By Max MacCloud, [DO, ND, PhD] aka The Nutrition Ninja Doc
50 years of intensive study, 45 years of clinical practice, 55 years of continuous exercise & clean eating, yielding a level of health, fitness and strength at 67 identical to that at 17. This isn’t a brag; it is to show that the recommendations & protocols work!
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, yet conventional approaches have largely failed. We have made little real progress, and in fact, people are developing cardiovascular diseases at younger ages than ever before.
This article explores innovative, holistic, and progressive strategies to optimize cardiovascular health that very few doctors know about. They are based on science and common sense.
#1: Microvascular Health is the first KEY: The heart is a fabulous organ, and our arteries & veins are a fantastic plumbing system, but the capillaries are the true ‘heart of our cardiovascular system’. They make up 99% of it! They are the only place where nutrient exchange happens. Unfortunately, they get very little attention.
There is finally a way to assess them using The Glycocheck technology. It allows us direct visualization of the capillaries where you can watch your red blood cells stream through them. The test provides your Microvascular Health Score which helps us design a program to improve its function.
One intervention is Exercise with Oxygen Therapy* (EWOT): This is a special form of exercise that helps to Open & Reset the Microvascular System to youthful levels. It is the only thing documented to do this and it provides benefits for the entire body including the cardiovascular system and mitochondria. A Google search will turn up articles with the many benefits.
ARTC is the only facility in the region that offers EWOT therapy that includes both our proprietary Trifecta & Peak Performance Oxygen Training systems. We consider it to be THE MOST IMPORTANT EXERCISE that a person can do for their cardiovascular & overall health.
#2 Mitochondrial Health is the NEXT Key: Mitochondria are tiny bacteria-like organisms that joined forces with single celled organisms billions of years ago and allowed for the development of ALL higher life forms including plants and animals!
They perform many functions but are best known as the energy powerhouses of our cells. They need nutrients and oxygen to make energy at a much higher level than our cells can make without them. When was the last time your doctor discussed your mitochondrial health? That’s right, NEVER.
Dr. Otto Warburg won the Nobel Prize in 1931 for his discovery that there is only ONE primary cause of CANCER, damage to mitochondrial respiration (energy production). Since then, scientists in the field of mitochondrial research have discovered that virtually ALL chronic diseases are a result of damaged mitochondrial function! That includes heart disease. Heart cells have one of the highest concentrations of mitochondria in the body along with nerve and muscle cells.
We have a variety of protocols to help to repair, regrow, and stimulate your mitochondria and microvascular system, they really go hand in hand. EWOT, HBOT, HIIT, and special nutritional support are the tools we use.
EWOT was already discussed; HBOT is hyperbaric oxygen therapy (it offers several different benefits than EWOT) and HIIT is high intensity interval training. Both have been documented to enhance mitochondrial health. There isn’t enough space to go into detail about all of these therapies, most can be found via online search. The point is that we are well versed in all of these technologies and have them available to help you enhance your health at The Age Reversal Technology Center.
#3 Metabolic Balance & Hormone Levels are additional Key Factors: ‘Metabolism’ is a complex mix of thousands of biochemical reactions, regulated by hormones and the nervous system. When it works as it is supposed to, it maintains homeostasis which is crucial for our very existence. It consists of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of reactions every second of every day.
It is simply too complex for us to fully understand and consciously manage; all we can do is support it. Sometimes that means manipulating various hormones, neurotransmitters, and our autonomic nervous system.
Using bioidentical hormones can help regulate things while working to get our bodies to take back control. Common things that need support include our adrenals (cortisol), thyroid, pancreas (insulin), sex hormones, and neurotransmitters. The trick is to support it as gently as possible and to monitor and adjust appropriately.
#4 Muscle = Metabolic Reserve: The heart is obviously a muscle, a very specialized muscle that works with the rest of the muscles of the body. Muscular activity places the greatest stress load on the heart and that stress is vital to its long-term healthy function.
Exercise, including Resistance training, Endurance training, and HIIT: More Than Just Maintaining Muscle Mass:
Resistance training and Endurance/Cardiovascular training are crucial for maintaining muscle mass and supporting cardiovascular health. Regular strength training can improve overall fitness and contribute to better heart function.
Resistance Training Benefits:
Resistance training offers profound cardiovascular advantages beyond muscle development and increased bone density. Research demonstrates significant improvements in multiple heart health markers:
• 15% lower mortality risk
• 17% lower heart disease risk
• Improved blood pressure (reduction of -4/-2 units)
• Enhanced lipid profiles
• Reduced inflammation
• Better insulin sensitivity
• Improved blood vessel flexibility
Endurance/Cardiovascular Training Benefits:
Traditional aerobic exercise provides critical cardiovascular advantages:
• Reduced heart attack and stroke risks
• Improved cardiovascular endurance
• Enhanced metabolic efficiency
• Better overall cardiovascular conditioning
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) Advantages:
HIIT combines the best of resistance and endurance training:
• Rapid metabolic improvements
• Increased mitochondrial density
• Enhanced cardiovascular performance
• Time-efficient cardiovascular conditioning
At ARTC, we understand exercise and are the only facility in the region offering ARX (Adaptive Resistance Exercise) resistance training along with EWOT, PPOT & HIIT.
