Happy Valentine’s Day!
February, usually dominated by hearts and flowers is also declared by the British Heart Foundation as National Heart Month in the UK. During this time, awareness of many heart conditions is raised, so at Holistic Health we’re looking at the connection between good gut health and cardiovascular health.
Your heart is the most important organs in the body. Cardiovascular disease characterises a wide range of disorders that affect the heart. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) can often be due to gut microbiome, genetics and nutrition.
Look at your gut as an ecosystem.
There are around 500 species of bacteria living there, and your well-being depends on them. Our gut bacteria control digestion, metabolism, inflammation, the condition of your skin (our largest organ), allergies and cancer risk. These little bugs play an important role in our bodies and work hard every day producing vitamins, beneficial nutrients or short chain fatty acids.
Issues like constipation, bloating, flatulence or IBS show up when the balance of bacteria in your gut is shattered and the bad bugs start to repopulate, but you can also develop symptoms that don’t seem to be linked with the gut like asthma, allergies, eczema, acne or inflammation.
Unfortunately, there are many causes to an imbalance of bad bacteria. The increased use of medications like antibiotics can have a tremendous effect on our fragile ecosystem weakening and destroying the good flora. Processed, high-sugar, high-fat, low-fibre diets can also dramatically alter this delicate bacterial balance.
Diet plays a huge role in other risk factors such as hypertension, excess weight, atherosclerosis or dyslipidaemia. If you have a family history of CVD you may have a higher risk of developing these diseases. These inherited conditions are caused by a mutation in one or more of your genes.
Dietary patterns like the Mediterranean diet have been proven to be effective in reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in the body, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels and therefore reducing the risk of heart disease. The Mediterranean Diet is a lifestyle and a cultural heritage that is much more than just a healthy dietary pattern. It is a balanced lifestyle that includes recommended foods, recipes and cooking methods. A study of nearly 26,000 women found that those who followed this type of diet lowered their risk of developing cardiovascular disease by a whopping 25%.
The Mediterranean diet includes the following dietary factors that have a high intake of plant foods comprising mainly:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Whole‐grains
- Beans
- Nuts and seeds
- Locally grown, fresh and seasonal unprocessed foods
- Large quantities of fresh fruit consumed daily
- Olive oil as a main cooking ingredient and source of fat
- (Olive oil is recommended as the primary added fat, replacing other oils and fats (butter, margarine). Other foods naturally containing healthful fats, such as avocados, nuts, and oily fish like salmon and sardines; among these, walnuts and fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids.)
- Low to moderate amounts of cheese and yogurt
- Low quantities of red meat and higher quantities of fish (oily fish in particular)
There has also been evidence to suggest that plant sterols (also known as phytosterols) help regulate cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Phytosterols are waxes derived from plants and help to prevent your intestines from absorbing cholesterol. They’re naturally present in whole grains, nuts, fruits, and vegetables.
How our treatments can help…
One of the naturopathic principles that we adhere to is ‘prevention is better than cure,’ and this is fundamentally achieved by promoting healthy lifestyle habits and education. Our nutritional therapists assess risk factors and hereditary susceptibility to disease, and then make appropriate interventions.
During colonic hydrotherapy, we remove an excess of harmful bacteria or yeast overgrowth that feeds on accumulated waste, trapped within the colon’s pockets. When imbalanced, the gut struggles to evacuate waste fully. Don’t worry about losing the good bacteria in the process, it is strongly embedded within a glycocalyx layer of the colon so there is enough left to repopulate on its own.
This treatment is a powerful reset for your gut. For those with dysbiosis we implant probiotics directly into the colon. This is often the most powerful part of the treatment and clients see a quick and positive shift in the way they feel. There is no better way to help your colon regain balance than removing excess harmful bacteria and adding 75 billion fresh live bacteria that can repopulate quickly!
So, we know the drill, get your steps in, keep your stress levels as low as they will go, rest when you need it – but also, start looking at your gut and it will tell you what you need to know.
For more information or to book one of our amazing treatments, or perhaps you want to buy a gift voucher this Valentine’s Day – what better way than the gift of health!
We sell Gift Vouchers for any treatment and any amount.
Send one to someone you love this Valentine’s Day!
info@holistichealthhackney.co.uk
0207 275 8434
Or pop in and see us on Broadway Market, London Fields.