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On this Page: Information so you can Understand the Circulatory and Cardiovascular Systems, Key Nutrients for Cardiovascular Health, and a Nutritional Supplements designed to support the body's natural processes in relation to Heavy Metal and/or Oxidative "Free-Radical" Detoxification, and Whole Body/Cardiovascular Nutrition

Key Nutrients for Cardiovascular Health

Circulatory & Cardiovascular System Overview

Common Heavy Metals: Please Review the Known Sources and Health Effects

Nutritional Supplements designed to support Heavy Metal and/or Oxidative "Free-Radical" Damage, and Whole Body/Cardio-vascular Detoxification:

Coenzyme Q10 L-Carnitine Support

Key Nutrients for Cardiovascular Health:

COENZYME Q10 (UBIQUINONE)

Coenzyme Q10 is a vitamin-like substance and antioxidant, which is produced in the human body.

Coenzyme Q10 is found in foods- primarily in organ meats and fish, foods often deficient in the American diet.

Coenzyme Q10 works synergystically (together) with Vitamin C, Vitamin E & Alpha Lipoic Acid.

Coenzyme Q10 is essential for:

Healthy heart function

Healthy cardiovascular function

Healthy immune system, Cellular energy production

Keeping mitochondrial (body’s energy production) function optimal

Maintaining healthy Lipoprotein (a) homocysteine levels

Provides antioxidant protection to cholesterol

Healthy gums

Levels of CoEnzyme Q10 diminish:

Upon aging

With chronic disease

When a person takes certain Rx drugs (Statin drugs to lower cholesterol, Anti-hypertensive drugs to lower blood pressure, and Anti-depressants.)

After Strenuous exercise.

Coenzyme Q10 IS ESSENTIAL FOR LIFE!

Q-Gel brand Coenzyme Q10 (used in 'Healthy Alternatives Plus' nutritional formulas) has been granted FDA Orphan Drug Status, allowing it to be tested in university, hospital, and clinical studies on diseases related to mitochondrial dysfunction . The mitochondria is where energy is produced within each cell of the body and mitochondrial dysfunction can be linked to hundreds of different health conditions, including cardiovascular dysfunction. There are three patents on the Q-Gel brand Coenzyme Q10, and one patent pending. Q-Gel brand Coenzyme Q10 is the world's mot bioavailable Coenzyme Q10.

L-CARNITINE
Is produced in the human body, but production diminishes with age.

Found in foods- primarily red meats (heart, liver, muscle) Hence the name “Carni”.

Carnitine carries vital fuel (derived from fatty acids) into the cells, where it can be burned to produce energy. Carnitine also carries waste products (produced in the cells) out of the cells during the energy production process.

Carnitine is vital to healthy brain, heart, and mitochondrial function.

ALPHA LIPOIC ACID (Thiotic Acid)

Is produced in the human body.

Found in foods- in yeast and liver, and vegetables- broccoli, spinach, & potatoes.

Helps restore Vitamin C & E to their active antioxidant forms in the body.

ALA is called the “Master Antioxidant”

VITAMIN E

Vitamin E is one of the most important phytonutrients in edible oils. It consists of eight naturally occurring isomers, a family of four tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma and delta) and four tocotrienols (alpha, beta, gamma and delta).

Vitamin E helps the body maintain clear and healthy arteries- hence reducing the risk factors for cardio-vascular conditions. Tocotrienols are the first natural compound to be shown by human study, that may have the ability to reverse arteriosclerosis.

Vitamin E posesses Anti-Cholesterol properties, Inhibiting cholesterol production in the liver, thereby lowering total blood cholesterol.

Vitamin E naturally supports the body in maintaining clear and open blood vessels, reducing the risk factors for cardio-vascular diseases such as arteriosclerosis and stroke. Tocotrienols are the first and natural compound to be shown by human study, that may have the ability to reverse arteriosclerosis.

