One measure of aging, the number of heart cells can decrease as much as 30-40% as we get older.  The heart becomes weaker and congestive heart failure can occur.  Methods to increase heart strength should be considered past the age of 45 years. 

Dr. Bob was a MD internal medicine, orthomolecular doctor, MD psychiatrist, chiropractor, and healer 65 years.  He was a diabetic who lived to 108 years with only 1 side effect 2 years before he passed away.  Dr. Bob practiced a system of medicine called orthomolecular medicine.  It is a system of medicine that uses mainly natural substances that are non-toxic and safe in wide range of doses.  It uses mainly herbs and minerals/vitamins. 

The following are orthomolecular methods used by Dr. Bob to increase heart strength: 

1.      Consider the supplement CoQ10.  CoQ10 can improve heart function.  It can help improve blood volume.  This can decrease stress on the heart, helping it to be more efficient.  CoQ10 can help increase energy in the body.  Increasing energy for the heart, will help decrease stress on it.  Improving circulation and increasing energy for heart cells and body can result in decreasing stress on the heart and improving the efficiency of the heart.  When the heart gets weaker, as it can happen in the aging process, the heart is not dying, rather it is having a hard time breathing.  Thus you need to consider focusing on methods that can enhance the proper breathing by the heart.  Supplement CoQ10 at the same time as ALC, described in number 2.  There are different qualities and types of CoQ10 sold, which makes it difficult to describe the appropriate dose.  Consider checking with an orthomolecular doctor or a nutritional specialist on proper doses of supplements.

2.      Consider supplementing acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC).  ALC helps transport fat to cells.  The fat is used by the power plants of the cells, called mitochondria; to produce chemical energy called ATP.  Most of the energy of the body is in the form of ATP and in order to produce optimal amounts of ATP, fat is necessary to be used as fuel in the mitochondria.  The heart needs optimal amounts of energy produced by its mitochondria.  It needs ALC for fat transport to heart cells, for the fat to help produce ATP energy in the heart mitochondria.  Imagine an automobile that has its engine power increased in an automobile shop.  The automobile is now more powerful and can go faster.  ALC is like increasing the power of the engine.  Orthomolecular doses for ALC, especially in the elderly can be 1 gram in the AM and 1 gram around 3:00 PM.  Taking ALC after 3:00 PM can influence the sleep cycle.

3.      Consider the supplement alpha lipoic acid.  Alpha lipoic acid has many functions.  One function, it helps protect the mitochondria from damage.  In order for the body to properly utilize the CoQ10 and ALC to increase the energy of the heart, mitochondria need to be intact and healthy.  Aging processes increase damage to mitochondria and alpha lipoic acid can help prevent mitochondria damage.  The CoQ10 and ALC help the mitochondria work more efficiently and powerfully, but the example of the automobile, increasing the power of the engine does not mean the car will not break down, it means the car will now go faster.  Alpha lipoic acid can help keep the mitochondria from breaking down, sort of the idea of the automobile engine burning cleaner fuel.  If the car goes faster it does not mean it will burn cleaner.  Supplement the appropriate doses in two divided doses, taking both doses at the same time as you take ALC.

4.      Consider supplementing ginseng with the extract G-115.  G-115 has been proven to increase oxygen utilization in the body.  Oxygen is the rate-limiting factor in producing ATP.  ATP energy requires oxygen as the potential rate-limiting step.  This means that the amount of oxygen will determine the efficiency and amount of ATP that can be produced at any one time.  From Harper’s Biochemistry, “which allows the respiratory chain to function at the maximum rate until the tissue has become virtually depleted of oxygen” (Ref. Robert K. Murray, MD, Ph.D., Daryl K. Granmer, MD, Peter A. Mayes, Ph.D., D.Sc., Victor W. Fodwell, Ph.D., Harper’s Biochemistry, 25^th Edition, Appleton & Lance, Stanford, Connecticut, 2000, Page 140).  So the key to producing ATP energy at the maximum rate is availability and amounts of oxygen.  Thus G-115 can enhance oxygen utilization, which can result in the production of more ATP.  This will help increase energy for the heart cells and other cells of the body.

