Cigarettes and other toxins
Cigarettes contain thousands of toxic chemicals, many of which are able to cause direct damage to the lining of our arteries, through their irritant action. This makes the arteries much more likely to accumulate fatty deposits, calcium and other debris.
We also generate a great deal of toxins within our own body. A toxic colon will create a toxin filled body. If we have too much bad bacteria and not enough good bacteria in our intestines (a condition called dysbiosis), these bad bugs can produce an endotoxin called lipopolysaccharide; it is one of the most inflammatory substances in the body. Our body uses HDL “good” cholesterol to bind to and neutralize endotoxins (toxins generated within our body); therefore having a lot of toxins in our body will use up HDL and leave us with low levels of this protective cholesterol.
We are also exposed to a great deal of toxins in our environment, such as plastic, pollution, heavy metals and pesticides. If our liver does not detoxify these substances well enough we will be left with a very toxic bloodstream and tissues. These toxins all generate free radicals in our body, use up valuable antioxidants and promote systemic inflammation. If you feel you are suffering with toxin overload you are best off to follow the two week deep cleansing detox diet.

Stress
When we are stressed, our adrenal glands release the hormone adrenaline. This hormone promotes the production of the inflammatory chemicals interleukin-6 and interleukin-10. It also uses up vitamins B6, 12 and folic acid in our body, thus makes it more likely for homocysteine levels to rise. High homocysteine levels irritate our artery walls and promote atherosclerosis.
When we are stressed our adrenal glands also release the hormone Cortisol. When the stress passes, Cortisol levels go back down again. However, many of us live with chronic stress, and this means our Cortisol levels remain chronically elevated. Cortisol interferes with the action of insulin, and in time can make us develop Syndrome X and high blood pressure. Cortisol in excess tends to make us gain weight in the abdominal area; excess weight in this region is a major risk factor for diabetes and heart disease.
When stress is present long term, it often leads to depression. It is thought that Cortisol is the link between depression and heart disease. A recent study done on over 2 800 men and women over age 55 showed that minor depression increases the risk of a heart attack by 60 percent, and major depression triples the risk of a fatal heart attack. Stress generates a lot of free radicals in our body and makes us use up vitamins and minerals at a much faster rate.

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