Dr. Sharon Rabb
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HEART AND VASCULAR DISEASE – OUR NATIONAL DISGRACE
”One of the biggest tragedies of human civilization is the precedence of chemical therapy over nutrition. It’s the substitution of artificial therapy over natural, of poisons over food, in which we are feeding people poisons trying to correct the reactions of starvation.” Dr. Royal Lee, 1935
In the 1930’s, Dr. Lee described heart disease as the “disease of white flour”. What he meant was that heart disease is the result of eating processed foods—heart disease is a nutritional disease. Today, heart disease is a rampant killer in the adult population. This is a sad fact because heart disease is easily prevented and is one of the easiest diseases to heal, once you know and understand the dynamics of heart health. Before addressing these dynamics, let us go back in history.
What did the majority of people die from 100 years ago? The answers are accidents and infectious
illness. What will one half of every American die from currently? You guessed it: Heart disease. (I include heart and vascular disease under
heart disease as I believe them to be so interrelated as to be almost
inseparable.). Heart disease was
rare—now it is the leading cause of death—a stunning statistic! Why?
Why has heart disease become so prevalent? In a word—diet! The fact that heart disease is in large part a
nutritional deficiency disease has been known by a core of health care
professionals since the early twentieth century. Why has this information been kept out of
public awareness? In a word—greed. The fact that heart disease is caused by a
lack of whole food nutrients is now resurfacing in the medical literature. The first autopsy to identify heart disease
was noted only a few years after the advent of processed white flour. Heart and vascular disease is a direct result
of fraudulent chemicals masquerading as food.
It is a deficiency disease of essential vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals
vital to a healthy body. In particular,
these vitamins are whole food supplements inlcuding Vitamin A, B, C, E, and essential
minerals and fatty acids. This article
will attempt to explain the interrelationships between the cardio vascular
system and these nutrients and how they function. Let me just repeat again as I have in other
articles that vitamins occur in nature as complexes of many molecules and are not manufactured and sold
over the counter. (See Healing from
the Inside Out).
All chronic illnesses are primarily deficiency diseases, but no where else is this more evident than in the cardiovascular system. Our food supply was devitalized and made toxic to increase the profits of food manufacturers. By rendering them useless as foodstuffs, these processed foods became virtually imperishable and had an indefinite shelf life. They could be made cheaply and distributed nationwide to increase profits. In order to maitain a long shelf-life, they had to be rendered “lifeless” to prevent spoilage and infestation. Nothing that can sit on a shelf for months is food. During this time period, a core group of medical professionals tried to ban these chemical synthetic “foods” thus initiating a “war” in the medical literature. The food companies in conjunction with high level medical authorities decided to “fortify” these devitalized foods with synthetic, and/or isolate vitamin fragments thus connoting that the worthless foods were now better than the original wholesome grain products. Ha! That was the most medically dangerous lie ever perpetuated on the American Public.
It was known then and is currently being reestablished by
medical research that these isolate-synthetic vitamins are harmful to your
body. When you combine the denatured
foods, isolate vitamins, and other toxic chemicals (bleach, preservatives, high
fructose corn syrup and others) you have a deadly substance passing as
food. (See my article on Diabetes
for information on these chemicals.) Dr.
Alice Faye Morgan from
The major groups of vitamins taken out of grain products are whole food B, E, and essential fats. Organically bound minerals are also removed. Ground wheat spoils in less than one week unless refrigerated and even then it has a short shelf life. Not only are the vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals destroyed over time and through processing, but the oils in the germ become rancid very quickly. This rancidity is linked to many diseases, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. Of course, we obtain these vital nutrients from other foods to some extent, but fresh grains provide the majority of the nutrients in the correct combination for heart health. Diet is of the utmost importance—not just what should be included but also what needs to be excluded. Even if all the vital nutrients are taken into the body, toxic chemicals can cause great damage and add a tremendous load on the heart and other systems.
