HealthBeat News

Category: Heart and Circulation

  • Genetic variation in taste sensitivity

    By Nurse Mark

     

    There is much discussion in some scientific circles regarding the well-noted differences in taste perception among people of different ethnic backgrounds and indeed between individuals of similar ethnic heritage and genetic make-up.

    One group of researchers at Rutgers University published a paper detailing their findings in 2009, titled:

    “Genetic variation in taste sensitivity to 6-n-propylthiouracil and its relationship to taste perception and food selection.”

    While this is a rather “dense” paper it is nonetheless an interesting read for those with an interest in how different folks perceive taste.

    For example, Dr. Myatt and Nurse Mark both enjoy spices – but Dr. Myatt has a taste preference for the very hottest spices – chili peppers – that Nurse Mark does not share. Dr. Myatt finds that chili has a unique flavor all of it’s own and that this enhances the flavor of the foods it is added to, while Nurse Mark finds that the hotter chili spices simply numb his ability to taste and thus remove the flavors from food.

    With those differences in taste perception in mind, this humorous account of a chili-naive tourist pressed into service as a chili taster came across my desk recently. Enjoy the story.

     

    The Texas Chili Contest

    Frank, an American visiting Texas, was invited to be one of the judges at a chili cook-off. He was assured by the other two judges that the chili wouldn’t be all that spicy — and besides — they told him he could have free beer during the tasting. Here are the scorecards from the event:

    Chili # 1: Mike’s Maniac Mobster Monster Chili

    Judge one: A little too heavy on tomato. Amusing kick.

    Judge two: Nice, smooth tomato flavor Very mild.

    Frank: Holy smokes, what is this stuff? You could remove dried paint from your driveway with it. Took me two beers to put the flames out. Hope that’s the worst one. These people are crazy.

    Chili # 2: Arthur’s Afterburner Chili

    Judge one: Smoky (barbecue?) with a hint of pork. Slight Jalapeno tang.

    Judge two: Exciting BBQ flavor, needs more peppers to be taken seriously.

    Frank: Keep this out of reach of children! I’m not sure what I am supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two people who wanted to give me the Heimlich maneuver. Shoved my way to the front of the beer line. The barmaid looks like a professional wrestler after a bad night. She was so irritated over my gagging sounds that the snake tattoo under her eye started to twitch. She has arms like Popeye and a face like Winston Churchill. I will NOT pick a fight with her.

    Chili # 3: Fred’s Famous Burn Down the Barn Chili

    Judge one: Excellent firehouse chili! Great kick. Needs more beans.

    Judge two: A beanless chili, a bit salty, good use of red peppers.

    Frank: This has got to be a joke. Call the EPA, I’ve located a uranium spill. My nose feels like I have been snorting Drano. Everyone knows the routine by now and got out of my way so I could make it to the beer wagon. The barmaid pounded me on the back; now my backbone is in the front part of my chest. She said her friends call her “Sally.” Probably behind her back they call her “Forklift.”

    Chili # 4: Bubba’s Black Magic

    Judge one: Black bean chili with almost no spice. Disappointing.

    Judge two: Hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for fish or other mild foods, not much of a chili.

    Frank: I felt something scraping across my tongue but was unable to taste it. Sally was standing behind me with fresh refills so I wouldn’t have to dash over to see her. When she winked at me her snake sort of coiled and uncoiled … it’s kind of cute.

    Chili # 5: Linda’s Legal Lip Remover

    Judge one: Meaty, strong chili. Cayenne peppers freshly ground adding considerable kick. Very impressive.

    Judge two: Chili using shredded beef; could use more tomato. Must admit the cayenne peppers make a strong statement.

    Frank: My ears are ringing and I can no longer focus my eyes. I belched and four people in front of me needed paramedics. The contestant seemed hurt when I told her that her chili had given me brain damage. Sally saved my tongue by pouring beer directly on it from a pitcher. Sort of irritates me that one of the other judges asked me to stop screaming.

