While diet and exercise are thought to be the best ways to a healthy heart, recent studies have shown connections between good gut health and a healthy cardiovascular system.

Fulton Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing found studies that show just that.

This European study shows that poor gut diversity can lead to faster hardening of the arteries in women. Hardening of the arteries is one of the main risks of cardiovascular disease. The study looked at over 600 female twins and discovered their findings. In fact, some doctors think that gut bacteria could influence arterial stiffness even more than obesity.

As far as what you can do, while there are probiotic supplements on the market, doctors are hesitant to say that they will have a direct impact on your heart health.

To tie us back to the beginning, diet and exercise may be the answer.
The Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA) found that certain gut bacteria convert eggs and red meat into a substance called trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), which can damage blood vessels and cause plaque to build in arteries. A low-fat diet consisting of poultry and fish can keep TMAO levels low.

In this study conducted by the University of Illinois, researchers found six weeks of regular exercise in otherwise sedentary adults changed the composition of people’s gut microbiome — changes that reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. The people in the study then became sedentary again for another six weeks, and researchers found that their gut microbiomes returned to their initial state.