As you age, it’s common for your arteries to function less efficiently. If your arteries are healthy, they should be “relaxed” or dilated. This means they are less stiff. Age stiffens them. But researchers recently found that a powerful nutrient can relax your arteries and restore their function.

Research has linked accumulation of ceramides to stiffening arteries. Ceramides are fatty deposits that form when undesirable fatty acids hook to a long-chain base. Acids are naturally attracted to their opposites — bases.

Researchers thought that ceramide accumulation might be due to age-related loss of glutathione in endothelial cells (inner lining cells of your arteries).

So, in this study, the researchers measured relaxation in the aorta of experimental old rats. They found that glutathione levels in the lining cells were 30% less than in younger rats. The researchers gave the rats the trademarked form of ALA.

The results were impressive. Arterial relaxation improved. So did glutathione levels. What intrigued me the most was that ceramides levels fell as well. This has far-reaching implications for just about every human health condition.

I’ve told you in the past about the many incredible health benefits of ALA. I’ve also told you about phospholipids, which can soften stiff arteries. My colleagues and I have seen stunning reversals of conditions such as neurological degeneration, autism, Parkinson’s disease, and more. And now we know that ALA can have a similar impact.

Now we learn that ALA reduces ceramide and restores arterial health. The researchers also found that it restores nitric oxide metabolism, which is critical for arterial dilation. I can only say, “Wow!”

There are two types of ALA on the market. The generic ALA and the trademarked variety. I personally don’t feel you need to spend significantly more money for the expensive trademarked form. I’ve found the cheaper ALA simply marvelous. I typically recommend 100-300 mg daily. I think that ALA should be at the top of the list in most anyone’s anti-aging and preservation of health program.

Have you ever wondered why some people drop dead of a heart attack when they seemed so healthy? Researchers are discovering why this happens. And, not surprisingly, it has to do with the type of food you eat.

A new study followed 12 healthy men. The researchers gave each of them a high-fat meal. Then they did a blood test for endotoxins. Endotoxin is an inflammatory class of compounds that are in your intestinal bacteria. “Endo” means “within” (meaning your gut). And these gut bacteria are highly toxic, thus the name endotoxins.

Then the researchers tested their blood again four hours after eating, and after smoking three cigarettes.

They found that endotoxins increased by 50% after the high-fat meal regardless of whether they had smoked cigarettes or not. High fat also impaired their ability to clear the endotoxins. That means they will hang around longer. This is important information.

A simple high-fat meal increases this toxic chemical in your blood. These chemicals will lead to endothelial damage in your blood vessels. All of these can cause you to die from a heart attack after eating a high fat meal.

This is a powerful reason to avoid the Atkins-type diet. It’s another reason why I believe the 80-10-10 diet is the best overall. That simply means 80% of the calories you eat need to come from the carbohydrates in whole fruits and vegetables; 10% of your calories come from fat; and 10% from protein. Now you have a strong biochemical reason to reduce your fat intake.

There are a lot of diets on the market. But the 80-10-10 is the only one that works for everyone I know who uses it. I came upon the 80-10-10 diet promoted by Doug Graham, DC several years ago and found it to be the best approach for my patients. If you’re interested in buying Dr. Graham’s “80-10-10″ book, you can order it by calling 800-728-2288.

Yours for better health and medical freedom,
Robert Jay Rowen, MD

Second Opinion Health Alerts are a complimentary
e-mail service from the Second Opinion health
newsletter written by Robert J. Rowen, MD.

Ref: “A high-fat meal induces low-grade endotoxemia: evidence of a novel mechanism of postprandial inflammation,” Erridge C, Webb DJ, et al, Am J Clin Nutr, 2007; 86(5): 1286-1292.