The Main Causes Of Cardiovascular Disease – Processed Foods, Rancid Vegetable Oils, And Toxicity
There are 3 main causes of cardiovascular disease that we have control over. Specifically, processed foods, rancid vegetable oils, and toxicity all drive inflammation and in turn cardiovascular dysfunction. By making lifestyle changes, upregulating cellular function, optimizing cellular detox pathways, and improving epigenetic expression, we can significantly reduce the probability of developing cardiovascular disease.
Cardiovascular disease is responsible for more than 17 million deaths around the world every year. This makes it the leading cause of death globally. In the United States alone, incidences of cardiovascular disease continue to increase year after year. In fact, projections show that almost half of the US population will develop cardiovascular disease by 2035.1
This is a three-part blog. In this blog, we will discuss how processed foods cause cardiovascular disease. Tomorrow, we will focus on how rancid vegetable oils are behind cardiovascular issues and on Thursday, the focus will be on how toxicity is driving the ever-increasing rates of cardiovascular disease.
The 3-Legged Stool Addresses The Main Causes Of Cardiovascular Disease
The analogy of our health to a 3-legged stool highlights the importance of balance and interconnectedness for optimal cardiovascular health. It emphasizes that good health is built upon three key pillars which include managing stress levels, maintaining a healthy gut, and promoting favorable epigenetic expression.
As you will see, consuming processed foods affects all three legs of the stool. Processed foods increase stress on our cells, damage our microbiome health, and cause bad genes to trigger in a process called epigenetic expression.2 3 4
Below we will look at the individual stressors contained in processed foods and how they cause our bucket of stressors to fill up and overflow. Simply put, the body can handle some stressors without any symptoms up until a certain point. However, when too many stressors weigh on the body, in something I call the perfect storm, our bucket of stressors overflows, causing physical symptoms and disease.
Just like the movie, The Perfect Storm, where three storm systems combine into one, it is the combination of many stressors all at once that results in an overflowing bucket. In addition to processed foods, toxins, physical stress, and emotional stress all play a role in filling up the bucket of stressors.
To bring the cumulative effect of stressors down to a manageable level, we must both reduce our exposure to stressors and open up a hole in the bottom of the bucket that acts as a drain. In practice, this means we need to improve the cellular detox pathways so toxins can finally make their way out of the cells and out of the body.
In my case, the perfect storm of stressors that made me unexplainably sick were mercury toxicity from dental fillings and contact solution, mold exposure from an old house I was living in, the stress of running a chiropractic practice, and the stress of biking hundreds of miles per week. Read more about my story and how I got myself well again.
Improving Cellular Function With The 5Rs
As you will see below, the main causes of cardiovascular disease stem from chronic inflammation, specifically, cellular membrane inflammation. In addition to avoiding processed foods, we must deal with cellular membrane inflammation head on, as once this process is in motion, it continues indefinitely. To put an end to cellular membrane inflammation, we must upregulate cell function, open cellular detox pathways, and turn off bad genes that contribute to heart disease. This is where my 5Rs come into play.
R1 – Remove The Source
R1 is focused on removing the factors that are contributing to cellular toxicity. In this case, processed foods are the culprit. However, exposure to heavy metals, chemicals, and stress must also cease or at least be reduced significantly.
R2 – Regenerating The Cellular Membrane
Inflammation of the cellular membrane due to the consumption of processed foods and other toxins prevents nutrients from entering and waste products from leaving the cell. As a result, toxic byproducts accumulate in the cell and activate unfavorable genes, which will be further explored in R5.5
Furthermore, an inflamed cellular membrane also affects ATP synthesis, hindering the production of energy within cells. Without sufficient ATP, glutathione, the main cellular detoxification compound, isn’t produced at high enough quantities. This is why it is crucial to regenerate the cellular membrane to avoid cardiovascular disease.6
R3 – Restoring Cellular Energy
When toxins overwhelm our cells, ATP stores are quickly exhausted trying to defend against them. As a result, our cells become depleted of energy and unable to carry out their normal functions effectively.7
This is where R3 comes in. At this point, we focus on restoring cellular ATP production and other crucial pathways that have been exhausted. Once we restore cellular ATP production, we in turn optimize detox pathways within our cells. This allows for the removal of built-up toxins from a lifetime of processed food consumption.
R4 – Reducing Cellular Membrane Inflammation
In the process of detoxifying our cells, it is expected that cellular membrane inflammation would naturally decrease. However, this is not the case due to a complex feedback loop known as the NO/ONOO cycle. This cycle perpetuates and maintains cellular membrane inflammation, leading to cardiovascular disease.8
To combat this issue, we use specific nutraceuticals to eliminate cellular membrane inflammation at its core. By putting an end to cellular membrane inflammation, the cell can finally function normally, allowing metabolic byproducts to exit the cell and nutrition required for ATP synthesis to enter.
R5 – Reestablishing Methylation
Methylation is a vital biochemical process that occurs in every cell of our body. It plays a crucial role in various functions, such as detoxification, hormone regulation, and gene expression. However, due to the exposure of toxins in processed foods and heavy metals in our environment, the methylation process becomes disrupted. This triggers the creation of bad genes that promote disease and microbiome dysfunction. We use nutraceuticals to restore proper methylation.9
Learn more about the 5Rs and the process we use to fix the cell in our free Webinar.
