Sue Visser
One diet cannot possibly suit everybody because we are not all the same. There are different gut biomes for different people. Some thrive on meat or wheat, while others can’t tolerate gluten or lactose. The gut is directly linked to the brain and affects your mood. Use Food as Medicine to make you healthy and happy!
Please note: These discussions are about our relationship with food and are not intended as medical advice. Should you prefer using natural alternatives to your prescribed medications, please consult your doctor, who can assist you and supervise a reviewed protocol. Certain foods, supplements, herbs and spices that are used therapeutically may compete with (or oppose) certain drugs – but do not have such harmful effects. A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down but using food as medicine does not require any sugar and does not deplete any micronutrients.
Malnutrition
It has been said that the leading cause of death worldwide is malnutrition. Why then address symptoms of a lack of vitamins and minerals with a list of medications that further deplete our key micronutrients? Drugging people who are crying out for zinc, magnesium, vitamin C and a little sunshine, for example, has resulted in a perpetual state of dis-ease. The adverse effects of nutrient-depleting drugs create new symptoms, requiring further pharmaceutical intervention. What has happened to our innate defenses, our anti-inflammatory mechanisms or those that regulate respiration, digestion and especially glucose metabolism?
We are now facing the aftermath of the SARS Covid-19 pandemic, with plenty of medications that are used to keep people “going.” The rampant spike-induced inflammation, the lockdown effect, exacerbated by emotional as well as electromagnetic stress, has resulted in a decline in our overall health. Poor eating habits, rampant obesity, a lack of exercise and especially, sunshine have created a universal vitamin D deficiency. For over two years our reserves of glutathione, vitamin C, B vitamins, zinc, magnesium and co-enzyme Q10 have also been drained and our immune systems have been overtaxed. Should long-haul covid be treated with nutrients or medications?
Magnesium plays a key role in glucose metabolism and cardiovascular health and is responsible for over 300 enzymatic processes. Twitches, tremors, muscle cramps, and insulin resistance are signs that we lack magnesium – not drugs. Diuretics are used to expel water from the body. But they only treat the effects, not the causative factors which have the underlying deficiencies of magnesium and vitamin B6. If the electrolyte balance is out of balance, as when we lack sodium, all the magnesium is excreted by the kidneys. This triggers the onset of symptoms such as insulin resistance and contracting blood vessels.
Birth control pills deplete vitamin B6, thus affecting an additional 150 enzyme reactions. B6 is closely linked to digestive, nervous, cardiovascular, and immune systems and even collagen formation. Dry flaky skin, for instance, with mood changes like irritability, anxiety, and depression are typically present in people with vitamin B6 and magnesium deficiencies.
Statin drugs rob us of coenzyme Q10 that is vital for energy production in cells, especially muscle and heart cells. They also deplete LDL cholesterol, the low-density triglycerides that are the precursors of all our steroid hormones. Does this justify hormone replacements? They are also linked to muscle pain, digestive problems, memory loss, confusion and especially elevated blood glucose levels. The list of prescribed medications gets longer, with even more debilitating side effects!
When our reserves of nutrients are depleted – by drugs that are meant to alleviate the condition in the first place we may turn to widely advertised solutions as a last resort. (Evidently, ‘the more you pay, the better they work’ – is a common marketing strategy amongst some of their manufacturers.) However, the interplay between micronutrients and their co-dependencies are poorly understood. While some of them do work so-called miracles, others fail to perform as well as their associated health claims. For example, sugar inhibits the uptake of vitamin B-complex and vitamin C. Vitamin C requires the support of glutathione, magnesium needs calcium, sodium requires enough potassium. So why the fizzy vitamin C and glucose tablets?
The Depression Dilemma. Drugs can adversely affect mood, appetite, nutrient absorption, and metabolism. A malnourished person cannot maintain a healthy body or a sound mind – let alone an efficient immune system. Although the symptoms are treated by routinely prescribed drugs, patients usually fail to recover and will automatically develop a succession of ongoing maladies. A poor diet combined with nutrient-depleting medications make it impossible for them to recover. As a result, side effects of drugs, especially micronutrient deficiencies, are treated with even more drugs. Yet supplementation, dietary advice, and lifestyle recommendations could have prevented such “drug-looping” in the first place.
