NAC is also available over the counter. But MAYBE not for long. More on that in a bit.

What is NAC?

Cysteine is an amino acid essential for the production of many proteins. It is also a major component of glutathione, the main antioxidant of the body.

NAC is the standard version of cysteine used in supplements and the version used in 100s of medical and scientific studies.

NAC may support:

1. Healthy blood pressure
2. Healthy cholesterol
3. Normal heart rhythm (afib prevention)
4. Coronary artery health
5. Healthy blood sugar
6. Lower inflammation
7. Lung health

NAC may also help protect against viruses. 

Ways to Benefits from NAC (and glutathione)

The key here is to boost levels of glutathione from NAC and other sources.

1. Animal foods are an excellent source of cysteine and the other amino acids used to build glutathione.
2. Whey protein as a supplement is an excellent source of glutathione building blocks. That is why I included New Zealand grass-fed whey in our Daily Defense. I think Daily Defense is our single best source of heart, lung and total body protection. You can read more here.
3. N-acetyl cysteine supplements are a proven strategy. We have an excellent source for you. High dose, one cap by mouth per day.
4. You can nebulize glutathione too. BUT ONLY THIS BRAND goes in the nebulizer.
5. Our Detoxicore also contains NAC and many other nutrients to support body health and wellness. Excellent for immune and detox support.

FDA threatens to ban NAC.

The product appears to be so effective, they want to control its distribution.

Better secure your source quickly.

The post NAC and Your Heart appeared first on TDW.

1. Go organic

   No matter what food you eat, get the chemicals out. Artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners irritate your body leading to inflammation. Excess cholesterol is made to put out the inflammation fire. Cholesterol is made to repair the damage. This damage is done from pesticides as well, so going organic limits your exposure to dangerous pesticides and herbicides like glyphosate and atrazine.

   I recommend following the Paleo Diet. This nutrition plan followed by our hunter-gatherer ancestors is just common sense, but also has hundreds of studies to prove its efficacy. Organic vegetables, nuts, seeds, avocado, coconut, olives, pasture-raised meats and wild seafood. Skip the wheat, soy and gluten-containing grains, the sugar, and the dairy.

   I have seen this nutrition plan work for 1000’s of patients. It will work for you too. Cholesterol in food does not impact cholesterol in our body.

2. Sleep

   A study from 2017 found that short sleepers (less than 6 hours) had higher levels of LDL and higher levels of triglycerides. This is bad.

   You see, sleep is when the body repairs itself, especially our liver. This organ is responsible for many functions including making cholesterol AND removing it from the circulation. The liver also helps to heal the inflammation from our food and environment. And this all happens when we sleep. So when you don’t get enough sleep, the liver and the body can never truly heal.

   Ideally, we would go to bed just after sundown and awake before the sunrise. That is how most animals in nature do it. In fact, humans did this too before electricity was invented.

3. Sunshine

   Sunshine may be the most important way to improve your cholesterol AND just about everything else. The energy from the sun penetrates the skin and hits cholesterol running through tiny blood vessels. This energy converts cholesterol into vitamin D, a vitamin with hundreds of functions. So vitamin D goes up and cholesterol goes down. People with the highest levels of vitamin D have the lowest risk of everything.

   Smart sun is the key. A little in the morning, some at noon and some sun in the afternoon. Sunshine good, sunburn bad. If you are in the sun for prolonged periods wear a hat and and organic sunscreen. But please, embrace the power of the sun for your cholesterol AND everything else.

4. Physical activity

   Many studies confirm that exercise and physical activity improve total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides. As we are active, cholesterol particles are used up by muscle and liver tissue.

   Aerobic endurance activity helps and so does muscle building or resistance training. Just do something everyday and preferably outside. My favorite activities include hiking, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. Oh…I love CrossFit too.

5. Household chemicals

   Again, we can discuss inflammation. The chemicals in your house get into your body leading to inflammation. With inflammation, lipids go up. The liver produces lipids to fight the inflammation AND gets busy with detoxification so does not adequately clear old LDL particles. This is very bad.

   Let me make an easy suggestion to consider. Everything you bring into your house, is it organic and natural or is it toxic. Laundry products, cleaning agents, personal care items like soap and lotions. Are they toxic or not. If they are toxic, time to get them out of your life. For more information on household items we use, please check out this webpage.

6. Stress

   Stress is bad for your health and leads to abnormal cholesterol. A 2013 found higher total cholesterol, higher LDL and lower HDL in those with reported job stress. Stress of any kind spikes cortisol, epinephrine and dopamine. This response leads to abnormal lipids.

   It is easy for me to recommend reducing stress. Not so easy to accomplish though. But you must try and reduce stress or limit the damage from the stress. This can be accomplished by a good walk, listening to quiet music, or meditation. Stressful people and stressful work need to be ushered out of your life.

7. Mold

   Environmental toxins like mold, metals and other pollutants damage the body in so many ways including heart attacks, strokes, cancer and death. Mold deserves its own place on this list for how ravaging its effects are. I created a 45 minute on mold- how you get it, how you test for it, and how you get rid of it from your house and your body. I suggest you watch this video and if you want to test your urine for mold, click this link.

8. Dental health

   Most people wouldn’t connect dental issues with high cholesterol. I do and so do many researchers. Periodontal disease is linked to abnormal cholesterol and certainly to heart attacks and strokes. We suggest finding a holistic dentist and get an assessment of your oral health. Assess for sleep apnea too, also linked to dyslipidemia.

9. Massage

   Bodywork such as massage helps to improve flow in our lymphatic system. So much disease is caused by abnormal lymphatic drainage. Good cholesterol levels stem from good liver function. Good liver function requires good lymphatic drainage. Get a massage monthly at least.

