Changes

=== The Circulatory System ===

=== The Circulatory System ===

The circulatory system transports blood from the heart to the cells and back again to the heart in a never-ending stream. The red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a complex protein arranged around iron. They have the important role of taking up large quantities of oxygen as it passes through the lungs and then passing this oxygen to the body cells. As the blood in the lungs picks up oxygen, the hemoglobin becomes bright red (arter- ial blood). When the hemoglobin reaches its destination, the individual cell, it releases oxygen and picks up carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism. The color of the blood carrying carbon dioxide to the lungs for elimination from the body is a bluish red (venous blood). Hemoglobin has another important function, that is, helping to maintain the acid balance of the blood. Each day the carbon dioxide resulting from cellular me- tabolism is equivalent to a little more than one-half gallon (2.6 liters) of concentrated hydrochloric acid. That high concentration of acid would injure the cells, so nature pro- vides a neutralizing base, half of which comes from the food consumed each day and the remainder from the body’s built-in buffering agents, one of which is hemoglobin.

The circulatory system transports blood from the heart to the cells and back again to the heart in a never-ending stream. The red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a complex protein arranged around iron. They have the important role of taking up large quantities of oxygen as it passes through the lungs and then passing this oxygen to the body cells. As the blood in the lungs picks up oxygen, the hemoglobin becomes bright red (arterial blood). When the hemoglobin reaches its destination, the individual cell, it releases oxygen and picks up carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism. The color of the blood carrying carbon dioxide to the lungs for elimination from the body is a bluish red (venous blood). Hemoglobin has another important function, that is, helping to maintain the acid balance of the blood. Each day the carbon dioxide resulting from cellular metabolism is equivalent to a little more than one-half gallon (2.6 liters) of concentrated hydrochloric acid. That high concentration of acid would injure the cells, so nature provides a neutralizing base, half of which comes from the food consumed each day and the remainder from the body’s built-in buffering agents, one of which is hemoglobin.

=== Structure of the Heart ===

=== Structure of the Heart ===

The walls of the ventricles are made of thick, strong muscles. The right ventricle pumps blood through the pulmonary artery into the lungs. The left ventricle pumps blood to the entire body through the aorta. The left ventricle has walls three times as thick as those of the right ventricle because it has to pump the blood so much farther. Valves control the flow of the blood through the heart. The tricuspid valve is between the right atrium and the right ventricle. The mitral valve is between the left atrium and the left ventricle. The semilunar valves control the flow of blood from the ventricles to the arteries. The semilunar valve that controls blood-flow from the left ventricle to the aorta is also called the aortic valve.

The walls of the ventricles are made of thick, strong muscles. The right ventricle pumps blood through the pulmonary artery into the lungs. The left ventricle pumps blood to the entire body through the aorta. The left ventricle has walls three times as thick as those of the right ventricle because it has to pump the blood so much farther. Valves control the flow of the blood through the heart. The tricuspid valve is between the right atrium and the right ventricle. The mitral valve is between the left atrium and the left ventricle. The semilunar valves control the flow of blood from the ventricles to the arteries. The semilunar valve that controls blood-flow from the left ventricle to the aorta is also called the aortic valve.

Arteries carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body, but the heart itself must also receive nourishment. Blood flows to the heart muscle through coronary arter- ies. The coronary arteries lie over the walls of the heart in a complicated network, and carry oxygen to all parts of the heart muscle.

Arteries carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body, but the heart itself must also receive nourishment. Blood flows to the heart muscle through coronary arteries. The coronary arteries lie over the walls of the heart in a complicated network, and carry oxygen to all parts of the heart muscle.

The interior of the heart is lined with a smooth membrane, a single layer of cells called the endocardium. The same kind of membrane also lines the valves and the blood vessels. The lining prevents damage to the blood cells by reducing friction and by mini- mizing the danger of blood-clot formation either inside the heart or inside the blood ves- sels themselves. Between the endocardium and the outer layer of the heart (epicardium) is the muscular wall itself, the myocardium, consisting of muscle cells surrounded by connective tissue.

The interior of the heart is lined with a smooth membrane, a single layer of cells called the endocardium. The same kind of membrane also lines the valves and the blood vessels. The lining prevents damage to the blood cells by reducing friction and by mini- mizing the danger of blood-clot formation either inside the heart or inside the blood ves- sels themselves. Between the endocardium and the outer layer of the heart (epicardium) is the muscular wall itself, the myocardium, consisting of muscle cells surrounded by connective tissue.

# Heavy alcohol consumption is associated with elevated blood pressure.

# Heavy alcohol consumption is associated with elevated blood pressure.

# Distinctive forms of heart enlargement and heart failure occur in advanced alcoholics, who often tend to be malnourished.

# Distinctive forms of heart enlargement and heart failure occur in advanced alcoholics, who often tend to be malnourished.

# Alcohol has been shown to result in impaired performance of heart muscle in humans.

# Alcohol has been shown to result in impaired performance of heart muscle in humans.

# Experimentalevidenceinanimalsshowsstructuralandfunctionalderangementofheart

# Experimentalevidenceinanimalsshowsstructuralandfunctionalderangementofheart

# Insurance experience indicates that the death rate from all “diseases” including cardio- vascular rises, as relative weight goes from low to above average.

