305 - Body On Fire: How To Fight Inflammation With Cardiologist Dr. Monica Aggarwal

Dr. Monica Aggarwal is the perfect example of what can happen when you don’t take care of your body … she’s also the perfect example of what can happen when you do take care of your body. Living under the constant pressure of defined gender norms in a subspecialty medical profession, Dr. Aggarwal strived to be perfect. After finishing school and experiencing several miscarriages, she had three children in four years and tried to be Super Mom along with her full-time job as a cardiologist. Ultimately, her body broke down and she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Months passed until she took control of her health—not with medicine, but with lifestyle. When she prioritized sleep, plant-based eating, and more gentle forms of exercise, she put her disease in remission. This is part one of our two-part interview with the fabulous and knowledgeable Dr. Aggarwal. We just couldn’t cover everything in one short hour. Buckle up and get ready to learn.

“So there's a study that shows that if you have high genetic risk and you have a poor lifestyle, your risk of building plaque stays here. But if you have that same high genetic risk and you have a great lifestyle, you can reduce that risk by 50 percent. So similarly, if you look at somebody with low genetic risk, then that person has a good lifestyle, they will have maybe a risk of heart disease of this. But if they have a low genetic risk and a poor lifestyle, they will double their risk by 50 percent. So why are we not working on lifestyle? Such a big and important problem. The reality is that our medical system is so flawed because we focus on acuity-based care and not value-based care, and that's fundamentally the problem.” - Dr. Monica Aggarwal

What we discuss in this episode:

- Expectations placed on women in the medical field

- Gender roles

- Dr. Aggarwal’s story of healing

- Rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune disorders

- Understanding inflammation and disease

- Inflammatory foods and triggers

- Understanding heart disease and risk

- Preventative measures to decreasing risk of illness

Resources: 

- Book: Body on Fire: How Inflammation Triggers Chronic Illness - https://www.amazon.com/Body-Fire-Inflammation-Triggers-Chronic/dp/1570673926

- Instagram: @drmonicaaggarwal - https://www.instagram.com/drmonicaaggarwal/

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