Contents

Introduction 1

Part I
Heart Disease: Billions of
Years in the Making
1. Order and Energy: The Purpose of Life 15
2. The Stress of Becoming Mammals 23
3. Becoming Human 31
4. The Consequences of Defying Evolution 37
5. The Infamous Diet–Heart Hypothesis 44

Part II
The Heart and Its Malfunctions
6. The True Function of the Heart 53
7. Cholesterol and Atherosclerosis 71
8. The Three Imbalances of a Heart Attack 95
9. How the Heart Evades Cancer 111
10. The Ceaseless Signals of High Blood Pressure 123

Part III
A Heart Healthy Lifestyle
11. The Real Heart Healthy Diet 135
12. Reducing Oxidative Stress 173
13. Achieving Autonomic Balance 183
14. Heart Healthy Exercise 205
15. The Dental Health–Heart Health Connection 213
16. Chiropractic and Heart Health 220
17. Aspirin and Ouabain 228
18. Biometrics: Tracking Your Risk 236
Conclusion 247

Acknowledgments 255
Appendix A: Resources for a Heart Healthy Lifestyle 257
Recommended Reading 260
Notes 261
Index 309