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A Naturally Healthy Heart: Decoding CRP
By Dr. Jonathan Wright on 01/30/2011
Question: At my last physical, I was told I had an elevated CRP level. What exactly is CRP, and can I lower it naturally?
Dr. Wright: CRP stands for C-reactive protein. It is a protein that circulates in the blood, especially when there is inflammation in the body, including inflammation of the coronary arteries. Doctors are finding that it is a far more accurate indicator of a future problem with heart disease than cholesterol levels alone.
The simplest way to lower the CRP level is to reduce inflammation in the body. The best way to accomplish this is to pay close attention to the ratio of essential fatty acids in the diet.
Here's a simple rule to remember: Omega-6 fatty acids are pro-inflammatory and omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory. So the fatty acid ratio should be more 3s and less 6s. Unfortunately, the standard diet is much heavier on the omega-6s.
But you can reverse that with a few simple changes. Foods containing hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils are the biggest offenders for loading up on omega-6s. Staying away from potato chips, corn chips, crackers, and cookies are a good start -- but when you start reading the labels at the grocery store, you might find that even things you considered "healthy" also contain it. Also, most nut oils, like sunflower, peanut, and almond, are high in omega-6s. Olive oil is the best choice.
Fish oil is the best way to increase your intake of omega-3 essential fatty acids. I recommend 1 tablespoon of cod liver oil and 1,500 milligrams of DHA daily. And remember, whenever you take any type of fatty acid, you need to take vitamin E as well (400 IU of vitamin E as mixed tocopherols). Vitamin E helps keep the fatty acids from breaking down too rapidly in the body.
Also worth noting, sometimes CRP can be elevated with other types of infection such as chlamydia and helicobacteria. These can also inflame blood vessels. Make sure your doctor checks all possibilities thoroughly.
Printer-friendly versionAbout the author
Jonathan V. Wright, M.D. has degrees from both Harvard University (cum laude) and the University of Michigan. More than any other doctor, he practically invented the modern science of applied nutritional biochemistry and he has advanced nutritional medicine for nearly three decades.
As of today, Dr. Wright has received over 35,000 patient visits at his now-famous Tahoma Clinic in Washington State.
To learn more about Dr. Wright, and to sign up for his free Health e-Tips eLetter, please visit www.wrightnewsletter.com.
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Comments
Wondering Woman
Thanks for the information and I'll give increasing the folic acid a try. After two months of a remedy called "Ring No More" I found no difference so gave up on it.
gennaro
my doctor does not do anyrthing througthly except watch his watch to be sure he does not go over 7 minutes
Rett
I heard that, genaro. I haven't seen my doctor for maybe four years now because he knows I don't do the drugs for my health issues but orders the staff at the local hospital to give me stuff when the first test proved not to be about my heart. That night I had an empaction that I thought I would have to get help for. I was given no water or any fresh veggies the whole 24 hours I was there for observation. I saw Dr. W for the follow up and all he wanted to tell me was that I should be on an ACE inhibitor to protect my kidneys or liver or something like that. While I was in the hospital, he wanted to insist that I be on a statin. Now that I'm on medicare, I have no idea of what my options are.
Loretta Watson
I heard that, gennaro. I can't find a doctor here that will do what I really need him to do. I had a third doctor and he tells me about statins and ACE inhibitors and writes in my file that I declined whatever he told me about. I haven't seen him in over 4 years since a nightmare experience during a 24 hour observation at our local hospital. Every meal they gave me was pork. I DON'T EAT PORK!! I should have told them that though but it never occurred to me. I got no water or no fresh veggies. I was a mess after that time. My system was so backed up, I thought I would have to go back to get some help for that. But I'm a stuborn old bird. lol
Digit
If I break an arm or need stitches a Doctor is the first person I want to see, if I need advice on my health then I will read on the net, ask a nutritionist or my chiropractor because every Doctor I have seen in the last 10 years is sooo without...
And here in Ausrtalia they seem to be very regulated so one is the same as the next. If there are any AU doctors out there who don't fit the mould, let me know.
Digit
No disrespect to you Dr Wright...
Karola
I askd my heart Dr. for a CRP testt. She refused and her reason was that he would have to take me of all my drugs and that would not be good.
I am going to see my 3rd heart dr. this month and I will tell him that I don't want him to check what the others had to say that I need his opinion. For 2 years I am seeing Dr. and no answer. Besides worrying about my heart I have digestive problems and not one Dr will give me there opinion about over the counter drugs and I need help with that because of all the meds I take how sad is that?
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