There are several bodily systems involved in healthy heart action. These include:
- Cardiovascular
- Muscle
- Nerve
- Endocrine
- Digestive-assimilative-metabolic
These are the major systems, but all the bodily systems are interrelated and interdependent on heart action.
Because the heart is a pump and has rhythm, it is dependent upon the autonomic nervous system (that portion of the nervous system that is not under voluntary conscious control). There are two branches of the autonomic system—the sympathetic and the parasympathetic system. The sympathetic acts as the accelerator to the heart and the parasympathetic acts as the brakes to the heart. When they become imbalanced through improper diet, emotional and mental behaviors, and/or genetic predisposition, then either the accelerator or the brakes can take over and an imbalance occurs.
The sympathetic system tends to speed and increase blood circulation in response to physiological demands. The parasympathetic system (or vagus) inhibits according to similar demands.
Stimulants to the
sympathetic Stimulants
to the parasympathetic
(vagus)
Exercise Worry
Anger Shock
Excitability Bad news
Certain drugs Fright
Lack of whole food nutrients Lack of whole food nutrients
Sex
Over stimulation of the sympathetic system Overstimulation of the
results in “sympatheticotonia”
parasympathetic
or vagus system results in “Vagotonia”
Symptoms include:
Symptoms include:
Hypertension Hypotension
Rapid respiration Irregular respiration
Tachycardia (racing heart) Bradycardia (slow pulse)
Dry mouth Angina pectoris
Low gastric acidity (hypochlorhydia) Excessive salivation
Gastrointestinal hypotonicty Gastric and duodenal ulcer
Constipation Hyperchlorhydria
Dehydration Nervous indigestion
Spastic sphincter Diarrhea
Leukopenia Relaxed sphincter
Hydration
Leukocytosis
Because the autonomic nervous system controls both the heart and the digestive system, heart symptoms and digestive problems are usually concomitant. Heart disease can result from any combination of the above symptoms, although one is usually dominant. It is the available calcium, phosphorus and potassium that balance these two nerve branches. Calcium (only available if phosphorus is present) stimulates the sympathetic and potassium stimulates the parasympathetic (vagus). For example: If someone is under constant worry and calcium/phosphorus become lowered in relation to potassium, then the “brakes” are applied—not allowing the accelerator (the sympathetic) to balance it. Conversely, if someone exhibits a Type A personality (under constant hyperactivity) and potassium becomes lowered in relation to calcium, then the accelerator takes control and the person develops “sympatheteconia” with all the attendant consequences.
”Let us here consider the patient having
a heart that is somewhat impaired functionally
or organically, so that it is unable to respond to demands for reserve
effort. Suppose a deficiency of
potassium develops with consequent over-stimulation by the sympatheticus by
reason of the impaired vagus inhibition.
The heart will be found to be laboring as if under the demands of
exercise—an engine without a governor.
Nutritional deficiency here aggravates a situation that would not otherwise
be serious.” Vitamin News – Dr. Royal Lee – 1942
Determining which branch of the autonomic nerve system is out of balance and then balancing the mineral ratios could go a long way in supporting heart health. The human system needs organically bound minerals found in living systems—particularly the plant kingdom. (More on minerals later).
In the article mentioned above, Dr. Lee states: “With vitamin deficiency to starve the endocrines and mineral deficiency to paralyze either or both divisions of the autonomic system, any combination of the two lists of consequences of autonomic imbalance is possible. Vitamin B deficiency alone can so impair the muscular and nervous functions as to cause extreme embarrassment of the heart”.
