4 Surprising Heart Harmers

We’ve all heard diabetes, smoking, and family history are among the top contributors of heart problems, but now research has uncovered some lesser known risk factors:

Your gut microbiome plays a much grander role in health than scientists ever anticipated. In fact, those microbes likely play a role in heart health.

Could it be possible cardiovascular disease has less to do with what we eat and more to do with your microbiome?

German researchers recently discovered that patients with heart failure had significantly fewer types of bacteria in their gut compared to healthy patients.

Eating a diet rich in fiber and plant-based foods like veggies, fruits, nuts, and seeds may help you maintain a healthier balance of gut bugs.

Check out our favorite gut nourishers, part 1 of 3. 

Top Probiotic Picks:

The head-heart connection should be on everyone’s radar. The biological and chemical factors that trigger mental health issues could also influence heart disease or stroke.

In one study, people with major depression or other severe mental health problems, such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, had a 78% higher risk of developing heart disease than healthy people.

Chronic stress exposes the heart to unhealthy levels of stress hormones, like adrenaline and cortisol, which effects heart health.

Consider reducing stress via all-natural adaptogens. In particular, reishi mushroom has many benefits and has long been used to reduce stress and support the cardiovascular system.

Top Reisi Mushroom Picks:

 

 

Besides sugar’s link to diabetes, eating sugar raises blood sugar levels, which causes inflammation. Chronic inflammation wreaks havoc on blood vessels and tissues, which increases heart disease risk.

Top Blood Sugar Control Picks:

 

 

In one recent study, people who live in more polluted areas have larger, and weaker, hearts than those who live in cleaner regions – a good reminder to limit time outdoors when air quality is bad and to plan running routes on less-trafficked streets.

Unfortunately, our air is full of contaminants. One reliable way to determine your exposure to toxins is a hair mineral analysis. It tests for aluminum, arsenic, antimony, beryllium, cadmium, lead, mercury, uranium.

Top Detoxifying Picks:

In Health and Happiness,

Kelly Harrington, MS, RDN

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for Healthy Goods

 

References:

American Heart Association: Gut bacteria hold clues to heart health. 

Mental illness linked to increased risk of heart disease, stroke. 

JAMA: Internal Medicine: Added Sugar Intake and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality among US adults.