The Most Mind-Blowing Information On Heart Disease You'll Ever Hear: Understanding The Heart (Uncommon Insights Into Our Most Commonly Diseased Organ) - Part 1 With Dr. Stephen Hussey.
Dec 9, 2023
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Dr. Stephen Hussey, an expert in cardiovascular health, discusses the misconceptions around heart disease, the heart's preference for ketones as fuel, the role of fourth phase water in atherosclerosis, and potential benefits of infrared sauna therapy for heart health.
Structured water plays a crucial role in protecting the lining of arteries and facilitating blood flow, and its breakdown can impact heart health.
A diet that allows for some level of ketosis and metabolic flexibility can be beneficial for heart health by improving cardiac function and reducing pathologic remodeling in heart failure.
Increasing vagal tone through practices like deep breathing exercises, gratitude, and sunlight exposure can help regulate heart function and improve heart health.
Deep dives
Water and Heart Health
Water plays a crucial role in the functioning of the heart. The fourth phase of water, also known as structured or easy water, is a semi-solid gel-like state that exists in our cells and lining of arteries. This structured water forms when water is in contact with a hydrophilic surface and is properly energized. It has unique properties and excludes substances that are not it. This exclusion zone water plays an important role in protecting the lining of arteries and creating an energy gradient that drives blood flow. The oxidative stress can lead to the breakdown of structured water, which can impact heart health.
Ketones as Fuel for the Heart
The heart has a preference for burning fatty acids and ketones as fuel. Ketones are metabolized by the heart in a more stable manner compared to glucose. Studies have shown the benefits of ketones in improving cardiac function and reducing pathologic remodeling in heart failure. While a strict ketogenic diet is not necessary, a diet that allows for some level of ketosis and metabolic flexibility can be beneficial for heart health.
Vagus Nerve and Heart Health
The vagus nerve plays a critical role in regulating heart function and maintaining balance in the autonomic nervous system. Low vagal tone and imbalances in the autonomic nervous system can impact heart health and increase the risk of heart attacks. Strategies such as deep breathing exercises, gratitude practices, and exposure to sunlight can help increase vagal tone and improve heart health.
The Role of Fourth Phase Water
Fourth phase or structured water exists in the body and plays a role in protecting the lining of arteries and facilitating blood flow. This structured water has a gel-like consistency and forms a lattice-like structure next to hydrophilic surfaces. It excludes substances that are not it and has unique properties related to energy gradients and flow. Fourth phase water breakdown can occur due to oxidative stress, which can have implications for heart health.
The Role of Oxidative Stress in Heart Disease
Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development of heart disease. Factors such as endotoxins, metals, BPA from plastics, and high consumption of vegetable oil contribute to oxidative stress, which damages the lining of the arteries. Insulin resistance further exacerbates this damage as it impairs the repair mechanism of the endothelial cells. To counteract this, the body uses cholesterol and minerals to repair the damaged areas, but this process leads to less flexible arteries and potential high blood pressure. Ensuring the health of the fourth phase water lining the arteries is paramount, along with reducing oxidative stress and addressing insulin resistance.
Understanding the Heart's Function and Potential Solutions
Contrary to popular belief, the heart is not solely a pump. Its primary function lies in facilitating the flow of blood, rather than forcefully propelling it. The heart achieves this through vortexing the blood as it flows through, creating energized water and promoting the formation of the easy zone. Poor blood flow, inadequate exposure to light, heat, cold, and minerals, and an improper fuel source such as excessive glucose utilization can lead to heart remodeling, scarring, and increased resistance to flow. This strain on the heart can ultimately result in heart failure. Solutions such as infrared sauna, mitigating EMF exposure, and optimizing nutrition and fuel sources like ketones are vital for maintaining heart health.
As mentioned in several podcasts throughout the year, I've recently come across what I believe to be the best book on cardiovascular health that I've ever read.
In addition to Understanding the Heart, Dr. Hussey is also the author of another excellent book on health and longevity titled The Health Evolution: Why Understanding Evolution Is the Key to Vibrant Health. Through his unique expertise, he guides clients from around the world back to health using ancestral wisdom and the latest research. In his downtime, Dr. Hussey likes to be outdoors, play sports, read, write, and spend time with his wife and their pets.
During our show, you'll learn the fascinating history of heart disease, why the naked mole-rat is important in understanding heart health, where water, infrared light, aspirin, ketones, and other little-known heart health "hacks" fit in, and a BIG surprise toward the end of this two-part podcast series.