   This is a good time to recommend regular chiropractic care. You see, the brain is connected to every organ in the body, including the liver. These connections run through the spine. Good spinal health is the expertise of the chiropractor. Visit yours often.

10. Supplements

    Supplements supplement the healthy lifestyle outlined above. When your numbers still need support, your doctor typically will prescribe a statin drug. Not me. I like to do it naturally. And the good news is that hundreds of studies prove natural remedies are effective. Trust me. I have seen 1000’s of my patients benefit from natural solutions.

First off, I love a good liver cleanse product for healthy cholesterol levels. Nothing is better than my Daily Defense. Check out the two delicious flavors here and take two scoops per day.

Next, try out our brand new product called OptiLipid. After extensive research, I formulated OptiLipid with six plant compounds PROVEN to get your cholesterol numbers on track. For more information on OptiLipid, take a look at this webpage.

Conclusion 

Your Perfect Cholesterol can be yours naturally and without the pharmaceuticals. Give the above a try and check your numbers after 90 days. If you need my help, I would love to serve you. Give my office a call at 480-535-6844 and find out how to work with me and my team personally.

Cheers to your health and Your Perfect Cholesterol

The post 10 Ways to Your Perfect Cholesterol appeared first on TDW.

Carnitine is a molecule derived from two amino acids called lysine and methionine. Synthesis in the body involves metabolic reactions of these two amino acids along with vitamin B3, vitamin B6, vitamin C and iron.

Carnitine functions as a nutrient and plays a major role in the production of energy. Essentially, carnitine works like a train to deliver energy (in the form of fatty acids) into the mitochondria of our cells to produce energy. As a shuttle, carnitine also transports waste and toxic byproducts out of cells. Due to these important roles, carnitine is needed for optimal mitochondrial and cellular health.

Carnitine is found in nearly every cell in the body. However, it is heavily concentrated in cardiac muscle and skeletal muscle because it is required for creating cellular energy. The heart is more than just a pump. It is an organ that needs metabolic energy. Cardiovascular disease is a metabolic disease and L-carnitine is key for metabolic cardiac therapy.

***Heart failure patients should be on this supplement***

What foods provide carnitine?

The best food source of carnitine is animal food. A general rule of thumb is the redder the meat, the higher the concentration of carnitine.

Top 3 sources of carnitine in the diet:

1. Grass-fed beef steak
2. Grass-fed ground beef
3. Grass-fed beef organ meats

Other foods that contain adequate carnitine include pasture-raised pork and fish.

Carnitine occurs in two forms: D and L. The only form found in food is L-carnitine. L-carnitine is also the only form that is active in the body and therefore the only form we are concerned with!

Health benefits of carnitine:

• Functions as an antioxidant to fight off harmful molecules
• Detoxes tissues and cells
• Provides fuel for the heart to function
• Can help to treat symptoms of angina
• Can help to treat heart arrhythmias
• Can help to treat cardiomyopathy
• Can improve mitochondrial function and increase cellular energy (ATP)
• Can reduce fatigue
• Could help with Alzheimer’s disease 

Carnitine and heart health:

It is important to understand the vital role that carnitine plays in heart health. Adequate levels of carnitine are needed to shuttle high-energy fat fuel into the heart for energy production. The heart prefers to use high-energy fats for its main energy source. The only way for these fats to get into the mitochondria of the cells is by carnitine delivery.

The relationship between levels of carnitine in tissues and overall cardiac health has been extensively studied. A 2013 review study looked at 13 controlled trails and 3, 629 patients to analyze the benefits of L-carnitine on the heart. The study found that L-carnitine was linked to a 27% reduction in all-cause mortality, 40% reduction in angina symptoms and a 65% reduction in reduced ventricular arrhythmias.  The mechanisms for L-carnitine’s beneficial effects are attributed to its ability to stabilize heart cell membranes, increase cellular energy production and reduce ischemia.

Low carnitine levels are associated with cardiac dysfunction. A 2018 case report showed that L-carnitine treatment restored cardiac function by increasing ejection fraction and decreasing brain natriuretic peptide (BNP-marker of heart stress).

Furthermore, L-carnitine is an evidence-based treatment for heart failure (HF). A 2017 review study concluded that treatment with L-carnitine improved cardiac function, reduced HF symptoms, increased left ventricular ejection fraction and decreased levels of BNP/NT-ProBNP (markers of HF).

What causes carnitine deficiency?

There are two types of carnitine deficiencies: primary and secondary.

1. Primary carnitine deficiency is a genetic condition whereby carnitine is unable to be taken up and utilized by the cells.

   Primary deficiency causes: abnormal genetics.

2. Secondary carnitine deficiency is due to not enough carnitine present in the blood (this type can result from health conditions or poor nutrition).

   Secondary deficiency causes: mitochondrial disease, metabolic disorders, malnutrition, digestive disease, kidney disease, liver disease and certain medications.

What are the symptoms of a carnitine deficiency?

• Swelling or shortness of breath, when the heart is impacted
• Cardiomyopathy
• Fatigue
• Confusion
• Decreased muscle tone and muscle weakness
• Low blood sugar symptoms (hypoglycemia), when the liver is affected
• Fatty liver

Note: strenuous exercise or fasting can trigger symptoms in individuals with a carnitine deficiency. 

Who is at risk for carnitine deficiency?

• Vegans
• Vegetarians
• Preterm infants
• Genetically susceptible patients
• Anyone with liver disease, kidney disease, or other health conditions (as noted above)
• Advancing age

How do you know if you have low carnitine levels?

You can take a blood test to check levels of carnitine in the blood. 

What populations may need to supplement based on the research?