    Chili # 6: Vera’s Very Vegetarian Variety

    Judge one: Thin yet bold. Good balance of spice and peppers.

    Judge two: The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions, and garlic. Superb.

    Frank: My intestines are now a straight pipe filled with gaseous flames. No one wants to stand behind me except Sally. I asked if she wants to go dancing later.

    Chili # 7: Susan’s Screaming Sensation Chili

    Judge one: A mediocre chili with too much reliance on canned peppers.

    Judge two: Ho Hum, tastes as if the chef threw in canned chili peppers at the last moment.

    Frank: You could put a hand grenade in my mouth and pull the pin and I wouldn’t feel it. I’ve lost the sight in one eye and the world sounds like it is made of rushing water. My clothes are covered with chili which slid unnoticed out of my mouth at some point. Good, at the autopsy they’ll know what killed me. Go Sally, save yourself before it’s too late. Tell our children I’m sorry I was not there to conceive them. I’ve decided to stop breathing, it’s too painful and I’m not getting any oxygen anyway. If I need air I’ll just let it in through the hole in my stomach. Call the X-Files people and tell them I’ve found a super nova on my tongue.

     

    On a more serious and practical note, Cayenne – the “hot” in hot peppers – is a very useful medicinal substance:

    Cayenne (Capsicum frutescense) is a circulatory stimulant, used for Atherosclerosis, poor circulation, shock, hemorrhage, heart attack. It is synergistic with many herbs.

    Cayenne is the premier circulatory stimulant herb.

    Lobelia (Lobelia inflata) is an expectorant, antispasmodic, emetic, relaxant, used with cayenne for circulatory shock, fainting, heart attack.

    Lobelia is the premier relaxant / antispasmodic herb.

    Dr. Myatt has combined these two substances in a tincture that is a superior emergency formula for shock, hemorrhage, heart attack, circulatory and migraine headaches. Everyone should have a bottle of this on hand – it is a real “life saver”! Learn more about Cayenne/Lobelia tincture here.

  • Nine Simple Steps To Rejuvenate Your Heart

    Nine Simple Steps To Rejuvenate Your Heart

     

    By Dr. Dana Myatt

     

    Heart-Healthy Protocol Rejuvenates Youthful Function

     

    Do you recall a time when you were younger and had absolutely no worries about your heart? After all, it’s not nearly so common for a person in their 20’s or 30’s to suffer from heart disease, and you probably knew that. Your life wasn’t focused around living close to a hospital, curtailing physical activity because of fear, or even thinking at all about your heart, which just ticked along perfectly from day to day, week to week, and year to year.

    Would you like to return to that liberated, confident feeling, knowing that your heart is healthy and immune to problems, and enjoying the physical and emotional freedom that dependable heart function brings?

    Why not give yourself the gift of heart-confidence by following these simple, proven, protective measures that can lower your risk of heart disease to that of a 20-year-old? Your heart is a very forgiving organ and can be rejuvenated. Here’s how:

