Guest guest Posted February 3, 2004 Report Share Posted February 3, 2004 Arteriosclerosis JoAnn Guest Feb 03, 2004 17:55 PST Each day, more than 2,600 Americans die of CVD -- that’s one death per 33 seconds. Heart disease or coronary artery disease is caused by atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition in which lipids (plaque) builds up along arterial walls. High cholesterol levels can play a part, though they do not always result in atherosclerosis and atherosclerosis can exist with normal cholesterol levels. But when the coronary arteries are affected, the condition is called coronary artery disease. How does atherosclerosis develop? Atherosclerosis seems to begin with a " free radical " injury to the endothelial lining along the artery wall. Interestingly, this process actually can begin at an early age. Once a free radical injury occurs, " white blood cells " such as monocytes and macrophages, along with lipids, begin to *accumulate* along the inner layer of the artery as well as the muscle layer. Smooth muscle cells begin to multiply from the irritation and eventually form a " plaque " . Platelets and other blood clotting factors stick to the rough surface of the artery wall, forming a thrombus (clot). A clot can continue to grow until it completely blocks an artery, cutting off the oxygen supply to a vital organ. Or a clot can break free from the vessel wall and become lodged somewhere else further downstream. This could lead to a heart attack or stroke if the clot completely blocks the blood and oxygen supply to a major artery leading to the heart or brain. *Cholesterol* is a waxy, fat-like substance made by the liver. It is an essential component of cell membranes and used to produce hormones and vitamin D. Cholesterol is carried through the body attached to two different compounds called " lipoproteins " : low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). LDL is commonly known as the “bad cholesterol”; it carries cholesterol from the liver throughout the body, making it available to be **deposited** in artery walls. HDL is known as the “good cholesterol”; it " picks up " cholesterol from the *arteries* and " delivers " it to the liver to be recycled or **eliminated** from the body. The body needs cholesterol to function –-- but too much of it in the blood, or too much of the wrong kind, add up to trouble. The factors leading to heart disease are as follows: High total cholesterol –-- especially high LDL levels – These two factors combine to form a well known risk factor for heart disease (though people can have heart disease without having high cholesterol). Dietary and nutritional supplement treatment of high cholesterol levels are effective. -- Low HDL cholesterol and high *triglyceride* levels – This is a different pattern than high total and LDL cholesterol although someone may have both. This pattern, associated with *insulin resistance*, is also genetically driven and appears to affect as many as 30% of the population. It carries with it a high risk of high blood pressure and diabetes as well as heart disease. Dietary and nutritional supplement treatment for this pattern are different from those for high total and LDL cholesterol levels. Here, lifestyle changes are generally quite effective. -- Elevated *homocysteine* levels – This risk factor for heart disease is unrelated to cholesterol levels at all. Homocysteine is an amino acid that can accumulate in the blood when a person does not get enough folic acid and vitamin B6. Folic acid " requirements " for some individuals may be much greater than the RDA of 400 mcg. Smoking – This habit alone can increase risk of heart disease. Smoking increases " oxidation " in the body and is harmful to blood vessels Family history – Genetic tendencies, however, can be countered by a healthy lifestyle in most cases. If you have a family history of heart disease, we recommend paying particular attention to diet, exercise, stress reduction and supplements. Free Radicals- " Free radicals " are less likely to cause severe oxidative damage to the arteries if we take advantage of the protection provided by certain essential " antioxidants " , which help to keep a balance. Whenever this balance is spoiled, " oxidative stress " occurs, leading to deterioration of normal cell functions and even cell death. Oxidation is a complex, fundamental phenomenon in the process of cell ageing. Cell membranes typically contain a large amount of fat and their composition depends largely on diet. When the diet contains a lot of olive oil, cells are more resistant to " oxidation " , they do not 'deteriorate' as much and 'ageing'is much slower. Lipid or fat *peroxidation* tends to be proportional to the number of double bonds in a compound, explaining why " oleic " acid in olive oil shows little susceptibility to " oxidation " . Approximately 1.5% of olive oil is made up of the 'unsaponifiable' fraction, which consists of 'antioxidants'. Extra Virgin olive oil contains the largest quantities of these substances and various other minor components as well. -------------------------- Antioxidants in olive oil: -------------------------- Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), carotenoids and phenolic compounds (simple