arteries

The REAL Reason Your Arteries Are Clogging

You know that fat molecules pile up in your arteries and those plaques lead to heart attacks.

The plaques are a combination of calcium, cells, and cholesterol.

The bigger question, though, is: How do those plaques form?

A study led by the University of Connecticut, published in the Journal of Lipid Research, gives us a new clue.

There is a well-known association between gum disease and heart disease: people with gum disease are more likely to have a heart attack.

The team of scientists from the University of Connecticut discovered a link between the types of bacteria that live in our mouths (and guts) and people who have heart attacks.

Here is how they figured it out:

Bacteria (like humans) produce fats. If you compare the chemical makeup of bacteria-fats and human-fats you find they are a little different.

Certain bacterial fats cause problems for us.

Those bacterial fats look different from our own and they cause our immune system to go crazy, which raises inflammation. (Inflammation, you know, is horrible for our heart health).

The next thing you know, you’re on your way to poor heart health and clogged arteries.

So what can you do to tamp down inflammation and these bad bacteria?

Dr. Scott’s Inflammation and Heart Health Program:

  • Exercise: Exercise reduces inflammation, and is great for the heart. Don’t be too crazy with your exercise. Simply walking every day is a good place to start.
  • Avoid Vegetable Oils: Vegetable oils, especially trans fatty acids, are as bad as certain bacterial fats: they cause inflammation to rise.
  • Probiotics: The only way to overpower the bad bacteria is to make sure you have enough of the good guys. You can do this by taking a probiotic and eating fermented foods such as yogurt and sauerkraut.  
  • Fish Oil: One of the most powerful anti-inflammatories is fish oil. It works inside your body to keep inflammatory proteins low.
  • Curcumin: This extract from turmeric is great at helping the body modulate inflammation. Unless you get a ton of this in your food, you should think about supplementing. 

Health and Happiness,

Scott Olson

Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Dr. Scott Olson, ND

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

Liver Brain Link Will Have You Rethinking Memory Loss

Here’s something that might surprise you… Your liver could be secretly sabotaging your brain health. We know that what happens in the liver doesn’t always stay in the liver. But now, groundbreaking research reveals just how deeply this vital organ’s health is connected to a critical aspect of aging… your memory and thinking skills. Scientists...

Read This

Nature’s Pharmacy Knocks Out Long COVID Symptoms

I’ve had many people ask me about Long COVID recently. It’s a big concern because it’s affecting more survivors than you might think. If you’re one of them—before you resign yourself to a life of lingering symptoms—there’s hope on the horizon… And it comes straight from Mother Nature herself. Recent data paints a sobering picture....

Read This

11 Hacks to Beat the Winter Blues

As the days grow shorter and the nights longer, many of us find ourselves battling more than just the cold weather. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression that strikes during fall and winter, affects millions each year. While the exact causes aren’t fully understood, experts say that seasonal changes disrupt our body’s circadian...

Read This

Mailbag: Halt Hair Loss Naturally

“I take a lot of vitamins, but my hair is falling out by the handfuls. I am 85 years old, but don’t have any major health problems that I know of.”  – Hair Today Gone Tomorrow Hi Hair Today, I understand your concern about hair loss. Few things make us feel older than our years, quite...

Read This

5 Fall Foods to Supercharge Your Immune System

It starts with a tickle in the back of your throat… Or a little sniffle or sneeze—and before you know it, you’re knocked down for the count. Cold and flu season has arrived. If you’ve managed to escape these sneaky little viruses so far, let’s try to keep it that way. Because, let’s be honest,...

Read This

Common Chemicals Could Be Sabotaging Your Sleep

Do you have trouble sleeping? Many of us blame common causes like afternoon coffee or evening screen time. But what if the real culprit is something you’d never expect—lurking right in your home? New research points to troubling evidence about how everyday chemicals could sabotage your shut-eye… Scientists have uncovered an alarming link between common...

Read This

The Forgotten Berry Your Bones Are Craving

Strawberries and blueberries rank first and second as America’s favorite berries. And, of course, cranberries shoot to the top of the list around this time of year. But there’s another underrated berry we should be giving a second look. Especially if you’re a senior concerned about your bone health. Because new research reveals this unassuming...

Read This

Gut Hack Helps You Avoid the Flu

Flu season hasn’t ramped up… yet. According to the CDC’s FluView, we’re still hovering at around one percent of the population testing positive for influenza. That’s fantastic news… but it doesn’t mean it’s time to rest. In fact, NOW is the time to prepare, because this is the calm before this season’s storm. As the...

Read This

Ditch “Calendar Age” to Live Longer and BETTER

“Age is just a number.” If we’ve heard that phrase once, we’ve heard it a thousand times. So, it’s easy to dismiss the thought. But the truth is, how old you feel is more critical than the number of candles on your birthday cake. Let me explain… Imagine the following scenario… Two 65-year-olds walk into...

Read This

5 Reasons to Eat MORE Pumpkin This Fall

When you think of fall, what comes to mind? Colorful leaves? Cozy sweaters? How about pumpkins? Sure, you probably carved one for Halloween, and you may bake a couple cans of it into a pie for Thanksgiving. But what if I told you that this humble squash could ALSO be your secret weapon for staying...

Read This