• Individuals with cardiomyopathy
• Individuals with a heart arrhythmia
• Individuals with cardiovascular disease
• Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease
• Individuals on certain medications (like phenobarbitol)

Overall, your carnitine levels are influenced by how much you’re getting from animal foods, how much your body is producing and the health conditions you’re facing. 

If you need to supplement due to a cardiac condition or if you fall into the high-risk population category above, check out our favorite product called Acetyl L-Carnitine. Take 1-2 caps 2-3 times per day depending on need.

If you have any health-related questions, or need help dosing Acetyl L-Carnitine, you can book a free 20 minute health coaching consult here.

The post Why You Need to Boost Carnitine appeared first on TDW.

Even if you eat a healthy diet and live a healthy lifestyle, today’s food is very depleted of nutrients due to standard processing and agricultural practices. The air, water, and soil are damaged. Unfortunately, it is very hard to actually get all the nutrients you need from food alone. And let’s face it, most of us have not lived healthy and have a lot of catching up to do, including ME!

This is why we always say, “supplements supplement the healthy lifestyle“. 

Symptoms of a general nutrient deficiency:

There are specific symptoms for each nutrient deficiency, however, there is also overlap in symptoms for the majority of nutrients. These include:

• Fatigue
• Weakness, aches, pain
• Increased anxiety and depression
• Irritability or other mood disturbances
• Brain fog
• Skin issues like dry skin or acne
• Brittle hair or nails
• Headaches

If you have any of the symptoms mentioned above, it’s important not to brush them off as a normal part of everyday life. In functional medicine, we are the detectives and we treat symptoms as the clues or evidence in a mystery to decipher what is going on in the body. Micronutrients play a role in every function of the body’s reactions and must always be addressed as a part of health.

How to know if you have a nutrient deficiency?

The best way to know if you have a micronutrient deficiency is with advanced micronutrient testing. The labs we use can reveal both serum and intracellular levels of nutrients, which paints a true picture of nutrient (and health) status. The goal is to use the data from the labs to create a personalized nutrition, supplement and lifestyle plan for each individual to optimize their nutrient and health status. 

Top 7 nutrient deficiencies we see in our clinic:

1. Magnesium

   Magnesium is a major mineral involved in over 300 reactions. It is also the most common nutrient deficiency underlying most every cardiovascular condition including high blood pressure, heart arrhythmias and cardiovascular disease.

   • Deficiency symptoms
     • Muscle cramps or restless leg syndrome
     • Fatigue and muscle weakness
     • Osteoporosis or brittle bones
     • Headaches and migraines
     • High blood pressure
     • Irregular heartbeat
     • Mood disorders
   • Deficiency causes

     Unfortunately, our food and soil are depleted of nutrients like magnesium these days. Also, processing of food leaches nutrients out. It is hard to get enough magnesium through diet alone and often supplementation (especially for cardiac conditions) is needed.

     Low magnesium levels are a very common health problem that affects most individuals. Daily magnesium intake should be (at a minimum) of 300-400 mg per day for most healthy individuals and most are not getting these intakes in. Individuals with cardiac conditions likely need a lot more.

2. Vitamin B12

   Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin that your body cannot produce and must be obtained in the diet. It plays many important roles in the body. B12 is critical for healthy blood cells and nerves. It is also responsible for lowering homocysteine, a key factor in heart health.

   • Deficiency symptoms
     • Brain fog
     • Fatigue and weakness
     • Pale skin
     • Numbness or tingling
     • Glossitis
     • Shortness of breath and dizziness
     • Anxiety or depression
     • High homocysteine levels
   • Deficiency causes

     Vitamin B12 deficiencies are fairly common, and we see them often in our clinic. They can present as symptoms in various ways, so often testing is needed to diagnose a true deficiency.

     B12 is abundant in animal foods so vegetarians/ vegans are at-risk populations. Furthermore, common causes of a B12 deficiency include low stomach acid, gut issues like leaky gut syndrome and SIBO or MTHFR mutations (of which about half the population has).

3. Vitamin K2

   The importance of Vitamin K2 is still relatively unknown to most clinicians. Vitamin K has two forms. Vitamin K1 is the primary form from green, leafy vegetables and vitamin K2 arises from animal foods and fermented foods. K2 serves a diverse range of functions in the body besides blood clotting. It is especially important for heart health as K2 can help to reverse arterial calcification and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

   • Deficiency symptoms
     • Blood clotting problems
     • Bruising or bleeding
     • Arterial calcification
     • Aortic stenosis
     • Atherosclerosis
     • Weak bones or osteoporosis
     • Anxiety and/or depression
     • Cancer
   • Deficiency causes

     In individuals with a healthy gut microbiome, the gut bacteria are able to convert K1 to K2. At-risk individuals, therefore, are those with gastrointestinal disorders like leaky gut syndrome, ulcerative colitis and bile issues. Also, people who take long courses of antibiotics (which destroy host bacteria) are at risk. Lastly those on statins and blood thinners (like warfarin) are at risk for low K2 levels.

4. Vitamin B1

   Vitamin B1, or thiamin, is an essential vitamin for producing cellular energy from the food you eat. B1 is used by almost every cell in the body. It is a very important vitamin for your heart, especially heart rate, as well. B1 has even been linked to improving cardiac function in those with congestive heart failure.

   • Deficiency symptoms
     • Fatigue
     • Poor appetite
     • Irritability, anxiety or mood disturbances
     • Tingling sensation in arms and legs
     • Blurry vision
     • Heart rate issues (usually low heart rate)
     • Shortness of breath
     • Heart failure
   • Deficiency causes

     While extreme vitamin B1 deficiencies are rare, more and more people are showing up with low levels of B1. There are various factors that can put people at a higher risk for low B1. These factors include alcohol dependency, advancing age, individuals with gastrointestinal disorders, immunocompromised individuals, diabetics, and those who use high-dose diuretics. Also, those with a high toxin burden are also at risk for depleted B1 levels in the body.

