions occurring within our bodies. To prevent cholesterol from becoming oxidized, your body needs an ample supply of antioxidants. Vitamin E is an especially critical antioxidant, as it interrupts the chain reaction of free radical damage affecting the fat cells in our bodies. Numerous studies have borne out the importance of vitamin E in reducing the risk of heart attack. A 1996 study reported in The Lancet, involving 2,002 patients with coronary heart disease, found that patients taking 400 to 800 IU vitamin E had 75% fewer heart attacks than those on placebo. Other antioxidants also playa role in protecting the heart. Vitamin C, an important antioxidant in its own right, helps regenerate vitamin E. Vitamin C also blocks the buildup of cholesterol--in one study by an astounding 95%1 Furthermore, high-dose vitamin C lowers levels of the most damaging type of cholesterol, Lp(a). I mentioned that homocysteine is the major player in heart disease. Homocysteine is converted in the body into harmless ammino acids in a process called mathylation, which requires adequate amounts of folic acid and vitamins B12 and B6. When there are inadequate amounts of these nutrients, toxic levels of homocysteine build up, damaging the cardiovascular system. Supplementing with these B vitamins can help maintain normal homocysteine levels and protect your arteries. NAG Packs a Punch If you have heart disease, you should consider a novel nutritional supplement that addresses each of the known mechanisms of heart disease: cholesterol, oxidation, and homocysteine. It is N-acetylcysteine (NAC) , a form of the amino acid cysteine. NAC is not only a free radical scavenger itself, but it stimulates the production of glutathione, one of the body's most powerful antioxidants and detoxifiers. NAG has been demonstrated in studies of patients with high cholesterol to raise levels of HDL (the protective type of cholesterol). But its most important action is on Lp(a). NAG splits the Lp(a) and its sticky protein band apart, rendering it harmless. Because cholesterol-lowering drugs have little to no effect on this type of cholesterol, the potential for NAG to lower Lp(a) is exciting news and deserves further study. NAG also interferes with the metabolism of homocysteine, lowers levels and thus protects against homocysteine's damaging effects on the arteries. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HEART DISEASE If you're following the Whitaker Program of diet, exercise and nutritional supplemen tation, you're well on your way to a healthy cardiovascular system. Eat a low-fat, moderate-protein diet with an emphasis on vitamin-, mineral- and fiber-rich vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Take a 30-minute walk--or whatever form of exercise you enjoy--at least four days a week to get the cardiovascular benefits of aerobic exercise. Build up to this level over a few weeks and track your progress. Supplement with antioxidants--800 to 1,200 IU of vitamin E and 2,500 mg of vitamin G, and B vitamins--100 to 200 mcg of B12, 75 to 100 mg of B6, and 400 to 1,200 mcg of folic acid. A potent multivitamin like Forward is a good place to start. If you're at risk or have heart disease, you'll want to build up to the higher doses. If you have heart disease, I recommend you add to your daily nutritional supplement regimen 1,000 mg of NAG in two 500-mg doses with meals. Vitaline Formulas (800-6484755) offers a 500-mg NAG supplement that is time-released. Enjoy your halloween, Julian Whitaker, M.D. Editor

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