phenols such as 'hydroxytyrosol' and 'complex phenols' such as 'oleuropein') are all antioxidants whose activity has been demonstrated in vitro and recently in vivo, revealing further advantages in the prevention of certain diseases and also of ageing. The phenolic content of olive oils varies according to the climatic conditions in the producing area, when the olives are harvested and how ripe they are when picked. Oil production and storage methods also have an influence.'' Phenols have countless biological properties, for instance hydroxytyrosol *inhibits* platelet " aggregation' and it is anti-inflammatory and 'oleuropein' encourages the formation of 'nitric acid', which is a powerful " vasodilator " and exerts a strong 'anti-bacterial' effect. Oxidised LDLs are known to be " atherogenic " , which is where olive oil steps in because it has a beneficial, protective effect against " LDL " oxidation. Moreover, it also strengthens other cells in the body against the *toxic* effects of 'oxidants'. The high " antioxidant " content of the Mediterranean diet appears to contribute significantly to its effect on longevity. These antioxidants are found only in fresh fruit and vegetables. Because it is the only oil to be obtained from a " fruit " , olive oil retains a host of substances, antioxidants and vitamins that give it added nutritional value. The explanation behind this high content of antioxidants is due to the fact that because the olive is a fruit that is exposed to the air, it has to defend itself from oxygen. It therefore " synthesises " a larger amount of 'antioxidants', which pass through to the oil. Virgin olive oil, i.e. olive oil that has not been refined or industrially treated, is particularly rich in these substances and it has a strong 'antioxidant' effect, protecting against damage from 'free radicals' (scavenger activity) and against the formation of cancer. ---A rational program for heart disease must seek to: (1) prevent formation of microclots and microplaques in the circulating blood, optimal hydration, proper choices in the kitchen and herbs for restoring the battered bowel-blood-liver ecosystems; and (2) improve the flow characteristics of the circulating blood with heart-smart nutrients, exercise and EDTA chelation. --- The cholesterol lowering drugs big PHARMA promotes (Statins) do one thing: prevent the production of HMG Co-A Reductase. They are known to plunge cholesterol to dangerously low levels and They do not prevent heart attacks (there are no claims whatever that they do...take a long hard look at the listed side effects). There is absolutely no reason at all to use these drugs. --- Olive Oil Does it all: --- It's not hard to rave about the bountiful benefits of olive oil to arteries. It is a triple savior. Olive oil both cuts bad LDL cholesterol and slightly raises or keeps good HDL the same, improving your heart-saving HDL/LDL ratio. In contrast, oils such as corn,soybean, safflower and sunflower lower both HDL and LDL. A major study even declared olive oil superior to the standard recommended low-fat diet in combating cholesterol. When subjects ate 41 percent of their calories in fat, most of it from olive oil, their bad LDL cholesterol sank more than when they ate a diet with half as much fat. Additionally, good HDL's rose on the olive oil diet and sank on the low-fat diet. The clincher is that olive oil also helps " defuse " bad-type cholesterol, rendering it less capable of destroying arteries. Studies by the University of California's Dr. Daniel Steinberg, as well as by researchers in Israel, find that olive oil dramatically thwarts toxic 'oxidation' of LDL cholesterol. In a landmark study, Dr. Steinberg and colleagues gave one group of healthy volunteers about 40 percent of their calories in monounsaturated fat, equal to about 3 tablespoons of olive oil a day. Others ate regular safflower oils. Remarkably, the LDL of the monounsaturated oil eaters were only half as likely to become 'oxidized' and thus able to clog arteries! This does not mean you should drink olive oil. But it does suggest that when you eat fat, the olive-oil monounsaturated type is a good choice to forestall artery clogging! Taken from: " Food Your Miracle Medicine " By Jean Carper High Triglycerides, Homocysteine, Lipoprotein(a), C-Reactive Protein, and LDL Cholesterol are ALL contributing factors in Coronary Heart disease and arteriosclerosis. _________________ JoAnn Guest mrsjoguest DietaryTipsForHBP http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest The complete " Whole Body " Health line consists of the " AIM GARDEN TRIO " Ask About Health Professional Support Series: AIM Barleygreen " Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future " http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/AIM.html PLEASE READ THIS IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER We have made every effort to ensure that the information included in these pages is accurate. However, we make no guarantees nor can we assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, product, or process discussed. SiteBuilder - Free web site building tool. Try it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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