5. Vitamin A

   Vitamin A is an important fat-soluble vitamin. It is needed for proper vision, a functioning immune system, regulation of cell division, and prevention of cancer. It also is needed in the body for its role as an antioxidant to quench oxidative stress and lower inflammation.  Vitamin A also plays a critical role in the development of the heart, lungs and kidneys in early childhood.

   • Deficiency symptoms
     • Poor wound healing
     • Acne, dry skin and other skin issues
     • Vision problems
     • Night blindness
     • Increased infections and illness
     • Inflammation
     • High oxidative stress
     • Delayed growth and poor development
   • Deficiency causes

     Vitamin A deficiency or low vitamin A levels can be caused by inadequate dietary intake of vitamin A, fat malabsorption issues, gastrointestinal disorders like leaky gut syndrome or liver disorders.

6. Glutathione

   Glutathione is the master antioxidant of all our cells. It is a vital “nutrient” we test for in our patients. It is so important that the liver can synthesize it from three amino acids. It serves many important functions such as reducing free radicals, lowering inflammation, transporting toxins out of the body, boosting immunity, regenerating vitamin’s C/E, making DNA and keeping cells (like heart cells) fully functioning. In fact, research has shown that early deficiency of glutathione in heart cells results in advanced progression of cardiovascular disease and heart failure. A glutathione deficiency is found in nearly every chronically ill patient.

   • Deficiency symptoms
     • Increased oxidative stress/ inflammation
     • Poor detoxification
     • Mitochondrial dysfunction
     • Chronic disease (CVD, cancer, autoimmune disease, etc.)
     • Liver disease
     • Kidney problems
     • Asthma
     • Rapid aging
     • Fatigue
     • Brain fog
   • Deficiency causes

     A glutathione deficiency can result from a multitude of causes such as toxins, air pollution, poor diet, nutrient deficiencies, chronic stress, medications and aging. Whenever the body has excess oxidative stress or inflammation (from such factors mentioned above), glutathione is the first to get depleted. This depletion of glutathione causes cellular dysfunction and disease.

7. Vitamin D

   Vitamin D is another nutrient that we see depleted in almost every initial test we do on patients. Vitamin D is an essential vitamin for our health and wellness. This is why Dr. Wolfson literally prescribes sunshine to every one of our patients. Vitamin D is critical for regulating mineral balance, promoting healthy bones and teeth, regulating insulin levels, supporting cardiovascular function and preventing chronic disease like cardiovascular disease, cancer and autoimmune disorders.

   • Deficiency symptoms
     • High blood pressure
     • Abnormal lipids
     • Cardiovascular disease or cancer
     • Autoimmune disorders
     • Poor immune function
     • Hormonal imbalances
     • Low bone density
     • Muscle weakness or muscle cramps
     • Mood disturbances such as anxiety or depression
     • Fatigue
   • Deficiency causes

     Vitamin D is unique in that it is not naturally present in many foods. Therefore, the best way to get vitamin D is via sun. Groups at risk for a vitamin D deficiency are those that do not get enough sunlight (factors that influence sunlight production of vitamin D include time of day, season and where you live), skin color (darker skin pigment requires more sun exposure), age (elderly are far less efficient at converting sunlight to vitamin D) or liver or kidney issues (where conversion to active D3 takes place). For those that can’t get enough quality sun, supplementation is warranted.

Final recommendations regarding nutrient deficiencies:

Today, many individuals suffer from nutrient deficiencies. Nutrients play crucial roles in health and prevention of disease. If nutrient levels are suboptimal, disease always results.

We recommend knowing your INTRACELLULAR levels of nutrients. This type of testing includes an analysis of essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other metabolites. Conventional nutrient testing is outdated. Typically, it tests for serum levels of nutrients. In functional medicine we are more concerned with if nutrients are actually getting into cells, where they belong and function.

Always test, don’t guess. Know your nutrient numbers. Your health depends upon it.

You can check out our advanced intracellular micronutrient test here. It comes with a free review by a Wolfson health coach who can help to guide you in creating the ideal, customized protocol for your health.

The post Top 7 Nutrient Deficiencies appeared first on TDW.

As with any condition, we need to consider root causes that are contributing to the recurring problem.

One such all-too-common variable is intracellular magnesium status.  Magnesium is a very important mineral responsible for keeping the heart stable.  If your doctor has not tested your intracellular magnesium status, ask them to do it!  You see, approximately 99% of your magnesium levels are found intracellularly– not in the serum (1).  So if you want to assess sufficiency of this mother-mineral, it is imperative to test intracellular levels.  In the intracellular space is where magnesium works its magic, acting as a conjugator for enzymes and creating ATP cellular energy (2).

We have seen hundreds of patients over the years who never had intracellular level testing. Some didn’t even get blood magnesium checked.

An imbalance of minerals and electrolytes in the blood like magnesium, potassium, salt, and calcium can trigger dysregulated electrical impulses of the heart.  In short, these nutrients and their imbalances can directly contribute to arrhythmias and heart palpitations.

The way this can happen is through elongated action potential of the cytoplasmic membrane of the cardiac muscle cells.  Essentially, magnesium deficiency can decrease the activity of the sodium-potassium pump, leading to an increase in intracellular sodium, which thus alters this membrane potential. This change of heart cell membrane potential has been hypothesised as a mechanism for causing heart palpitations and arrhythmias (3).

Magnesium helps maintain normal potassium levels. It is involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions.

With magnesium deficiency/imbalance, it is also known that there is an increase in production of inflammatory cytokines, even after just 3 weeks of deficient intake.  This can cause exaggerated immune system responses, which creates a proatherogenic environment due to changes in lipoprotein metabolism, endothelial dysfunction, thrombosis and hypertension.  To summarize, magnesium deficiency can increase cardiovascular disease (3).

