3) Correct blood vitamin D levels. This raises HDL cholesterol, exerts potent anti-inflammatory effects, and may provide direct plaque benefits, as well. In my experience, vitamin D is among the most potent agents known for correction of the varied causes of heart disease. It also makes correction of abnormal patterns far easier.
4) Add fish oil at a therapeutic dose for its omega-3 fatty acid content. This strategy alone reduces the likelihood of sudden cardiac death by 45%, according to the 11,000-participant GISSI Prevenzione Trial.
5) Use dietary strategies that address specific lipoprotein patterns. For instance, if you have the very common small LDL pattern (the most common cause for coronary plaque in the U.S.!), consider a low-carbohydrate approach. We prefer a wheat- and cornstarch-free diet when first starting out, counter to conventional advice, which exerts unexpected and substantial weight-loss, increases HDL, reduces triglycerides, reduces blood pressure, reduces small LDL, and reduces inflammatory responses. Low-carbohydrate, rather than the standard low-fat advice, would have allowed Mr. Russert to lose the excess tummy (what we call the “wheat belly”), reduced or eliminated his diabetes, and he would have felt worlds better.
It’s really not all that tough. Some people balk at lipoprotein testing: It’s too hard to get, it’s too difficult to understand, etc. But Mr. Russert’s unfortunate experience reminds us what can happen if a “half-hearted” attempt at prevention is followed, even conforming 100% to standard advice.
You can indeed achieve far better results. For those of you desiring more information, you are invited to join additional in-depth conversations on my Heart Scan Blog.
- Font size
- Email This
- Bookmark
- Thank you for your input
- Save
- RSS
- Report Abuse
