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February 11, 2025 16 mins

Uncover the truth about heart health with us, as we tackle prevalent misconceptions and reveal life-changing facts. Forget what you've been told about fats being the enemy; we’ll explain why avocados, olive oil, and nuts are your heart's best allies. We'll expose the often-overlooked trans fats lurking in your food and highlight the importance of omega-3 fatty acids in keeping your heart healthy. This episode is loaded with actionable advice that can transform your approach to heart health and potentially save your life.

Join me, Kris Harris, as we challenge the myth that only intense workouts can boost your heart health. Discover how just 30 minutes of moderate activity, like a brisk walk or a spot of gardening, can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease. We’ll explore the flexibility of exercise routines that fit into even the busiest schedules, debunking the idea that long, grueling gym sessions are a must. This episode is your gateway to practical, sustainable heart wellness strategies that empower you to live your healthiest, happiest life.

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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Kris Harris (00:09):
Welcome back to the Kore Kast.
I'm your host, Kris Harris, andI'm thrilled to kick off season
four of our journey togetherthrough the vibrant world of
health and wellness.
Whether you're a fitnessfanatic, a Pilates enthusiast or
someone just beginning toexplore your wellness journey,

(00:30):
you're in the right place.
In this season, we're going todive deep into a wide array of
topics that matter, everythingfrom the latest in Pilates
techniques and fitness trends toessential mental health
insights and holistic wellnesspractices.
With nearly two decades ofexperience as a certified
personal trainer, pilatesinstructor and health coach, I'm
here to share expert tips,inspiring stories and practical
advice to help you live yourhealthiest, happiest life.

(00:52):
It's time to unlock your truepotential.
Welcome to Season 4.
Welcome to Kore Kast.
I'm your host, Kris, and todaywe're diving into a topic that
affects every single one of usheart health myths and facts.
You know, with all theinformation floating around on
social media and the internet,it can be incredibly challenging

(01:12):
to separate fact from fictionwhen it comes to taking care of
our hearts.
Whether you're in your 20s oryour 60s, understanding heart
health isn't just important,it's essential.
Heart disease remains theleading cause of death worldwide
, but here's the good news Manyheart problems are preventable
when we have the rightinformation.
Today, we'll bust some commonmyths and share evidence-based

(01:37):
facts that could literally saveyour life.
Let's tackle one of the biggestmisconceptions in heart health
the idea that all fats are badfor your heart.
If you've grown up in the eraof low-fat everything, you might
be surprised to learn that somefats are actually essential for
your heart's health.
For decades, we were told toavoid all fats to protect our

(01:58):
hearts, leading to a boom inlow-fat products that were often
loaded with sugar instead.
But research has shown that thereality is much more nuanced.
Not all fats are created equal,and some types of fat are
crucial for maintainingcardiovascular health.
Let's talk about the good guysfirst, unsaturated fats.
You'll find these heart-healthyfats in foods like avocados,

(02:22):
olive oil, nuts and fatty fishlike salmon.
These fats actually help reduceinflammation in your body and
can lower your bad cholesterollevels while maintaining good
cholesterol.
They're like your heart's bestfriends, working behind the
scenes to keep everythingrunning smoothly.
On the flip side, we have transfats and excessive saturated

(02:43):
fats.
Side, we have trans fats andexcessive saturated fats.
These are the ones you reallyneed to watch out for.
Trans fats, often found inprocessed foods and partially
hydrogenated oils can increaseinflammation and damage your
blood vessels.
They're so harmful that manycountries have banned their use
in food production.
What's particularly interestingis the role of omega-3 fatty

(03:05):
acids, a type of unsaturated fatfound in fish, flax seeds and
walnuts.
These powerhouse fats can helpreduce blood pressure, decrease
triglycerides and even loweryour risk of developing
irregular heartbeats.
Think of them as your heart'spersonal bodyguards.
The key takeaway here isn't toeliminate fat from your diet.

