Why Heart Disease Is Really on the Rise: Environmental, Dietary, and Lifestyle Factors

When it comes to heart disease, most of us have been told to worry about things like cholesterol and fat. But what if the real root causes were something else entirely?

In reality, two major factors drive heart disease today: metabolic syndrome - meaning chronically high insulin levels and anything that damages the endothelium, the thin, delicate lining of our blood vessels.

Modern life has made it harder than ever to protect these critical systems. Every day, we are exposed to environmental pollutants like air pollution, heavy metals (think lead and mercury), industrial chemicals, and hormone-disrupting compounds. These exposures cause inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which directly harm our vascular system over time.

Our diets have also shifted dramatically from the traditional, nourishing foods our ancestors relied on. Instead of fresh, whole ingredients, processed foods now dominate many people's plates. These foods are often high in refined seed oils, sugars, and artificial additives, all of which disrupt metabolism. Vegetable oils, in particular, are rich in omega-6 fatty acids that fuel oxidative stress and promote insulin resistance, setting the stage for cardiovascular problems.

Even though processed foods seem convenient, they come with a hidden cost. Every time a natural food is processed, its chemical and biological structure changes. Our bodies simply aren’t built to recognise or thrive on these altered substances. Processing strips away vital nutrients, taste, flavour, and colour only for manufacturers to add chemical flavour enhancers, artificial colours, preservatives, and E-numbers to make up for what was lost. Instead of nourishing the body, these foods burden it.

From a deeper nutritional perspective, heart disease often reflects a body that has been chronically undernourished. Not from a lack of calories, but from a lack of essential fats, fat-soluble vitamins, and properly prepared whole foods, these are critical tools the body needs to maintain and repair itself.

Cholesterol often gets wrongly blamed for heart disease, but in reality, it plays a crucial role in our body's ability to heal and protect itself. Cholesterol is a vital building block for hormones, cell membranes, and brain function. As Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride explains in her book Put Your Heart in Your Mouth, "Cholesterol is one of the most important substances in your body; it is vital for every cell, for every hormone, and for every function in your body."

Rather than fearing cholesterol, it is far more important to focus on the underlying causes that damage blood vessels in the first place such as inflammation, poor diet, and toxicity. When the body is injured, cholesterol rises as a healing response, not as a cause of disease.

At the same time, modern lifestyles layer on additional pressure. Long hours of sitting, poor sleep habits, constant stress, and smoking all strain the cardiovascular system even further. When the body is overwhelmed with toxicity, malnourishment, and chronic stress, the endothelium becomes damaged and heart disease is often the final outcome.

Healing starts by returning to what humans have always thrived on: traditional diets rich in nourishing meats, animal fats, fresh vegetables, fermented foods, mineral-rich meat stocks, and a way of living that honors rest, movement, and real, natural nourishment. Heart health isn’t just about cutting fat or managing numbers it’s about rebuilding the foundation of health that supports every cell in the body.

If you are concerned about heart disease or want to lead a healthier lifestyle, get in touch today. It's never too late to turn things around. Real healing is always possible with the right support, nourishing foods, and a return to what the body truly needs.

References:

1. Lusis, A. J. (2000). "Atherosclerosis." Nature, 407(6801), 233–241.[Explores the role of inflammation and endothelial damage in heart disease.]

2. Vasan, R. S., & Wilson, P. W. F. (2005). "Epidemiology of insulin resistance and its relation to coronary artery disease." American Journal of Cardiology, 96(12), 11E–14E.[Covers metabolic syndrome and insulin's role in heart disease.]

3. Pryor, W. A., & Stone, K. (1993). "Oxidative stress and damage to biological molecules." American Journal of Medicine, 91(3C), 22S–31S.[Details oxidative stress and damage to vascular systems.]

4. Mozaffarian, D., & Ludwig, D. S. (2015). "The 2015 US Dietary Guidelines: lifting the ban on total dietary fat." Journal of the American Medical Association, 313(24), 2421–2422.[Discusses the reassessment of traditional dietary fats and their importance.]

5. Schwalfenberg, G. K. (2011). "The alkaline diet: is there evidence that an alkaline pH diet benefits health?" Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2012.[Looks at the impact of modern diets versus traditional foods.]

6. Wallace, T. C. (2019). "Health effects of coconut oil—a narrative review of current evidence." Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 38(2), 97–107.[Supports the return to traditional fats for cardiovascular health.]

7. Pizzorno, J. (2015). "Environmental toxins and cardiovascular disease." Integrative Medicine: A Clinician's Journal, 14(3), 24–29.[Explores how pollutants and toxins drive heart disease.]

8. Monteiro, C. A., et al. (2019). "Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them." Public Health Nutrition, 22(5), 936–941.[Defines processed foods and their health consequences.]