I am often asked to suggest a way out of such a dilemma. I immediately ask for a list of their medications, supplements, and any advice they have received from their current doctor. Inflammation causes oxidative stress, which inhibits the synthesis of mood-controlling neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin and depletes them more rapidly. An anti-inflammatory drug is not the answer and may have lethal side effects.
Merck, the pharmaceutical company that produced the painkiller Vioxx, agreed to pay a $4.85 billion settlement to nearly 27,000 lawsuits that claimed the drug caused heart attacks and strokes. “Symptoms of serious Vioxx side effects should be reported to a physician immediately. Symptoms of heart attack or stroke, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, lack of urination, signs of significant blood loss should be treated as a medical emergency.” Who is not reading the package insert?
Depression, inflammation and being overweight are all causative factors that are closely linked to micronutrient deficiencies, especially omega 3 oil, vitamin B complex, and magnesium. Fish oil is particularly beneficial as an anti-depressant, according to a network engineer I once met. He works in a telephone exchange building that has no natural lighting, so he became suicidally depressed. Then he heard me speaking about cod liver oil capsules on one of my regular morning health talks on the radio. He said he drank a tablespoon of it every morning for a few weeks and has done so for years as it alleviates his depression! I usually recommend capsules as we had it forced down our throats as children – thanks to Adelle Davis who inspired my mother!
I was horrified to discover that a lady who was taking a sedative as well as Prozac was also taking two separate brands of benzodiazepine drugs, possibly prescribed by different doctors over the years. These drugs have nasty side effects: “slurred speech, confusion, extreme drowsiness, loss of consciousness, shallow or slowed breathing and uncoordinated movements.” She had them all, was fed up, and decided to look for an alternative solution. I recommended a sympathetic practitioner who gave her a thorough check up. He ran tests to determine her parasite load, heavy metal toxicity, and nutritional status. Deficiencies of calcium, magnesium, vitamin B6, Omega 3, vitamin D3, melatonin, sodium, potassium, and iodine were all addressed. She followed a drug-weaning protocol and managed to reduce her medications and eventually come off the antidepressants.
Meeting a new friend made all the difference. They began to go on hikes together, cook meals, and set up herb and vegetable gardens. These new activities, interests, and regular nutritious meals helped them both. The end of loneliness and boredom. The result? A healthier gut and two happier people. We tend to underestimate the healing effects of companionship, concern, and appreciation. Food as medicine for mind, body, and soul!
A simple way to alleviate depression, using lentils. At a health conference many years ago, I was inspired when a doctor friend of ours gave an example of how he once treated a problem patient. I call him doctor Gadget, because he embraces hi-tech Quantum Xeroid computer-based biofeedback scanning to detect his patient’s energy status, deficiencies, toxins, parasite and microbial loads, hormonal problems, neurotransmission, and hundreds of other analyses. A middle-aged lady who frequently saw him asked for a prescription for yet another antidepressant. Nothing was seriously amiss, apart from a few vitamins and minerals and general wear and tear. But he sensed that she was lonely, that she had very little money, and was very bored. Instead, he asked her to help him with some of his “very important scientific research.”
At the time, doctors who were associated with alternative medicine were very keen on sprouts as a super food. They could provide a substantial amount of vitamin C, B vitamins, minerals, enzymes as well as other nutrients. He told her to grow lentil sprouts (lentils are very cheap) and eat a tablespoon of them every day to confirm their benefits. A month later she returned, looking very pleased with herself. The improvement in her health in general was evident after another QX scanning session. A win-win situation. She was called the queen of sprouts by her friends – they all enjoyed eating them. We also started growing and eating our lentil sprouts after this inspiring story. Sprouting also removes phytic acid (an anti-nutrient) plus the lentil-based lectins that disagree with certain blood types.
