Radio talk 10th November 2016 Sue Visser interviewed by Zuleikha Amod
Micronutrient deficiencies that affect cardiovascular vascular health.
1 If we lack certain vitamins or minerals, how can it affect our cardiovascular health?
2 What about our genetic differences, do some people need extra micronutrients?
3 Do we all need to take special supplements every day?
4 If we take these supplements, are they beneficial for other purposes as well?
5 What can we eat to compensate for micronutrient deficiencies?
6 So in your opinion, what should we stop eating?
7 Lastly, what else can we do besides taking supplements to improve our cardiovascular health?
Answers from The Holistic guide to a HEALTHY HAPPY HEART by Dr James Liddell and Sue Visser
See pages 15 and 31
“Supplements are very cheap when compared to the cost of bypass surgery, stents or drugs.”
We fail to identify and correct fundamental nutritional deficiencies then expect doctors
and cardiologists to compensate with invasive and very costly drugs and protocols.
1 If we lack certain vitamins or minerals, how can it affect our cardiovascular health?
Homocysteine (inflammation) levels go up. Inflammation is what causes the atherosclerosis and cholesterol problems we worry so much about. Homocysteine should be automatically converted into glutathione, a powerful enzyme based antioxidant that can counteract cellular inflammation, detoxify cells, improve liver function and support the immune system. Glutathione is the master antioxidant, produced by the body as opposed to those we ingest such as vitamins C, E, D3 and the beta carotenes. Enzyme based antioxidants like glutathione and SAMe (s –adenosylmethane) are made out of homocysteine – providing there is sufficient Vitamin B6, folic acid and magnesium to produce them. So if homocysteine levels are too high (above 4 -6 mmol) it means that these special antioxidants are not being made to protect you from cardiovascular disease.
A study found that giving a combination of B2, B6, B12, and folic acid showed a 59% reduction in homocysteine levels after three weeks. Patrick Holford recommends 100 mg of B2, 100mg B6, 1,000 mcg of B12 and 2,000 mg of folic acid (folate). Niacin (vitamin B3) also lowers LDL cholesterol and raises HDL by as much as 25 percent. Niacin can also reduce levels of lipoprotein (a) and fibrinogen and it improves circulation.
Although supplements of SAM-e are used to help control pain, depression, blood sugar, fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis, we tend to forget that we should be making enough of it on a daily basis to forestall the need for supplementation. We really do not need to take medications that perform the same functions. SAM-e lowers blood sugar and always will! It is also important for preventing all types of dementia due to the accumulation of amyloid plaque in the brain. Studies are now indicating that SAM-e helps to regulate the gene expression of amyloid proteins. In other words, if we are deficient in B vitamins and magnesium we do not make enough SAM-e and hence we lose the little grey matter we have left – as well as a healthy happy heart as time goes by.
Linus Pauling said that “coronary heart disease is not a disease at all. It is a vitamin C deficiency.” We need vitamin C as an antioxidant and to produce collagen – a strong, flexible connective tissue. It is used for maintaining blood vessels, bones, disks, organs, skin, ligaments, cartilage, tendons, and gums. We need at least 1 – 2000 mg of vitamin C a day. Ascorbic acid is the most effective as it has more free radical receptors.
Amino acids: Lysine is an amino acid that combines with collagen to repair the walls and linings of blood vessels. Lysine, another amino acid also helps to lower triglycerides and protects us from viral infections like Herpes simplex). Arginine is a primary vasodilator – it helps to release the neurotransmitter nitric oxide that relaxes blood vessels and lets the blood flow freely. Arginine helps to treat hypercholesterolemia and maintain optimal blood pressure. It improves recovery after most types of heart surgery, especially after heart failure and transplants and is well known for its ability to enhance erectile function. Amino acids need to be kept within a controlled ratio so that they do not cause an increase in uric acid.
2 What about our genetic differences, do some people need extra micronutrients?
Some of us are able to control inflammation better than others, thanks to our genes and chromosomes. But more than half of the Caucasian races need more of the key nutrients such as vitamin B6, B12, folate (folic acid) and magnesium. Others also lack selenium, zinc, manganese or more amino acids like glycine, cysteine and glutamine. People with darker skins usually lack Vitamin D3 because skin pigmentation blocks the sun’s rays that are needed to make D3.
In the case of insulin resistance (diabetes 2), being magnesium deficient blocks the uptake of glucose into the cells. As a result more magnesium is lost via the urine and more sodium is retained. Women on birth control pills all have a vitamin B6 deficiency. Excessively painful menstrual cramps, restless legs and spasms indicate a severe magnesium deficiency. People with candidiasis or leaky gut can’t absorb vitamin B12 so they need to take supplements.
3 Do we all need to take special supplements every day?
If your homocysteine (inflammation) levels are high, you need to take supplements to lower it. Rather perfect your personal supplementation requirements than suffer the consequences of high homocysteine levels. It is best to do this under the watchful eye of a therapist who can help you identify the missing links to your unique biochemistry. If you wish to involve computer-based genomic/genetic algorithms that provide specific data about your chromosomes, deficiencies or vulnerability to certain diseases some excellent facilities are available.
