Do you leave most meals feeling slowed down, bloated or uncomfortable? Well, interestingly enough majority of the population feels the same way. That said, just because it’s common does not mean it’s something you should ignore!
The health of your gut affects almost every aspect of your health. This includes your cardiovascular/heart health. We call this the gut-heart axis. When people think of heart disease they often don’t think about their gut, but that’s making a huge mistake. Ignoring the signs your gut is telling you can put you at a higher risk of events such as heart attack and stroke.
Let’s take a look at how your gut influences your heart.
What Does My Gut Have To Do With My Heart?
Turns out, the gut has a massive impact on many aspects of your cardiovascular health. Let me break it down into categories.
- Immune System
Your gut microbiome has a direct influence over your gut’s immune system, aka the G.A.L.T.(gut-associated lymphoid tissue). In fact, approximately 70% of your immune system is in your gut. - Nervous System
The vagus nerve connects from the brain to the heart, lungs and gut. It controls your heart rate, heart contractions, blood pressure and more. - Mitochondrial Function
We know by now that our mitochondria (the part of your cells that makes energy) are very important for heart health. In fact, our heart is the densest in mitochondria vs any other organ in our body.
One way this happens is through our mouth, the start of digestion! Studies have shown that poor mouth/dental health can increase LPS-mediated mitochondrial damage! This damage can lead to increased rates of damage to your blood vessels and plaque build-up. - Nutrient status
I hate to be cliché, but you are what you eat! Or, more accurately, you are what you absorb! Poor absorption is one of the many ways we can develop nutrient deficiencies.
Some of the most important heart nutrients include omega-3’s, magnesium, taurine, b-vitamins and anti-oxidants.
What Conditions Can Lead To Increased Heart Disease?
- Pancreatic Insufficiency (Exocrine). This condition leads to a lot of nutrient deficiencies. If this is an issue for you, it might be worth looking into.
- SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). The type of bugs we have in our gut (aka the microbiome) has an impact on hypertension, cholesterol, blood vessel damage, clotting and more!
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease. When uncontrolled, this condition can have massive inflammation and poor absorption/digestion. This is a recipe for unstable plaque in the arteries
- Infections: This can be parasitic infections, Lyme disease, candida, and more!
- Low stomach acid. Our stomach acid affects the pH of the gut. If the pH changes so does the microbiome. The changes to the microbiome can promote things like hypertension, obesity and diabetes!
- Chronic diarrhea or constipation.
- More…
What Can You Do About It?
My best advice, start now! Life is too short to feel like crap. Also, cardiovascular disease is 80% preventable. So, the sooner you start the better.
How to start? Book in with a healthcare provider that understands the interconnectedness of these systems. If they aren’t suggesting a comprehensive and multidimensional course of action, don’t use them!
Disclaimer
Information can be empowering, but we all have unique health profiles and needs. The health-related information contained in this article is intended to be general in nature. It is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. In no cases should this information be used as a substitute for a visit with a licensed naturopathic doctor.
References
- Houston, M. (2019). Personalized and Precision Integrative Cardiovascular Medicine. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.