Do practitioners investigate root causes before dishing out drugs? Do doctors first ask a patient about their gut biome – gas, bloating, cramps and inflammation? Where has all the serotonin gone? Then investigate GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid), the underlying deficiency involved in anxiety and insomnia. Ironically, if a patient responds positively to a GABA supplement (nobody should), it means that they have leaky gut and certainly a leaky brain. This is because an ingested form of GABA does not – and should never cross the blood brain barrier. Similar deficiencies are seen in patients with the metabolic syndrome. Without magnesium, insulin resistance sets in and blood pressure shoots up. Giving patients diuretics (water pills) and restricting sodium in such cases will result in dehydration that ironically increases water retention as a survival mechanism.
Imbalances between calcium-magnesium and sodium-potassium affect blood pressure and the heart rate. This may result in syncope (fainting or passing out) or a full blown “cardiovascular” event. Would that truly justify additional drugs as the go-to solution? Syncope can be caused by cardiovascular drugs commonly used to reduce blood pressure (e.g., antihypertensives, diuretics, nitrates) as well as those affecting cardiac output (e.g., beta blockers, digitalis, antiarrhythmics). Frequent episodes could be further exacerbated by the nutrients that these drugs deplete. Even a simple loop diuretic depletes the body of calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and zinc. Such deficiencies tend to increase magnesium excretion and inhibit passive magnesium absorption. A single-therapy pharmacological intervention cannot provide a one-stop solution as opposed to an orthomolecular approach. This is why combination therapy that includes dietary changes, micronutrients, and herbal remedies is more effective – and much safer.
Getting to the Heart of the Matter – Anaphylaxis, When Food Becomes Your Enemy!
My neighbor, a healthy, slim middle-aged gentleman, suddenly had a heart attack at 7 am one morning. He was rushed to the emergency unit and treated for cardiac arrest. When he returned after two days, he told me that he had always been in good health, without hypertension or any typical cardiovascular issues, prior to being admitted to the emergency ward. He was still puzzled about the constant itching around his neck and on his torso but hadn’t experienced any chest pain or tightness. He only complained about a swollen throat and tongue and had battled to breathe after an evening meal at a friend’s house. During the whole night he struggled, pacing the floor and finally collapsed after sun rise. That was when his wife called for an ambulance. I asked him about allergies. He said he was allergic to pollen. With a food allergy, a form of urticaria (itchy burning skin) most commonly occurs in pollen-allergic patients. What did he have for dinner? Mushrooms and canned tuna. He instinctively avoids mushrooms (they contain spores) – but he did not want to offend his hosts, so he ate them.
The paramedics gave my neighbor CPR, put him on a drip, and the doctors gave him cardiovascular drugs. Nobody took any notice of his complaints about an itchy skin. I saw him two days later after he returned from hospital. His feet were cold and swollen and his back and chest were so painful he that could not lie down. Using polarity therapy and shiatsu, I managed to release the muscle spasm between his shoulders, and he was immediately free of back and chest pain! He never complained about pain after that. I explained that his legs and arms need to move to prevent fluid accumulation in his feet, but nobody listened.
A few months later he had a second spell of six days in the intensive care unit, due to heart failure. The doctor assumed that it was a good idea to clean all the dust that had been accumulating in his lungs. He had no option and five days of treatment cost him a small fortune. His wife sent me the following message: “The cardiologist told him he lost 80% of his heart and nothing could be done for him. I spoke to his cardiologist about stents, bypass, pacemaker…her response was that there was nothing left of his heart to attach or do any procedure. He should be at home to pass on peacefully with his loved ones.”
I could see that the man felt uneasy about his combination of medications when I pointed out their side effects. He was very pale, tired, hunched over and looked anaemic, was dizzy on standing up and spoke very slowly. Evidently, dehydration and hyponatremia (sodium deficiency) are the major causes of death in patients with heart failure within a few days of returning from hospital. He was told to cut out salt and restrict his water intake to 1 liter per day. (“Patients with heart failure and hyponatremia have increased morbidity and a worse prognosis as compared with subjects with normal sodium levels.) His skin was itchy, dry, and flaky. (A common side effect of cardiovascular drugs.) I ran through his list of prescribed drugs and shuddered. Dietary micronutrient deficiency is common in adults with heart failure, with more than 20% of them having a low intake of vitamin A, calcium, magnesium, selenium, iron and iodine and up to 75% having a low intake of vitamin B6 and D3. Anemia inhibits blood oxygenation. Micronutrients, especially iodine, are necessary cofactors for normal cardiac metabolism, and deficiencies have been implicated in the development and progression of heart failure. It is disturbing to see how many of these deficiencies are drug-induced in the first place.