(03:26):
It's about choosing the righttypes of fat in appropriate
amounts.
A heart-healthy diet shouldinclude moderate amounts of good
fats while limiting the harmfulones.
Remember, your body needs fatto absorb certain vitamins,
produce important hormones and,yes, keep your heart beating
strong.
When it comes to exercise andheart health, there's a common

(03:50):
belief that you need to berunning marathons or spending
hours at the gym to maintain ahealthy heart, but this simply
isn't true.
Let's clear up some of the mostpersistent misconceptions about
exercise and heart health.
First, many people believe thatexercise needs to be intense to
be beneficial for your heart.
The truth is, even moderateactivities like brisk walking,

(04:14):
swimming or gardening cansignificantly improve your
cardiovascular health.
You don't need to push yourselfto exhaustion to see benefits.
In fact, research shows thatjust 30 minutes of moderate
activity five days a week candramatically reduce your risk of
heart disease.
Another widespread myth is thatyou need to exercise for long
periods in a single session.

(04:34):
Actually, you can break up yourdaily exercise into smaller
chunks and still get the sameheart health benefits.
Three 10-minute walksthroughout the day can be just
as effective as one 30-minutewalk.
This makes it much moremanageable to fit exercise into
a busy schedule.
Some people worry that exerciseis dangerous for those with

(04:56):
heart conditions.
While it's important to consultwith your doctor, regular
physical activity is usuallybeneficial and often recommended
for people with heart disease.
The key is starting slowly andgradually increasing intensity
as your fitness improves.
There's also a misconceptionthat strength training isn't
good for heart health.
The reality is that combiningcardio with strength training

(05:19):
provides optimal benefits foryour heart.
Resistance exercises help buildlean muscle mass.
Benefits for your heart.
Resistance exercises help buildlean muscle mass, which
improves your metabolism andmakes daily activities easier on
your cardiovascular system.
Many believe that if they havea physically demanding job, they
don't need additional exercise.
While occupational activity isbeneficial, it often doesn't

(05:39):
provide the same balancedworkout as dedicated exercise
sessions.
Your heart benefits most fromactivities that gradually
increase your heart rate in acontrolled manner.
Let's not forget the myth thatyou're too old to start
exercising.
The truth is that it's nevertoo late to begin an exercise
routine.
Your heart can benefit fromincreased physical activity at

(06:02):
any age, and studies show thatstarting exercise even later in
life can significantly improveheart health and longevity.
Let's dive into some commondietary myths that might be
affecting your heart healthdecisions.
One of the most persistentmisconceptions involves
cholesterol.
While many people still believethat all cholesterol-containing

(06:22):
foods are harmful, the realityis more complex.
Dietary cholesterol found infoods like eggs actually has
minimal impact on bloodcholesterol levels for most
people.
In fact, your liver producesmost of the cholesterol in your
body, and it's the type of fatsyou consume that has a greater
influence on your heart health.

(06:43):
Speaking of fats, there's oftenconfusion about dietary fat and
heart disease.
Not all fats are created equal.
While trans fats and excessivesaturated fats can increase your
risk of heart disease, healthyfats from sources like olive oil
, avocados and nuts can actuallyprotect your heart.
These foods contain beneficialcompounds that help reduce

(07:05):
inflammation and improvecholesterol profiles.
The role of salt in heart healthis another area where myths
abound.
Beneficial compounds that helpreduce inflammation and improve
cholesterol profiles.
The role of salt in hearthealth is another area where
myths abound.
While it's true that excessivesodium intake can raise blood
pressure in salt-sensitiveindividuals, the relationship
between salt and heart healthisn't as straightforward as once
thought.
The key is moderation andbalance with other minerals,

(07:27):
particularly potassium, whichcan help counteract sodium's
effects on blood pressure.
Red wine has long been touted asheart-healthy, leading some
people to believe they shoulddrink it daily for heart
protection.
While some studies suggestmoderate red wine consumption
may have cardiovascular benefits, these benefits aren't unique
to wine and don't outweigh therisks of alcohol consumption for

