Journal, Fall 2014, What Causes Heart Attacks?

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FEATURES

• What Causes Heart Attacks?  Tom Cowan, MD, returns to this subject with more insights
• The Myogenic Theory  Carlos Monteiro explains an alternative to conventional thinking on heart disease
• Thrombi in Heart Disease  Chris Masterjohn, PhD, looks at the evidence for blood clots initiating heart attacks
• Liver Detoxification  Tabitha Farrar argues for nourishment over starvation fasts

DEPARTMENTS

• President’s Message: Diets for the Elderly
• Letters: Letters to the Editor of Wise Traditions
• Caustic Commentary: Sally Fallon Morell takes on the Diet Dictocrats
• Know Your Fats: Sushama Gokhale dissects the CSPI defense of polyunsaturated oils
• Farm and Ranch: William Marshall, PhD, presents an alternative to antibiotics for livestock
• Technology as Servant: John Moody tells us how to extend the growing season
• Homeopathy Journal: Joette Calabrese on homeopathic remedies for heart disease
• All Thumbs Book Reviews
  • Thumbs Up
    • Dissolving Illusions
    • The Transformation
    • Cultured Foods for Your Kitchen
    • Nourishing Broth
    • Fermented Vegetables
    • The Heal Your Gut Cookbook
    • Missing Microbes
    • The Skinny on Fats

• Legislative Updates  Judith McGreary, Esq, gives us the latest
• Soy Alert: Thermograms prove soy is not a girl’s breast friend
• A Campaign for Real Milk:
  • Dairying the Old-Fashioned Way in Australia
  • The Saga of the Cheese Aging Boards
  • Defending Raw Milk in New Zealand
  • Defending Raw Milk in the UK
  • Visit to Spain’s Only Raw Milk Dairy
  • Raw Milk in Holland
  • Case Updates
    • Dan Brown, Maine
    • My Family Co-Op, Michigan
    • Mike Hartmann, Minnesota
    • GrassWay Organics & Zinniker Farms, Wisconsin
    • Vernon Hershberger, Wisconsin
• Healthy Baby Gallery: More Wise Traditions babies!
  

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President’s Message

by Sally Fallon Morell

In this issue we focus on two competing theories for the cause of heart attacks. Dr. Tom Cowan and Carlos Monteiro argue that most heart attacks originate in the heart itself, with clots forming as a consequence of the heart attack rather than the cause. Chris Masterjohn points out that the evidence for this theory is contradictory, and that new testing methods indicate that the thrombus—the clot—appears to play a causative role. Nevertheless, the two theories are not mutually exclusive, and we are still a long way from understanding exactly how and why heart attacks occur.

One thing is certain: the fat-soluble vitamins, so central to Dr. Price’s research, play an important role in preventing heart attacks, whether they originate as a clot in the arteries, or in the heart itself due to sudden or prolonged stress, and to the build-up of lactic acid in the heart.

Masterjohn’s research confirms earlier studies showing that vitamin K—Dr. Price’s X Factor—plays a role in preventing calcification of soft tissues, particularly in the arteries. Chris notes that plaque that is calcified is more prone to rupture and clot formation.

The fat-soluble vitamins also play a significant role in helping the body cope with stress. The body cannot make stress hormones out of cholesterol without vitamin A. In times of stress, we need more vitamin A. Unfortunately, diets low in fat and cholesterol—the chosen dietary treatment for heart disease—will be very low in true vitamin A. It is reasonable to assume that vitamin A is also involved in the production of endogenous cardiotonics, which help the heart clear lactic acid. Vitamin D plays a role in the production of “feel-good” chemicals that help the body mitigate stress. And vitamin K works in concert with vitamins A and D.

So while we may not know the exact mechanisms that lead to heart attacks, we can feel assured that a nourishing traditional diet will help prevent them. Diets rich in butter, cheese and egg yolks from grass-fed animals, organ meats, pastured lard and certain seafoods such as fish eggs, shell fish, oily fish and cod liver oil, provide these fat-soluble vitamins at the levels we need to achieve vibrant health, including protection from heart disease. Diets that include these foods are satisfying and easy to stay on.

Both Masterjohn and Cowan will be speakers at the fifteenth annual Wise Traditions conference, held this year in Indianapolis. We have a great program planned, plus the delicious meals you have come to expect. We look forward to seeing you there!

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