The connection between anaphylaxis and myocardial ischemia. About 50% of anaphylactic reactions are due to a food allergy. It occurs within several minutes or even hours after trigger foods are ingested. Like my neighbor, patients generally experience urticaria, angioedema plus respiratory symptoms such as asthma, rhinitis, or conjunctivitis. Chest pain or angina are rare. Symptoms of hypotension, shock, and cardiac arrhythmias may also occur due to elevated histamine levels and can lead to cardiovascular collapse.
Myocardial depression and impaired ventricular function are the main hemodynamic events of anaphylactic shock. Anaphylaxis affects the heart and especially the coronary arteries, inducing cardiac dysfunction independent of the severity of the initial allergic reaction. Symptoms to watch out for are dyspnea, dizziness, and palpitations with severe hypotension and hypoxemia. There is no chest pain, but the immediate appearance of urticaria (red, burning, itchy skin rashes) are easy enough to spot. Epinephrine injections are the standard treatment for anaphylaxis.
Be on standby, especially if you have a pollen allergy. With known allergies, patients usually carry a syringe called an EpiPen with them. In South Africa they are very expensive and difficult to obtain, according to parents with children who suffer from peanut allergies. Some people fear injections, but by the end of 2023, we should be able to use two needle-free alternatives: “Anaphylm (AQST-109) is a polymer matrix-based epinephrine prodrug candidate product.” It is administered as a sublingual film that begins to dissolve on contact when applied under the tongue, for the rapid delivery of epinephrine. Neither water nor swallowing is required for its administration. With the Neffy nasal spray, blood pressure and the heart rate remained elevated for longer. It is also FDA approved and should be available soon.
Coronary blood flow can be impaired during anaphylaxis so in future, angina and myocardial infarctions need to be considered as part of the clinical picture of anaphylaxis.*
Adverse effects of the medications our “cardio/anaphylactic patient” was given:
Proton pump inhibitors. In addition to all his cardio meds, the specialist included a proton pump inhibitor drug. The patient did not have a stomach ulcer or heartburn. (This drug also depletes magnesium and vitamin B6.) Worse still was a suggestion that the occasional use of alprazolam (a benzodiazepine that his wife was taking for her psychiatric problems), would help, should he get too anxious. Did anybody check the side effects – especially the risk of adverse effects on the cardiovascular system, including heart attacks? (“Alprazolam can slow or stop your breathing, especially if you have recently used an opioid medication or alcohol. Call your doctor at once if you have: weak or shallow breathing; a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out; a seizure; hallucinations, risk-taking behavior; increased energy, decreased need for sleep; racing thoughts, being agitated or talkative.”)
Heartbeat regulators. Adverse effects of Lanoxin for regulating the heartbeat include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain; fast, slow, or an uneven heart rate. Other side effects include a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out, confusion, weakness, hallucinations, and unusual thoughts or behavior. Depletion of magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin B1 (thiamine) may also occur.
Statins. Adverse effects of statins such as Cipla Simvastatin are skin rash with itching, blistering, and peeling; muscle weakness in your hips, shoulders, neck, and back; trouble lifting your arms, climbing or standing; depletion of co-enzyme Q10. Low levels of co-enzyme Q10 cause physical fatigue and muscle weakness, tiredness for no apparent reason, mental fatigue including difficulty in concentrating, and memory lapses. Muscle-related disorders can manifest as myalgia, myopathy or myositis which causes damaged muscle tissue metabolites to leak into the bloodstream. Besides LDL cholesterol, other metabolic enzymes are also blocked, resulting in weakness, joint pain, insomnia, rashes, muscle pain, headaches, infections, sinusitis, chest pain, and peripheral edema. (More drugs please?)