As an antioxidant, Alpha-tocotrienol has been shown to be 40 - 60 times more potent than alpha-tocopherol as an antioxidant in the prevention of lipid peroxidation. Delta-tocotrienol is the most potent antioxidant (highest antioxidant potency) of all commercially available tocotrienols.

Common Heavy Metals: Please Review the Known Sources and Health Effects

Aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and nickel are the most prevalent heavy metals. The specific sources of exposure, target tissues and health effects of each metal are identified below.(First published in the Townsend Letters for Doctors & Patients, July, 1999)

1. Aluminum

Sources of exposure: Aluminum cookware, aluminum foil, antacids, antiperspirants, baking powder (aluminum containing), buffered aspirin, canned acidic foods, food additives, lipstick, medications and drugs (anti-diarrheal agents, hemorrhoid medications, vaginal douches), processed cheese, “softened” water, and tap water.

Target tissues: Bones, brain, kidneys, and stomach.

Signs and Symptoms: Colic, dementia, esophagitis, gastroenteritis, kidney damage, liver dysfunction, loss of appetite, loss of balance, muscle pain, psychosis, shortness of breath, and weakness.

2. Arsenic

Sources of exposure: Air pollution, antibiotics given to commercial livestock, certain marine plants, chemical processing, coal-fired power plants, defoliants, drinking water, drying agents for cotton, fish, herbicides, insecticides, meats (from commercially raised poultry and cattle), metal ore smelting, pesticides, seafood (fish, mussels, oysters), specialty glass, and wood preservatives.

Target tissues: Most organs of the body, especially the gastrointestinal system, lungs, and skin.

Signs and Symptoms: Abdominal pain, burning of the mouth and throat, cancer (especially lung and skin), coma, diarrhea, nausea, neuritis, peripheral vascular problems, skin lesions, and vascular collapse.

3. Cadmium

Sources of exposure: Air pollution, art supplies, bone meal, cigarette smoke, food (coffee, fruits, grains, and vegetables grown in cadmium-laden soil, meats [kidneys, liver, poultry], or refined foods), freshwater fish, fungicides, highway dusts, incinerators, mining, nickel-cadmium batteries, oxide dusts, paints, phosphate fertilizers, power plants, seafood (crab, flounder, mussels, oysters, scallops), sewage sludge, “softened” water, smelting plants, tobacco and tobacco smoke, and welding fumes.

Target tissues: Appetite and pain centers (in brain), brain, heart and blood vessels, kidneys, and lungs.

Signs and Symptoms: Anemia, dry and scaly skin, emphysema, fatigue, hair loss, heart disease, depressed immune system response, hypertension, joint pain, kidney stones or damage, liver dysfunction or damage, loss of appetite, loss of sense of smell, lung cancer, pain in the back and legs, and yellow teeth.

4. Lead

Sources of exposure: Air pollution, ammunition (shot and bullets), bathtubs (cast iron, porcelain, steel), batteries, canned foods, ceramics, chemical fertilizers, cosmetics, dolomite, dust, foods grown around industrial areas, gasoline, hair dyes and rinses, leaded glass, newsprint and colored advertisements, paints, pesticides, pewter, pottery, rubber toys, soft coal, soil, solder, tap water, tobacco smoke, and vinyl ‘mini-blinds’.

Target tissues: Bones, brain, heart, kidneys, liver, nervous system, and pancreas.

Signs and Symptoms: Abdominal pain, anemia, anorexia, anxiety, auto exhaust, bone pain, brain damage, confusion, constipation, convulsions, dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, headaches, hypertension, inability to concentrate, indigestion, irritability, loss of appetite, loss of muscle coordination, memory difficulties, miscarriage, muscle pain, pallor, tremors, vomiting, and weakness.

5. Mercury

Sources of exposure: Air pollution, batteries, cosmetics, dental amalgams, diuretics (mercurial), electrical devices and relays, explosives, foods (grains), fungicides, fluorescent lights, freshwater fish (especially large bass, pike, and trout), insecticides, mining, paints, pesticides, petroleum products, saltwater fish (especially large halibut, shrimp, snapper, and swordfish), shellfish, and tap water.