4 If we take these supplements, are they beneficial for other purposes as well?
Antioxidants are crucial in eliminating free radicals from your body. Most of the free radicals that damage our cells are due to internal metabolic processes but they can also arise from exposure to toxins, ozone, irradiation, and heavy metals. Our network of innate defences includes vitamins, enzymes, minerals and specialized chemicals called “thiols” (glutathione and alpha- lipoic acid). Glutathione and alpha lipoic acid help us to recycle vitamins C and E as well as repair our DNA. So does insulin. The other antioxidants (free radical scavengers) we make ourselves include superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ10).
SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine) is a mood elevator that also controls diabetes! It is made out of homocysteine. SAMe plays a role in the immune system, maintains cell membranes, and helps produce and break down brain chemicals, such as serotonin, melatonin, and dopamine. It works with vitamin B12 and folate (vitamin B9). So a deficienciesof these micronutrients means you will lose out on all the benefits of SAMe.
Methyl donors are chemicals that help to reduce homocysteine levels. They also stabilise the breakdown of proteins (methionine) and generate beneficial chemicals instead of more homocysteine (inflammation.) When magnesium is present we also make more SAMe (s-adenosyl-l-methionine), a powerful detoxifier and antioxidant. Other methyl donors include TMG and DMG (trimethylglycine & dimethylglycine) or betaine/choline. Methylcobalamin(Methyl-B12) is a methylated form of vitamin B12 and sublingual supplements or injections are generally given. MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) is an organic form of sulphur and is also beneficial as a natural painkiller. When combined with vitamin C it also helps to lower blood sugar.
The amino acid glutamine helps to break down homocysteine and produce glutathione. Glutathione is also crucial to the metabolism and maintenance of muscles. It serves as a primary nutrient for the cells of the GI tract lining and detoxifies the liver. It is synthesized from glutamine (an amino acid) or the glutamate salts like MSG (monosodium glutamate) that naturally occur in cheese, tomatoes, seaweed and fermented soy products. MSG you say? When ingested with food, MSG serves as a precursor for glutathione. MSG is also a neurotransmitter that stimulates long term memory retrieval. But when cortisol levels are excessive in the brain they block the MSG receptor so it accumulates there.
We cannot avoid, exclude or remove glutamine/glutamic acid/MSG from our essential biochemistry, let alone our favourite savoury foods. So there is little point in slating MSG albeit a popular trend. Taking expensive L-glutamine supplements to compensate will convert back into the glutamate (MSG) or salt form that the body uses for detoxification and to make glutathione. According to most dieticians, moderation is the key. Including a pinch of MSG with food reduces salt cravings by as much as 90% and excites not only the taste buds, but the entire digestive system. People with IBS and a leaky gut lack MSG or its precursor, the amino acid called glutamine.
5 What can we eat to compensate for micronutrient deficiencies?
The best diet in the world may not even provide enough of the daily nutrients, especially the water based vitamins that are expelled in the urine after only 3 hours. There is no guarantee that we ingest enough B vitamins or vitamin C every 3 hours. At best we can increase our intake of leafy green vegetables, especially in juice form to enhance levels of vitamins, magnesium and folic acid. We can eat more sprouts, legumes and whole grains as well as meat eggs and dairy products to provide the basic nutrients, especially all the amino acids that are needed. Additional quantities of fresh fruit and vegetables help to top up the levels of antioxidants. And of course, we need plenty of water.
6 So in your opinion, what should we stop eating?
Obviously we all know to quit our favourite junk foods. They are not only devoid of nutrition; they actually contain what we call anti-nutrients. For example, trans-fatty acids from heating oil, the sugar and the artificial additives, preservatives and “enhancers”. But what can also increase inflammation are foods that contain lectins that are in conflict with your blood type. The nightshade family for instance, is known to aggravate arthritis and this is especially the case with blood type A. Blood type O has this problem with wheat, blood type B with wheat, chicken and so on. We need to eat what best suits us as an individual and that means avoiding anything – regardless of it being considered a health food if it contributes to inflammation. Inflammation is directly related to high homocysteine levels.
7 Lastly, what else can we do besides taking supplements to improve our cardiovascular health?
Exercise, exercise, exercise! We need to relax more because being tense can increase blood pressure and set off our stress response. When cortisol and adrenaline are thus released they can be very harmful to cardiovascular health. They elevate blood sugar, increase the heart rate and wear out the adrenal glands when they are being released on a continuous basis as a result of being tense, stressed out or angry. So as often as possible, close your eyes, relax your shoulders and arms, take a deep breath and above all – smile, smile, smile!
Recommended supplement : Nature Fresh Calcium Complex Powder. Read about it here
Sue’s Book Healthy Happy Heart : Read about it here