Let’s look at the Vitamin B complex. This complex performs two major functions and
several thousand minor functions: Major
functions are nerve health and energy or carbohydrate metabolism. The heart needs constant nourishment and
healthy nervous control (see article on diabetes for more info on Vitamin
B). The B complex divides itself into
two major categories: fat soluble and
water soluble. The fat soluble fraction
is generally speaking vasodilating and is referred to collectively as Vitamin G
complex. The water soluble portion is
vaso-constricting and is referred to as Vitamin B complex. The body needs a balance of both but does not
receive the “G” complex in any fortified synthetic food or isolate
vitamin. From this fact you can readily
understand why hypertension and nerve degeneration are so prevalent. In other words, if hypertension were a
symptom, then the individual would take more whole food vitamin G than whole
food vitamin B. The reverse would be true with hypotension. However, if the individual was on a good
nutritionally balanced diet—heart disease would not be an issue and neither the
whole food B or G supplements would be needed.
The heart is totally dependent on nerve health and healthy digestion. Every organ in the body is dependent on
whole food nutrients.
“It should be evident that a complex vitamin
concentrate is the only scientific one to use in cardiac conditions because of
the innumerable various factors, all necessary, which are present in the
vitamin B complex. Stepp, Kuhnau, and
Schroeder recognize this fact when they say, “—in cases of vitamin B1
deficiency not responding upon administration of highly purified vitamin B1
preparation in a manner expected, it is recommended therefore, to prescribe
yeast (Brewer’s or dry) which contains all the factors the vitamin B group—“ Vitamin News: Dr. Royal Lee, 1935
“SP” Vitamin B Complex concentrate contains these vitamins and associated food principles of the Vitamin B group and is in a much more concentrated form than yeast preparation. “SP” Vitamin B complex concentrate was developed over a ten year period of clinical tests on human subjects. It is a food concentrate of the B group and the associated food principles necessary to produce completely satisfactory results from Vitamin B therapy. (Yeast is also very hard to digest).
Lee has referred to heart disease as beriberi of the heart (beriberi is a B vitamin deficiency disease). However, Vitamin B complex is not the only vitamin involved. Vitamin A deficiency induces susceptibility to infection of heart valves and prevents the production of normal healthy epithelial cells. These “skin” cells line the cardiovascular system.
Vitamin C deficiency can cause shortness of breath, rapid heart action and rapid respiration. I am not referring here to ascorbic acid: ascorbic acid is not Vitamin C! (see Healing from the Inside Out). Ascorbic acid can actually exacerbate cardiac symptoms. Whole food Vitamin A & C deficiency together can produce:
- Physical weakness – lack of oxygen to tissues
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid respiration
- Rapid heart action
- Tendency to disease of blood vessels and heart
- Weakened protein structures of heart and blood vessels
In infection, all vitamins play a role in eliminating the toxins from microorganisms which cause most of the damage. Infections can set up an acid environment which depletes the minerals needed in healthy heart action. These minerals include calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and sodium. Vitamins regulate mineral metabolism. Most people believe that all they need to do is “Take a calcium supplement”—not understanding which supplements are better or even effective and what else they might need to properly use the supplements.
In the human body, calcium metabolism is like a transport
system. Calcium is on a transport system
as are most minerals. It is like moving
to
Calcium deposits can result in:
- Decreased
vessel wall permeability.
- Hardening
of the vessels
- Decrease
in vessel size thus causing an increase in blood pressure
- Desensitizing
of the nerve ending of the sympathetic nervous system preventing vasodilatation
of arteriole system
Essential fatty acids are very important in maintaining cardiovascular health and are usually lacking in most diets. Essential fats are needed for:
- Mineral metabolism
- Digestion and metabolism of dietary fats
- In maintaining healthy endocrine balance (you can’t make a hormone without fatty acids)
- Skin and bone health
- Overall health of all tissues
Here are some facts concerning calcium metabolism:
- Either a deficiency of nutrients necessary to assimilate calcium or a calcium deficiency can cause the same symptoms.
- The thyroid gland is a calcium eliminator and the thymus and parathyroid promote calcium absorption.
- High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) blocks calcium metabolism. (See Article on Diabetes).
