Atherosclerosis, sometimes called ischemic heart disease, is the result of plaque accumulating in the body s major vessels and obstructing the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart. The most significant source of obstructive plaque is the fat in our diet. The higher the fat content in the foods we regularly eat, the higher our risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and death. The human body is poorly equipped to spontaneously rid itself of fatty plaque accumulations in its venous system, and it has few mechanisms to do so without the individual s active intent.
Regular exercise is one way to convert some of the fat to energy.