We’ve always known that living a healthy lifestyle is important for maintaining heart health, but what if we told you that the key to a stronger heart is hidden in your gut? Recent studies are revealing a fascinating link between the bacteria that live in your digestive system and how your heart functions. This hidden connection, called the gut microbiome, is changing the way we think about overall wellness—and it could hold the key to boosting heart health in ways we’ve never imagined.
Understanding the Gut Microbiome
Your body is home to trillions of bacteria, most of which reside in your digestive tract, forming what is commonly referred to as the gut microbiome. While we commonly think of bacteria as being innately harmful, that is not true of all of these microorganisms in your gut. In fact, the majority of your gut bacteria play a vital role in promoting health by helping with digestion, nutrient absorption, waste removal, and hormone balance. However, some gut microbiota do fall into the category of harmful, and when left unchecked these unhealthy bacteria have a negative impact on your health, which is why it’s important to take steps to keep your gut as balanced and healthy as possible.
About the Heart-Gut Axis
We’ve known for some time now that gut health influences a lot more than digestion. It also has the ability to impact many other systems in your body via connections like the gut-brain axis and the gut-skin axis.
In recent years, scientists have discovered another body system that the gut impacts—the cardiovascular system.
This newly uncovered connection, which is now being referred to as the gut-heart axis, is a bi-directional communication pathway within your body that allows your heart to directly influence your gut health, and vice versa.
How Your Heart Impacts Your Gut Health
Since every system in your body, including your digestive system, needs proper blood flow in order to function, it makes sense that the state of your cardiovascular system has the ability to influence the health of your gut. When your heart is strong and healthy, it can easily and efficiently pump blood through your body, including your gastrointestinal tract, which provides this important system with the oxygen and hormones it needs to carry out the digestive process.
Additionally, a healthy heart also equips your body to better keep up with the increased blood flow demand that the digestion calls for. After eating, your digestive system has a lot of work to do: it has to break down food, absorb nutrients, and remove waste. This whole process requires more oxygen than normal as well as the release of hormones like gastrin and glucagon, which are necessary for digestion to take place. To help ensure your GI tract is getting everything it needs to carry out its job, this important system needs more blood flow than normal. This is where a healthy heart is vital. The healthier your cardiovascular system is, the more equipped it is to meet these increased demands without strain, which is important for helping prevent digestive discomfort.
How Your Gut Microbiome Impacts Cardiovascular Health
In recent years, researchers have come to the realization that the connection between the gut and the heart may not be one-way. In fact, it is looking more and more likely that the gut-heart axis is bi-directional and allows the state of your gut microbiome to influence the strength and health of your heart. While the research on this topic is still in its early stages, scientists have already uncovered three key findings that show how the gut microbiome may influence cardiovascular health:
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A 2018 study published in the European Heart Journal found a connection between microbiome diversity and arterial stiffness in women. In this study, researchers were not only able to link low gut diversity to increased hardening of the arteries, but they were also able to identify some of the specific species of bacteria that are involved. The findings of this study suggest that caring for the gut microbiome may be a way to support healthy artery functioning.
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Another study, published in 2020, found that women with higher levels of a molecule called trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), which is produced in the gut, were at increased risk of cardiovascular problems. While TMAO levels have traditionally been thought to be impacted by diet alone, recent research has found that elevated levels may have more to do with an imbalance gut microbiome rather than the exact foods you are eating.
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Research also suggests that a weakened or permeable gut, often referred to as ‘leaky gut,’ may be a contributing factor to some cardiovascular issues. A ‘leaky gut’ occurs when the gut linking weakens and allows substances like bacteria and food particles to leak into the bloodstream. When this happens, the body reacts to the foreign substances, causing irritation throughout the body, including in the cardiovascular system. Additionally, the presence of foreign bacteria in the bloodstream can contribute to the build up of plaque in the arteries, which can negatively affect heart health.
The Benefits of Probiotics for Heart Health
Given the relationship between the gut microbiome and heart health, probiotics may serve as a helpful first step for strengthening the connection between the two. The good bacteria are similar to the beneficial bacteria that are found naturally in your gut microbiome and can help improve and maintain balance in the digestive tract.
Since probiotics can have such a profound impact on digestive health, and the gut and the heart are closely connected, it’s logical that supporting your gut with probiotics can also help support your cardiovascular health. In recent years, research has been conducted on this very topic, and the results so far have seemed promising, with studies showing that supplementing with probiotics can help manage blood pressure, support healthy cholesterol levels, and improve the heart’s ability to pump blood to the rest of the body.
Which Probiotics are Best for Heart Health?
