5 Heart Disease Myths BUSTED!
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted October 5, 2018
Being a doctor is only part of my job… I like to consider myself a “medical myth buster.”
When patients come to me for the first time, lots of them have head their heads filled with bad information for years.
This bogus health advice comes from the drug companies… the mainstream medical establishment… the news media… and even our own government.
And that’s especially true when it comes to heart health.
But I’m going to reveal the 5 WORST lies that are destroying your heart health.
And I’ll show you how EASY it can be to keep your heart healthy your whole life.
Here is my list of the top 5 heart-health myths:
Myth #1: Fat is Bad for You
Most people believe that fat will cause a hart attack, but it's not true. Many good scientific studies show that vegetable oils (sunflower, canola, corn oil etc.) and trans fats (found in processed foods or margarine) are the real culprits because they increase inflammation. Fats from butter and saturated fats (found in meats) are more stable and do not increase heart disease.
Myth #2: Don’t Eat Eggs
I think most people have gotten the news that eggs aren't as bad as we used to think they were. Study after study show people who eat eggs once or twice a day have lowered risk for heart disease and stroke compared to those who never ate eggs.
Myth #3: Stay Away From Red Meat
I still see headlines saying red meat is bad for you, but they are simply untrue. Red meat can be an essential part of a healthy diet, and provides us important nutrients many of us are missing – including magnesium and B vitamins.
Myth #4: Skip the Salt
For years the salt shaker has been off our tables due to concerns that salt increases blood pressure. But the reason salt was demonized is because more than 70%-80% of the salt most people eat shows up in processed, prepackaged, and restaurant food.
That means there are plenty of other chemicals taking a ride along with salt that can cause heart problems (the real culprits are trans fats and sugars). I recommend people eat all the salt they want – as long as it is a non-processed type of salt.
Myth #5: Take It Easy On Exercise
Many people who have heart disease or a family history of heart disease are fearful of exercise, but that is definitely not heart smart. Physical activity will strengthen your heart and improve your overall health. I generally recommend you exercise in some form every day.
Let’s take the next step and make sure your heart stays strong for your entire life.
Dr. Scott’s Heart Disease Program:
- Get Enough Exercise: As I said, you need exercise. Exercise not only reduces inflammation, but is great for the heart (and the brain). You don’t have to be too crazy, just get out and move your body around every day.
- Eat Colorful Foods: This means getting enough vegetables in your diet. If you can’t stand veggies, you can “cheat” by getting your veggies and other superfoods in a powered form. I take one every day by mixing it into yogurt and some berries.
- Avoid Vegetable Oils: Vegetable oils, especially trans fatty acids, are like setting off tiny bombs in your blood stream which increase inflammation.
- Use Fish oil: One of the most powerful anti-inflammatories is fish oil. It works inside your body to keep inflammatory proteins low.
- Take Curcumin: This extract from turmeric is great at helping the body control inflammation. Unless you get a ton of turmeric in your food, you should think about supplementing.
Health and Happiness,
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Ed. Note: Please send your feedback: feedback@livingwelldaily.com – and click here to like us on Facebook.
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
View More Free Articles
This Sleep Mistake Is Doubling Your Disease Risk
Think your inconsistent bedtime is just a harmless habit? Think again. New research reveals that going to bed at different times each night isn’t just making you tired—it could be dramatically increasing your risk of serious diseases. But the key to making sure poor sleep doesn’t derail your health goals likely isn’t what you think…....
Stop Obsessing Over Diet Trends
Can we stop with the endless diet debates already? Every other week there’s a new headline shouting about which diet is best for weight loss, heart health, or diabetes. Paleo, keto, low-carb, high-protein… it’s exhausting. And now, a new meta-analysis is out comparing the Mediterranean diet, the DASH diet, and something called AHEI (that’s “Alternative...
A New Reason to Ditch Processed Junk
If you’ve ever walked the inside aisles of your local grocery store and thought, “This is all just junk,” your instincts were spot on. A new study published in the journal Thorax just added another red flag to the list of dangers linked to ultra-processed food—a 41 percent higher risk of lung cancer. That’s right....
When Being Winded on Stairs Is Serious (And When It Isn’t)
I had an athlete visit me recently because he experienced shortness of breath while climbing stairs. He is in great shape, so he was worried about what it might mean. “Doc,” he said, “I run five miles three times a week. Why am I huffing and puffing after two flights of stairs?” His concern is...
Study EXPOSES Hidden Danger Lurking in Your Car
We think of our homes and cars as safe havens. But according to a startling new study, they may be flooding your lungs with microscopic plastic particles—every single day. Researchers in France recently found that adults inhale an average of 68,000 microplastic particles daily from indoor air alone. To put that in perspective, that’s about...
Mailbag: Is Modern Food Making You Snore?
“What can cause snoring, and is there a way to correct this issue?” —Seeking Silence Hi Seeking, Snoring happens when the soft tissues in your throat relax and vibrate as air passes through during sleep. While several factors can cause snoring—from sleep position to nasal congestion—I want to share one trigger that might surprise you....
Simple Food Swap SLASHES Dementia Risk 28%
Let’s be honest… who would jump at the chance to cut their dementia risk by 28 percent. And no, you don’t need to run marathons, survive on broccoli, or learn to play the zither (whatever that is) to make it happen. All it takes is one easy swap—something that’s probably already in your refrigerator. Researchers...
This SMART Floss Exposes Hidden Health Danger
Scientists have created dental floss that doesn’t just clean between your teeth—it also tracks your stress while you’re flossing. Now, I know what you’re thinking… “Great—now even flossing is going to stress me out by telling me how stressed I am.” But this fascinating new tool from Tufts University could be a game-changer for understanding...
Is This "Safe" Sweetener Damaging Your Brain?
The headlines are alarming… “Popular Sugar Substitute Linked to Brain Cell Damage” and “Erythritol Could Damage Critical Brain Barrier” are just two of the dozens I’ve spotted recently. But before you toss every sugar-free product in your pantry, let’s take a closer look at what this study actually shows—and what it doesn’t. The latest research...
This Summer Threat Could SPIKE Your Blood Sugar
Picture this… It’s another scorching hot summer day. You crank up the air conditioning while watching the weather forecast, which predicts yet another “record-breaking” heat wave. It’s starting to feel like just another miserably uncomfortable summer. But what you might not realize is that—if you have diabetes—those rising temps could do far more damage to...