Heart disease and stroke are forms of cardiovascular disease that are generally caused by atherosclerosis, a buildup of plaque in the arteries over many years. This plaque buildup can restrict blood flow and cause heart attacks, strokes, or gangrene depending on the location. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease include smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, poor diet, lack of exercise, and exposure to pollution. Early warning signs can include numbness, tingling, cold fingers/toes, and swelling. Coconut oil is a healthy fat that may help maintain cholesterol levels and immunity while promoting proper digestion.

1. Fighting Heart Disease

2. Heart and Stroke
Foundation
Disease and injuries of
the cardiovascular
system: the heart, blood
vessels of the heart and
system of blood vessels
(veins and arteries) in the
body and in the brain.
Stroke is due to blood
flow problem in the brain.
Considered a form of
cardiovascular disease.

3. What’s really happening -
Atherosclerosis
Over 50% of all westerners die of diseases that have
an underlying cause of hardening of the arteries.
The material (“plaque”) that blocks blood vessels
builds up gradually over many years.
As plaque builds up in key locations, circulating
blood clots may become trapped in these narrow
openings, suddenly cutting off the blood supply to
vital tissues and precipitating heart attacks, strokes
or gangrene, depending on where the blockages
occur.
Often times the plaque itself can keep on
accumulating until it completely closes the artery.

4. Every 7 minutes in Canada, someone
dies from heart disease or stroke. #1
disease killer.
In 2008 cardiovascular disease accounted
for:
29% of all deaths in Canada
Src: StatsCan 2008
In 2008, of all cardiovascular deaths:
54% were due to ischemic heart
disease
20% to stroke
23% to heart attack

5. Since the 70s, when “low fat”
became mainstream, heart
disease has increased
In spite of decades of low
cholesterol diets, an
abundance of drugs and
surgical procedures,
atherosclerosis has reached
epidemic proportions.
As young as children of 10
(McDonald’s diet)
Autopsies finding plaque
buildup in teens & 20s.

6. Risk Factors

7. Risk Factors
Smoking
Diabetes
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Obesity
Consumption of
polyunsatured oils
(rancid)
Nitrates and nitrites
(food preservatives)
Inhalation of carbon
monoxide-exhaust
fumes

8. Air pollution, inhalation
of toxic chemicals
Chronic constipation
Drinking or bathing in
chlorinated water
Radiation (e.g. x-rays,
gamma rays, ultra violet)
Stress
Lack of regular exercise
Excessive intake of
sugars, alcohol, and/or
caffeine

9. Early Warning Signs
Fingers and/or toes often go cold
Arms and/or legs often “go to sleep”
Numbness or heaviness in arms or legs
Cramps in hand when writing
Sharp, diagonal crease in the earlobe
Tingling sensations in lips or fingers
Short walk causes cramping or pains in the legs

10. Memory not as good as it used to be
Ankles swell late in the day
Persistent, nagging cough
Breathlessness on slight exertion or lying down
Urinating more than twice during the night
Whitish ring under outer part of the cornea in the eye
High blood pressure
Chest pain after physical exertion or emotional
stress

11. Cardiac Arrest
Up to 45,000 cardiac arrests occur each
year in Canada. That’s one cardiac arrest
every 12 minutes.
As many as 85% of all cardiac arrests occur
in homes and public places.
Less than 5% of those who have a cardiac
arrest outside of a hospital survive.
Cardiac arrest incidence rates per 100,000
vary between 53 and 59 across Canada.

12. Cardiac Arrest
Majority of cardiac arrests occur in
residential or public locations
For every 1 minute delay in
defibrillation, survival rate of a
cardiac arrest victim decreases by
10%.
Use of an AED with CPR before the
arrival of Emergency Medical
Services can increase the chance of
survival by up to 75%.

13. Don’t be afraid to use a defibrillator

14. STROKE
80% of strokes are ischemic caused by the
interruption of blood flow to the brain due to a
blood clot.
20% of strokes are hemorrhagic caused by
uncontrolled bleeding in the brain.
3rd leading cause of death in Canada
14,000 Canadians die from stroke / year
More women than men die from stroke.

15. One stroke every 10 minutes.
For every 100,000 Canadian
children under the age of 19, there
are 6.7 strokes.
About 300,000 Canadians are living
with the effects of stroke.
After age 55, the risk of stroke
doubles every 10 years.
A stroke survivor has a 20% chance of
having another stroke within 2 years

16. Transient Ischemic Attacks
(TIAs) aka mini stroke
Blood supply to brain stops briefly.
Some are unaware that this has
happened to them - chalk it up to
“aging (balance problems), confusion
or fatigue”
5x more likely to have a stroke over
the next 2 years

17. Of every 100 people who have a stroke
15 die
10 recover completely
25 recover with a minor impairment or
disability
40 are left with a moderate to severe
impairment
10 are so severely disabled they require long-
term care
For every minute delay in treating a stroke, the
average patient loses 1.9 million brain cells,
13.8 billion synapses, 12 km of nerve fibres.
Each hour in which treatment does not occur,
the brain loses as many neurons as it does in
almost 3.6 years of normal aging.