The Main Causes Of Cardiovascular Disease – Processed Foods
Processed foods are often high in unhealthy fats and sugar, which lead to weight gain and an increased risk for heart disease. Additionally, they lack essential nutrients such as fiber, vitamins, and minerals that are important for maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system.10
The Main Causes Of Cardiovascular Disease – Processed Foods Contain Trans Fats
Another major concern with processed foods is their high levels of unhealthy fats, particularly trans fats. These types of fats are created through an industrial process that adds hydrogen to vegetable oil, making it solid at room temperature. Trans fats are commonly found in fried foods, baked goods, and margarine. Consuming trans fats have been linked to inflammation in the body.11
Processed Foods Contain High Quantities Of Sugar
Processed foods also tend to be high in added sugars, which provide empty calories and little nutritional value. Consuming too much added sugar leads to weight gain, insulin resistance, and inflammation in the body. This is why the consumption of sugar has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease.12
Read more about the dangers of sugar.
The Main Causes Of Cardiovascular Disease – Processed Foods That Contain Rancid Vegetable Oils
Rancid vegetable oils are used extensively in processed food products because they are cheap and readily available. However, these oils undergo a process called oxidation, where they react with oxygen over time and become unstable. This causes them to release harmful compounds known as free radicals into the body.
These oils also build up in the cellular membranes and remain there for months. The result is cellular membrane inflammation that is behind cardiovascular issues, hormone resistance, a reduction in cellular ATP production, the inability to remove toxic waste products from the cell, and the triggering of harmful genes.13
We will discuss the cardiovascular damage caused by rancid vegetable oils in detail in tomorrow’s blog.
The Main Causes Of Cardiovascular Disease – Processed Foods – Hydrolyzed Protein
Hydrolyzed protein is a type of protein that has been broken down into smaller components through a process called hydrolysis. This process is often used in food production to enhance flavor or increase shelf life. Hydrolyzed protein has been linked to the production of homocysteine, an amino acid that damages artery walls and increases the risk of atherosclerosis.14
The Main Causes Of Cardiovascular Disease – Artificial Sweeteners Like Acesulfame Potassium
One of the most popular artificial sweeteners used is Acesulfame Potassium (also known as Acesulfame K or Ace-K). It is often found in diet sodas, protein bars, and other processed foods. While it may seem like a great alternative to sugar, research has shown that consuming large amounts of Ace-K has negative effects on our cardiovascular health.
Studies have linked excessive consumption of Ace-K with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Ace-K has been found to have an impact on insulin levels. Moreover, studies have also found that Ace-K disrupts our gut microbiome, damaging our cardiovascular health.15
The Main Causes Of Cardiovascular Disease – Emulsifiers Like Carboxymethylcellulose
Emulsifiers like carboxymethylcellulose are commonly used in processed foods to improve their texture and shelf life. They work by reducing surface tension between two immiscible substances, such as oil and water, allowing them to mix together smoothly. Emulsifiers disrupt the balance of bacteria in our gut microbiome.16
The Main Causes Of Cardiovascular Disease – Humectants
Humectants are commonly used in processed foods as moisture-retaining agents to prevent them from drying out and maintain their texture and freshness. They also have the added benefit of extending the shelf life of products. However, some humectants, such as high fructose corn syrup and sorbitol, are linked to an increased risk of heart disease.17 18
The Main Causes Of Cardiovascular Disease – Monosodium Glutamate
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer commonly used in processed foods, restaurant meals, and even some home-cooked dishes. While it adds a savory taste to food, studies have shown that MSG consumption is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
MSG is made up of 78% free glutamic acid, an amino acid that acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain. It is also found naturally in certain foods such as tomatoes and cheese. However, the concentrated amount in manufactured MSG causes harm when consumed in excess.
One of the main causes of cardiovascular disease related to MSG is its effect on blood pressure and oxidative stress. Moreover, studies have shown that MSG consumption contributes to inflammation in the body.19 20
The Main Causes Of Cardiovascular Disease – Y-glutamylvaline And Y-glutamylisoleucine
Two specific amino acids that have been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease are y-glutamylvaline and y-glutamylisoleucine because they promote inflammation and oxidative stress in the body. These two amino acids belong to a group called branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), which are essential for protein synthesis in the body. However, in excessive amounts, BCAAs have detrimental effects on the cardiovascular system.21
Main Causes Of Cardiovascular Disease – Excessive Phosphorus Consumption
Excessive phosphorus consumption has been shown to increase blood pressure levels. This is because excess phosphorus disrupts the balance of other minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, which are essential for regulating blood pressure. When this balance is disturbed, it leads to hypertension.
Studies have found that high levels of phosphorus in the blood activates inflammatory pathways. When there is an excess amount in the body, it leads to an imbalance between antioxidants and free radicals, resulting in oxidative stress.22
Processed Foods Drive Up Insulin And Inflammation
As you can see, the main concerns with consuming processed foods are their impact on insulin levels, blood pressure, and inflammation in the body. This is why processed foods play a significant role in the development of chronic inflammatory diseases like heart disease, kidney disease, autoimmune conditions, and COPD. The WHO classifies these diseases as the most significant threats to human health.23
3 Main Causes Of Cardiovascular Disease – Processed Foods, Rancid Vegetable Oils, And Toxicity
By reducing our consumption of processed foods and incorporating a diet rich in whole, unprocessed foods, like my Cellular Healing Diet, we can avoid adding to our stress bucket. A healthy diet, in combination with supporting our 3-legged stool of health and following the 5Rs, is key to avoiding the main causes of cardiovascular disease.
In tomorrow’s blog, I will discuss the second main cause of cardiovascular disease, the consumption of rancid vegetable oils.
Until then, read more about the link between inflammation and disease or join me in the free Webinar.
References
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