What if heart disease begins in our gut?

the gut–heart connection

Our gut and heart are in constant communication – through the bloodstream, immune signals, and microbial metabolites.

And the state of our gut microbiome can directly influence our cardiovascular health, including

  • Blood pressure

  • Cholesterol metabolism

  • Arterial inflammation

  • Heart rhythm and even heart muscle function

Here's how our gut microbiome shapes our heart risk

  1. TMAO (Trimethylamine N-oxide): Gut bacteria metabolise choline and carnitine (from red meat, eggs, dairy) into TMAO ➤ High levels are linked to atherosclerosis, stroke, and heart attack risk

  2. SCFAs (Short-Chain Fatty Acids): Beneficial bacteria ferment dietary fibre into SCFAs like butyrate, acetate, and propionate ➤ Reducing systemic inflammation, lower blood pressure, improve endothelial (vessel lining) function, and protecting against metabolic (blood sugar) disease

  3. LPS (Lipopolysaccharides): In gut dysbiosis (imbalances) and 'leaky gut', bacterial fragments/toxins like LPS pass into the bloodstream ➤ Causing chronic low-grade inflammation, a known driver of hypertension, insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease

To summarise the gut-heart pathway and cardiovascular Impact

  • TMAO from red meat metabolism: ↑ Arterial plaque, ↑ CV risk

  • SCFAs from fibre: ↓ Inflammation, ↓ Blood pressure

  • LPS from leaky gut: ↑ Systemic inflammation

  • Dysbiosis: ↑ hypertension, obesity, metabolic syndrome

  • Oral/gut bacteria in bloodstream: Detected in heart tissue & plaques

Support the gut-heart axis

  1. Eat diverse, fibre-rich foods to feed SCFA-producing bacteria

  2. Reduce processed red meats to lower TMAO load

  3. Boost microbial diversity by including fermented foods, polyphenols, prebiotics

  4. Support oral hygiene, preventing translocation of pathogenic microbes

  5. Avoid unnecessary antibiotics, preserve beneficial flora

When we support our microbiome, we're reducing heart disease risk at the source. Microbiome cardiology. Root cause medicine.

Gutsy by NutritionComment