To best “blast” intracellular magnesium levels, we utilize our formula Magne5 which contains five different forms of magnesium to optimally support cardiovascular health and function.

If you are unsure what supplement or what dose is right for you, we offer comprehensive Micronutrient testing to assess intracellular and extracellular concentrations of vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and antioxidants.  For anyone considering supplementation, this is an essential first step!

Any tests purchased on our website include a health coaching call to review your results so we can get you started on the right protocol for you.

Get healthy. Stay well.

Resources:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5786912/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2464251/
3. https://openheart.bmj.com/content/5/2/e000775

The post Magnesium for Palpitations appeared first on TDW.

Most doctors don’t check for Lp(a), but the TV actor Bob Harper made it mainstream news when he suffered a massive heart attack despite looking like he is in perfect health.

Lp(a) Risks

It has been established that high levels of Lp(a) can triple one’s risk of stroke and heart attack at an early age. A large Danish study looked at more than 9,000 participants over the course of 10 years and concluded that extremely elevated Lp(a) levels (>120 mg/dL) increased the risk of CAD by 3-4 times.

Interestingly, this inherited marker is pretty common with elevated levels affecting about 20-30% of the global population according to research. Furthermore, about 1 in 5 Americans have elevated Lp(a) and most don’t know it.

While doctors routinely test for HDL, LDL and total cholesterol, there are very few doctors who test for Lp(a) or even know what it is. However, this lipid is a significant cardiovascular risk factor and can cause more than just a little damage.

What exactly is Lp(a)?

Lp(a) is a lipid particle that is rich in cholesterol and is similar to low-density lipoprotein (LDL), except that it promotes MORE inflammation and thrombosis.

It has one apoB-100 molecule along with cholesterol esters, triglycerides, phospholipids and cholesterol. What is unique to it is that Lp(a) has an apo(a) molecule attached to the apoB component (which distinguishes it from LDL). This bond is what determines many of Lp(a)’s effects on cells and its ability to potentiate atherosclerosis. 

According to research, apo(a) has a chemical makeup of amino acids that are similar to plasminogen. Apo(a) can compete with plasminogen and inhibit fibrinolysis (which is the breakdown of blood clots). This is why it is such a significant risk factor for blood clots and other cardiovascular conditions due to its ability to prevent the breakdown of clots and to influence platelet aggregation.

The length of the apo(a) unit is what determines the mass of Lp(a) that will circulate in the blood.

The complete mechanisms for how Lp(a) causes atherogenesis and inflammation are still not entirely understood and more research in this realm is needed. 

Are there any beneficial functions of Lp(a) in the body?

According to research, Lp(a) plays several key roles such as healing wounds, activating tissue repair, influencing structural changes of blood vessels and healing endothelial injuries. It clearly had several evolutionary advantages (such a preventing bleeding).  Relatively new research also suggests that Lp(a) can play anti-cancer and anti-diabetic roles, as well.

How does Lp(a) contribute to atherosclerosis and blockages?

There are essentially three different components of the Lp(a) molecule that contribute to atherosclerosis. The first part is the proinflammatory component, which is the apo(a) unit made up of oxidized phospholipids. The second aspect is the prothrombotic component, which is the apo(a) unit that mimics plasminogen, inhibits plasminogen activation, and prevents the breakdown of fibrous tissue/ blood clots. And the third part is the proatherogenic component, called the apoB unit, which does all the things that LDL does. Therefore, one of the main reasons Lp(a) is so detrimental is that it is a single particle that is proatherogenic, prothrombotic and proinflammatory.

Lp(a) promotes atherosclerosis and inflammation through multiple mechanisms. It can actually bind and transport proinflammatory molecules into the artery wall. Furthermore, Lp(a) is also susceptible to oxidative damage, which leads to additional production of inflammatory cells and atherogenic particles (like oxidized cholesterol).

While all other cholesterol markers are influenced by diet and lifestyle, Lp(a) is pretty much genetically determined.

What are the risks associated with elevated Lp(a) levels?

While there are some evolutionary reasons for why individuals are predisposed to higher Lp(a) levels, there are also significant risks that can result.

Elevated Lp(a)levels are (most notably) associated with increased inflammation, atherosclerosis and clotting in artery walls, which are known risk factors for cardiovascular conditions.

In summary, some established risks of elevated Lp(a) levels include but are not limited to:

• Inflammation
• Atherosclerosis/ advanced atherosclerotic progression
• Aortic stenosis (Lp(a) is linked to development and rate of progression)
• Heart attack (Lp(a) is linked to heart attacks, especially at a younger age)
• Blood clots such as deep vein thrombosis (one should think about Lp(a) if they have unexplained DVT)
• Heart failure
• Cerebral vascular accident
• Peripheral arterial disease
• Abdominal aorta aneurysm (often caused by high Lp(a) and atherosclerosis)

What are the contributing factors to elevated Lp(a)?

For the most part, Lp(a) is considered to be pre-determined by genetics. However, there are some established factors for high Lp(a). These include the following:

• Acute inflammation or tissue damage

  According to research, Lp(a) levels can be transiently increased with inflammatory processes or damage to tissues (such as during an acute heart attack).

• Age

  There is research that has shown that individuals over the age of 75 years will show a mild increase in Lp(a) plasma levels.

• Reduced estrogen

  Studies have shown that estrogen depletion in women is linked in increased Lp(a) levels.

• DHEA levels

  Research has shown that Lp(a) concentrations can be affected by DHEA, the hormone produced by the adrenal glands.

