nutrition; tobacco; heart health

The Truth about Heart Disease!

nutrition; tobacco; heart health
Dr. Lundell, a heart surgeon with 25 years experience is now basically saying “Hey, these chiropractors may have it right all along.” To quote Dr. Lundell: “However, if we chronically expose the body to injury by toxins or foods the human body was never designed to process, a condition occurs called chronic inflammation.” Many studies point to chronic, systemic inflammation (CSI) to be the root of all evil. (For more information on inflammation, please read the sand castle analogy.)

In western medicine, there was an early concept that seemed to make sense: if you eat cholesterol, the cholesterol in your blood is going to rise. This rise in blood-cholesterol (fatty materials) increases viscosity (thickness) of blood which then can cause clogged arteries leading to strokes and, the big one, heart attacks! However, multiple studies have overturned this concept. The most recent discovery is that inflammation in the wall of the artery is the real cause of heart disease.

So that means that approximately 25% of the population are being misled and the 12 billion dollars being spent on statin drugs to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease are pointless. Digested cholesterol does not immediately spike blood levels of cholesterol. In fact, the body has an endogenous (internal) process that creates cholesterol because cholesterol is very important for physiological processes in the body.

The most common source the body utilizes to make cholesterol is refined carbohydrates, most commonly flour products (breads, cakes, pastas, etc.) and sugars (high-fructose corn syrup found in everything from imitation “pancake syrup” to sodas). The simple process: the body stores excess calories for energy in the liver and muscles. When these stores get full, the liver turns the carbohydrates into fat, specifically palmitic acid (the saturated fat linked to elevated triglycerides/cholesterol, insulin resistance, and inflammation).

Directly from the heart doc: “The injury and inflammation in our blood vessels is caused by the low fat diet recommended for years by mainstream medicine.” So he is reiterating what I just mentioned. An overabundance of refined carbohydrates are the biggest culprit of excess stores of cholesterol AND the cause of injury and inflammation! So the low-fat diets that increased consumption of refined carbs and omega-6 vegetable oils (canola, vegetable, corn, soybean oils, etc.) put us at greater risk of heart disease.
Why do the omega-6 fatty acids found in vegetable oils and low-grade animal meats increase inflammation? The body needs to keep a 3:1 ratio of omega 3 to omega 6 fatty acids. With the over-consumption of omega 6 fatty acids, the balance is thrown off and allows the body to choose one pathway over the other. In this pathway, it creates cytokines (cell-messengers) that signal to increase inflammation to surrounding areas.

Yes, cholesterol is being deposited into the wall, but it cannot take place without the irritation from the toxins or foods exposed to the body causing the CSI. What makes more sense: lowering cholesterol that is very important to physiological processes in the body or preventing the chronic systemic inflammation from ever happening?

For more information and to read Dr. Lundell’s original article, please check the source listed below. Please check back next week to learn about some dietary changes you can make to prevent heart disease.

Source: Lundell D. WORLD RENOWNED HEART SURGEON SPEAKS OUT ON WHAT REALLY CAUSES HEART DISEASE. 2012 August 19. Available from: https://myscienceacademy.org/2012/08/19/world-renown-heart-surgeon-speaks-out-on-what-really-causes-heart-disease/