Cyclic nucleotide-gated channel blocker. Adverse effects of Corolan are “double vision, redness of the skin, problems with vision, hives, itching and some dizziness. Fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat, slow or stopped heartbeat, chest pain or pressure, worsening shortness of breath, dizziness, excessive tiredness, lack of energy, swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, and eyes, difficulty swallowing or breathing, hoarseness.”
Antiplatelet medications. Adverse effects of Clopiuwin are “Upper respiratory tract infection, chest pain, headache, flu-like syndrome, joint pain, dizziness, diarrhea, rash, runny or stuffy nose, depression, urinary tract infection, increased bleeding, nosebleeds, itching, bruising. Less common: severely low white blood cell counts (neutropenia), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, acute liver failure, aplastic anemia, low blood pressure (hypotension), hepatitis, muscle pain, eczema, skin redness.” (Yet patients are warned not to take herbal remedies or even cod liver oil or ginger, lest they compete with such a lethal blood thinner!)
Loop diuretics. Furosemide prevents the body from absorbing too much salt. Adverse effects: “A light-headed feeling, like you might pass out; ringing in your ears, hearing loss; muscle spasms or contractions; high blood sugar – increased thirst, increased urination, dry mouth, fruity breath odor; kidney problems -swelling, urinating less, feeling tired or short of breath. Signs of liver or pancreas problems – loss of appetite, upper stomach pain (that may spread to your back), nausea or vomiting, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). Signs of an electrolyte imbalance – increased thirst or urination, constipation, muscle weakness, leg cramps, numbness or tingling, feeling jittery, fluttering in your chest. Loop diuretics deplete the body of calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and zinc. They increase magnesium excretion and inhibit passive magnesium absorption.”
Low levels of potassium and magnesium can cause muscle cramps and/or an irregular heartbeat. Low vitamin C can result in bleeding and bruising disorders (scurvy – damaged epithelium). A zinc deficiency can also weaken the immune system, cause insulin resistance, lead to skin rashes, and result in chronic diarrhea (talk about dehydration!).
Potassium chloride. Adverse effects: confusion, anxiety, feeling like you might pass out, uneven heartbeat, extreme thirst, increased urination; leg discomfort; muscle weakness or limp feeling, numbness or tingly feeling in your hands or feet, or around your mouth. Clinical signs and symptoms of potassium overdosage include paraesthesia of the extremities, listlessness, mental confusion, weakness or heaviness of the legs, flaccid paralysis, cold skin, grey pallor, peripheral vascular collapse, fall in blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, and heart block. (No mention of why sodium and potassium ratios need to be kept in balance as they work in pairs, that hyponatremia is what affects potassium levels, as we now know.) Iodized salt at 30 mg/kg, also provides the recommended daily iodine intake. An iodine deficiency causes thyroid disorders that affect heart disease and stroke such as elevated cholesterol atherosclerosis and the narrowing of arteries in the first place. (See more about these minerals in Food as Medicine, Part 4.)
“No illness which can be treated by diet should be treated by any other means.”
(Moses Maimonides, a Jewish philosopher. 1135-1204)
The professional endorsement of drugs as an exclusive treatment for heart failure. A few days later, our neighbor came over to tell us that he felt sort of fine on all his medications. After reading my written report about all the obvious micronutrient deficiencies and side effects his drugs were causing, he was in denial, even though his skin was very itchy! He asked for a second opinion from the other doctors and cardiologists, and they were quite satisfied with his treatment. They reassured him that his prescription was acceptable as a regular treatment for heart failure. No supplements, no dietary advice, rehab exercises, or encouragement had been given, only a gloomy prognosis. “Not more than a day or two left, according to your cardiogram.”
The best I could do was not interfere with his doctors, let alone the top cardiologist in the country. But I suggested calcium and magnesium supplementation, told him to drink water with lemon juice, and reminded him that skeletal muscles, veins, and valves are what “pump” the blood back into the heart. That is why people get swollen feet and restless legs!
