Even though nowadays we have different lifestyle than ancient people in terms of diet, researchers found that modern disease such as atherosclerosis, are not actually modern.

After testing and experimenting a 3,500 year old Egyptian mummies, the researches found the same factors that cause heart attack an stroke in human, exist in mummies too.

“Atherosclerosis is ubiquitous among modern day humans and, despite differences in ancient and modern lifestyles, we found that it was rather common in ancient Egyptians of high socioeconomic status living as much as three millennia ago,” says UC Irvine clinical professor of cardiology Dr. Gregory Thomas, a co-principal investigator on the study. “The findings suggest that we may have to look beyond modern risk factors to fully understand the disease.”

The collection of mummies the researchers have underwent whole body scanning with special attention to the cardiovascular system. The detailed images showed that some of the mummies had calcification either clearly seen in the wall of the artery or in the path were the artery should have been. Some mummies had calcification in up to 6 different arteries.

Even though the study didn’t find a link between heart attacks and diet in ancient people, the mummies that had calcification were of high socioeconomic status, meaning, they has more access to meat than people who didn’t.

What’s the point?

We should limit our consumption of meat because eating animal-based foods impairs the heart’s ability to do its job. Meat and dairy products are high in cholesterol and saturated fat. As these fatty substances, or “plaques,” build up inside the walls of arteries, blood flow to all areas of the body is impeded.

Via – EurekAlert