A lack of diversity of gut bacteria is linked to hardening of the arteries, a new study concludes. By analyzing the gut microbiome and measuring the arterial stiffness of 617 middle-aged female twins, researchers from the University of Nottingham and King’s College London found that those with a greater diversity of healthy bacteria had more flexible arteries.

The finding explains why women, young adults and others may suffer heart attacks without traditional risk factors such as smoking or obesity. It opens the door to reducing cardiovascular disease by targeting the microbiome through diet, probiotics and other supplements.

This article appears in the November 2018 issue of Natural Awakenings.