5.      Consider supplementing vitamin C.  Vitamin C is involved in synthesizing the collagen for vascular walls.  The strength of the vascular walls can be determined by the strength of the collagen.  Inadequate levels of vitamin C can lead to weaker vascular walls.  The optimal amounts of vitamin C, to help maintain strong collagen for vascular walls, as not yet been determined by science.  Orthomolecular medicine often uses a method called 80% bowel tolerance to determine the amount of vitamin C being utilized by the body.  You can find this method in the article called, “Overlooked Cure for Terminal Illness.”  Orthomolecular doses of vitamin C are often 5-15 grams, without producing bowel tolerance.  Consider using only pharmaceutical grade vitamin C, the highest quality of vitamin C supplementation.  Strong vascular walls will help the heart to work efficiently and stronger.

6.      Consider the supplement the amino acid proline.  It is involved in producing collagen.  It can help make vascular walls stronger.  The dose will change as we age, but an orthomolecular dose cans be1/2 gram twice a day.

7.      Consider the supplement the amino acid lysine.  It is involved in producing collagen.  It can help make vascular walls stronger.  The dose will change as we age, but an orthomolecular dose can be ½ gram twice a day.  Amino acids can sometimes compete with each other for transport to cells or for other reasons.  Thus, until science determines if proline and lysine compete with each other for any reasons, try and take lysine and proline by themselves, without eating any protein for about 3 hours before and 3 hours after you supplement them.

8.      Consider supplementing vitamin B3 called niacin.  Niacin is involved in proper utilization of fat.  As described above, fat is essential to power the mitochondria.  Read the article in the overlooked cure section of the web site called, “The Anti-Death Vitamin.”  This article describes a 20-year study of niacin called the Coronary Drug Project.  Consider modeling your niacin doses after this renowned study, using 750 milligrams each day or more.  Consider divided doses to spread out the effect of niacin.  The form of niacin Dr. Bob advised is called hexanicotinate.  It is considered to be a more potent form of niacin.  Hexanicotinate is a no flush form of niacin

9.      Consider supplementing vitamin B6.  Dr. Bob advised a total of 100 mg of vitamin B6, in divided doses.  Vitamin B6 is involved with liquid balance in cells.  Liquid balance is vital for the mitochondria to work optimally.  Dehydration of the mitochondria can reduce efficiency and function.

10.  Consider supplementing a B-50 2-3 times a day.  Supplement at the same time as ALC.  If you use the B-50, then the B6 is included in the B-50 and you do not need to supplement the B6 separately.  The B vitamins run the cells of the body.  They help regulate cell energy, cell detox, cell permeability, and many more functions.   Dr. Bob advised the B vitamins can help remove plague that can build up on vascular walls.

11.  Consider supplementing carnosine.  Carnosine is synthesized from the amino acid histidine.  Carnosine helps buffer muscle tissue.  A buffer is a solution that resists change in pH following the addition of acid or base.  A muscle fatigues as the pH drops.  Carnosine can help maintain proper pH levels longer helping the muscle tissue stay stronger for a longer time.  Although science has not yet determined if carnosine can help the heart tissue stay stronger, it can help maintain proper pH levels longer, which should delay fatigue.  This can result in a stronger heart.  Furthermore, when you maintain proper levels of pH in muscle tissue, this helps make cell walls more permeable.  Increased permeability helps the cells breathe more efficiently.  This can help heart tissue breath more efficiently.

12.  Consider the supplement TMG.  TMG can help proper methylation of methionine.  This can help decrease homocysteine levels.  High homocysteine levels can result in scarring to vascular walls.  TMG can help reduce homocysteine levels. 

In conclusion, all of the above, numbers 1-12, can help decrease the total load of stress on the heart.  Decreasing stress on the heart should help increase heart strength.  Increasing heart strength can help the heart breathe more properly.  Proper breathing by the heart can increase the energy of the heart and help improve overall health.  Good luck. 

Note – In order for these anti-aging ideas to be successful, you must use supplements of the highest quality. Dr. Bob often said, “almost all supplement companies produce poor quality.”  You can consider the product page of this web site. Almost all the products met Dr. Bob’s approval.  Since he passed away we have attempted to keep the same high standards.   

WARNING: DO NOT STOP ANY TREATMENT OR MEDICATION YOU CURRENTLY USE.  CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE STARTING THE USE OF SUPPLEMENTS. 

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The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluate any of the statements contained on this web site.  The information contained in this article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.  Remember each person’s body is different and will react differently to various herbal, vitamin and mineral supplements.  Therefore, any supplementation must be administered on an individual basis.  Use the information found on this web site as precisely that: Information.  You and your doctor must make any final decisions.  This information is not meant to replace any doctor and patient consultation.  This information should in no way replace your personal physician’s advice.