C-Reactive Protein: Inflammation & CVD

Elevated Cardio C-Reactive Protein is one of the primary markers for heart disease risk factor. In my opinion, Cardio CRP is a much greater risk factor indicator than cholesterol values. C-Reactive Protein will elevate following inflammatory responses.

Elevated CRP just like elevated LDL, syndrome X, high homocysteine are thetip of the iceberg. I choose to say “tip of the iceberg” because like cholesterol values, CRP is a “response” to inflammation, not a cause of it. The causes are usually multiple and are most often related hugely to nutritional inadequacies, aberrant glucose metabolism, hyperinsulinism, toxicity and the body’s response to stress.

Typically the reference range that I like to use for Cardio CRP is between 0-2. A CRP level of 3 or greater indicates an elevated level of inflammation. If a person is serious about monitoring their inflammation and CVD risk, then of equal importance is to monitor Homocysteine and insulin levels as well. This should be done in addition to basic chem panels.

If you are looking for a very good, inexpensive place to get a blood test, without having to go through a drug dealing MD, Life Extension offers an array of outstanding blood chemistry panels, many of which are incredibly affordable. Anyone can order these online and they ship you the test kit to take to a lab near you. Life Extension’s CRP test is found HERE.

Support Normal Biological Function & Address Causation

In my opinion the allopathic mindset has to go. The supplement industry in many ways markets and functions the same way the drug industry and allopathic medicine operates, from a Disease-Specific Model of healthcare rather than a Patient-Specific one (nutritional supplements obviously don’t kill and harm people the way drugs do, so the playing field is not totally level).

This is fundamentally the most important point to grasp when dealing with issues if you have elevated CRP because the elevated numbers didn’t just pop out of nowhere, they sprang out of your body and your situation. What is more important than lowering a number on a test, is supporting the biochemistry and the health of the person who has the elevated values.

Rather than treating disease, improve upon health. Given the correct raw materials (individualized diet, individualized nutritional supplements, adequate exercise, adjacent detoxification strategies, positive attitude) the body knows exactly what to do.

So the approach needed for lowering Cardio CRP actually has nothing to do with CRP, but has everything to do with supporting the person who has the elevated numbers on a test.

Cardio CRP is a sign of inflammation. Inflammation is going to involve multiple systems and processes in the body. Oxidative free radical damage is going to be a major component here. Thus the importance of specific antioxidants such as CoQ10 and Vitamin E, but the amounts should be tailored to each person. If CRP has an accompaniment of other issues (which is likely) such as insulin resistance, hypertension, and whatever else, this puts a spin on things.

The rule with all of this stuff: Support and maintain the normal biological functions. Like with everyone that I work with, eat right for your type of metabolism. This is the #1 way I have found to identify exactly what foods are suited for your individual biochemistry at any given moment in time. A non-Metabolic Type diet is a major stressor on the body.

Since elevated Cardio CRP is indicative of cardiovascular inflammation, and very likely oxidative free radical activity in the tissues, it is imperative to eliminate certain foods which are primary causes of inflammation: fried food, sugar, all processed food, high amounts of PUFA’s (polyunsaturated fatty acids).

Not only is cholesterol not bad for you, it is vitally important for the health of every cell in your body. Cholesterol is part of the response to inflammation, not the cause of it!

Antioxidants

Depending upon your specific metabolic factors such as the degree of oxidative damage present (indicated by Lipid peroxides in the urine) anti-oxidant supplementation is either recommended in relatively high amounts or lower amounts.

Other antioxidants such as L-Carnosine, L-Carnitine, Glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate are powerfully protective against pathological hyperplasia and toxic free radicals such as carbonyl and hydroxyl groups. Sclerosis of the vascular system is a primary form of hyperplasia.