The lab accident that rewrote heart health

The mindbodygreen Podcast · Jan 7, 2026 · 9m

Here’s the story of some scientists in the 1980s who tried to cause heart disease in rabbits. Instead, they stumbled upon a discovery so surprising it challenged everything we thought we knew about cardiovascular health—and may hold a powerful lesson for human longevity. This story isn’t just about rabbits. It’s about us. - How we eat. - Who we eat with. - And how guilt, stress, love, and presence shape the way our bodies respond to food. Emerging science shows that eating in a relaxed, connected state activates the parasympathetic nervous system—supporting digestion, blood sugar balance, and…