    1. Stop smoking. Smoking is one of the single biggest causes of heart disease. If you need a good reason to quit, dramatically lowering your risk of heart disease might be the impetus you need.
    2. Eat a heart-healthy diet. High carbohydrate diets lead to overweight and high blood sugar levels, and very often, to diabetes. As you continue to read this list, you’ll see that these factors are each independent risk factors for heart disease. A VLC diet (Very Low Carbohydrate diet), high in Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids, is the fastest, surest way to lower insulin and blood sugar levels, lose weight, decrease inflammation and slash heart disease risk at least four-fold. Diets higher in “good fats” (NOT low-fat diets!) and low in carbs have proven to be the heart-healthiest.
    3. Get optimal doses of heart-healthy nutrients. Certain nutrients are essential to healthy heart function and are often missing in the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.). Nutrients needed by the heart include:
      • B complex vitamins, needed for normal nerve function and homocysteine levels.
      • magnesium, the relaxing, anti-arrhythmic mineral that is absolutely necessary for normal heart function. Unfortunately, magnesium is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies in the SAD diet.
      • antioxidant nutrients (especially vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene). Studies have shown that people with higher blood levels of antioxidants have a lower incidence of heart disease. Among people who have a heart attack, higher levels of antioxidants decrease free radical formation and reduce heart damage.
      • chromium helps stabilize and lower blood sugar levels, thereby lowering sugar-associated heart disease risk.
      • Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oils) are so well-known to decrease inflammation and heart arrhythmias that the FDA now allows label claims for fish oil. We now also have an over-the-top expensive prescription fish oil for heart patients (many of whom would have less stress on their hearts if they bought fish oil for $20 instead of $200!).
      • soluble fiber helps keep blood fats, including cholesterol, at a happy level, although high cholesterol is not the big heart disease risk factor it has been portrayed as.
    4. Increase physical activity. If you don’t use it, you lose it. Make your heart work harder than getting up from your easy chair and going to the refrigerator once in a while. This doesn’t mean you need to train for a marathon. As little as ten minutes of brisk walking per day, especially if this is more than you currently do, will improve heart function.
    5. Lower body-wide inflammation. Subtle inflammation, as measured by an hs-CRP test (“highly sensitive C-Reactive Protein”, a simple blood test), is a more sensitive measure of heart disease risk than cholesterol or other elevated blood fats. This type of inflammation, which is often so minor that you may not feel it but which irritates the blood vessel lining and sets the atherosclerotic process in motion, can be corrected by simple diet changes, nutritional supplements and anti-inflammatory herbs. Decreasing inflammation also lowers your risk of cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer’s and other “age related” diseases.
    6. Lower your blood pressure naturally. There’s a lot of evidence that higher blood pressures (especially systolic B.P.’s consistently over 140) are associated with higher risk of heart disease. Interestingly (at least to this physician!), there are a number of big, long-range studies which show NO BENEFIT to lowering B.P. with drugs. People with “normal” blood pressures who were only “normal” because of medications are still at significantly higher risk of heart disease. As naturopathic as this conclusion sounds, these studies point to the fact that lowering blood pressure naturally, by correcting the cause of the elevation, is life-saving where chemical control is not.
    7. Curb depression, anxiety and stress. The emotional factor doesn’t get much “press” or discussion in the cardiologists office, but there are numerous studies showing that negative emotional states increase subtle inflammation. Possibly because depression and stress (or more accurately described as our reaction to stress) increase inflammation, these emotional states are associated with higher risk of heart disease and poorer prognosis in people with already-existing heart disease or who are recovering from heart surgery. If you suffer from depression, be sure to get help. And remember that depression isn’t caused by a Prozac deficiency!
    8. Lower high blood sugar levels. High blood sugar levels, high insulin levels or outright type II diabetes are major risk factors for heart disease. The pitiful part of this connection is that type II diabetes is completely curable through diet alone, usually in under three months. Sadly, I find that many diabetics would rather live with the risk (and worry about their risks), rather than make a few healthy diet changes that would erase this major danger. Go figure.
    9. Achieve and maintain a normal weight. Overweight increases subtle inflammation, which as you should know by now (if you’ve been paying attention!) is an important risk factor for not only heart disease but also cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer’s and more. When an overweight person loses weight, their hs-CRP (inflammatory marker) also comes down, corresponding to a lower heart disease risk. Of course, the low-carb, high Omega-3 fat diet that lowers blood sugar and corrects diabetes also leads to weight loss, making it easy to correct several problems at once through diet changes alone.

    These same measures that dramatically lower your risk of heart disease also increase natural immunity, slash your risk of cancer, diabetes, arthritis, depression, Alzheimer’s and senile dementia and a host of other diseases that we fall prey to with age. Even at advanced age or stages of disease, much improvement and protection is possible (in other words, you can reclaim a lot of healthy ground), by turning a few habits around in a healthier direction.

  • Is Chocolate Really a Health Food?

    Is Chocolate Really a Health Food?

