C-Reactive Protein Remedies

CRP production can lead to an increased risk of destabilized atherosclerotic plaque and arterial clotting. Destabilized arterial plaque can burst open and block the flow of blood through a coronary artery. The result is an acute heart attack. People with enhanced levels of CRP have been shown to be three times as likely to have a heart attack as those with normal CRP levels.

Clinical studies have shown that Vitamin E, Fish Oil, Walnut, exercise and a low fat diet could lower C-reactive protein level and reduce the risk of heart attacks.

Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin which can be found in many foods. It is especially prevalent in certain fats and oils. It acts as a powerful antioxidant (nutrients that block the harmful effects of toxic by-products of bodily functions). The richest source of vitamin E is wheat-germ. It is also found in significant amounts in liver, eggs, nuts (almond, hazelnuts, walnuts), sunflower seeds, corn oil, mayonnaise, vegetable oils, dark green leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes and yams.

(Jialal I, Devaraj S. Effect of vitamin E on acute chronic inflammation in Type 2 Diabetes Patients: FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY & MEDICINE Oct. 2000).

Fish Oil: Health professionals and nutritionists have been advising people to eat more fish for decades. Fish contains important fatty acids that our bodies need, but can’t produce on their own. Fish oil is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties and has been extensively researched as a cure for such inflammation triggered conditions as inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis and alzheimer’s disease. Fish oil supplements contain two types of omega-3 fatty acids - eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA). These are major anti-inflammatories. EPA and DHA are essential building blocks for the body's anti-inflammatory prostaglandins (e.g., prostaglandin E1) and for turning off Cox-2 and the body's pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, and TNFa).

(Life Sciences (Vol. 78, pp. 2523-2532)

Walnuts contain alpha-linolenic acid or ALA, an omega-3 fatty acid similar to those found in salmon. A 2004 study found that C-reactive protein levels dropped nearly 75% when patients consumed diets rich in alpha-linolenic acid, and decreased about 45% when they were on the linoleic acid diet, when compared with the typical American diet.

(Journal of Nutrition, 2004; vol 134: pp 2991-2997).

In March 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said that foods containing walnuts could be labeled as a heart-healthy food.

Exercise is another element in controlling CRP levels. Exercise should be of a light to moderate variety and carried out for at least 30 minutes per day. Strenuous exercise is not recommended as it can actually suppress the immune system, acting as a trigger for auto-immune disease. Light exercise, however, reduces stress, stimulates the appetite and reduces inflammation.