Rising environmental concerns linked to increased arterial hardening in humans.
Going Against Visible and Invisible Threats to Our Hearts
Pollution, the word that sends chills down our spines, isn't just about smoggy skies and dirty air. For years, it's been silently, insidiously seeping into our soil and water, wreaking havoc on our bodies. And the most affected? Our heart.
In the journal Nature Reviews Cardiology, a team of scientists raised an alarm about the soil that grows our food and the water we drink every day. Dr. Thomas Münzel and Dr. Andreas Daiber, from the Department of Cardiology at University Medical Mainz, warn, "Soil contamination is a much less visible danger to human health than dirty air."
The damage? The formation of arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, which is an early step in the development of heart disease. This process begins with endothelial dysfunction, mainly in medium- and large-sized arteries. And here's the kicker—pollution might be speeding up this process.
But it's not just the contamination of soil and water that's a concern. Air pollution, too, is a significant player in this deadly game. Contaminated airborne dust, also known as Sahara or desert dust, is predicted to considerably increase, further deteriorating air quality. This is especially alarming when you consider that already, 770,000 cardiovascular deaths per year are due to dust pollution.
So, what can we do to combat the specific ways pollution causes harm to our hearts? Here are some tips:
- Go Organic: Reduce the number of toxins in your food by opting for organic fruits and vegetables. Conventional produce is often heavily sprayed with harmful pesticides.
- Filter Your Water: Installing a reverse osmosis water filter at home can help filter your drinking water and reduce plastic water bottle use, which leaches micro-particles into your water.
- Boost Your Antioxidants: Since pollution damages the cardiovascular system through oxidative stress, it's crucial to up your antioxidant levels. You can get higher levels of antioxidants from foods like berries, leafy greens, and green tea. Alternatively, consider taking a quality antioxidant supplement, such as resveratrol.
- Supplement B Vitamins: One study found that individuals who took 2.5 mg per day of folic acid, 50 mg per day of vitamin B6, and 1 mg per day of vitamin B12 were able to almost completely reverse the pollution damage caused to their immune and cardiovascular systems.
- Practice Chelating: Chelators bind to toxins found in pollution, like chemicals and toxic heavy metals, and promote their elimination from the body as waste. Resveratrol and EDTA are two commonly used chelators available in supplement form.
- Supplement Vitamin D: Close to half the adult population doesn't take in adequate levels of the sunshine vitamin, and low levels are linked to endothelial dysfunction.
Stay informed, stay protected, and keep your heart pumping strong!
[Editor's note: Have you heard of EDTA chelation therapy? It was developed originally to remove lead and other contaminants, including heavy metals, from the body. Its uses now run the gamut from varicose veins to circulation. Click here to discover Chelation: Natural Miracle for Protecting Your Heart and Enhancing Your Health! ]*
Sources:
Road traffic injuries - World Health Organization
Number of worldwide air traffic fatalities from 2006 to 2021 - Statista
Influenza - Our World In Data
The true death toll of COVID-19 - World Health Organization
Soil and water pollution: An invisible threat to cardiovascular health - EurekAlert!
- The science behind soil contamination reveals a less visible yet dangerous threat to human health, especially our cardiovascular health, as highlighted in the journal Nature Reviews Cardiology.
- Air pollution, apart from soil contamination, is also a considerable factor in the deterioration of cardiovascular health, with Sahara or desert dust contributing significantly to air pollution and cardiovascular deaths.
- Addressing the harmful effects of pollution on heart health involves a combination of lifestyle changes and supplements, such as shifting towards organic food to reduce toxin intake, filtering drinking water, boosting antioxidant levels, supplementing B vitamins, practicing chelation, and maintaining adequate Vitamin D levels.
- The importance of keeping our hearts healthy in the face of invisible threats like pollution and climate change emphasizes the need for ongoing education and proactive measures in health and wellness, fitness and exercise, and environmental science.