A healthy heart is a very complicated issue which involves adequate amounts of whole food vitamins, organically bound minerals and a good balance of the endocrine glands. The adrenal gland is foremost to be balanced. The adrenals and the thyroid to some extent “back up” the heart and promote healthy heart action. The adrenals are the glands of stress. Regulating the adrenals with proper nutrition and protomorphogens (PMGs—see article on PMGs) can greatly support healthy heart action.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is primarily a disease of the Western lifestyle:
- Highly processed foods
- Synthetic chemical additives
- High stress
- Lack of exercise
- Lack of whole food nutrients
The keys to a healthy heart lie in addressing these issues—particularly nutrition. There will never be a drug that can cure heart disease because CVD is not a drug deficiency disease—it is a nutrient deficiency disease!
“Correct nutrition must precede more difficult therapeutic measures or we will find ourselves treating symptoms rather than cures…Surgery can’t cure a dietary deficiency but only remove consequences.” Dr. Royal Lee, Vitamin News, 1935
According to established medicine, high cholesterol is now considered
a significant risk for heart disease, however, this is not true! Hypercholesterol is an indication that fats
are not being digested and metabolized.
But hypercholesterol is the not the problem. Hypercholesterol is a vague term. Just how high is too high for total
cholesterol? That is a very difficult
question and depends on other factors and problems in the individual. If your cholesterol is considered high, most
doctors want to put you on statins: Think
before you take these drugs!
According to the research of Dr. Bruce West in
Statins (Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs) Prevent Cancer?
Both three and seven years ago I
wrote that if you are getting on in years, your cholesterol has little meaning
when it comes to heart attack. I recommend
that if you are over 65 years old, you should simply reject cholesterol
lowering therapy and forget about your cholesterol. Well those recommendations were not strong
enough. It now turns out that as you get
older, your chances of living longer go up with your cholesterol level.
Also, studies in Geriatrics and other journals have studied up to 150,000 people over 15 years and have shown that especially in the elderly, there is at least a doubling of the risk of death—especially from cancer—in those with lowered cholesterol levels. Studies repeatedly show that people with high cholesterol levels are at a greatly reduced risk for cancer.
Health Alert, Vol. 22, No. 8
Over 90% of the cholesterol in the body is manufactured for bodily activity. Only 10% is dietary. Cholesterol is an indirect indicator of problems in fat metabolism but it is not a risk factor in and of itself. Taking a drug to lower cholesterol is insane when you can improve health naturally.
Drugs do not prolong life if you have cardiovascular issues. Research has also shown that blood pressure drugs increase strokes and fail to stop heart attacks or prolong life. My first degree was in research in public health and I was taught to question every research article I read and to never believe the claimed results but to evaluate the data myself. Dr. Bruce West in his medical newsletters does the same thing: He questions and evaluates the actual data. Several years ago he was questioning research, especially heart disease. He had this to say then: “The amazing final line is that the average person taking blood pressure drugs for 30 years will gain an additional nine days of life at a cost of about $1,000 per year vs the patient taking nothing”. (Dr. Bruce West, Health Alert, Vol. 22, No. 3).
In Dr. West’s current newsletter (2005), he is even more passionate toward drug use for CVD—citing a mega study called the Medical Research Council study (MRC):
“The interpretation of
this study in real English for real people is as follows: blood pressure drugs will help 12% of people
with high blood pressure reduce their risk of stroke by eight hundredths
of one percent per year. For 88% of
people, blood pressure drugs will increase their risk of stroke by
thirty three hundredths of one percent per year.
If you do the
complicated math on these tiny, tiny numbers, you would end up with the fact
that blood pressure drugs increase the risk of stroke by 0.3% per year!”