18. Risk Factors

19. RISK FACTOR: Blood
Cholesterol
Healthy cholesterol levels are dependent upon your
risk of developing heart disease or stroke.
Your doctor will take into account factors that
increase your risk of heart disease and stroke such
as your age, sex, blood pressure, and whether you
have diabetes or smoke.
The higher your risk, the lower your target levels
should be. Your doctor will determine the target
level that is right for you.
Diet and lifestyle, not genetics, plays a major role in
elevated blood cholesterol

20. RISK FACTOR: Diet
Stay away from the frozen food
section, especially the prepared
foods which are laden with
saturated fats, high sodium,
sugar and lots of calories for
little quantity, let alone chemicals
that are destructive to your
health.
Limit your consumption of red
meat to only once per week.
Food consumption among adults
is linked to their household
income, but not so much among
children. Lead by example.
Nutrition begins at home!
Heart disease takes root in
lifestyle habits and formed
during childhood, even in
children, as plaques can start to
build up in arteries.

22. Consume 35-40g
fiber daily.
Soluble fiber (e.g.
strawberries, beans,
oatmeal)
- bind dietary
cholesterol
- carry it out of the
body
- stabilize blood
sugar
- slows the release of
sugar into your
bloodstream.

23. Insoluble fiber (e.g.
whole grain products,
nuts, fruits and
vegetables)
- speeds elimination
- rids environmental and
dietary toxins.
Drink 8-10 cups water daily
to cleanse colon.
Note: if you have kidney or
adrenal gland problems or take
diuretics, you need to speak to
your doctor about how much
water you should drink daily, as
there are specific guidelines for
these conditions.

24. RISK FACTOR: Fat
Fats and oils should be 20-30% of total daily caloric
intake and that should largely be from the healthy
fats (omega-3 and omega-6 sources).
The biggest problem is that consumption of these
fats are from polyunsaturated oils (especially
rancid ones e.g. deep frying or exposure to high
heat) such as vegetable oils, margarines, shortenings
and other processed oils.
They contain peroxidized fats, trans fatty acids and
other modified fat molecules which severely
compromise the immune processes in the body.
Direct correlation between the increase of these fats
and the increase in the incidence of heart disease.
However, healthy fats are crucial to our survival.

25. Fatty acids are of 3 basic types: saturated
(e.g., palmitic acid, stearic acid),
monounsaturated (e.g. oleic acid) and
polyunsaturated (e.g. linoleic, linolenic,
arachidonic) – all of these fats and oils in
our diet consist of various combinations
and proportions of these 3 groups

26. If our diet provides an adequate supply,
the body chooses the best ones for the
tasks needed on that given day for health.
If the best ones are not available, then we
force our bodies to make do with
substitutes.
If only rancid or peroxidized fats or trans
fatty acids are available, then we end up
with inferior or “leaky” cellular membranes
Plus inadequate prostaglandins (anti-
inflammatory control)
Overloaded immune system which may
struggle to stave off free radical damage.

27. There are 2 healthy fats that are “essential”
because we need them for our survival as our
body does not make it, so we have to get it from
our food:
Omega-6 (linoleic acid)
Omega-3 (linolenic acid).
The body can manufacture all of the other fatty
acids it needs.
Udo Erasmus, Ph.D.: the ratio that gives the best
results consistently comes from oils blended to
be richer in Omega 3 (but not too rich) than
Omega 6. He suggests the optimal ratio is 2:1 in
favor of Omega 3 (two Omega 3 to one Omega 6).

28. Omega-6 = predominantly
in seeds, nuts, grains and
leafy vegetables.
Grapeseed oil, pumpkin
seeds, sesame oil, walnut
oil, pine nuts, olive oil,
spirulina (blue-green
algae), borage oil, evening
primrose oil, black currant
seed oil, wheatgerm oil,
cereal grains, and eggs.
Corn, safflower, sunflower,
soybean and cottonseed
oils are also sources of
linoleic acid, but are refined
and may be nutrient-
deficient as sold in stores.

30. Omega 3 = flax seeds, flax seed
oil, hemp seeds, canola oil,
walnuts, blue-green algae
(E3Live) marine sources, walnut
oil, linseed oil, almonds, chia
seeds, lentils, chickpeas,
avocados, oat germ, wheat bran,
leafy green vegetables, lima
beans, split peas, citrus fruits,
melons, cherries and more.
Omega-3’s and omega-6’s are
damaged by heat, except for
grapeseed oil which has a high
smoke point. Better yet, use
Coconut Oil.
These healthy fats must be in the
presence of adequate vitamins
and minerals to be effective.

32. Coconut Oil
Maintaining cholesterol levels,
Increased immunity,
Proper digestion and metabolism,
Hair and skin care,
Stress relief, relief from kidney problems, bone strength
Contains Vitamin E, Vitamin K and iron.
High smoke point so good for cooking.
Antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial

33. Coconut Oil
It contains about 50%
lauric acid, which helps in
preventing various heart
problems including high
cholesterol levels and
high blood pressure.
It does not lead to
increase in LDL levels.
Reduces the incidence of
injury in arteries and
therefore helps in
preventing
atherosclerosis.

