The medical establishment always believed that atherosclerosis and cardiovascular (related to heart and blood vessels) degeneration were irreversible. To some extent they still do. This is most definitely wrong. It is not only possible to stop the degenerative process, but also to reverse it, dissolve plaques and restore vascular health. It will not happen over night, but with a little persistence it is possible.
The first thing to do is to get the blood fats in order and to stop further degeneration. I have discussed that on several occasions, so we will not go into detail about it this time. Let's concentrate on the reversal instead, what heals the vascular system? What does actually reverse atherosclerosis?
HDL cholesterol, the good cholesterol, has proved to repair damaged tissue. That means everything that raises the level of HDL cholesterol is useful. Lecithin, Omega-3 fatty acids, light exercise (like walking), are a few examples.
High dose Nicotinic acid has an almost miraculous effect on the blood vessels. It lowers the bad cholesterol and raises the good, it lowers the blood pressure (if it is high) and dissolves vascular plaques. Finally, it restores damaged arteries.
To reach that effect relatively quickly, doses in excess of 1000mg per day are required. This is normally safe up to 2000mg, but there is a slight risk for liver damage, so don't take doses over 1000mg for any prolonged time without having the function of your liver monitored while you do.
The Budwig Protocol, with its mix of linseed (oil) and quark, is known mainly for its use in cancer treatment, but was originally designed for cardiovascular disease. It dissolves vascular plaques and restores the arteries. I will further discuss this cure in a forthcoming article.
Indeed, many, perhaps all, anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins to some degree support restoration of damaged arteries and capillaries. Those substances are colour pigments of many fruits, berries, vegetables and flowers, with red-violet-blue colours, such as: red beets, red cabbage, eggplant, blueberries/bilberries, radishes, red apples, cherries, hawthorn, cranberry, red wine, and grape seeds. Also the pigment giving roses their colour. Not to mention hibiscus, whose flowers give a blood red tea, which is very good for the blood vessels. Pommegranate, also getting its colour from anthocyanins, most certainly supports arterial restoration as well.
Extract from pine bark or grape seeds are sold as supplements to provide phenolic compounds such as procyanidins and monomers, so called OPCs (Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins). Pycnogenol®, which is prepared by pine bark, has been used in a large number of studies. Results indicate that it supports reparation of arterial injury and contributes to well functioning and healthy blood vessels.
Vitamins E and C play a role as well, although it is less clear how. They are both antioxidants, but there is more to it than that.
Vitamin E strengthens the blood vessels and improves their elasticity, while it is also generally healing.
For its well-known ability to protect against stroke and heart attack, the dose must be high. 400 I.U. per day for a long time is the minimum. It takes several years of full supplementation until the desired effect is reached. There is good reason to believe that the dose must be much higher than that to facilitate a reversal of already present vessel injuries.
As for vitamin C, I wrote the following in “Vitamin C (part 2): How to Use & What it Does”:
“There is a theory, promoted by Matthias Raath, that atherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke are a form of chronic scurvy, caused by long-term vitamin deficiency. This is not an uncontroversial idea, but it has its merits. Scurvy or not, I think Dr. Raath is on the right track here.
According to this paradigm, ascorbic acid lowers the cholesterol by removing the need for it. Much of the cholesterol is formed to repair damaged vessels. If they are in good shape (as they will be if you take enough vitamin C), there is no need for it.”
The validity of this theory notwithstanding, I think high dose Vitamin C has a function in every regimen aiming at reversing atherosclerosis.
If you suffer from atherosclerosis and cardiovascular degeneration, don't give up; there is good reason to assume that you can become well again - and then I don't mean that you can just survive, but that you can restore cardiovascular health. It just requires self-discipline, patience and persistence; it will take a long time and advance gradually in very small steps. You need to change the habits giving you this degenerative disease in the first place. Eat healthy, exercise healthy, don't smoke, avoid alcohol (except perhaps a minute amount), avoid negative stress, and take suitable supplements.
Related Articles:
Understanding Dietary Fats Part 1 (of 2)
Understanding Dietary Fats Part 2 (of 2)
Nicotinic Acid, the Real Super Vitamin!
Vitamin E - A Powerful Vitamin
Vitamin C (part 2): How to Use & What it Does
Copyright © 2014, 2021 Meleonymica/Mictorrani. All Rights Reserved.
(Lead image: Photo by congerdesign/Pixabay, CC0/Public Domain. The image has been digitally enhanced.)
Here you find my articles related to nutrients & supplements (vitamins, minerals, etc.) and here to health & medicine.
Interested in health & medicine, join my community "The Mechanisms of Health (d52e)"
You find all my writings on Read.Cash, sorted by topic, here.
My 5 most recent articles:
Laws & Principles of Absurdity & Perversity
Iodine, Molybdenum, Zinc, Copper, & Manganese
Yeah. Smoking cause more damage than good.