     

    By Dr. Dana Myatt

     

    “A new British survey has revealed that 9 out of 10 people like chocolate. The 10th lies”  —Robert Paul

     

    Chocolate has been making headlines for it’s heart-healthy benefits, and chocolate-lovers everywhere are rejoicing that their favorite treat may actually be healthy. Gosh — how great would it be if your doctor “prescribed” a daily chocolate bar?

    Before you start snacking on that daily treat, here is some “medical insider” information you should know.

    Who Thought to Research Chocolate for Health Benefits?

    A tribe of indigenous people in Panama — the Kuna tribe — have been known to scientists since the 1940’s for their absence of high blood pressure and heart disease. When tribe members move to the city, blood pressure and heart disease rates rise.(1)

    OK, so city life is probably more stressful than living naturally in the bush. But another significant difference in bush-living Kuna is their intake of chocolate, or more specifically, flavonol-rich cocoa. The indigenous Kuna consume 10 times more cocoa flavonols in the form of 5 or more cups per day of a cocoa beverage. They also use cocoa in many recipes. Their city-dwelling counterparts do not. (NOTE: Indigenous Kuna also consume 4 times more fish).(2,3)

    The “magic” in the Kuna beverage is a minimally processed cocoa that contains high levels of polyphenols which are a type of flavonol that triggers nitric oxide production.

    Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent vasodilator that opens blood vessels, lowers blood pressure and increases blood flow. Many natural physicians use L-arginine, which converts to NO. Chocolate flavonols increase the conversion of L-arginine to nitric oxide. [Note: Viagra ™ works by increasing NO, but by a different mechanism.] (4,5)

    Several new studies suggest that chocolate lowers blood pressure.

    Earlier this year, a study published in The Journal of American Hypertension reported on an experiment with 102 hypertensive patients randomized to consume either 6 or 25 grams per day of flavonol-rich dark chocolate for 3 months. [Dr. Myatt’s side note: this is one of the few medical studies I’d probably agree to participate in! 😉 ]

    Blood pressure in both groups dropped, independent of dose. In other words, it doesn’t take much chocolate to achieve health benefits. (Sorry to those who were thinking this was going to be a “green light” to eat an entire chocolate bar every day).(6)

    Another meta-analysis analyzed data from 10 separate chocolate studies and found that chocolate intake decreased systolic B.P. an average of 4.5mm Hg and diastolic BP an average of 2.5mm Hg.(7) This is a very modest reduction of blood pressure.

    Other Benefits of Chocolate

    Besides modest blood pressure-lowering effects, chocolate flavonols have also been shown in various studies to decrease vascular inflammation (a separate cause of heart disease) and improve blood lipids by lowering LDL and raising HDL.(4,8)

    How Much Chocolate Should You Eat for Health Benefits?

    I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but here goes.

    The studies mentioned above all used special chocolates processed with low heat and not “Dutched” (alkalinized). These are not the types of chocolate you can purchase in stores. The “magic” in chocolate, the flavonols, are destroyed by heat processing and alkali (“Dutched” cocoa).Even the “organic” and “extra-dark” chocolates with 70% cocoa don’t necessarily get the job done. Flavonols are damaged by heat and alkalinization. Period. Bummer.

    Flavonols in chocolate — the healthy stuff — is bitter. This is why chocolate is “dutched” (alkalinized) and heat-treated. It makes the “bitter” more palatable. But in processing chocolate to make it tasty, the health properties are damaged.(9,10)

    Fonus Balonus Chocolate Studies

    It should also be noted that many of the “chocolate is good for you” studies have been funded by the chocolate industry.(11-13) However, when the benefits are touted to the public, no mention is made of the “must be low heat processed in order to work.” The natural foods industry has apparently caught on to Big Pharma’s “massage the statistics and obfuscate the facts” tricks. Hey — whatever it takes to sell more stuff.

