Today is World Heart Day! September 30   Take Care of Yours and Read the Latest on Heart Regeneration Dear Kim, Breaking News on Heart Regeneration!      No, this is not about stem cell research, although I was just in on a seminar on this topic, and organ regeneration is upon us now. We will be regenerating organs and tissues in the not too distant future from our own "stem cells", not from embryonic stem cells. This will still be a very controversial subject, but it will occur just the same. In fact it already has occurred with lab animals. We also have produced the first totally synthetic or "man made" life form. It was only a bacterium, but it contained all synthetic (man- made) DNA. This DNA included one gene that contained the "manufacturer's" patent information so that it can always be identified as "their proprietary life form".        I am getting off on a tangent however; you see we have the ability to regenerate many of our own tissues right now. We can see this in its simplest form when we cut ourselves or have a surgery. Our body rapidly manufactures new tissue to replace the damaged cells and tissues. We all take this for granted every day. But there are tissues which up to now we have believed we could not regenerate. These tissues include areas of the body such as the heart and brain.         Current research however, is proving that this simply is not true. Tissues such as the cells of the heart - the "myocardial cells", have been shown to be able to regenerate themselves when given the proper circumstances and support.         You see the heart is an amazing organ. Our hearts start beating 5 months after conception. This 5 ounce organ "ideally" never stops beating until we die. In a single day the heart beats 103,680 times. That translates to 37,843,200 times a year. At rest our bodies move the entire volume (4 to 5 liters) of blood in one complete cycle through our system in one short minute, and this can double-time when we exercise. With all of this amazing work we need to remember that our heart weighs a mere 10 ounces. The only time that this amazing muscle rests is between "beats". In the Center we use a computerized piece of medical equipment called a Heart Rate Variability Analysis to measure the varying gaps between beats. This gives us a measurement of a patient's level of fitness and overall Health and Wellness. As a side benefit this instrument also gives us an assessment of the functioning of the nervous system.         My first experience with understanding that a patient's heart can regenerate occurred with a patient who had suffered a heart attack (or myocardial infarction).  One measurement of the heart's ability to pump blood is called the "Ejection Fraction". This is a measurement (usually made with a test called an echo-cardiogram) of the amount of blood that the heart expels in one contraction. Generally, once an area of the heart is damaged and the tissue dies, the ejection fraction decreases and it is thought by most cardiologists that even if it increases it will never return to a "normal" level again. My patient was told this "hopeless" news as well, and reported it to me on his subsequent visit. I said that we would continue supporting his heart with the "Targeted Functional Nutrition" that I had determined was necessary using our analysis, and see how he did on his next "Echo". What we found was that on his subsequent echo his ejection fraction had gone up significantly, well above what the cardiologist had expected. Needless to say the cardiologist was "speechless".        So, how can regeneration of the heart muscle cells or "cardiomyocytes" occur? Well the first thing that we must understand is that these specific cells require certain nutrients in order to function and regenerate. The nutrients which are essential include Co-enzyme Q10 or Co Q10 for short (also known as Ubiquinol). Recent research studies have shown that a deficiency of Co Q10 is associated with heart disease. We use our Co Q10 to support all cardiac patients. This particular nutrient is also essential for anyone who is taking a statin (cholesterol lowering drug).        Another essential nutrient for proper cardiac function is L-Carnitine. Myocytes contain high concentrations of L-Carnitine. This Amino Acid is essential for the process by which myocardial cells generate energy. Therefore an adequate or "sufficient" concentration of L-Carnitine is a requirement for the heart to not only function correctly, but also for the cells of the heart to regenerate.        Magnesium is an essential mineral for heart health which has been shown to retard myocardial cell death. It also helps to retard the accumulation of calcium in the heart. As you may know, calcium plaque in the coronary arteries and even in the heart itself will cause a reduction in blood flow to the heart muscle and thereby decrease cardiac (heart) efficiency. Magnesium also helps prevent the development of "cardiac arrhythmias".        I hope that on this day which is "World Heart Day", you will consider beginning a regimen or heart-healthy supplementation just as so many of our patients here at the Center for Nutrition and Wellness.            Yours in Health,                  Dr. Pfeiffer Contact Us Center for Nutrition & Wellness™ 1543 Layfield Road, Rt 663 Pennsburg, Pennsylvania 18073 215-679-WELL (9355)   Copyright 2010, Upper Perkiomen Chiropractic Center. All rights reserved. This article is protected by United States copyright and other intellectual property laws and may not be reproduced, rewritten, distributed, re-disseminated, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast, directly or indirectly, in any medium without the prior written permission of Upper Perkiomen Chiropractic Center. DISCLAIMER These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult with your health care professional before changing any medications or undertaking intense physical activity.   This email has been sent on behalf of your practitioner, Dr. Douglas G Pfeiffer DC  |  Center for Nutrition and Wellness  |215-679-WELL (9355)