What I Leaned About Coronary Disease in England – Vitamin C
12 Jun 2009
Why would I travel to snowy England in January? I had the chance to spend a week studying with Dr. Sydney Bush, a distinguished English professor of optometry. This week why I believe his research on the cause of coronary artery disease deserves a Noble Prize and how you can benefit from this research.
What causes coronary attack? Authorities say it’s due to increased blood cholesterol. But I’ve always questioned this theory since interviewing to Dr. Linus Pauling (the only person to receive two Nobel Prizes).
Years ago Pauling told me animals manufacture vitamin C, but humans do not. For instance, goats produce 13,000 milligrams of vitamin C daily! Humans lost this ability during the course of evolution and it’s why cats survived voyages to the New World while sailors died of scurvy.
Why is vitamin C so important in preventing heart attack? Brick walls are held together by mortar and we all know what happens if mortar crumbles. Cells are glued together by collagen and vitamin C is necessary to manufacture and maintain its strength. Pauling believed that insufficient amounts of vitamin C weakened coronary vessels, blood clots developed and the result could be lethal.
Years later Dr. Bush has made another historic discovery that adds to Pauling’s research. He prescribed 3,000 to 6,000 milligrams of vitamin C for patients suffering from eye infections and allergies. Luckily, he also decided to take photos of the retina (the back part of the eye) before C was given and then one year later. The retina is the only part of the body where doctors can see arteries and veins.
To his surprise he discovered that large doses of vitamin C caused cholesterol deposits to decrease in size, arteries became larger and there was increased blood flow to the retina. And what happens to arteries in the retina must also happen to arteries in the heart.
In effect, Bush’s research shows atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries) can be reversed. And that the heart is not healthy until the eyes say so. This finding could save millions from premature coronary death and it should have made headlines around the world.
Dr. Pauling advised the use lysine along with vitamin C. Lysine is an amino acid, one of the building blocks of protein. Lysine has the ability to inactivate bad cholesterol making it less sticky decreasing the risk of heart attack. More recent studies show that another amino acid proline acts in the same way.
Since returning to Canada I’m convinced that ideally everyone, particularly those at greater risk of heart attack should have a retinal photo done. If life-threatening changes are present this is a great motivator to change lifestyle habits and start treatment with vitamin C and Lysine.
I’m acutely aware that this approach to preventing coronary attack will be criticized by main stream medical thinking. But I hope that some physicians, particularly cardiologists, will also have an open mind on this matter.
Taking retinal pictures takes just a few minutes and in most cases does not require placing drops in the eye. Unfortunately the equipment is expensive.
Right now I wish I was an eye doctor. Since I’m not I’ve located a well-respected Toronto optometrist who is willing to take retinal photos and e-mail them to Dr. Bush in England. He will then use his years of experience to determine if treatment is required to help circumvent the risk of coronary attack and other cardiovascular problems.
For now this test is available to those living in the Toronto area, but hopefully it will expand to other locations as optometrists are located in other cities. At the moment this test is not covered by any medical insurance.
Nor is this test meant to displace the advice of your own eye doctor or physician in health matters so please with them prior to making a decision. But if you wish to consider this test in Toronto (or in future other locations) contact Graciela at 416-488-0655 or use the e-mail address.
