Real Cause of Heart Disease and NO, It isn't FAT!

If you read and study enough, one can begin to narrow in on the cause of heart disease which tends to affect those folks who are also Type II Diabetics. Theories abound over what to eat and what to avoid and it seems there is a lot of conflicting information going around at times. As an example, "Saturated Fat" seems to be the culprit and we have been told numerous times to eat a LOW FAT diet to avoid heart disease.After much study and reading it seems to me that is the wrong approach. Extra virgin olive oil, extra virgin cold pressed Coconut Oil etc. are actually beneficial to your heart health.

I believe the real culprit is NOT saturated fats, or eating red meat, etc. I think there is strong evidence out there that we should be avoiding sugar in its many forms, especially when it come from empty calorie, vitamin and mineral deficient foods and 99% of what you will find in the "crunchie/munchie" isle of your local grocery store. Simple carbs which turn quickly to sugar and elevate one's blood glucose levels while providing little or NO nutritive value at all.

Here are some excerpts from an article I came across recently agreeing with that premise:

http://www.drsinatra.com/sugar-is-a-major-cause-of-heart-disease/

EXCERPTS:

For years, we’ve been told to watch our fat intake. But if you saw me on Dr. Oz’s show, you heard me say that the real villain in heart disease isn’t fat—but sugar. With Americans eating a diet that’s high in sugar, and other refined carbohydrates that are converted to sugar, we’re unwittingly giving ourselves heart disease in record numbers.

How Sugar Causes Heart Disease

The problem with sugar is that it contributes to inflammation of the arterial walls. It does that by generating an insulin spike, and when insulin spikes continuously it starts to ravage the fragile, but ultra-important endothelial lining of blood vessels. If the endothelial lining becomes damaged, all the well-known causes of heart disease problems swarm to the scene and create the inflammatory mayhem that eventually leads to heart attack and stroke.

What’s worse is that excessive sugar consumption can also cause weight gain. Weight gain, combined with sustained high insulin levels, can lead to insulin resistance and diabetes—which further increases your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Beware of high fructose corn syrup. Most of the sugar you eat is “hidden,” usually under the guise of high fructose corn syrup.

Limit alcohol intake. This includes wine, beer and liquor. Many people don’t realize that alcohol contains a large store of hidden sugar.

Eat an anti-inflammatory Pan-Asian Mediterranean (PAM) diet. My heart-healthy PAMM eating plan includes 40 to 45 percent slow-burning, low-glycemic index carbohydrates; 35-40 percent healthy fats; and 20-25 percent protein—all of which help to reduce inflammation.

Restrict bread and bread products as much as you can, especially those containing wheat. I strongly recommend you read The Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis. I’m sure you’ll agree. ( I have been on the wheat belly diet plan for a while now and try to avoid all bread products...I DO ALLOW myself a bowl of Quaker oats for breakfast along with a handful of seedless grapes, a handful of blueberries and a tablespoon of organic ground flax seeds)

MY INPUT:

There are numerous articles out there indicating the damage done to your body by too much sugar. One of them is developing type 2 diabetes and consequently high blood pressure and heart disease.

Try and build your diet around fruits and vegetables, protein and adequate fiber and avoid any and all high glycemic foods in all their many forms. These high calorie, low nutrition, foods convert to glucose quickly in your digestive track and subsequently lead to inflammation, high blood pressure, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

God Bless,

Dan