(07:51):
many people.
The heart-healthy components inred wine can also be found in
grape juice and whole grapes.
When it comes to heart-healthyeating patterns, the evidence
consistently supports a dietrich in whole plant foods.
Fruits, vegetables, wholegrains and legumes provide fiber
, antioxidants and othercompounds that help reduce

(08:11):
inflammation and protect yourcardiovascular system.
It's not about following asingle strict diet, but rather
about creating sustainable,balanced eating habits that you
can maintain long-term.
Many people believe that takingsupplements can make up for a
poor diet, but research showsthat nutrients from whole foods
are generally more beneficialfor heart health than

(08:32):
supplements.
The synergistic effect ofdifferent compounds working
together in whole foods appearsto provide greater
cardiovascular protection thanisolated nutrients in pill form.
One of the most dangerousmisconceptions about heart
disease is that it's primarily aman's disease.
This couldn't be further fromthe truth.
Heart disease is that it'sprimarily a man's disease.
This couldn't be further fromthe truth.
Heart disease is the leadingcause of death for both men and

(08:54):
women in many countriesworldwide.
In fact, women are just aslikely as men to develop heart
problems, but their symptomsoften present differently, which
can lead to delayed diagnosisand treatment.
Many women experience subtlersymptoms of heart disease that
are easily overlooked.
While men typically reportcrushing chest pain during a

(09:16):
heart attack, women mightexperience shortness of breath,
nausea, back or jaw pain andextreme fatigue.
This difference in symptoms,combined with the persistent
myth that heart disease affectsmainly men, means women often
delay seeking medical attention,leading to worse outcomes.
Another pervasive myth is thatheart disease only affects older

(09:39):
adults.
This dangerous misconceptionhas led many younger people to
ignore warning signs and riskfactors.
The truth is that thegroundwork for heart disease
often begins decades beforesymptoms appear.
Poor dietary habits, lack ofexercise and smoking in your 20s
and 30s can significantlyimpact your heart health later

(10:00):
in life.
Even more concerning is therising rate of heart problems
among younger adults, partly dueto increasing obesity rates and
sedentary lifestyles.
Demographics play a crucial rolein heart disease risk that many
people don't realize.
Different ethnic groups facevarying levels of risk for heart
disease, often due to acombination of genetic, social

(10:23):
and environmental factors.
For instance, african Americanshave higher rates of high blood
pressure and diabetes, whichare major risk factors for heart
disease.
Similarly, south Asians tend todevelop heart disease at
younger ages compared to otherpopulations.
Socioeconomic factors alsosignificantly influence heart
disease risk, yet this is oftenoverlooked.

(10:44):
Limited access to healthy foodoptions, safe spaces for
physical activity and regularmedical care can all contribute
to increased heart disease risk.
This makes it especiallyimportant to address heart
health from a broaderperspective that considers
social and economic factors, notjust individual choices.
Remember that heart diseasedoesn't discriminate based on

(11:06):
age, gender or background.
While certain groups might havehigher risk factors, everyone
needs to be proactive abouttheir heart health.
Early prevention and regularscreening are crucial,
regardless of your age or gender.
Being aware of your personalrisk factors and family history
is essential for maintaininggood heart health throughout
your life.

(11:26):
Let's tackle some common mythsabout heart disease prevention
that might be giving you a falsesense of security.
Many people believe that ifthey take supplements like fish
oil or vitamins, they're fullyprotected against heart disease.
While these supplements can bebeneficial, they're not magic
bullets.
Research shows that the bestheart protection comes from a

(11:46):
combination of healthy lifestylechoices, not just popping pills
.
Speaking of medications,there's a widespread belief that
if you're on blood pressure orcholesterol medication, you
don't need to worry about yourlifestyle choices.
This is a dangerousmisconception.
These medications work bestwhen combined with proper diet
and exercise.

