Heart Attack

A Nutritarian diet and lifestyle can significantly lower and eliminate the risk of having a heart attack. It is estimated that 15.4 million Americans ages 20 and older have coronary heart disease. Approximately every 44 seconds, an American will have a heart attack. There are greater than 500,000 new cases of heart attacks each year^.1 These numbers will continue to climb unless drastic changes are made to the way most people eat.

Chest pain is the main symptom of a heart attack. The pain can radiate to the left arm or jaw and usually increases with activity. This can be accompanied by shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, and fatigue, however, in certain cases, such as in women or diabetics, standard symptoms may not be present making it difficult to diagnose. Many medical conditions (e.g., acid reflux, esophageal spasms, costochondritis, pneumonia) can mimic cardiac chest pain. Evaluation involves history, physical, EKG, and blood tests to look for damaged cardiac muscle tissue.

Medical conditions that increase plaque burden and cause inflammation in the body will increase the risk of having a heart attack, however, most of the risk factors listed below are caused by the disease-promoting diets most people in the modern world eat. These are, therefore, secondary risk factors, not primary, meaning that obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, as well as diabetes and insulin resistance all can resolve with adherence to a Nutritarian diet. Plus, treating these secondary risk factors with drugs is relatively ineffective because the underlying etiology is not adequately addressed. Traditional risk factors include:

• obesity
• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• insulin resistance
• diabetes
• sedentary lifestyle
• tobacco use

Though a heart attack is a medical emergency and needs urgent medical attention to potentially survive and reduce the amount of myocardium that is damaged, all patients, once stabilized, should adopt a Nutritarian diet as primary treatment and to prevent future cardiac events.

Diet

• Heart attacks or myocardial infarction, are avoidable. For over 25 years, caring for thousands of patients with advanced heart disease, I have routinely observed dramatic improvement in disease markers the resolution of symptoms and the avoidance of future acute cardiac events. A Nutritarian diet reduces atherosclerotic plaque buildup in the arteries. Colorful plant foods such as vegetables, berries, and tomatoes lower inflammation in the body that can contribute to the buildup of plaque and cause clot formation leading to a heart attack. It also provides important minerals and vital micronutrients that accelerate fat loss and plaque reduction. Thousands of individuals have reversed their heart disease following a Nutritarian diet.
• Eat sufficient foods with omega-3 fatty acids, such as seeds (flax, chia, hemp), walnuts, and soybeans. Nuts and seeds have a beneficial effect on multiple cardiovascular risk factors and have been shown to lower the risk of sudden cardiac death.¹
• Avoid animal products or limit to a condiment or flavoring in only 1-2 ounce portions a few times a week.
• Meal plan: Cardiovascular disease reversal

Supplements

• Dr. Fuhrman’s general supplement protocol for adults (see Vitamin Advisor for details) includes:
  • Multivitamin (without beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin E, folic acid, copper), such as Women’s Daily Formula +D3, Men’s Daily Formula +D3, or Gentle Care Formula.
  • Omega-3 DHA and EPA, such as DHA+EPA Purity.
  • Optional: Consider adding a mixed mushroom immune supplement, such as Immune Biotect, because of the potential immune system benefits throughout life from assorted mushroom phytochemicals not normally consumed in the diet.
• Additional supplements:
  • LDL Biotect contains plant sterols, which have been extensively researched and are FDA approved for lowering cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of heart disease.*

Exercise

An exercise routine is essential in promoting cardiac health. Routines should be catered to the individual, as some patients may experience episodes of chest pain with aggressive exercise, so some limitations may be necessary.

Read

• The End of Heart Disease
• Study: Improved Cardiovascular Parameters With a Nutrient-Dense, Plant-Rich Diet-Style: A Patient Survey With Illustrative Cases
  • Published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine in 2015, this study demonstrated dramatic improvements in cardiovascular risk factors in response to a Nutritarian diet, and includes case histories documenting reversal of coronary artery disease. ²

Other considerations

Elimination of tobacco in conjunction with a Nutritarian diet is necessary to reverse atherosclerosis and reverse the risk of cardiovascular disease.³

* Foods containing at least 0.4 grams per serving of plant sterols, taken twice a day with meals for a daily total intake of at least 0.8 grams, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. LDL Biotect provides 0.54 grams of plant sterols in each two-capsule serving.