Target tissues: Appetite and pain centers in the brain, cell membranes, kidneys, and nervous system (central and peripheral).

Signs and Symptoms: Abnormal nervous and physical development (fetal and childhood), anemia, anorexia, anxiety, blood changes, blindness, blue line on gums, colitis, depression, dermatitis, difficulty chewing and swallowing, dizziness, drowsiness, emotional instability, fatigue, fever, hallucinations, headache, hearing loss, hypertension, inflamed gums, insomnia, kidney damage or failure, loss of appetite and sense of smell, loss of muscle coordination, memory loss, metallic taste in mouth, nerve damage, numbness, psychosis, salivation, stomatitis, tremors, vision impairment, vomiting, weakness, and weight loss.

6. Nickel

Sources of exposure: Appliances, buttons, ceramics, cocoa, cold-wave hair permanent, cooking utensils, cosmetics, coins, dental materials, food (chocolate, hydrogenated oils, nuts, food grown near industrial areas), hair spray, industrial waste, jewelry, medical implants, metal refineries, metal tools, nickel-cadmium batteries, orthodontic appliances, shampoo, solid-waste incinerators, stainless steel kitchen utensils, tap water, tobacco and tobacco smoke, water faucets and pipes, and zippers.

Target tissues: Areas of skin exposure, larynx (voice box), lungs, and nasal passages.

Signs and Symptoms: Apathy, blue-colored lips, cancer (especially lung, nasal, and larynx), contact dermatitis, diarrhea, fever, headaches, dizziness, gingivitis, insomnia, nausea, rapid heart rate, skin rashes (redness, itching, blisters), shortness of breath, stomatitis, and vomiting.

In the modern world, it is impossible to avoid being exposed to heavy metals or human-made chemicals. Also if you smoke, drink alcohol, or take drugs (prescription, over-the-counter, or 'recreational' drugs) you may want to consider supporting your body's organs of detoxification and your body's natural detoxification pathways with scientifically validated nutritional supplements.

Liver support

The liver is an organ that acts as a complex 'factory', responsible for the processing of carbohydrates (sugars), fats, proteins, and the synthesis (formation) of bile, glycogen, and serum proteins. The liver also acts as the primary organ of detoxification, protecting us from environmental and metabolic toxins.

The Circulatory System

The circulatory system functions as a highly effective means of transporting oxygen and nutrients into the cells of the body and removing metabolic wastes and water out of the body, using blood as the carrier. It is very important that people understand the chemical composition of blood and of the other fluids in the body (which are constantly being circulated through the body and blood). The fluid inside the cells (intracellular) is very different from the fluid found outside the cells (extracellular). Extracellular fluids include both the fluid that circulates in the spaces between the cells and also the fluid of the blood plasma. It is the extracellular fluid that provides the cells with nutrients and other substances required for cellular function. The major components of both intra and extracellular fluids are sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, bicarbonate, phosphates, sulfur compounds, glucose, amino acids (proteins), cholesterol, fats, oxygen (delivered in) and carbon dioxide (delivered out). Logic dictates that deficiencies of these specific ‘building block’ nutrients can be ultimately responsible for many blood disorders and degenerative conditions related to the circulatory system.

The Cardiovascular System

The cardiovascular system is made up of the heart and all of the blood and lymphatic vessels in the body. The heart acts as a pump to drive the blood; a complex fluid made up of digested food materials, respiratory gasses (oxygen being carried in, carbon dioxide being carried out), and protective and regulatory chemicals through the approximately 60,000 miles of vessels in the body. In order to perform all of it’s necessary functions, the heart constantly works interactively with the:

Lungs and respiratory system-monitoring oxygen/carbon dioxide balance.

Urinary tract- monitoring fluid levels.

Digestive system- delivering digested nutrients.

Endocrine system- delivering hormones.

Skin- blood flow to the skin determines heat loss from the body, allowing the control of body temperature.

