Inflammation of the blood vessel linings and atherosclerosis
- Sylvia
- Apr 22
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 23
The Disease process. In healthy state, our body cells are able to oxidise the glucose broken down from carbohydrates, to be used as primary fuel source (instead of breaking down fats from fat tissues or protein from our muscles).
The brain, with around 2% of the body weight, consumes around 20% of the body's total energy, and depends on a steady supply of glucose to function optimally. Glucose is broken down through a process called glycolysis to create adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the energy currency that powers all cells in the body.
However, due to dietary toxins (eg. poly-unsaturated fatty acids, imbalanced macro and micro-nutrients), physical or mental stress, estrogen excess (environmental xenoestrogen and stress in both males and females), the body thyroid function is compromised, and takes on a maladaptive pathway, by converting fatty acid from the fat cells (instead of glucose), to be used as fuels for the body (ie. Free Fatty Acid, FFA).
Increased FFA in the blood stream impairs insulin signaling, when cells cannot take in the glucose needed as fuel. More glucose stays in the blood vessels, resulting in what we called high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), and ‘insulin resistance’.
Chronically elevated glucose acts as ‘sandpaper’, causing direct injury to the inner lining of vessels (endothelium). The micro abrasion/injuries signal the body to deposit cholesterol, calcium, and cellular waste at the site of injury intended to "heal" the area. These metabolic wastes resulted in stiffening, plaque buildup (atherosclerosis), and persistent, low-grade inflammation.
The buildup of plaque causes the inner channel of the coronary artery to become smaller, reducing the volume of oxygen-rich blood that can reach the heart muscle, which can develop into coronary artery obstruction.
Dietary considerations. A good diet is the foundation of our metabolism and thyroid health. Avoid vegetable or seed oils (poly-unsaturated fatty acid, PUFA). PUFA increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cellular oxidative stress in endothelial cells causing inflammation and affecting the structural integrity of the blood vessel linings and induce FFA. Also avoid deep fry foods if eating outside (usually use PUFA). The arachidonic acid (ARA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) content in PUFA also stimulates the interrenal cells (in the kidney collecting ducts) that play a significant role in increasing cortisol production.
On the other hand, coconut oil has around 50% of lauric acid, a medium-chain fatty acid, is known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-fungal properties. It improves the body's antioxidant status, and reduces oxidative stress that causes inflammation. Use coconut oil or olive oil, plus some ghee for cooking instead.
Furthermore, ensure the proper amount and proportion of protein, carbohydrates, vegetables, and some good fats, in each meal. For a 70kg adult, it is around 80-100g of protein and 160-300g of carbohydrates splitted into 3-4 meals. This translates to per meal, around one palm size of meat (~25-35g protein), one to one-and-a-half fist size/bowl of carbs (~50-70g of rice for instance), some good fats for cooking, plus one to two fist-sze of cooked vegetables.
Vegetables are alkalising and anti-inflammatory. Although there is no (quite) upper limit to eating vegetables, we should avoid over eating protein in each meal, as it induces nitrogenous waste and affect kidney health. Typical grain-fed meat is high in pro-inflammatory Omega 6, plus the pesticides/glyphosate residues from the animal feeds in the meat.
Nutrients considerations. Vitamin B are key to energy production, brain function and red blood cell formation. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), B3 (Niacinamide) and B7 (Biotin) support proper cellular energy process via glucose oxidation over fatty acid liberation. Pregnenolone and progesterone are supportive of thyroid function and counter the effects of high cortisol and estrogen. They act as "youth hormones" that reinforce energy production, with progesterone in particular enhancing the conversion of thyroid hormone from its inactive (T4) to active (T3) form.
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