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Digestive Health and Heart Failure

Clair G's avatar image

By Clair G

3 min read

In my most humble opinion (and it really is just that- my opinion) gut health is one of the most underrated ways to take care of our bodies. I wish that the world cared more about providing good nutritious food and healthcare to everyone and not only people who can afford it.

I know too many people who are forced to eat, what there is as there is no access to enough healthy food and healthcare. That being said there are also very many people who have access to these things, who choose not to take full advantage of that. I think that it would make a great impact on world disease and health if we all had access to it.

I am not saying that it would cure anything or reverse damage but, simply put, I think that aiding digestive health gives our bodies the best chance to stay healthy and do what it should do.

Heart failure and digestive (gut) health research

More recently I have seen more and more movement toward figuring out the link between heart failure and digestive health. Which I think is wonderful. I personally feel like all diseases and conditions should be considered to possibly be improved by improving your gut health. 

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This is a work in progress, learning about all these things, it might be worth talking to your cardiologist and seeing if there are ways that you can work toward having a healthier gut and if that would at all improve your health and heart-health specifically.

This or That

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Dysbiosis

Dysbiosis is the imbalance of your gut health, this could mean either the loss of beneficial bacteria, loss of bacterial diversity, or the overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria.1

It took me some time and lots of reading and research to get to know my body better, and boy did I wish they taught this to me in school. I am so happy to see more and more research popping up about gut health and specifically its link to heart failure. Hopefully in the future there will be easier ways to help manage heart failure and possibly even pick up markers beforehand. 2

Ways I've found help me improve my gut health

Here are some things that I found easy to help improve my gut health:

  1. I eat less sugar, and I mean way less sugar. Sugary drinks, added sugar to anything, tea/coffee, look where you can reduce it and make the change.
  2. I eat lots more dark green leafy vegetables, and more vegetables in general. It's important to eat only those that are safe for you to eat.
  3. Get enough fiber. I choose brown rice for this. There are plenty of other options.
  4. I eat less refined food, and get less take away meals, and less pre-packaged goods.
  5. I take a good probiotic (I've made sure it will not negatively interact with any other medication.)
  6. I have looked at eating more fermented food. I choose water kefir, as I am not a great fan of fermented foods, but I do believe many people do enjoy them. They have been seen to be good for non-communicable diseases.3

Talk to your doctor

With any changes, especially ones that could impact the medication you are taking and/or affect your heart health, it is always imperative to run them by your doctor. In particular it is important to talk to your doctor when it comes to supplements and the like.

Do you take your gut health seriously and have you found it to be helpful toward your management of your heart health?

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