Drug companies actually claim this study supports the use of
blood pressure drugs to reduce the incidence of strokes and heart attacks. The truth is that the data from most
research in
No chronic illness is a drug deficiency disease—so no chronic illness will ever be cured by drugs! Drugs only treat symptoms and in the process cause other complications. You can heal yourself from disease using natural methods. Healing may not come overnight. Do not expect instant results when attempting to heal the body. You did not get sick overnight so chances are that healing will take time—unless it doesn’t! This does not mean that you will not see some results in the beginning, but you may become worse before you feel better. This is known as the “healing crisis” and is the attempt of the body to rid itself of toxins and rebalance and reestablish equilibrium. Not everyone experiences this; but the main issue is to understand what is happening and not become discouraged and give up. Drugs work instantly; however, they only treat symptoms—they do not heal.
The only “tricks” in the allopathic doctor’s bag are surgery
and drugs. Doctors are not taught even
basic nutrition in medical school. Traditional doctors achieve their primary
education from schools supported by the drug institution and they receive their
on-going education from drug reps. Most
physicians do not take the time to even read medical research much less
question it. Here is what the former
editor of the esteemed British Medical Journal had to say: “Medical
journals are no more than extensions of the marketing arm of the pharmaceutical
companies”.
My advice to you is: Question…question…question! Take responsibility for your own health. Seek advice but ultimately you make the decisions about your own health.
No one should stop taking drugs “cold turkey”. This can be extremely dangerous. If you decide to stop taking drugs, do so gradually under the care of a healthcare professional. I recommend starting a natural, holistic process and then ease off the drugs gradually. Everyone with heart disease should begin a “natural program” even if you still opt for drugs. This program should include:
- Healthy diet (not the one advocated by the American Heart Association).
- Whole food supplements
- Exercise
- Fresh
air and some sun exposure
- Healthy
sleep patterns
- Mental
housecleaning
- Spiritual
books and practices
- Emotional
support (and counseling if needed)
I would also add that most insurance companies do not cover natural methods of healing so your cost will be out of pocket. Expect this. If the institution of medicine could actually heal, the cost would be several times what natural healthcare professionals charge.
Last week, I went to my bank to make a deposit. I saw several elderly people selling hot
dogs, white bread buns, potato chips and soft drinks. Then I noticed a large sign that read: “Donations
to the American Heart Association”. I
inquired of the lady at the table if she saw any problem with the American
Heart Association selling the very foods that contribute to heart disease…of
course she did not answer. What is
wrong with this picture?
In closing, I would like to include a testimonial given by a very grateful patient:
Twenty three years
ago, I had a heart attack followed one week later by a severe stroke.
The stroke paralyzed
the right side of my body, and I lost my voice.
After extensive physical therapy, I recovered my voice and was able to
walk with the help of a cane, but was permanently disabled. In September of 1996 I began to experience
blackouts, nausea, dizziness and my heart was racing. I went to the hospital and was diagnosed in
the emergency room with tachycardia. My
heart stopped and I was revived by electric shock! The next day my cardiologist informed me that
I needed an Implanted Cardio Defibulator (ICD) or I would die. I agreed and it was done the next day. I was put on Corderone, but had a lot of
side effects. Depression started to set
in. My doctor told me to give it
time…that he really couldn’t do more. I
felt miserable.
It was at this time
that I sought the help of Sharon Rabb.
I was desperate for some help.
Within the first week
I noticed a difference—I felt better.
Every day I got better and better.
After a month my strength returned, my outlook took a huge positive
jump. I began to walk for exercise.
It was time to visit
my physician again for a reading of my ICD’s activity. I had the test and was told the device had
been activated 455 times. (My heart had stopped and had to be restarted that
many times by the ICD). I continued
with Dr. Rabb’s protocol. When I was
tested again after 3 months—I was told that the device did not have to start my
heart at all—in other words, there had been no activity at all.
Upon hearing this
report,
Sharon Rabb is the
most powerful positive person and the warmest, most loving being I have ever
met. I am starting my eighth month of my
newfound life and I’m feeling wonderful like a young child. I highly recommend Sharon Rabb and her
complete program of nutritional supplements.
They get results—I am the proof.
BG