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The Real Cause of Heart Disease: What The Clot Thickens Reveals & How Nattokinase and Vitamin K2 Can Help

National Discount Nutrition

Introduction: Rethinking Heart Disease

Heart disease remains the world’s leading cause of death—despite decades of cholesterol-lowering strategies, statin drugs, and low-fat diets. In The Clot Thickens, Dr. Malcolm Kendrick offers a paradigm-shifting perspective: heart disease isn't primarily caused by cholesterol. Instead, it’s about blood clotting, endothelial damage, and arterial repair gone awry.

In this article, we’ll explore the core thesis of The Clot Thickens, reveal the emerging roles of Nattokinase and Vitamin K2 in arterial health, and provide practical steps for reducing your cardiovascular risk based on cutting-edge science.

The Core Thesis of The Clot Thickens

Dr. Malcolm Kendrick, a seasoned Scottish physician and heart disease researcher, argues that the cholesterol hypothesis oversimplifies and misrepresents the real drivers of cardiovascular disease. He proposes a more nuanced model:

The Endothelial Damage & Clotting Hypothesis

  1. Damage to arterial endothelium (the inner lining of blood vessels) is the first step.

  2. Blood clots (thrombi) form at these damage sites.

  3. If healing is incomplete, remnants of these clots become embedded in the artery wall.

  4. Over time, repeated injury and repair lead to atherosclerotic plaque formation, narrowing arteries.

In short: atherosclerosis is the consequence of repeated injury and clot repair, not merely fat accumulation.

Top Triggers of Arterial Damage (According to Dr. Kendrick)

  • High blood pressure (hypertension)

  • Smoking and environmental toxins

  • Chronic inflammation

  • Stress and cortisol dysregulation

  • Insulin resistance and diabetes

  • Certain infections and autoimmune reactions

These factors injure the endothelium, setting off the clot-repair cycle that eventually leads to arterial blockage.

Nattokinase: Nature’s Clot-Busting Enzyme

Nattokinase is a fibrinolytic enzyme derived from natto, a fermented soybean dish popular in Japan. It has gained attention as a natural alternative to pharmaceutical anticoagulants—without the side effects of drugs like warfarin.

How Nattokinase Supports Cardiovascular Health:

  1. Dissolves fibrin, a protein involved in blood clot formation.

  2. Enhances blood flow by reducing blood viscosity.

  3. May lower blood pressure by modulating the renin-angiotensin system.

  4. Breaks down existing clots and may prevent future plaque buildup.

✅ Clinical Evidence:

A study published in Scientific Reports (2017) showed that nattokinase supplementation led to significant reductions in atherosclerotic plaque size and improved carotid artery elasticity.

Another randomized trial in Nutrition Research (2008) found that nattokinase reduced plasma fibrinogen levels, improving clot dynamics.

Vitamin K2: The Arterial Calcium Gatekeeper

Vitamin K exists in multiple forms:

  • K1 (phylloquinone) – found in leafy greens; mainly helps with blood clotting.

  • K2 (menaquinone) – found in natto, hard cheeses, and animal products; plays a crucial role in calcium metabolism.

Why K2 is Vital for Arterial Health:

  • Activates Matrix Gla Protein (MGP), which prevents calcium from depositing in arteries.

  • Directs calcium to bones and teeth, reducing arterial stiffness.

  • Works synergistically with Vitamin D3, which increases calcium absorption—but without K2, this calcium can end up in arteries.

✅ Scientific Backing:

The Rotterdam Study (2004) found that people with the highest intake of Vitamin K2 had a 57% lower risk of dying from heart disease and reduced arterial calcification.

Synergy: Nattokinase + Vitamin K2 = Cardiovascular Gold

When used together, Nattokinase and Vitamin K2 provide a powerful one-two punch against the root causes of heart disease:

  • Nattokinase keeps blood flowing freely and dissolves microclots.

  • Vitamin K2 ensures that calcium stays out of the arteries and strengthens bones.

These two nutrients target the actual mechanisms behind atherosclerosis: clot formation and calcification—not just symptoms like cholesterol levels.

Additional Heart-Protective Lifestyle Tips (Kendrick-Approved)

  1. Manage stress: Chronic stress raises cortisol, damaging the endothelium.

  2. Get quality sleep: Poor sleep increases inflammatory markers and blood pressure.

  3. Stay active: Movement improves endothelial function and lowers clotting risk.

  4. Eat nutrient-dense foods: Prioritize fermented foods (natto, aged cheeses), oily fish, and colorful vegetables.

  5. Avoid smoking & minimize pollution exposure: These directly harm vascular linings.

Conclusion: Rethinking Cardiovascular Prevention

Dr. Malcolm Kendrick’s The Clot Thickens challenges decades of conventional cardiology—and he may be right. Heart disease is not just a cholesterol problem. It’s a vascular injury and clotting problem.

By supporting natural clot breakdown with Nattokinase and preventing calcification with Vitamin K2, we can address the disease at its root. Add in smart lifestyle changes, and you're far better equipped to protect your arteries—possibly without ever needing a statin.

Quick Recap: What You Can Do Today

✅ Add Nattokinase to your supplement routine (consult your doctor first).
✅ Ensure you're getting adequate Vitamin K2 (preferably MK-7).
✅ Reduce endothelial stress: manage blood pressure, stress, and inflammation.
✅ Focus on arterial health, not just cholesterol numbers.

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