Heart & Metabolic
Heart and metabolic health is a broad topic that touches on many areas, from vascular function to glucose and lipid metabolism to body weight. As we age, the heart and vasculature undergo decreases in blood vessel plasticity and increases in blood vessel wall thickness. The function of the heart itself also changes, resulting in a decreased efficiency in pumping blood. Normal aging also results in a loss of muscle mass and alterations in numerous metabolic pathways. Weight tends to increase while metabolic processes such as glucose metabolism decrease. The combination of these factors can be viewed together as cardiometabolic aging. Nutrition plays an intimate role in maintaining cardiovascular health.‡