All tissues- removal of excess hydrogen ions, maintenance of proper levels of calcium, magnesium, and potassium ion levels in the tissues.

To truly appreciate health a person must consider the health and nutritional status of each organ, the interactive relationship between all of the organs and attempt to see the parts of the body working together as a complete system. When our defense systems weaken, blood can also act as transport for disease-causing entities such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, and their toxins. The circulatory system has immune defense cells (white blood cells) and the lymphatic system that act as a waste removal system and defense mechanism against these and other foreign invaders.

What Causes Cardiovascular Disease?

Cardiovascular disease is the leading reported cause of death in America. Although there are numerous underlying causes including nutritional status, diet, and lifestyle (addictions and habits), we believe dietary nutritional deficiencies and resulting biochemical imbalances, heavy metal toxicity, and oxidative (free radical damage) are the root causes or contributing factors to nearly all heart disease, excluding a genetic family history or trauma.

There is one very important nutritional factor concerning the heart and nutrition. The heart is a muscle that never stops working. All muscles in the body require the nutrient magnesium for their continued ability to rest after contraction. Because the heart never stops working, it is estimated that the heart requires eight times the amount of magnesium than other muscles in the body. A 1995 survey revealed that seventy-two percent of the American population is magnesium deficient. Magnesium deficiency is a matter of concern for people of all ages, but it can be particularly dangerous for the elderly, who have increased incidence of heart disease, muscle cramps, and diabetes (all linked to magnesium deficiency). It is important to note that a magnesium deficiency is associated with low blood levels of calcium and potassium. These three minerals work in combination in many areas of the body and being deficient in one will limit the body’s ability to utilize the other two.

One of the most common causes of poor circulation or poor oxygenation of the blood is a deficiency of essential fatty acids. Essential Fatty Acids(EFA’s) bond oxygen to hemoglubin, improving blood oxygen levels and circulation. The fatty acids that are necessary for health and that cannot be made by the body are called essential fatty acids. EFA’s must be supplied through the diet or nutritional supplements. EFA’s provide desirable effects in a variety of health disorders, including aiding in the prevention of arthritis, improving many skin and hair conditions, lowering triglyceride and cholesterol levels, and reducing high blood pressure. Deficiencies or imbalances of EFA’s are known to contribute to these and other adverse health conditions. Approximately 100 years ago the vegetable oil industry began to hydrogenate oil, which reduces the Omega-3 content. At the same time, the domestic livestock industry began to use feed grains, which happen to be rich in Omega-6 fatty acid and low in Omega-3. As a result, the Standard American Diet (SAD) has an essential fatty acid ratio of 20-25:1 Omega-6 to Omega-3, rather than the 1:1 ratio with which humans evolved. Essential fatty acids bond oxygen to the hemoglobin portion of the blood. Many times when we see people who are complaining of cold hand and feet, we find that the addition of a balanced ratio of Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids to the diet work well for these problems.

It is important that the body receives an adequate amount of pure water on a daily basis. Our bodies are made of approximately 70 per cent water. Pure water is probably the most important nutrient. It is used in every cell, tissue, gland, organ and system in the body. It is a component of all the fluids in the body; blood, digestive juices, lymph, saliva, sweat, tears, and urine. Water is used in most bodily functions, including absorption of nutrients, blood and lymph circulation, digestion, and elimination of various wastes from the body. The nervous system depends on water to carry the electrolytes, mineral salts which carry the electrical current throughout the body, including calcium, chloride, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. It is important that people understand that it is not healthy to drink tap water for many reasons. There are many books you can find at a health food store about water. We recommend that people drink only purified, filtered water, and avoid or reduce alcohol, caffeinated drinks (coffee and tea), carbonated sodas, and excessive amounts of fruit juice. Regular exercise (aerobic if possible) on a regular basis is essential for improving circulation and blood flow in the body. We recommend fast walking and rebounding on a mini trampoline. These are both low-impact exercises that get the heart pumping and assist in improving lymphatic flow in the body.