    Don’t Give Up on Chocolate Just Yet

    The right dark chocolate, minimally heat processed and not “dutched,” can contain enough flavlonols to have potential health benefit.(14) Cocoa “nibs” — roasted cocoa beans separated from their husks and broken into small bits — also have some of the very highest flavonol content.(15)

    If you are serious about eating a SMALL piece of chocolate each day for both health benefit and enjoyment, be sure to get dark chocolate with high flavonol content. Vital Choice Seafood features chocolate bars with some of the highest flavonol content available. Vital Choice Organic Extra Dark Chocolate features healthy fats, minerals, and antioxidants. Savored sparingly, it makes a delicious, satisfying treat that supports your health and helps sustain cacao growers’ land, communities, and culture.

    Chocolate Antioxidant Chart

    REFERENCES

    1.) K Hollenberg N. Vascular action of cocoa flavanols in humans: the roots of the story. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2006;47 Suppl 2:S99-102; discussion S119-21.
    2.) Hollenberg NK, Fisher ND, McCullough ML. Flavanols, the Kuna, cocoa consumption, and nitric oxide. J Am Soc Hypertens. 2009 Mar-Apr;3(2):105-12. Epub 2009 Feb 20.
    3.) McCullough ML, Chevaux K, Jackson L, Preston M, Martinez G, Schmitz HH, Coletti C, Campos H, Hollenberg NK. Hypertension, the Kuna, and the epidemiology of flavanols. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2006;47 Suppl 2:S103-9; discussion 119-21.
    4.) Fisher ND, Hollenberg NK. Aging and vascular responses to flavanol-rich cocoa. J Hypertens. 2006 Aug;24(8):1575-80.
    5.) Taubert D, Roesen R, Lehmann C, Jung N, Schömig E. Effects of low habitual cocoa intake on blood pressure and bioactive nitric oxide: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2007 Jul 4;298(1):49-60.
    6.) Desch S, Kobler D, Schmidt J, Sonnabend M, Adams V, Sareban M, Eitel I, Blüher M, Schuler G, Thiele H. Low vs. higher-dose dark chocolate and blood pressure in cardiovascular high-risk patients. Am J Hypertens. 2010 Jun;23(6):694-700. Epub 2010 Mar 4.
    7.) Desch S, Schmidt J, Kobler D, Sonnabend M, Eitel I, Sareban M, Rahimi K, Schuler G, Thiele H. Effect of cocoa products on blood pressure: systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Hypertens. 2010 Jan;23(1):97-103. Epub 2009 Nov 12.
    8.)  Engler MB, Engler MM, Chen CY, Malloy MJ, Browne A, Chiu EY, Kwak HK, Milbury P, Paul SM, Blumberg J, Mietus-Snyder ML. Flavonoid-rich dark chocolate improves endothelial function and increases plasma epicatechin concentrations in healthy adults. J Am Coll Nutr. 2004 Jun;23(3):197-204.
    9.) McShea A, Ramiro-Puig E, Munro SB, Casadesus G, Castell M, Smith MA. Clinical benefit and preservation of flavonols in dark chocolate manufacturing. Nutr Rev. 2008 Nov;66(11):630-41.
    10.) Andres-Lacueva C, Monagas M, Khan N, Izquierdo-Pulido M, Urpi-Sarda M, Permanyer J, Lamuela-Raventós RM. Flavanol and flavonol contents of cocoa powder products: influence of the manufacturing process. J Agric Food Chem. 2008 May 14;56(9):3111-7. Epub 2008 Apr 16.
    11.) Hurst WJ, Payne MJ, Miller KB, Stuart DA. Stability of cocoa antioxidants and flavan-3-ols over time. J Agric Food Chem. 2009 Oct 28;57(20):9547-50.
    12.) Miller KB, Hurst WJ, Flannigan N, Ou B, Lee CY, Smith N, Stuart DA.Survey of commercially available chocolate- and cocoa-containing products in the United States. 2. Comparison of flavan-3-ol content with nonfat cocoa solids, total polyphenols, and percent cacao.J Agric Food Chem. 2009 Oct 14;57(19):9169-80.
    13.) Stahl L, Miller KB, Apgar J, Sweigart DS, Stuart DA, McHale N, Ou B, Kondo M, Hurst WJ. Preservation of cocoa antioxidant activity, total polyphenols, flavan-3-ols, and procyanidin content in foods prepared with cocoa powder. J Food Sci. 2009 Aug;74(6):C456-61.
    14.) Djoussé L, Hopkins PN, North KE, Pankow JS, Arnett DK, Ellison RC. Chocolate consumption is inversely associated with prevalent coronary heart disease: The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Family Heart Study. Clin Nutr. 2010 Sep 19. [Epub ahead of print]
    15.) Ortega N, Romero MP, Macià A, Reguant J, Anglès N, Morelló JR, Motilva MJ. Obtention and characterization of phenolic extracts from different cocoa sources. J Agric Food Chem. 2008 Oct 22;56(20):9621-7. Epub 2008 Sep 27.