He started walking around outside in the sun as opposed to lying in bed and waiting to die and has decided to get on with his life. I reassured him that anybody with heart failure can easily adapt and still enjoy the rest of their days for several years. He and his wife signed a year’s lease on a bigger three-story house and have moved in. Their office is on the top floor, and he told us that “Nothing is impossible, even if you need a to take a pit stop in between the flights of stairs!” I took the liberty of giving him a slow-release multivitamin/mineral supplement, an iodine complex, and some Coleus tincture, to boost those mitochondria!
What about grapefruit? Why are cardiovascular patients told to avoid grapefruit? Evidently it increases the effect of statins, calcium channel blockers, anticoagulants and antihypertensives, putting the patients a greater risk of the adverse effect that are associated with these drugs. The pharmaceutical companies say so, not me. Grapefruit is a good source of potassium, vitamin C, and pectin. Pectin improves cholesterol metabolism and helps to combat atherosclerosis. I love eating grapefruit with my vitamins, minerals, and omega 3 oil in the mornings—so less becomes more!
What Can We Use as Natural Alternatives?
Start with magnesium, the most common deficiency that is caused by cardiovascular drugs! Magnesium is the 4th most abundant mineral in the body, so it is difficult to understand why this is one of the most common deficiencies we have acquired. It is involved in nearly 300 biochemical and enzymatic reactions throughout the body, including food metabolism and the synthesis of proteins and fatty acids. Magnesium regulates blood sugar levels, lowers blood pressure, prevents heart attacks, and helps maintain the normal functioning of muscles and nerves. Constipation, irritability, and muscle cramps are usually a good indicators of a magnesium deficiency. Also consider hypertension, an irregular heartbeat, fatigue, muscle twitching, anxiety, poor mental health, and osteoporosis as magnesium deficiencies. Rather treat them with magnesium as opposed to immediately turning to drugs. Magnesium is crucial for glucose metabolism as well as for the prevention and treatment of insulin resistance (syndrome X). Diabetics and cardiovascular patients all seem to be lacking this essential nutrient – and now we know why.
To remedy drug-induced magnesium depletion, we can opt for a review of drugs that seemingly try to usurp the role of magnesium and balance out their adverse effects by replacing them with the real thing—magnesium. It is advisable to undergo an extensive professional analysis of your mineral status and work under the guidance of a practitioner who is conversant in orthomolecular medicine if you are wary of taking magnesium supplements. Hair analysis is used for determining your overall mineral status and will indicate heavy metal poisoning, copper toxicity and so on.
It is always advantageous to consume as much magnesium as you can from dietary sources that include nuts (almonds, cashews, peanuts), dark leafy greens like spinach and kale, lentils and beans, avocados, salmon, sweet potatoes, rice, yogurt, fortified cereals, and other foods. The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for magnesium is 400-420 mg per day for men and for women, it is 310-320 mg per day. Remember that calcium and magnesium work in unison, as do sodium and potassium. An excessive intake of magnesium causes diarrhea; magnesium sulphate and magnesium chloride are also used as laxatives.
The real cause of acid reflux and stomach ulcers is Helicobacter pylori. Proton pump inhibitors do not address the cause of the problem. Stomach acid that is too weak has a pH that is too high (alkaline) it should be pH 2. The valve at the base of the esophagus will not close if stomach acid is weakened, so it escapes, bubbles up, and causes heartburn. Antacids and proton pump inhibitors merely suppress stomach acid, even if it is too weak so you can’t digest your food or kill pathogens, especially from infected food. Stomach acid is very acidic (pH 2) for a reason, to kill germs, especially Helicobacter pylori that causes stomach ulcers. If this acidity is not maintained, the stomach cannot break down fats and secrete the “intrinsic factor” that helps us to absorb vitamin B12 and other nutrients from the food that we eat so we feel tired and irritable, due to yet another cause of micronutrient deficiencies.
