Most cases of premature cardiovascular disease are preventable. A growing body of research points to an oft-overlooked factor that can help you avoid heart disease and improve your overall wellness: the heart-and-gut connection.
Your gut microbiome influences your heart health
Researchers have found that most adults have poor gut health, with the majority of people experiencing regular symptoms, including bloating, cramping, and abdominal discomfort, that indicate an opportunity for gut-health improvement.
Research shows that a healthy gut may have the following effects:
● improved cholesterol numbers
● better blood pressure support
● better fat metabolization
● healthier heart contractions and regular heartbeat maintenance
This link between a healthy gut and a healthy heart is likely due to the chemical compounds produced by the good bacteria in your digestive system, as well as how a healthy gut is better equipped to help process and break down the foods you eat. And many of the things that affect gut health have also been linked to heart health.
Take smoking as a prime example. Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for heart disease, and smokers also have higher numbers of “bad” bacteria in their guts compared to those who don’t smoke (on par with those who have IBD).
Improve your lifestyle and improve the heart-gut connection
Your gut health has a direct correlation with heart health, and the things that are good for improving your cardiovascular wellness are also associated with enhanced gut health. Both aspects of your health are influenced by the same lifestyle factors, allowing you to tackle these two major health concerns in a significant and practical way.
Eat more fibre
Foods rich in fibre, including fruits, veggies, and whole grains, promote gut health, reducing harmful compounds linked to heart disease.
Fibre doesn’t just improve gut health, but it’s also directly linked with improved cardiovascular health. A study following participants on a high-fibre diet over six months reported a 15 percent reduction in systolic blood pressure, 28 percent lower blood sugar levels, and 23 percent reduced triglyceride levels.
• Eat less processed foods, which throw off the gut microbiome, leading to increased inflammation, and are also linked to a significant increase in heart disease.
• Eat more fermented foods like yogurt and sauerkraut, which help populate your gut with beneficial bacteria while improving cholesterol levels and other heart disease risk factors.
• Exercise regularly to significantly reduce heart disease risk and improve the diversity and abundance of beneficial bacteria in your gut.
• Increase your hydration to support healthy digestion and maintain the balance of bacterial and immunological functioning in the gut.
• Regularly wash your hands, which minimizes the risk of introducing bad bacteria into your gut.
by Joshua Duvauchelle
