Ethylenediamine Tetraacetic Acid (EDTA) Chelation Therapy is an alternative to coronary artery bypass surgery and angioplasty. It has been proven to be a much safer, effective and inexpensive option and is FDA approved. EDTA is a synthetic amino acid-like substance that when saturated into the bloodstream, has the potential to bind with minerals like calcium, iron, copper and lead, carrying them to the kidneys, where they are then properly excreted. This type of chelation therapy has been commonly used for lead poisoning, but since the 1960s has been found
to be helpful for those with athersclerosis. EDTA therapy improves blood flow throughout the body as well as aids in chelating out excess iron an copper that in the presence of oxygen can stimulate free radicals — significantly impacting
atherosclerosis (53). This more naturally-based therapy has also been shown to respond better to immature plaque detection than allopathic procedures.
Lifestyle and dietary support
• Eat an omnivores diet that includes saturated fat and cholesterol from high quality animal sources as this will be very heart protective.
• Eliminate all refined and processed foods whose additives, preservatives, and ingredients deplete vital nutrients and cause more oxidative stress to the body.
• Avoid all sources of hydrogenated fats, refined vegetable oils, sugar and oxidized cholesterol.
• Eat a diet that is 4 to 1 omega 6 to omega 3 to reduce inflammation and cardiovascular complications.
• Daily intake of foods should have a 5 to 1 potassium to sodium ratio. This can be achieved by eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in processed or canned foods.
• Stress management is crucial to maintaining good cardiovascular health. Deep breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, prayer, massage, good time management,
living in the present and practicing forgiveness are all ways to help alleviate stress.
• Weight training and cardiovascular exercise are a must for keeping the heart in shape. The heart is in fact a muscle that needs to be worked out in order to increase blood supplies and oxygen and keep it working efficiently. Physical activity also enhances mood, increases energy levels, decreases stress and improves stamina.
Nutrient and herbal support
• Niacin reduces the progression of atherosclerosis and events associated with coronary heart disease (54). Inositol hexaniacinate (a safer, more tolerated form of
niacin) is an alternative to statins. It lowers Lp(a) LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, CRP, and fibrinogen levels. For best results, it should be administered at night, as
most cholesterol synthesis occurs at that time. 500 mg dosage at night, increase to 1500 mg after two weeks. After one month if the 1500 mg dosage does not lower
inflammatory markers, then increase to 3000 mg (55).
• Magnesium is 20x more concentrated in the heart muscle than in the bloodstream. It’s also a natural channel blocker, is excellent for plaque stabilization, improves
metabolic efficiency of the heart muscle cells and helps diabetics by maintaining balanced insulin levels. 400-800 mg regardless of food intake is recommended (56).
• Cod liver oil should be taken for its high omega 3 fatty acids content. It’s also known to combat inflammation, improve endothelial function, thin the blood, decrease Lp(a), triglycerides and blood pressure, prevent plaque
rupture, and has anti-coagulation properties. Dose is 1-2 teaspoons daily (57).
• Policosanol is very beneficial in helping against atherosclerotic symptoms. It prevents against excessive platelet aggregation and LDL oxidation. Recommended
dosage is 10-20 mg daily (58).
• Garlic 4000 mcg daily has functionality similar to statins, so is therefore a good natural alternative. It also inhibits platelet aggregation, breaks down fibrinogen,
helps lower hypertension and supports immunity.
• L-Arginine is an amino acid precursor to nitric oxide. When the body is deficient in nitric oxide blood vessels constrict and lose their flexibility, causing inflammation
and plaque buildup. Less nitric oxide is produced in the body with age. 2-9
g daily in divided doses is recommended (59).
• L-carnitine is an amino acid that works with C0-Q10 to help fatty acids get into the mitochondria where they can be burned for fuel. This helps improve heart
functionality by decreasing triglycerides and elevated cholesterol levels. Dosage should be 2-4 g in divided doses (60).
• Vitamin C decreases incidence of cardiovascular events and related deaths by 40-60% by hindering the progression of atherosclerosis. It also: reverses endothelial dysfunction, neutralizes Lp(a), improves recovery after bypass surgery, supports detoxification, enhances immunity, neutralizes free radicals and
inhibits platelet aggregation (61). A preventative dosage is 500-1000 mg daily with a therapeutic dose at 2-6 g in divided doses. (Note that buffered C with bioflavonoids will increase the absorption of vitamin C.)
• Since homocysteine problems stem from deficiencies of B6, folic acid, and B12, it would be prudent to supplement with these B vitamins to reduce homocysteine
levels. Dosages should be 50-100 mg B6, 400-800 mcg folic acid and up to 1000 mcg B12.
• Coenzyme Q10 is an essential nutrient that helps with all forms of heart disease. It’s a fat-soluable vitamin, so is best absorbed in a liquid or gel cap form. CoQ10 is a potent antioxidant and is essential for cellular and energy production. Studies have shown that supplementation of CoQ10 before bypass surgery makes for a faster recovery and less post-operative complications. Depending on he issue, CoQ10 dosages vary: preventative dose 60120 mg daily; therapeutic dose 180-360 mg daily (for angina, arrhythmia, hypertension, insulin resistance, diabetes, those taking statins, or that have gum disease); 300-400 mg daily for congestive heart failure (62).
• D-ribose helps restore depleted energy pools in the mitochondria as a result of metabolic stress such as blood and/or oxygen deprivation. When oxygen or blood flow deficits are chronic (as happens with heart disease), tissues can’t keep up with their demand for D-ribose. This is the only nutrient that can replenish diminished
ATP energy stores and missing a dosage can negatively impact cellular energy by causing muscle weakness and fatigue. Dosage of 5 g for cardiovascular prevention or for athletes doing strenuous activity; 10-15 g for those with any form of heart disease; 15-30 g for those with advanced heart failure, fibromyalgia or neuromuscular disease (63).
Risk assessment checklist:
• HDL cholesterol lower than 35mg/dl
(men; 40 mg/dl (women)
• Triglyceride higher than 150 ml/dl
• Triglyceride/HDL ratio higher than 4 to 1
• Homocysteine higher than 10 umol/L
• Lp(a) higher than 30 mg/dl
• CRP (C-Reative Protein) higher than 1.5 mg/L
• Fibrinogen higher than 350 mg/dl
• Resting blood pressure above 140/90
• EBT (scan for calcified plaque) score above 200
• Fasting blood sugar more than 100 mg/dl
• Hemoglobin A1C more than 6% of total HGB
Hollie Greenwood is a certified nutrition consultant, certified personal chef and owner of Real Cooking — a sustainably-operated business based with offices in Santa Monica, California and Missoula, Montana. Hollie became interested in how and why food influences health at a young age. With this passion, she created a business to help individuals and families with the tools needed to transition from eating processed foods to whole foods. Created in 2004, Real Cooking has always been a unique business, in that it offers holistic nutritional consulting, personal chef services, kitchen clean-outs, guided grocery shopping and farmer’s market tours, cooking instruction and custom meal plans all under one roof.
Hollie obtained a Master’s of Science degree in Holistic Nutrition with high honors from Hawthorn University and her personal chef certification from the Culinary Classroom in Los Angeles, CA. She is currently a member of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals, the Community Food and Agriculture Coalition, the Sustainable Business Council, the Montana Organic Association and is co-chapter leader for the Weston A. Price Foundation in Missoula, MT. www.realcooking.net
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