The results of recent studies suggest that certain strains of probiotics may be beneficial for heart health. This is especially true for various types of Lactobacillus and Bifodbacterium, which have been found to support a balanced gut microbiota as well as support healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
With that being said, most strains of probiotics are known to promote a healthy, balanced gut microbiome and, thanks to the gut-heart-axis, are also likely to support a strong, healthy cardiovascular system. To find the best strain(s) of probiotics for your specific needs, it’s best to consult with a healthcare professional.
Tips for Selecting a Probiotic Supplement
When looking for a new probiotic supplement, the strain(s) it contains aren’t the only factor your should be considering. In addition to checking to see what strain(s) the product contains, you will also want to take the following factors into account:
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Colony-Forming Units (CFUs). This number is an indicator of the potency of the probiotic supplement, as it tells you the number of bacteria cells in a single dose. Generally speaking, it’s recommended to choose a product that has 1 billion CFUs or more per serving.
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Product Certifications. Check the label and the manufacturer’s website to ensure that the product is certified safe and effective. Look for certifications like the FDA’s Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Non-GMO, and Certified Organic as well as the certifications for any dietary restrictions you may have.
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Additional Ingredients. Check the ingredients list for not only the probiotic strains but also any other ingredients the product may contain. Ensure that the supplement doesn’t contain any ingredients that you want to avoid for personal or medical reasons. Furthermore, check to make sure any other ingredients used are natural and known to support overall gut health.
Additional Tips for Supporting the Heart-Gut Connection
In addition to adding a probiotic supplement to your daily routine, there are lifestyle changes you can make to help support a strong connection between your heart and your gut.
1. Pay Attention to Nutrition
We’ve all heard the saying “you are what you eat,” and when it comes to gut health, that couldn’t be more true. The foods and drinks you fuel your body with have a profound impact on your gut health. To keep your digestive system as healthy as possible, it’s best to focus on eating plenty of whole, plant-based foods that will provide your body with an abundance of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Also, avoid processed foods as often as possible as they often contain excess sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, which can negatively impact the health of both your gut and your heart.
2. Get Physical
Regular exercise is an important part of keeping your body and mind healthy. What’s more? It is also vital for helping to maintain both cardiovascular and digestive health. By moving your body for at least 30 minutes every day, you can increase blood flow, improve circulation, strengthen your heart, enhance digestion, maintain balance in your gut microbiome, and so much more. Whether you prefer intense workouts like CrossFit or long distance running or you would rather participate in something low impact like walking, dancing, or yoga, exercising regularly is one of the best things you can do to support your overall health and wellbeing.
3. Manage Stress
Ongoing stress can be detrimental for both your heart and digestive health. During times of stress, your nervous system releases hormones like cortisol, which can upset the balance in your gut microbiome and interfere with the functioning of your cardiovascular system. This is why stress management is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle, especially when it comes to supporting gut and heart health. Make it a point to include stress-reducing activities like exercise, meditation, breathing exercises, and outdoor excursions into your daily routine to help calm your nervous system and keep stress under control.
4. Get Plenty of Rest
On a similar note, getting enough high-quality sleep is also very important. Lack of sleep can not only increase stress levels, but it also can disrupt your body’s natural process of digestion and negatively impact your heart health. To ensure you are as well-rested as possible, take steps to set yourself up for success with a calming bedtime routine and aim to get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night.
5. Support with Supplements
In addition to probiotics, there are other supplements you can take to support a healthy gut and a healthy cardiovascular system. Products that include digestive enzymes and prebiotics are great options for additional gut support, and all-natural antioxidant supplements can help support your body’s ability to fight the damaging effects of free radicals, which can help support gut health, cardiovascular health, and immune health.*
Support Your Gut and Your Heart with New Earth
Here at New Earth, we understand the far-reaching influence of gut health. From influencing digestion to affecting heart health, your gut is truly the core of your overall well-being. We understand this, which is why we’ve worked hard to create the highest-quality gut-supporting supplements possible. From premium probiotics to all-natural digestive enzymes, our line of gut-health supplements has been specifically formulated with your gut, and the rest of your body, in mind.
If you’re on the hunt for the best gut-supporting products available today, look no further than New Earth. And if you’re not sure where to get started, we have a recommendation for you—Essentials.
Essentials is a daily health pack that contains five of our most powerful health supplements—the probiotics Acidophilus and Bifidus, Enzymes, and our flagship products, Body and Mind. Together, these five capsules, all provided in a convenient daily packet, work together to provide your gut with all of the nutrients it needs to be the happiest, healthiest place possible.
The best part? You can put Essentials to the test risk-free with our 60-day money-back guarantee. So you’ve truly got nothing to lose!