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

Stop Starving Yourself—"Forbidden" Weight Loss Secret WORKS

Completely cutting out the foods you love from your diet is a recipe for disaster. You know the drill—you swear off chocolate, potato chips, or whatever your weakness is, only to find yourself face-first in a family-size bag three weeks later, wondering what went wrong. Good news—science has finally caught up with common sense. A...

Read This

Why Your Muscles Are Your Brain's Best Defense

Forget expensive brain scans and head-scratching cognitive tests that make you feel like you’re back in school. Japanese researchers have stumbled onto something that could change how we screen for memory problems—and it’s so simple, you’ll wonder why nobody thought of it sooner. A quick, painless measurement you can get during a routine checkup might...

Read This

Four Carbs that Could Add YEARS to Your Life

You’ve likely been avoiding carbs like the plague. Health gurus, fitness influencers, and diet books have convinced you that carbs are the enemy—that they spike your blood sugar, pack on pounds, and fast-track you to diabetes. So you’ve eliminated bread, sworn off pasta, and feel guilty just touching a piece of fruit. But what if...

Read This

Upgrade from Bananas and Apples to These Powerhouse Fruits

I’m often asked which fruits are the best. So, let’s talk about it. I’ll cut right to the chase: berries win this contest hands down. If you’re limiting your options to apples and bananas, you’re missing out on a universe of superior antioxidant power. Those everyday fruits are like bringing a knife to a gunfight...

Read This

The REAL Reason Americans are Getting “Fatter”

You’ve heard it a thousand times: “Americans are getting fatter because we’re lazy.” We sit at desks all day. We binge-watch Netflix instead of hitting the gym. We’ve traded physical labor for sedentary lifestyles. It’s a tidy explanation for why obesity has skyrocketed in developed countries. There’s just one problem—it’s completely wrong… A groundbreaking Duke...

Read This

Mailbag: Room Won't Stop Spinning? Do THIS First

“I’m dealing with vertigo issues, lightheadedness, and dizziness. As recently as this last Saturday I had multiple occurrences throughout the day. Is there anything I can do for this?  I’m 69 and in good health. I work out 4 to 5 times a week.” —Spinning Hi Spinning, When patients approach me with similar complaints, I...

Read This

Hidden Number Secretly Sabotages Male Performance

Guys (and gals that love them), we should talk. You know how we’ve always been told that bedroom troubles are just part of getting older—that we just need to live with them? Well, it turns out that’s not true. Scientists recently wrapped up a six-year study that followed over 100 healthy men, and the findings...

Read This

Shocking Study Links Kids' Snacks to Dangerous Early Puberty

Kids are growing up in a world vastly different from the one we knew. Back in our day, if a child wanted something sweet, it was a piece of candy or a homemade cookie. Today’s kids are surrounded by products filled with artificial sweeteners that didn’t even exist when we were raising our own children....

Read This

Outdated Vitamin Guidelines Put Your Brain at Risk

If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think twice about vitamin B12—until your doctor mentions it during a routine blood test. But new research published in the Annals of Neurology suggests we need to pay closer attention to this crucial nutrient—especially as we age. Turns out, current guidelines for this essential nutrient might be...

Read This

The TRUTH About Supplement "Liver Dangers" REVEALED

There’s been a lot of buzz lately about liver damage from supplements—so, let’s talk about it. Reports of supplement-induced liver injuries have some folks wondering, “Could my natural remedy actually be harming me?” But before you toss all your supplements in the trash, let’s separate fact from fear—and talk about how to use supplements safely....

Read This