The Hidden Risk Factor Destroying Your Heart
It increases the risk of plaque buildup
If you want to keep your heart healthy, you have to keep your arteries healthy.
When plaque builds up in your arteries, it reduces blood flow, puts more strain on your heart, and can ultimately lead to a heart attack, stroke, peripheral artery disease, and more.
But there’s more to healthy, plaque-free arteries than a good diet.
In fact, even if you’re eating the “perfect” diet, exercising regularly, and getting plenty of sunlight… you’re likely being bombarded with a hidden risk factor that could be sending your heart risk soaring.
I’m talking about exposure to heavy metals.
The problem isn’t a one-time exposure to a heavy metal.
These metals enter your body through everything from contaminated soil and drinking water, to air pollutants and tobacco smoke.
There’s no escaping them—and they’re terrible for your heart.
Exposure to toxic metals have already been tied to cardiovascular risk factors.
It’s so bad that the World Health Organization estimated that 31 percent of the cardiovascular disease burden could be avoided if we could eliminate environmental pollutants.
Wow.
This study looked at the impact of heavy metal exposure on subclinical atherosclerosis, meaning before any official symptoms of atherosclerosis are present.
The researchers found that the older participants had higher levels of heavy metals in their urine.
They also found that higher levels of three particular metals were associated with a higher probability of subclinical atherosclerosis:
- Arsenic
- Cadmium
- Titanium
Arsenic and cadmium are most often found in tobacco and food. Arsenic is also found in water. And titanium exposure comes from things like dental and orthopedic implants, screws, and pacemaker encasings, and cosmetic products.
The researchers concluded that current safety standards aren’t good enough to protect against the negative effects toxic metals have on your heart.
What does this mean for you?
It means you need to take active steps to reduce your exposure to toxic metals. Here are three simple ways to do that:
- Cut back on rice. Rice contains more arsenic than almost any other item on store shelves.
- Drink filtered water.
- Eat foods that help detox heavy metals from your body. These include cruciferous vegetables, fiber, and probiotics. Fiber, in particular, binds to arsenic, cadmium, and aluminum, making it easier for your body to flush them out.