Our secretary’s elderly father was suffering from a persistent stomach ulcer. She said he was not doing well on the medications that were prescribed and was losing weight, felt tired, and was miserable. This may sound like an old wives’ tale, but his neighbor gave him a bottle of propolis tincture. She came from a family of beekeepers and had dissolved the chunks of propolis in some alcohol. He started to take 5 drops of the propolis remedy under his tongue twice a day. He persisted for six weeks and the acidity, burning and pain gradually subsided. He could eat normally without any discomfort.
I used this trick when a new member of staff was complaining about her incurable stomach ulcer. She too, was suffering from weakened stomach acid. She also took plenty of olive leaf, Artemisia, and clove-based herbal parasite remedies and was cured within three weeks. (Olive leaf doubles up as an anticoagulant and the Artemisia seems to have alleviated her hot flashes.) Herbs have a wide-open therapeutic window.
Doctors tend to underestimate the efficacy of essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids as well as herbs. They can be used to address the root causes of ailments as opposed to suppressing their symptoms and are worth considering. A new trend in medicine is to combine various drugs to improve efficacy, so why not add vitamins?
Natural Beta Blockers. Low-intensity exercise, a low-carb diet, relaxation, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients can act as natural alternatives to several cardiovascular drugs. They help to reduce stress levels. Natural beta blockers reduce the effects of adrenaline naturally so the need for medications decreases. Reducing stress and increasing your tolerance to stress can have beneficial effects on your blood pressure and heart rate. Calcium and magnesium supplements may affect the absorption and effectiveness of prescription medications and should not be taken simultaneously.
Potassium is one of the most powerful all-natural beta blockers. It balances sodium levels and relaxes the walls of blood vessels, which helps to lower blood pressure and the heart rate. Garlic is highly beneficial for the entire cardiovascular system. It lowers inflammation, reduces heart disease risk, and helps normalize high blood pressure. Vitamin B1 helps to reduce the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular complications for people with diabetes. It may also eliminate certain toxins from the bloodstream, reducing damage to heart cells. Like potassium, magnesium helps relax the walls of blood vessels and decreases the risk of hypertension and a rapid heart rate. It is one of the best proven natural remedies for tachycardia. Vitamin D acts as a potent antioxidant and helps us to absorb calcium. Always take vitamin K2 with vitamin D3 to prevent calcium build-up in the arteries. Other natural beta blockers include fish oils (omega-3 fatty acids) L-arginine, amino acids, pumpkin seeds, and leafy green vegetables.
Vitamin D. When vitamin D is deficient, many cellular processes in the body begin to break down, setting the stage for the onset of common diseases such as diabetes, depression, insomnia, and heart disease. The Covid-19 lockdown encouraged darkness and isolation. Working indoors, glued to computers as if in solitary confinement is enough to trigger depression, let alone cause reactive eating and weight gain. No sunshine, (vitamin D), a restless night (computers, blue light and melatonin deficiency), no breakfast (no protein, vitamins and minerals), constipation (dehydrated – no roughage in the diet), gassy and bloated (candidiasis – a deficiency of probiotic flora) and feeling depressed (no serotonin due to gut dysbiosis) are ongoing complaints. What does it take to treat depression – antidepressants?
They are said to be associated with at least a 5% increase in body weight. A popular way to treat obesity relating to cardiovascular diseases is with drugs that can suppress the appetite, but what are the side effects, and do they really stop you from eating the wrong type of foods? Rather stick to a heart healthy diet, one that is best suited to your personal body type and lifestyle and be free from insulin resistance and weight problems as a bonus.
According to “The American Association of Poison Control report, no deaths from any dietary mineral supplement have ever been reported. There were no fatalities from amino acids, creatine, blue-green algae, glucosamine, or chondroitin. There were no deaths from herbs.”
Check the compatibility of your medications when using food as medicine – ask your doctor first.
It is not wise for any patient on medications to suddenly quit them and go “cold turkey.” Please discuss your treatment options with a practitioner who is prepared to listen to you. Someone who can plan a way to optimize supplementation and suggest dietary changes with cleansing protocols. These can be used in combination with prescribed medications until professionally supervised weaning protocols begin to take effect. It is very important to be aware of the side effects of these drugs, especially of the nutrients that they deplete. It is always necessary to find out what food and spices you consume on a regular basis that may compete with some of your medications. For example, the effects of anticoagulants are enhanced if not duplicated by ginger, pineapple, and several herbs. There is a reason that you are told to avoid grapefruit because it seems to potentize, if not compete with, the effects of cardiovascular and other medications.