(12:07):
They're meant to complementhealthy habits, not replace them
.
Think of them as part of yourheart health toolkit, not the
entire solution.
Another persistent myth is thatyou need to completely eliminate
stress to protect your heart.
While chronic stress cancertainly impact heart health,
it's not realistic or necessaryto eliminate all stress from
your life.

(12:27):
What matters more is how youmanage stress.
Regular exercise, meditation,adequate sleep and maintaining
strong social connections canhelp buffer the effects of daily
stress on your heart.
There's also confusion aboutpreventive measures.
Some people believe that takingan aspirin daily is good for
everyone's heart health.
However, this isn't true.

(12:49):
The risks and benefits of dailyaspirin vary significantly from
person to person and it shouldonly be taken under medical
supervision.
The same goes for otherpreventive medications what
works for one person might notbe appropriate for another.
Let's address the myth thatheart disease prevention is all
about genetics and there'snothing you can do if it runs in

(13:10):
your family.
While family history isimportant, lifestyle choices
play a massive role inprevention.
Studies show that even peoplewith genetic predispositions to
heart disease can significantlyreduce their risk through
healthy living.
Regular exercise, a balanceddiet, not smoking and
maintaining a healthy weight canoverride many genetic risk

(13:32):
factors.
The role of sleep in hearthealth is often underestimated.
Many people believe that sleepis optional and that they can
make up for lost sleep onweekends.
However, consistent poor sleepquality and irregular sleep
patterns can significantlyincrease your risk of heart
disease.
Aim for 7 to 9 hours of qualitysleep each night as part of

(13:55):
your prevention strategy.
As we wrap up today's discussionon heart health myths and facts
, let's review some keytakeaways that could make a real
difference in your heart healthjourney.
We've learned that many commonbeliefs about heart health
aren't necessarily true, andunderstanding the facts is
crucial for making informeddecisions about your
cardiovascular well-being.
Remember that when it comes tofats, not all are created equal.

(14:19):
Focus on incorporating healthyfats from sources like avocados,
nuts and olive oil, whilelimiting saturated and trans
fats.
Nuts and olive oil, whilelimiting saturated and trans
fats.
Exercise doesn't have to meanrunning marathons.
Consistent, moderate activitycan be just as beneficial for
your heart as intense workouts.
Your diet plays a fundamentalrole in heart health, but it's

(14:40):
not about following extremerestrictions.
Instead, aim for a balancedapproach rich in whole foods,
vegetables, fruits and leanproteins.
And don't forget that heartdisease affects everyone,
regardless of age or gender.
It's never too early or toolate to start taking care of
your heart.
Prevention is all about the bigpicture, combining healthy

(15:01):
eating, regular exercise, stressmanagement and quality sleep.
While supplements andmedications can play a role,
they work best as part of anoverall healthy lifestyle, not
as standalone solutions.
Small, consistent changes inyour daily habits can add up to
significant benefits for yourheart health over time.
Thank you for joining me todayon Kore Kast.
If you found this informationvaluable, be sure to tune in

(15:23):
next week when we'll beexploring the fascinating
connection between gut healthand mental wellness.
Until then, keep taking thosesteps toward a healthier heart.
Thank you for joining me onthis episode of the Kore Kast.
I hope you're feeling inspiredand empowered to take your
health and wellness journey tothe next level.
Remember, every small stepcounts and I'm here to support

(15:45):
you every step of the way.
If you enjoyed today's episode,I'd love for you to share it
with your friends and family and, if you're feeling generous,
consider donating at the linkprovided in the description.
Your support helps us to keepbringing you the Kore Kast every
week, packed with valuableinsights and expert advice For
more resources, tips and updates.
Don't forget to visit ourwebsite at www.

(16:07):
k ore-fit.
com and follow us on Instagramat korefitnessaz.
Join our community and let'scontinue this journey together.
Until next time, stay healthy,stay happy and keep striving for
your best self.
This is Chris Harris signingoff from the Corecast and I'll
see you next week.
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