If you’ve been told coronary calcification is a one-way road, prepare to dispel that myth. You can rewrite your heart’s story through the power of informed, proactive, and holistic health choices.
After a quick primer on what cor calcium is, we present 8 ways to reverse coronary calcification, backed by the synergy of modern science and timeless wisdom. Get ready to embrace an empowering lifestyle that fosters vibrant heart health.
What is Coronary Calcification?
Contrary to popular belief, coronary artery disease (CAD) isn’t a result of consuming saturated animal fats or dietary cholesterol. At its core, coronary calcification – the root of CAD – is a symptom of inflammation and repair in our bodies.
Calcium, the most abundant mineral in our bodies, ideally resides within our teeth and bones. However, calcium can start depositing elsewhere as we age, including in our arteries. This process is closely related to vascular injury and inflammation.
Calcification commences early in the development of atherosclerosis, an arterial disease where the arteries harden and narrow. However, it often remains undetectable until a catastrophic health event occurs.
Calcification isn’t a random occurrence. It’s universal in all patients with documented CAD. It’s an echo of a deeper malady – chronic inflammation in our bodies. But here’s the empowering news – we can start reversing coronary calcification by addressing the inflammation.
8 Science-Backed Ways to Reverse Coronary Calcification
1. Avoid Inflammatory Foods that Contribute to Coronary Calcification
Nix the inflammation-triggering foods from your meals. These culprits, such as trans fats, refined sugars, GMOs, and gluten, incite a low-grade inflammatory response in your body, fostering coronary calcification. Instead, focus on anti-inflammatory, heart-healthy foods that can help mitigate inflammation.
Feeding your heart the right way leads to its prosperous health! Our paleolithic ancestors knew this well, surviving primarily on a diet of whole foods, just as nature intended. Foods brimming with vitamin K2, magnesium, and vitamin D – the powerful trio that can help offset nutritional deficiencies linked to coronary calcification.
Picture lush, organic leafy greens, hearty nuts harvested from nature, and wild-caught fish from our vast oceans on your plate. Don’t forget the grass-fed and pasture-raised meats, providing nutrient-dense sources of these vitamins.
2. Extended Duration Fasting
When we eat, the food is broken down into fuel to be utilized by the body as energy. This fuel powers the brain, heart, lungs, liver and everything else. When we fast, the body starts to look for other sources of “food” to nourish itself and provide fuel for its activities.
While fasting, fat cells, called adipocytes, release fat to be used for energy. The fat is actually released as triglycerides, a medical term many of you are familiar with. Again, it is the triglycerides that serve as the fuel to power our cells.
But here is a theory of mine. When you fast, and fat stores are decreasing, the body also starts to break down scar tissue to be utilized as fuel. Scar tissue such as coronary artery disease (CAD). Yes, CAD is scar tissue on the inside of coronary arteries. So fasting allows the body to break down coronary plaque, slowly and naturally.
Finally, we have seen several patients decrease their coronary calcium score with this approach. I am not in favor of CT scans because of the radiation they use. But against my advice, patients have before and after CT scans showing decreased coronary calcification.
I think 72 hour fasting is perfect for cor calcification reversal.
3. Movement
Dusting off the old myth that more exercise intensity always equals more heart health, science is helping us refine our approach. Maintaining an active lifestyle is crucial for heart health, but it’s about finding the right balance.
Research suggests that moderate exercise can help slow down heart artery hardening, but very high-intensity workouts might speed it up. Don’t let this discourage you from staying active though. Studies show that a sedentary lifestyle, in fact, encourages heart artery hardening by lowering body metabolism and increasing inflammation.
Exercise is imperative, especially when enjoyed outside. Whether a leisurely walk in the park or a spirited dance class, every move you make is a step towards a healthier heart.
4. Harness the Sun’s Healing Power
The warmth of sunlight on our skin is more than just a simple pleasure; it’s a natural antidote to coronary calcification. The connection lies in the sunlight’s ability to help our bodies produce optimal levels of vitamin D. This sunshine vitamin plays a crucial role in preventing calcification by managing inflammation. In contrast, a deficiency in vitamin D can amplify inflammation, potentially accelerating calcification.
Despite its importance, over half of Americans grapple with vitamin D deficiency. A lifestyle largely confined indoors and a protective barrier of sunscreen when outdoors are primarily to blame for this shortfall.
Not only does sunlight aid in producing vitamin D, but it also stimulates the creation of nitric oxide. Studies show that this lesser-acknowledged compound inhibits vascular calcification. So spend more time in the sun and watch your coronary calcifications dissipate.
5. Master Stress Management
Although we often overlook everyday stressors, they significantly impact our heart health, especially contributing to coronary calcification. Stress acts like an intruder, stirring upheaval in your body. It raises your blood pressure and initiates a fight-or-flight response, leading to a hormone surge, including cortisol.
When these biological changes occur persistently, they can induce inflammation, a key instigator of calcification. Furthermore, research links stress-induced high blood pressure with increased cardiovascular risk. Understanding that more stress can potentially translate into more coronary calcification is essential.
6. Reduce Your Toxin Load
Our world is an invisible battlefield of harmful substances, ranging from pollution and pesticides to molds and heavy metals, not forgetting the everyday chemicals hiding in household products and cosmetics. These toxins disrupt our body’s equilibrium, contributing to coronary calcification.
So, how can you determine if your body is shouldering a toxic overload? The sad reality is if you’re breathing, you’re likely dealing with toxins. However, people’s natural detoxification capacities vary. Heart health testing can give you a clearer idea of your body’s toxic burden. The Triple Toxin Test, for example, provides insight into an array of mold mycotoxins, environmental toxins, and heavy metals.
Nevertheless, there’s no need to sit around waiting for test results. You can take plenty of proactive steps to protect your heart right now. Opt for organic food, avoiding items susceptible to mold mycotoxins. Swap out chemical-heavy cleaners and beauty products for natural alternatives.
7. Sleep More, Calcify Less
Sleep plays an underappreciated role in protecting against coronary calcification. A study at the University of Chicago Medical Center found that an extra hour of sleep each night can significantly decrease the risk of artery calcification, likening the benefit to a substantial reduction in blood pressure.
Sleep is a fundamental yet often neglected aspect of our overall health. Ensuring adequate rest each night enables our bodies to naturally combat early signs of heart disease, such as coronary calcification.
8. Consider Science-backed Supplements
In our modern world, stripped soils and chemical agriculture have made it challenging to get all our essential nutrients from food alone. Yet, our heart requires these micronutrients to function optimally. This is where high-quality supplements fill dietary gaps and offer cellular-level support against coronary artery disease.
It’s crucial to note that not all supplements are equal. Choose organic, gluten-free, non-GMO, and artificial ingredient-free options. The CAD Complete Support Protocol is an excellent place to start to combat coronary calcification.
Next Steps
Despite common misconceptions, it’s essential to realize that reversing coronary calcification is achievable, and what’s more, it can be done naturally. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that drugs are the way – they simply won’t reverse calcification.
Your health is in your hands, and the power to transform it lies with you. To help guide your journey, we recommend arranging a 20-minute health strategy call, completely free of charge, with an NHD health coach. Let our experts provide the insights you need to navigate the path to a heart-healthy life.