#5 Additional ‘Alternative’ Therapies that support both cardiovascular and overall health: Most conventional doctors tend to be limited in their approach by the accepted standards of care and what insurance will pay for.
Here are several things that have been shown to be quite effective yet are not provided by conventional practitioners and ‘so-called’ health insurance.
Plaquex ™ and the PK Protocol*: Provides potential benefits for the entire body especially the cardiovascular and nervous systems.
Both use phosphatidyl choline as the main active component. Phosphatidyl choline is the primary component of our cell membranes. These treatments are believed to help improve blood flow and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. Plaquex has been promoted more for its CV benefits, while the PK Protocol has been promoted more for cell membrane detoxification, repair, and neurodegenerative conditions. Both have a long history of use spanning decades.
Plaquex Therapy: Plaquex is a phosphatidylcholine-based treatment administered intravenously. It’s designed to reduce plaque buildup in arteries and improve cardiovascular health.
PK Protocol: The PK protocol also uses phosphatidylcholine plus a few other nutrients and is aimed at cellular detoxification and repair.
We have recently developed an oral version of this protocol that is a fraction of the cost of IVs*.
EDTA chelation therapy* is another somewhat alternative therapy that has shown potential benefits for cardiovascular health in numerous studies and thousands of case studies over several decades. It is also considered the treatment of choice for several types of heavy metal detoxification by conventional medicine.
Cardiovascular Benefits:
The Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT) found cardiovascular benefits that were more pronounces for patients with diabetes. Diabetes accelerates vascular damage, and it therefore makes sense that a relatively short duration study like TACT would show stronger effects on those with diabetes and therefore more systemic vascular damage.
Patients with diabetes experienced:
• 41% reduction in overall cardiovascular events
• 40% reduction in heart disease, stroke, or heart attack risk
• 52% reduction in recurrent heart attacks; statins only provide a 1% reduction.
• 43% reduction in overall mortality over approximately 5 years
Does EDTA Chelation help improve Cardiovascular health? No one can say for sure, although there are tens of thousands of people that swear by it. EDTA is off patent so it is unlikely that there will be significant additional studies of its use for cardiovascular health. A 2022 systematic review found that 17 out of 24 studies reported improvements in various cardiovascular outcomes following EDTA treatment.
Classically, EDTA Chelation is done intravenously 1-3 X/wk. for a series of 20-40+ sessions; that makes it fairly pricey, although cheap compared to the alternatives. We now have a liposomal EDTA delivery system that allows for convenient oral administration at a fraction of the cost of IVs.
Temperature Therapies: Both Hot & Cold Therapies have been used for hundreds of years. Modern science has verified many of those benefits ranging from enhanced detoxification to stimulation of regeneration.
We use both Far Infrared Saunas and Whole-Body Cryotherapy Chambers to elicit the body’s ‘hormetic/healing response.’ Hormesis is simply a beneficial or adaptive response by cells and tissues to moderate stress. Both hot &/or cold exposure, when properly applied, can activate heat shock proteins that initiate a beneficial healing and regenerative response.
A True Heart-Healthy Diet: Contrary to conventional wisdom and modern medical consensus, a heart-healthy diet is NOT about restricting fats, eggs, dairy, meat, and eating lots of veggies and grains. There’s a lot more to it and several of those things have been proven to be dead wrong.
We have developed the ARTC Healthy Eating Reset to help guide you through the confusion of what to eat.
The Conventional Medical Conundrum: We spend more on health care than any other nation by far, yet we rank well below other industrialized nations in most health parameters. We are among the sickest people on the planet; clearly our healthcare system has failed us, and it is time for it to be reinvented.
My sincere hope is that RFK, Jr. will shake things up and move us in the right direction. He is up against the biggest cartel on the planet and will get a LOT of pushbacks. I urge you to contact your representatives to support him.
The Prime Directive: Optimizing Cardiovascular Health: Given that heart disease is the leading cause of death, optimizing cardiovascular health should be a top priority for everyone given that the prime directive is to survive, AKA ‘Don’t Die.’
Conclusion: By embracing these non-conventional, alternative, and progressive approaches, individuals can take significant steps towards optimizing their cardiovascular health. It’s time to move beyond outdated paradigms and embrace a more comprehensive, personalized approach to heart health. Remember, the goal is not just to avoid dying from cardiovascular disease, but to thrive with a robust and resilient cardiovascular system.
*Please note: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. None of the therapies or products discussed are intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. ARTC operates as a Private Membership Association in the Private Sector. Our focus is on building health vs. fighting disease. We make NO CLAIMS, as no claims can be made based on the existing FDA regulations as dictated by the Medical Industrial Complex. All in all, the Medical Industrial Complex is the largest combination of industries on the planet accounting for over 12 trillion dollars in annual revenue. For comparison, the Oil & Gas Exploration & Refining Industry generates about $4.5 trillion annually.
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Age Reversal Technology Center, LLC
(941) 806-5511
artc.health
6968 Professional Parkway,
Sarasota FL, 34240 (Lakewood Ranch)