• Weight loss

  A 2001 study showed that weight loss in individuals (who had high Lp(a) levels before treatment) was linked to a reduction in serum Lp(a) levels at the end of the weight reduction treatment.

• Low-fat diet

  New research has revealed that low total fat/ low saturated fat and high carbohydrate diets significantly increase Lp(a) levels. Furthermore, the low-fat diet was shown to increase the presence of very small LDL particles, a comorbid risk factor for high Lp(a).

• Chronic inflammatory diseases and medical conditions

  Diverse conditions can elevate the levels of Lp(a). These include uncontrolled diabetes, familial hypercholesterolemia, severe hypothyroidism, nephrotic syndrome, chronic renal insufficiency, and obliterative thromboangiitis.

  Studies have also shown that patients with anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS) have reduced fibrinolysis and increased levels of Lp(a).

  Earlier research studies have also revealed elevated Lp(a) levels in autoimmune conditions like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Lp(a) is one of the mechanisms that links the increased incidence of cardiovascular conditions in autoimmune patients and why heart disease can be an “autoimmune” process.

• Gut health

  It has been established that the gut microbiome has significant effects on lipid profiles and therefore could have an effect of Lp(a) expression (however, more research is needed for this area). There’s a delicate interplay of leaky gut syndrome, inflammation, oxidative stress, autoimmune conditions and Lp(a) in which more research is warranted.

What can I do to help lower my Lp(a)?

While it can be tricky to lower Lp(a) it can be done. Furthermore, when it comes to lowering one’s risk associated with elevated Lp(a) levels is also best to lower other cardiac risk factors (see testing below).

• Take supplements. Lowering Lp(a) requires a potent arsenal of supplements to target it from all different angles. We recommend the following:
  • Daily Defense, Niacin and our Optilipid are in our Lp(a) supplement package. The first goal is to always lower inflammation, which is done with Daily Defense. Niacin has been shown to lower Lp(a) by about 30-40%. Lastly, Optilipid is the best way to control the other risk factors (apoB, LDL particle number, oxLDL, and HS-CRP).
  • Take high-dose fish oil. Take 3-4 caps of our Omega DHA A study showed that combination therapy (defined as Niacin AND omega 3 fats) was linked to significantly lower Lp(a) levels.
  • Vitamin C has also been shown to lower Lp(a). Try 1 tab 3x a day of Super C.
  • Take 1 capsule 3 times per day of our Acetyl- L-Carnitine. It has been suggested by recent research that L-Carnitine could lower Lp(a) levels with researchers speculating that this is due to its ability to reduce the production of Lp(a) by the liver.
• Eat healthy fats and go low carb with the Paleo diet. Increase dietary intake of both saturated and monounsaturated fats.
• Manage your hormones. Hormones such as estrogen, DHEA and testosterone all play an influential role. If those are out balance, then they can affect your Lp(a) levels.
• Get plenty of sunshine. Sunshine normalizes cholesterol levels and helps fend off CAD.
• Lower your Lp(a) risk by reducing oxidative stress through detoxification strategies. Try to detox daily.
• Manage your stress. Stress is inflammatory and can exacerbate any cardiac condition.
• Increase nitric oxide levels to ensure proper circulation, blood flow and a fully functioning heart. Check out our nitric oxide combo here.

It should be noted here that statins do not lower Lp(a) levels and in fact, they significantly raise them! 

How do you test for high Lp(a)?

If you don’t know if you have high Lp(a) then the first thing to do is get tested! We recommend advanced cardiovascular testing to assess your Lp(a) level and your overall cardiac risk.

When it comes to assessing one’s risk of high Lp(a), all other biomarkers (like those found on our advanced cardiac panel) should also be taken into account such as apoA, apoB, apoA:B ratio, oxLDL and HS-CRP values, as well.

We offer free health coaching consults for those who are interested in learning more about this inherited cardiac marker and ways to best lower it.

The post The Cardiac Risk Factor Doctors Aren’t Testing For appeared first on TDW.

Traditionally, LDL has been referred to as the “bad” cholesterol, however, that’s not always the case. What we are more concerned with is if the cholesterol is oxidized (or “damaged), and also, LDL particle size and number.

What is oxLDL?

Oxidized LDL, or oxLDL, is a type of low-density lipoprotein (known as LDL cholesterol) that has become damaged by a chemical reaction with harmful molecules known as free radicals.

How does oxLDL occur?

As LDLs encounter free radicals, the two compounds combine through a chemical process known as oxidation and form oxidized LDL cholesterol.

Upon that reaction, the LDLs become damaged, which triggers inflammation and attracts immune cells (white blood cells called macrophages). These white blood cells engulf the damaged LDLs, which creates a sticky aggregate complex that can attach easily to artery walls and form the basis of plaque.

This is why oxLDLs significantly contribute of the development of atherosclerosis.

How does oxLDL increase cardiac risk?

 Research has shown that in patients with elevated oxidized cholesterol levels there is a significant increase in cardiac events.

Oxidized LDLs contribute to cardiovascular disease through a number of mechanisms.

Here are the main results of oxLDL on cardiac risk:

1. Your immune system doesn’t recognize oxidized cholesterol well. It thinks it is a foreign invader and so it attacks it. The causes widespread inflammation in the arterial wall. This increase in inflammation makes arterial plaque unstable and prone to break off and rupture.
2. OxLDLs increase the deposition of calcium into the arterial wall (a major hallmark of atherosclerosis).
3. The increased calcium buildup in the artery wall impedes blood flow, increasing risk for heart attacks and sudden death.
4. OxLDL increases the synthesis of a blood clotting protein, called thromboxane, which makes platelets sticky and increases clotting risk.

In summary, high ox LDL can lead to:

• Decreased blood flow
• Decreased nitric oxide
• Increased calcium deposition
• Increased atherosclerosis
• Increased inflammation
• Increased risk for heart attack, blood clot, or coronary artery disease (CAD)

What does ox LDL measure?