# Insurance experience indicates that the death rate from all “diseases” including cardio- vascular rises, as relative weight goes from low to above average.

# Some follow-up studies of United States populations show similar relationships and risks.

# Some follow-up studies of United States populations show similar relationships and risks.

# Obesityandoverweightarewidelyassociatedwithotherriskcharacteristicsthoughtto have an influence in fatty artery disease (specifically, high blood pressure, glucose in- tolerance and diabetes and elevated blood uric acid). All of these factors can be resolved through a proper diet and weight reduction, as can cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Obesity, obviously, is the result of improper diet together with lack of exercise. This condition is the direct result of a diet high in fats, meat, dairy products and sugar. All of these foods will not only result in obesity but the toxins invariably found in all of these foods will clog the body with poisons and contribute to the development of degenera- tive diseases of all kinds including heart impairment. Obesity may be corrected quickly through a fast followed by a diet of raw fruits, vegetables, nuts (unsalted) and seeds. Not only will weight normalize but general total health will greatly improve along with the lowered incidence of heart disease.

# Obesity and overweight are widely associated with other risk characteristics thought to have an influence in fatty artery disease (specifically, high blood pressure, glucose intolerance and diabetes and elevated blood uric acid). All of these factors can be resolved through a proper diet and weight reduction, as can cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Obesity, obviously, is the result of improper diet together with lack of exercise. This condition is the direct result of a diet high in fats, meat, dairy products and sugar. All of these foods will not only result in obesity but the toxins invariably found in all of these foods will clog the body with poisons and contribute to the development of degenerative diseases of all kinds including heart impairment. Obesity may be corrected quickly through a fast followed by a diet of raw fruits, vegetables, nuts (unsalted) and seeds. Not only will weight normalize but general total health will greatly improve along with the lowered incidence of heart disease.

== A Look At Other Societies ==

== A Look At Other Societies ==

# The added rest the fast provides the heart.

# The added rest the fast provides the heart.

# The resulting improvement of the bloodstream.

# The resulting improvement of the bloodstream.

# Theabsenceofthe“stimulants”thatpatientsingeneralandheartpatientsinparticular are accustomed to take. Dr. Shelton Says, “If we consider angina pectoris, a disease of the heart that grows out of constant stimulation with tobacco, coffee, tea, wrong food combinations and ex- cesses of carbohydrates, and observe the effects of the fast in these patients, we are amazed at the speed with which the heart recovers from its difficulties.” It is not claimed that fasting actually “cures” anything. We know that fasting takes a load off the heart so that it may restore its own normal condition in a more certain and speedy manner. Fasting results in the quieting down of a rapid heart. This takes a heavy load off the heart and results in a speedy reduction of blood pressure.  With a reduction of tension and the number of repetitions of the heart’s pulsation, a rest is secured. With less work to do, the heart repairs itself.  In the hundreds of cases of heart disease that Dr. Shelton has witnessed through fasts of various lengths, all but a few have developed stronger and better hearts. Many of

# Theabsenceofthe“stimulants”thatpatientsingeneralandheartpatientsinparticular are accustomed to take.

Dr. Shelton Says, “If we consider angina pectoris, a disease of the heart that grows out of constant stimulation with tobacco, coffee, tea, wrong food combinations and excesses of carbohydrates, and observe the effects of the fast in these patients, we are amazed at the speed with which the heart recovers from its difficulties.”

them, even so-called “incurable” ones, have become entirely normal. Rapid hearts have slowed down, abnormally slow hearts have speeded up, weak hearts have greatly im- proved in vigor, hearts that were irregular have become regular in time and frequency, hearts that were missing pulsations (even as often as one pulsation out of four) have re- sumed regular pulsation, and many other improvements in heart function have been ob- served.

 

 

In the hundreds of cases of heart disease that Dr. Shelton has witnessed through fasts of various lengths, all but a few have developed stronger and better hearts. Many of them, even so-called “incurable” ones, have become entirely normal. Rapid hearts have slowed down, abnormally slow hearts have speeded up, weak hearts have greatly improved in vigor, hearts that were irregular have become regular in time and frequency, hearts that were missing pulsations (even as often as one pulsation out of four) have resumed regular pulsation, and many other improvements in heart function have been ob- served.

The rest provided for the heart is accounted for in several ways. There is a marked lessening of the number of pulsations of the heart; there is a fall of blood pressure; and there is a reduction in weight. Weight reduction is most marked in fat individuals whose size is such that the heart has to labor to keep the blood circulating through so much bulk. The loss of pounds relieves the long-suffering heart of a burden. Every pound that is lost relieves the heart of work it has been forced to do.

The rest provided for the heart is accounted for in several ways. There is a marked lessening of the number of pulsations of the heart; there is a fall of blood pressure; and there is a reduction in weight. Weight reduction is most marked in fat individuals whose size is such that the heart has to labor to keep the blood circulating through so much bulk. The loss of pounds relieves the long-suffering heart of a burden. Every pound that is lost relieves the heart of work it has been forced to do.