  • 10 Risk Factors cause 90% of Strokes

    10 Risk Factors cause 90% of Strokes

     

    By Dr. Dana Myatt

     

    In a large, multi-country evaluation of stroke risks published this month in The Lancet, ten risk factors emerged as accounting for 90% of all strokes. The risks are:

    1. High blood pressure (history of blood pressure >160/90 even when controlled by medication)
    2. Current smoking
    3. High waist-to-hip ratio (“fat around the middle”)
    4. Poor diet
    5. Lack of physical activity
    6. Diabetes
    7. Alcohol- more than 30 drinks / month OR binge drinking
    8. Stress and/or depression
    9. Heart disease
    10. Increased apolipoproteins B to A1  ratio

    Sounds like the list of risk factors for a LOT of health problems, so “cleaning up your list” might be one of the most important health measures you can take.

    What to do to make your “list” more favorable? The “corrections” for the most part are obvious.

    1. Get your blood pressure back to normal through natural, curative methods, not just with drugs.
    2. Stop smoking.
    3. Lose weight, especially belly fat. Hormone balancing and decreasing carbohydrates goes a long way toward correcting belly fat.
    4. Eat a better diet. This means more “real” foods, like meat, eggs,vegetables and limited fruit, and less junk food and “empty calories” including simple carbohydrates.
    5. Get moving! even 15 minutes per day of walking or other activity will help circulation.
    6. Control diabetes. A ketogenic diet — “The Myatt Diet”— corrects type II diabetes in 3 months or less, predictably.
    7. Watch your alcohol intake. This doesn’t mean you have to give up the booze, just don’t get carried away with the stuff. Thirty drinks a month is one drink per day if you need help with the math.
    8. Do something positive for your emotions. Whether you take a tai chi or yoga class, walk your pooch in the park, have a good conversation with a friend, listen to good music — it is now “conventional wisdom” that yes, indeed, stress is a risk for heart disease and stroke. “Hallelulah, they (conventional medicine) have seen the Light”! And you should, too.
    9. Work to correct any existing heart disease risks or medical conditions.
    10. Ask your doctor to test your apo B and A1 levels. If he/she is unwilling to order these tests, you might want to go ahead and get them done yourself.

     

    Reference

    Risk factors for ischaemic and intracerebral haemorrhagic stroke in 22 countries (the INTERSTROKE study): a case-control study.The Lancet,  Volume 376, Issue 9735, Pages 112 – 123, 10 July 2010.

  • Aspirin Or Grapeseed For Blood Thinning?

    Aspirin Or Grapeseed For Blood Thinning?

     

    By Dr. Myatt with Commentary by Nurse Mark

     

    Modern medicine is awfully quick to whip out the ol’ prescription pad and alter someone’s ability to clot their blood. Coumadin (AKA warfarin – rat poison – it’s other use) is perhaps the most popular of the prescription anticoagulants with a relative newcomer Plavix nipping at Coumadin’s heels in popularity among doctors. Since Coumadin is such an old drug and the patents have long expired and generic versions of the drug all fight for profits. Plavix on the other hand is still under patent meaning that drug giants Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi-Aventis still get all those lovely profits.