OxLDL measures the damage to the ApoB subunit on LDL cholesterol. This oxidative damage of LDL cholesterol is one of the first steps in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. 

What causes oxLDL?

Cholesterol that is circulating in the blood does not cause plaque formation unless it is able to lodge itself into arterial walls. This is why traditional cholesterol testing metrics are inaccurate and misleading. There are so many individuals who have died from CVD whose pre-death cholesterol levels were considered “normal”. Read more about why advanced cholesterol testing is necessary and life-saving here.

Therefore, a patient cannot have atherosclerosis unless they have a buildup of cholesterol in their artery wall. So, the questions should be: “how does cholesterol get into artery walls?” followed by “what particle size of LDL cholesterol is most responsible for lodging itself into artery walls?“

The answer is the small size. LDL cholesterol molecules are not all the same size, and some are larger than others. Smaller LDL particles are more likely to become oxidized, making them more detrimental to your health.

Importantly, this small sized cholesterol is the most susceptible to oxidative damage.

What risk factors cause oxidative damage to LDL?

Some risk factors that appear to increase the levels of oxidized LDL include:

• Inflammation
• Insulin resistance
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Metabolic syndrome
• High toxin burden in the body
• Consuming a diet that is high in trans fats and omega 6 fats (oxidized fats)
• Consuming processed foods and refined sugar
• Smoking
• Chronic stress
• Leaky gut syndrome

How do I know if I have elevated oxLDL?

Get advanced cardiac testing done. We recommend the Vibrant America cardiovascular prevention panel here. This will tell you your level of oxLDL.

Two other important root cause tests for oxLDL would be the leaky gut test (called Wheat Zoomer) and the environmental toxicity test (called the 3 test combo).

What can I do to lower my oxLDL today?

The supplement protocol we’ve had great luck with for dramatically reducing oxLDL numbers includes:

1. OptiLipid (this is our natural “statin”): 1 cap twice per day with food
2. Omega DHA (this is our fish oil): 1-2 caps per day with food
3. Garlic: 1 tab per day
4. Daily Defense- 2 scoops per day in water or nut milk. 

If you have questions about supplements or want help with an oxLDL-lowering protocol, you can schedule a free health coaching call here.

What are other methods to reduce oxLDL concentrations:

• Exercise

  Regular exercise decreases oxLDL

• Get to a healthy weight

  Increased weight causes increased inflammation and cholesterol damage

• Detoxify the body

  Eliminate known toxins, get on a detox protocol and reduce toxin burden in the body

• Increase HDL levels

  Increase HDL levels as HDL can act as an antioxidant and prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol

• Manage stress

  Stress acts like a toxin to the body by raising inflammation and damaging arterial lining

• Eat organic, Paleo foods

  Paleo diet is rich in antioxidants, nuts, avocados, and seafood, all of which are associated with optimal HDL levels and lowered oxLDL levels

The post Oxidized Cholesterol (What it is & How to Lower it) appeared first on TDW.

Now it appears stretching is great for your heart.

A recent study found that leg stretching exercises were associated with improved vascular function.

Signs of vascular improvement were observed after study participants underwent 12 weeks of training in passive stretching (PS).

Not only was blood pressure reduced, but there was a:

• 30% increase in femoral change in blood flow
• 25% increase in popliteal artery flow-mediated dilatation
• 8% increase in brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation
• 25% decrease in central arterial stiffness
• 17% decrease in peripheral arterial stiffness

The control group that did not stretch had no significant changes in these measures, according to Emiliano Cè, of the University of Milan, Italy, and colleagues reporting in the Journal of Physiology.

Not only did the vascular health improve in the muscles stretched, but other arteries benefited as well. So the heart arteries can benefit from leg stretching!

According to the study’s lead author, ” 12-week PS training is effective in improving vascular function and decreasing stiffness of the directly involved arteries (i.e. femoral and popliteal arteries of the stretched limbs) and the arteries not directly involved (i.e. contralateral femoral and popliteal arteries and brachial artery) in PS training.”

“Such changes suggest PS training-induced local and systemic cardiovascular changes” the authors wrote. “Interestingly, systemic changes, in particular, in the vessels not directly involved in PS training, seemed to have a shorter duration in comparison to local adaptations, which are maintained in the arteries directly involved in PS training even after 6 weeks from its cessation.”

This was not a large study and only included 39 people. 14 were randomized to stretching on both sides, 13 to stretching on the right side only, and 12 to no stretching. These were supervised training sessions, held five times a week, and required participants to perform sets of five stretches.

It is likely the benefits of stretching were seen because of increased nitric oxide production and improvement in autonomic tone.

“PS has been shown to be an effective means to improve vascular function, with practical implications for its use as a novel non-pharmacological treatment for improving vascular health, reducing the overall cardiovascular risk, especially in individuals with limited mobility,” Cè and colleagues maintained.

The author of the study was excited about the results since stretching can be done at home and by yourself. This is perfect for “stay at home.” If you know me, I do not recommend staying at home but getting outside and getting active. You can do these stretching exercises anywhere, but I prefer outdoors whenever possible.

Before you stretch or after, I suggest our Nitric Oxide booster combo to crank up the blood flow.

The post Stretching is Great for Your Heart appeared first on TDW.

We now understand that diastole is NOT passive and DOES require energy.

When the filling of the heart is abnormal, cardiologists call this diastolic dysfunction. This can lead to diastolic heart failure, or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality.

There are no current therapies effective in improving outcomes for these patients. Myocardial energetics alters in diastolic heart failure and there is defective energy metabolism and increased oxidative stress.

I think we can fix this problem.