The idea of recommending food as medicine is to provide the right food in the right quantities at the right time to get the right results. In general practice during a visit, a patient only has a few minutes to introduce themselves, be examined and give a reason why they need a medical prescription. Next! Such an approach is the norm, when patients are financed by a medical aid scheme that does not support practitioners of alternative health modalities. There are also no refunds for any of the unscheduled health products that they sell or recommended. This is a constant problem for people who are stuck in a medical aid channel. They want it all in a package and tell me that it is too expensive and too difficult to change over to the alternative practitioners I recommend. Dietary changes such as including fermented foods, greens, sprouts, fresh fruit, salads and the need to exclude gluten is not what they want to hear. This is especially the case with victims of the long-haul covid syndrome. They seem to have lost their mojo. The point is, do patients really want to confront and overcome their chronic ailments and degenerative diseases? Some are willing to break out of their comfort zone, others are not.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but garlic keeps everybody away!
References and Resources
*Acute Myocardial Infarction Induced by Anaphylaxis – PMC (nih.gov)
Birth control pill FAQ: Benefits, risks and choices – Mayo Clinic
Diuretics: Types, Uses and Side Effects (clevelandclinic.org)
Statin side effects: Weigh the benefits and risks – Mayo Clinic
coenzyme q10 deficiency and statin drugs – Search (bing.com)
Hyponatremia in patients with heart failure – PMC (nih.gov)
Hypothesis: dietary iodine intake in the etiology of cardiovascular disease – PubMed (nih.gov)
The Importance Of Iodine | Victoria Health
https://www.nature.com/articles/450324b
Epinephrine Nasal Spray Ready for FDA; Epi Film Makes Progress (allergicliving.com)
https://reference.medscape.com/drug-interactionchecker
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2515352/
Science 160:265-271. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/5641253
QXCI / SCIO – ENERGY MEDICINE RESEARCH (energy-medicine.org)
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/216062
https://synapse.koreamed.org/articles/1121444#B3
Why Should Heart Patients Avoid Grapefruit? – Stellina Marfa
Beta-blockers stop the effects of the hormone epinephrine (adrenaline), which is responsible for the increase in heart rate and blood pressure that occurs during times of stress1.
https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(10)00346-3/fulltext
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.062430
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijn/2011/732746/
Beta-blockers stop the effects of the hormone epinephrine (adrenaline), which is responsible for the increase in heart rate and blood pressure that occurs during times of stress1.
https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(10)00346-3/fulltext
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.062430
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijn/2011/732746/
9 Signs and Symptoms of Vitamin B6 Deficiency (healthline.com)
coenzyme q10 deficiency and statin drugs – Search (bing.com)
https://reference.medscape.com/drug-interactionchecker
Why Should Heart Patients Avoid Grapefruit? – Stellina Marfa
5 Ways to Increase Stomach Acid Naturally (healthline.com)
7 Signs and Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency (healthline.com)
Published September 23, 2023
About the Author
Sue Visseris the health researcher and product developer for Nature Fresh Health Products. She has developed over 45 products, beginning with her unique Calcium Complex formulation in 1997. With over 25 years of experience in complementary and especially traditional medicine, Sue shares her articles freely with doctors (SA Medical Academic) and other publications. For many years, Sue has given free presentations, radio shows, workshops and has appeared in the two TV series on local herbs (Nature’s Health – 2007 and 2009). She is the author of two books and dozens of research papers and published articles.
Sue investigates current health trends, products and modalities on a constant basis and interacts with fellow South Africans at all levels to learn more about their health issues. Artemisia annua and other anti-malarial species, especially Olea Europa/Afra have now come to the fore as treatments for Covid-19. The new Nature Fresh prototypes are having very successful results with viral infections by using herbs that treat malaria. Contact: sue@naturefresh.co.za ; info@naturefresh.co.za