34. Plaque is a composite of fibrin, collagen,
phospholipids, triglycerides, cholesterol,
mucopolysaccharides, foreign proteins, heavy
metals, muscle tissue, and debris – all bonded
together with calcium. Therefore, cholesterol is only
one component of the plaque.
In fact, cholesterol is one of the later substances to
be laid down in the plaque – and it may have a
protective role – preventing blood cells from being
damaged by what would otherwise be a rough
surface in the muscular layer of an artery (it’s never
in a vein).
Statins have not proven to be very effective and
come with many side effects, some serious.
Furthermore, there is evidence that reducing
cholesterol too much is causing more problems.
Cholesterol is vital to many functions in the body,
from the production of hormones to manufacturing
of Vitamin D.
Vitamin D is a major contributor to immune health.

35. Test to know how much your body has
already been affected by free radicals:
Extend your hand, palm down, in a
relaxed position. Pinch the skin on the
back of your hand and lift the fold
upwards.
Release this fold of skin and see how
long it takes to pull back into position.
If you are young or have minimal free
radical damage, your skin will snap
back immediately.
Where there is considerable cross-
linkage of collagen, the skin fold will
slowly slip back into place, sometimes
taking several seconds.

36. Dr. Duane Graveline, M.D.
reports on serious side effects
of Statins
Cognitive problems, Dr. Graveline, a family doctor and former
astronaut, suffered from transient global amnesia when taking
statins and has now investigated statins for over 10 years on it’s
effects and detriments.
Personality changes / mood disorders (probably due to the
decrease of cholesterol that diminishes the production of
hormones)
Muscle problems, polyneuropathy (nerve damage in the hands and
feet), and rhabdomyolysis (a serious degenerative muscle tissue
condition)
Sexual dysfunction
Immune suppression (they very thing you require for heart
disease)

38. The Stress Connection
As noted earlier, atherosclerosis is found in the
arteries only. The arteries have an inner muscular
layer/wall. This wall enables the arteries to expand
and contract with the flow of blood that is pumped
by the heart. It also constricts the arteries during
stress, thereby increasing blood pressure so that
more oxygen and nutrients can be delivered to the
outermost parts of the body – to increase energy
levels in preparation for “fight or flight”.
The veins are the low pressure part of the circulatory
system, which returns blood to the heart; and they
do not require a muscular layer to do so.
Reduce stress – exercise, meditation, proper diet,
lifestyle modification, psychotherapy, dance, sing,
art classes.

39. Dr. Dean Ornish
Dr. Ornish's 35 years of research was the
first to scientifically prove that
integrative lifestyle changes can:
Reverse heart disease
Through diet, exercise, how you respond to
stress, and having love in your life.

41. A study at Penn State University compared
rats fed either a high fat diet or a control
diet. Each group exercised on a treadmill
or stayed sedentary. After 6 months,
microscopic examination of the aorta
showed significant differences.
Degeneration of the arterial lining was
greatest in the sedentary rats, regardless
of diet. The arterial lining was healthiest
in the group that exercised – again,
regardless of diet. (Nutrition Report, July/
85)
Sustained sweat for 30 minutes of
exercise daily, but no less than 3X per
week. Note: please check with your
doctor prior to starting any exercise
program.

42. NUTRITIONAL
PROGRAM
1. Stop smoking.
2. Exercise regularly.
3. Increase dietary fibre.
4. 8 glasses of purified water daily.
5. Avoid bathing in chlorinated water.
6. Restrict or eliminate refined sugars.
7. Restrict or eliminate caffeine from all
sources.

43. 9. Avoid processed meats, nitrates, nitrites
and other preservatives.
10. Limit alcohol to 1 drink daily (0 if you
have heart disease)
11. Reduce exposure to radiation, x-rays,
exhaust fumes, carbon tetrachloride and
other inhalant chemicals.
12. Do an Arterial Cleansing Formula
(supplements to remove plaque naturally).
13. Sleep 7-9 hours.
14. Reduce stress.

44. Omega-3 fatty acid with DHA and EPA – reduces
inflammation
CoQ10 enzyme – strengths heart muscle
Calcium and magnesium, taken together is best
Vitamin C – antioxidant and chelating agent
Vitamin E (antioxidant)
Vitamin D3 – powerful immune booster and hormone
regulator
Selenium (antioxidant), 200-500 times more potent than
vitamin E
Zinc (a free radical inhibitor)
Niacin (nicotinic acid or niacin flush form) – helps to dilate
or enlarge blood vessels and helps the body eliminate
excess cholesterol. Note: this vitamin will create a flushing/
rash like symptom that may last up to 3 hours.
Garlic – reduces high blood pressure
Parsley – detoxification and indigestion
Saffron and Tarragon – important for immune system
Turmeric – anti-inflammatory, helps blood flow, reduces
cholesterol levels and improves blood vessel health.