The traditional and long-standing explanation of how heart disease and inflammation develop in the body has not stood up to modern scientific scrutiny.
The idea that just consuming fatty and cholesterol-rich foods will cause clogged arteries is still a popular explanation of heart disease by many in the medical realm.
While the development of disease in the body can be complicated, I do believe there is a much better explanation.
Strong evidence suggests that the modern industrialization of our society, and especially our food, is the primary cause of inflammation, and heart disease, in the body.
More specifically, the fats in our diet called seed oils, which are abundantly consumed, are a major culprit. Add chronic emotional/mental stress to the mix and you have a recipe for disease.
Attempting to explain this to most people is quite difficult, but I will do my best.
Here we go…
Step 1: Cooking or Processing Damages Seed Oils
- Seed oils (like soybean, corn, and canola oil found in just about everything in the grocery store) contain polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), which are unstable when exposed to heat, oxygen, and light.
- When you cook with these oils or when they sit on store shelves for too long, they start to break down into toxic byproducts.
Step 2: The Creation of Toxic Byproducts (Like 4-HNE)
- One of the most dangerous byproducts is 4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE). Don’t let the weird looking names of these toxins confuse you. Just understand they are NOT good.
- 4-HNE forms when the delicate omega-6 fats in seed oils become oxidized (damaged by oxygen/light/heat).
- This happens in your frying pan, inside food processing plants, and even inside your body when you eat too many seed oils.
Step 3: 4-HNE Attacks Your Arteries
- Once inside your body, 4-HNE doesn’t just sit there—it attacks the cells lining your arteries (endothelial cells).
- It damages the fats and proteins in your cells, leading to inflammation (your body’s defense response to injury).
- Your immune system tries to repair the damage, but if seed oils keep feeding the fire, the inflammation never stops.
Step 4: Cholesterol Also Gets Oxidized
- Cholesterol itself isn’t the problem—it only becomes harmful when it gets oxidized by free radicals and toxins like 4-HNE.
- This turns a small problem into a big one, leading to arteries that have circulation issues.
- Thus, preventing the oxidation of cholesterol (and other fats in our cells) is vital.
Step 5: Other Environmental Toxins That Cause Oxidation
Aside from seed oils, many other environmental toxins contribute to oxidative damage:
- Air pollution (industrial chemicals, car exhaust).
- Heavy metals (mercury in seafood, lead in old pipes, aluminum in deodorants).
- Pesticides & herbicides (found on non-organic produce).
- Processed foods & artificial additives (preservatives, food dyes, artificial sweeteners).
- Plastics & endocrine disruptors (BPA, phthalates from plastic bottles and food packaging).
- Smoking & secondhand smoke (introduces harmful free radicals into the bloodstream).
Toxins in Paints, Stains, and Household Chemicals That Cause Oxidation
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – Found in many paints, stains, and solvents. Includes:
- Benzene – A carcinogen that also causes oxidative stress.
- Formaldehyde – Triggers inflammation and oxidative damage to cells.
- Toluene – Affects brain function and increases free radical production.
- Xylene – Damages cell membranes and depletes antioxidants.
- Heavy Metals in Paints & Stains
- Lead (in older paints) – Causes severe oxidative stress and neurotoxicity.
- Cadmium – Common in industrial pigments, damages DNA and arteries.
- Chromium VI – Found in some paints and coatings, linked to oxidative stress and cancer.
- Industrial Solvents & Adhesives
- Acetone & Turpentine – Found in paint thinners, increases lipid peroxidation.
- Ethylbenzene – Used in varnishes, leads to chronic inflammation and oxidative damage.
Step 6: Inflammation Leads to Plaque Build-up
- Your body tries to patch up the damage with cholesterol, calcium, and immune cells.
- Over time, this creates plaques that impair arterial function.
- This is called atherosclerosis, a key driver of heart disease, high blood pressure, and circulation problems.
Step 7: How Does This Ultimately Affect YOU On A Day To Day Basis?
When your arteries are inflamed and clogged, blood can’t flow efficiently to your organs and tissues. This causes:
🚫 Poor Circulation → Hands and feet feel cold, healing slows down.
🚫 Brain Fog & Fatigue → Less oxygen reaches your brain, making you feel tired and unfocused.
🚫 Low Libido & Erectile Dysfunction → Reduced blood flow lowers sexual performance and hormone production.
🚫 Heart Disease & High Blood Pressure → Your heart works harder, increasing stroke and heart attack risk.
🚫 Joint Pain & Chronic Inflammation → Constant inflammation can damage joints and worsen arthritis.
It quite literally contributes to ALL disease processes!
How to Avoid the Damage
✅ Limit seed oils (avoid soybean, corn, canola, sunflower, safflower oils).
✅ Cook with stable fats (butter, olive oil, coconut oil, tallow).
✅ Eat Nutrient-Dense Whole Foods (Here’s what I eat)
✅ Avoid fried and processed foods (which often contain pre-oxidized oils).
✅ Reduce exposure to toxins (choose organic foods, filter your water, avoid plastic food containers).
✅ Use low-VOC, non-toxic paints and finishes (look for “zero VOC” options, natural oil-based finishes).
✅ Improve indoor air quality (open windows, use air purifiers, keep plants to absorb toxins).
✅ Move regularly/mitigate stress (Movement/exercise promotes circulation, detoxification, and overall better functioning of the human body)
By making better food and lifestyle choices and reducing environmental toxins, you reduce oxidative damage (inflammation) and protect your arteries, improve blood flow, and boost your overall health—leading to higher energy, better circulation, and stronger vitality, thus minimizing your chances of disease.
You have MUCH control over your health!
Complete Chiropractic 