    For non-prescription “blood thinners” – most doctors will recommend “an aspirin a day” for just about anything – despite recent findings that this is not only outdated but is actually downright dangerous according to a recent article in the British Medical Journal.

    Fortunately, many folks are catching on to this “you gotta take a blood-thinner” scam that conventional medicine and Big Pharma pushes on us – but the subject is still fraught with confusion and misinformation. After all, if your conventional doctor paints pictures of doom and gloom for you if you don’t follow his advice and just take that little aspirin each day… well, most folks just take it. “After all, my doctor must know what he’s doing, right?”

    Personally, as a Nurse I really dislike the term “blood thinner” – because that is not really what we are trying to do. The term “blood clotting inhibitor” would be more accurate, and what we really need to accomplish is normalization of the clotting pathways so that our blood can clot when it should and not clot when it shouldn’t.

    Here is a recent letter that is an example of the confusion and uncertainty that we see about this subject.

    Wendy writes:

    I recently went to emergency diagnosed with a transient ischemic attack. The doctor prescribed one full strength aspirin per day, which from what I have found seems a large dose. They found no reason for the TIA in all their tests. Heart & arteries are good, no brain damage they were able to detect, cholesterol levels are all below normal, no high blood pressure, blood sugar okay. I am a smoker and I have been under a great deal of personal stress. I have been taking 100 mg of CoQ10, 600 mg of L-Carnitine, Vitamin E, and I started taking grape seed extract, but got concerned when a small shallow cut bled copiously. I picked up some low dose aspirin and need to know if it is safe to take the aspirin and grape seed together. Any other recommendations would be appreciated.

    Wendy is on the right track – and here is Dr. Myatt’s reply:

    Hi Wendy:

    Here’s the full scoop on preventing TIA and blood viscosity problems: http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/stroke.htm

    The whole purpose of taking aspirin (or grape seed) is to thin the blood, so if you noticed that you were bleeding more easily with grape seed, that what it is SUPPOSED to do! You are at far less risk of excess bleeding using herbs like grape seed, bromelain, or ginkgo than with something nasty like rat poison… uh, I mean coumadin (or even aspirin).

    As you will see on the stroke info. page, smoking is a HUGE risk factor for such an event. If you’ve ever though of quitting, now would be the time.

    You will also note the long list of imbalances than can cause such an “event.” Conventional medicine does not evaluate for all of these risk factors. I am available for consultation by phone if you would like to examine why this happened to you and how to prevent any future such events.

    Hope this helps and I hope you Kick Butt!

    In Health,
    Dr. Myatt

    Finally, the whole aim of the game really shouldn’t be to just “thin the blood” to somehow prevent it from clotting – it should be to normalize the blood’s ability to clot and to prevent it from clotting inappropriately. There are many herbs that will accomplish this very safely and effectively. High-dose Fish Oil like Dr. Myatt’s Maxi Marine O3 can also contribute to healthy normal blood viscosity as well as providing a host of other health benefits.

    Another supplement recently developed by Dr. Myatt is Maxi Flavone –  a superior broad-spectrum blend of antioxidant flavonoid herbs that is highly protective against a wide variety of radical oxygen species (ROS) and will also serve to normalize blood viscosity and clotting pathways.

    All this without the risk of hemorrhaging from the slightest cut or injury – just imagine what might happen if you were taking a drug like Coumadin or Plavix or aspirin- and you were involved in, say, an automobile accident…

    With that in mind, remember that Vitamin K – the “clotting factor” is essential to keeping our blood clotting mechanisms normal and healthy. Vitamin K does not make blood clot – it makes it possible for blood to clot when it needs to. Vitamin K is also important to healthy bones and deficiencies are associated with osteoporosis as well as with blood that clots poorly.

    As always, please feel free to follow the links within this article to find further information and references regarding those items.