The foundation of health starts with organic Paleo nutrition, sunshine, and adequate sleep. Next we need to remove environmental pollutants, get active and get the stress out. Finally, see your local chiropractor as the adjustment undoubtedly will improve diastolic function.

The following represents my recommendations for supplements and diastolic dysfunction. Treatment plan is at the end. 

Magnesium

A recent study found that magnesium supplementation can improve diastolic function (DD). Mice were bred to develop diastolic dysfunction. They were given magnesium in their drinking water for six weeks. After the six weeks, DD improved based on echocardiography while mitochondrial function improved with increased ATP and decreased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species.In conclusion, Mg supplementation improved mitochondrial function, reduced oxidative stress, and prevented DD in DM. Source

A 1993 study on humans with DD was conducted. 10 people were given IV magnesium. In all 10, DD was reversed. Source

Potassium

A high-potassium diet has a potent protective effect on left ventricular active relaxation is the result of a 2006 study. Source

Omega 3

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega 3-PUFAs) seem to favorably affect cardiac hemodynamics and may benefit the clinical course of heart failure patients. The role of omega 3-PUFAs supplementation on the left and right ventricular function of patients with heart failure was studied. 205 patients with heart failure were enrolled.

RESULTS:

As compared with the control group, BNP levels in omega 3-PUFA intervention group were 34.6% lower, end-diastolic and end-systolic left ventricle dimensions were decreased by 2.5% and 3.7%, maximum diameter of left atrium was decreased by 8.4%, left atrium ejection fraction was ameliorated by 6.03% and as regards tissue Doppler parameters, TDI_Etv/Atv was decreased in omega 3-PUFA intervention group by 6.3%.

CONCLUSION:

Omega 3-PUFA supplementation was associated with improved left diastolic function and decreased BNP levels in patients with chronic heart failure. Source

Co Q 

Several studies have found that Co Q 10 supplementation helps improve diastolic function. Source, Source, Source

Other supplements 

The following 5 supplements all have data supporting their use for diastolic dysfunction.They are all found inside our OptiLipid.

Berberine

Curcumin

Green tea extract

Resveratrol

Silymarin

The Diastolic Dysfunction Supplements Plan 

• Daily Defense 2 scoops per day
• Magne 5– 2 caps 2x per day
• Potassium Boost 1 tsp per day
• Omega DHA 1 cap per day
• Cardio Q 1 cap per day
• OptiLipid 2 caps per day. 

How do you know if the plan is working?

You can check an echocardiogram as the best way to assess for diastolic dysfunction. Normalization of blood pressure would also be a sign that DD is improving.

Advanced blood work is also an excellent way to check for deficiencies that could lead to diastolic dysfunction. I HIGHLY recommend the Genova NutrEval before starting any regimen and 3 months after the new protocol.

The post Diastolic Dysfunction Natural Treatment Approach appeared first on TDW.

HDL takes cholesterol from the rest of the body (including heart plaque) and brings it back to the liver.

Okay, it is a little more complicated than that. But one thing is clear, the ability to remove cholesterol, called efflux capacity, is critical.

Scientists at Big Pharma are looking for all sorts of new drugs to improve CEC.

I have a way to do it naturally. And maybe, by increasing CEC, we can help clear blockages.

It is called OptiLipid. There are 6 ingredients in OptiLipid. All six were selected for their ability to reduce inflammation and reduce LDL.

And 5 of the 6 are proven to improve CEC, cholesterol efflux capacity (no data found on green tea extract for CEC, but dozens of other benefits).

Here they are.

Berberine– One of my favorite phytonutrients. Berberine has been studied for hundreds of years. Berberine can inhibit foam cell formation inside of blood vessels. In a recent mouse model study, berberine was found to increase oxLDL uptake and cholesterol efflux, thus suppressing foam cell formation.source

Silymarin– Silymarin is a liver-protective mixture of flavonolignans and flavonoids extracted from the seeds of milk thistle. A recent study investigated the effects of major bioactive constituents from silymarin, on the expression of ABCA1, an important cholesterol efflux transporter. Four of the studied compounds in silymarin were found to significantly induce ABCA1 protein expression, thus CEC.(source)

Ginger–  To assess the impact of ginger extract in stimulating the production of quality HDL and the cholesterol efflux in the small intestine, 3 groups of hamsters were studied. Ginger administration increased CEC and was associated with the reduction of aortic valve lipid-deposits. Reversal of valvular disease! This is huge. ((source)

Curcumin– A bioactive polyphenol, is a yellow pigment of the Curcuma longa (turmeric) plant. Curcumin has many pharmacologic effects including antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-obesity, anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory properties. Protective properties of curcumin may influence HDL functionality. A recent review concluded that curcumin may modulate markers of HDL function, such as apo-AI, CETP, LCAT, PON1, MPO activities and levels. Curcumin may subsequently improve conditions in which HDL is dysfunctional and may have potential as a therapeutic drug in future. (source)

Resveratrol- A polyphenolic constituent of red wine, it is known for its anti-atherogenic properties and is thought to be beneficial in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. Investigators looked at the relationship between the antioxidant effects of resveratrol and its ability to promote cholesterol efflux. Resveratrol appears to be a natural antioxidant that enhances cholesterol efflux. These properties make it a potential natural antioxidant that could be used to prevent and treat CVD, according to study authors.. ((source) 

Conclusion:

Cholesterol efflux by HDL from plaque may be a key factor in heart attack prevention and coronary artery blockage reversal. OptiLipid appears to represent an easy strategy to clear out clogged pipes and clean up damaged heart valves.

Give it a try and see if OptiLipid works for you.

The post Clearing Out Heart Blockages by Increasing Cholesterol Efflux Capacity (CEC) appeared first on TDW.