Addressing Heart Health Naturally

Heart problems are the major cause of death in the United States. Although medications and surgery get most of the attention for addressing heart problems, natural therapies can be highly effective.

There are several key types of heart problems. The major ones are:

1. Angina and heart attacks.
2. Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) caused by heart muscle weakness and manifesting as ankle swelling and shortness of breath on laying flat or exertion. Many researchers suspect a component of this is also occurring in CFS and Fibromyalgia.
3. Heart valve problems.
4. Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).

For all 4 of these problems, but especially #2, both research and clinical experience has shown that several key natural therapies can improve heart muscle efficiency and improve symptoms. Unfortunately, most physicians are not aware of these studies because natural remedies are inexpensive and often cannot be patented. But you can use these therapies safely to feel much better in 6 weeks!

The heart is the hardest working muscle in the body. With heart failure, the muscle is weakening. With angina, there may not be heart muscle weakness, but increasing heart efficiency can decrease its work and therefore the tendency to chest pain and abnormal heart rhythms as well. Fortunately there are many natural ways to improve heart muscle function.

The key therapies for these heart problems that I use in my practice, including for abnormal heart rhythms and angina, but especially for congestive heart failure, are (in combination):

1. Ribose - This powder that looks and tastes like sugar is a key to energy production in the body—including the heart. I recommend 1 scoop (5 grams) 3 times a day for 6 weeks, then twice a day. This nutrient is outstanding for heart disease and is the most important one. You will likely be amazed after 6 weeks on it! For a detailed discussion on Ribose, see "Ribose—to Turbo Charge Energy Production."
2. Coenzyme Q10 (use Enzymatic Therapy or Vitaline brand CHEWABLE wafers—brand and form are critical for this nutrient). Take 200-400 mg/day (I would do 400 mg/day for 6 weeks then 200 mg/day). This nutrient is especially critical for anyone on cholesterol lowering medications, even if there is no heart problem, as these medications cause CoEnzyme Q10 deficiency, and this nutrient is critical for energy production. For a detailed discussion, see "CoEnzyme Q10 and Energy Production."
3. Magnesium 200 mg/day and B Complex 50+ mg/day. I would get this plus over 40 other key nutrients easily by taking a good multivitamin powder. This product is outstanding for overall well being. I would consider adding an extra 200 mg of magnesium at bedtime (caution—in the rare patient with kidney failure, magnesium and many other nutrients should only be taken under a licensed Holistic Health practitioner's supervision. Magnesium can also cause loose stools). Magnesium not only increases your heart muscles strength, but also markedly decreases the tendency to abnormal heart rhythms. I recommend almost everyone be on this powder, as it is made to supply outstanding overall nutritional support. After several months on the powder, as you "fill your tank" nutritionally, you may find that a lower dose of the powder feels best.
4. Acetyl-L-Carnitine 500 mg 2x/day for 6 weeks, then 500 mg/day is enough (and it can often simply be stopped). For more information, see "Acetyl-L-Carnitine."

Give these nutrients 6 weeks to see the optimal effects. The benefits for heart health are often dramatic!