Heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure: Reduce risk of heart diseases by keeping your gut healthy

The gut is known as the "second brain" in the body. But did you know that a healthy gut is crucial for your heart health? An unhealthy gut increases your risk for cardiac issues such as heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure.

There are billions of bacteria in the gut, and a balanced gut microbiome contributes to the overall health of the body by supporting digestion, reducing inflammation, and even controlling cholesterol. But when an unhealthy diet, stress, sleep deprivation or antibiotics disrupt it, bad bacteria can take over, causing a state called dysbiosis.

According to research, gut imbalance leads to inflammation, production of toxic compounds, and blood vessel dysfunction, all factors that increase heart disease risk. Warns Dr Rohan Malhotra, Senior Cardiologist at Heart and Gut Wellness Clinic, "Understanding the connection between the gut and heart health is crucial for knowing how to prevent this.”

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Here are eight reasons, suggested by Dr Malhotra, to listen to your gut for better cardiovascular health

• Increases Inflammation: Systemic inflammation is a big factor which leads to atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries) which results in increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. An unhealthy gut can also initiate systemic inflammation.

• Increases harmful bacterial byproducts: Some gut bacteria create trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a substance that is related not only to deposition of plaque in the arteries but to an increased risk of heart disease.

• Raises bad cholesterol levels: Cholesterol metabolism is impaired with gut health, causing rising levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) and lowering levels of HDL (good cholesterol), two of the most important determinants of cardiovascular health.

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• Leads to high blood pressure: An imbalance in gut bacteria can interfere with hormones responsible for blood pressure and cause hypertension, which is a key risk factor of heart disease.

• Increases blood sugar levels: Low gut health worsens glucose metabolism, contributing to insulin resistance. This, over time, increases the likelihood of diabetes, a big risk factor for heart disease.

• Weakens immune system: An unhealthy gut harms the immune system, leading to chronic inflammatory and infection processes that put an extra strain on the heart.

• Causes weight gain and obesity: Gut imbalance can decelerate metabolism and lead to weight gain, resulting in obesity, the main reason behind many cardiovascular problems.

• Disrupts hormonal balance: Our gut bacteria also influence hormones such as cortisol and leptin. Such disturbances may cause stress, starvation of appetite control, and metabolic disorders overloading the heart.

Your gut and heart are psycho-biologically intertwined. Fibre-rich food, fermented products, and avoiding processed ones help to keep a good gut, and reduce the risk of heart disease.