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According to Dr. Megan Rossi, gut health nutrition expert, "A 2021 study has highlighted that a healthy gut may help you to support a healthy heart."
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In fact, research has shown that by upping your fibre intake by just 8gm a day, you can reduce your risk of heart disease by 19%.
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For the study, 380 women shared information on their diets and nutrient intake with researchers.
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The women were then asked to give two blood samples, 10 years apart. This allowed the researchers to examine the levels of a bacteria produced chemical called trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) in their blood.
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TMAO is produced when your gut microbiota digest nutrients which are particularly high in red meat. Its important to know this because TMAO is one chemical which is linked to conditions such as heart attack or stroke.
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Your levels of TMAO can change based on your diet.
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When the women's blood was analyzed, researchers found that those who went to develop coronary heart disease had higher levels of TMAO in their second blood collections, and that they reported a higher intake of animal foods (such as the aforementioned red meat) and a lower intake of plant foods.
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