Excessive Fat Consumption Impairs Heart Function

The consumption of meals high in fat compromise endothelial function. Arteries contain a layer of cells called the endothelium. The endothelium controls the artery’s ability to dilate and constrict to move blood and nutrients on their way.

The endothelium is the body’s largest endocrine or hormone producing organ in the body. It regulates vascular cell growth, clotting and thinning of blood, inflammatory processes, and artery permeability. And you thought it was there just to look pretty. Joking!

Well the consumption of excessive fat compromises endothelium function and makes it processes go haywire. A compromised endothelium is directly related to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, insulin resistance, chronic kidney failure, tumor growth, metastasis, venous thrombosis, and severe infectious diseases.^[1]

Researchers found that low-fat meals improved endothelium function and high-fat meals worsened endothelium function.^[2]

Researchers conducted an experiment^[3] were participants with heart disease were fed high quantities of fat and they were able to induce angina on queue every time. Angina is a condition of severe pain in the chest caused by an inadequate blood supply to the heart.

The participant’s blood became increasing lactescent, or extremely milky with fat hours after the ingestion of high quantities of fat.

Lactescence was at its peak 4 hours after the ingestion of the fat and all of the participants experienced angina at that time.

The consumption of high fatty meals, such as meat-centered diets, has been seen in numerous studies to cripple endothelium function and interfere with the normal flow of blood throughout the body.