21/10/2026
Inflammation is something we hear a lot about, particularly in conversations around diet and health. Dr Shilpa Ravella’s book A Silent Fire: The Story of Inflammation, Diet, and Disease looks closely at this relationship, including an idea I found particularly interesting.
For a long time, we tended to think about heart disease quite mechanically: fatty deposits build up, arteries become blocked, and eventually that blockage causes a heart attack or stroke.
However Ravella explains how inflammation within the walls of our arteries can affect the stability of plaques, making them more likely to rupture. That means the inflammatory environment within the body matters, not simply the size of a blockage.
What I found particularly interesting is the connection she draws back to the gut microbiome. What we eat influences the bacteria living in our gut and the health of this microbial community can, in turn, influence inflammatory processes throughout the body.
It’s one of the reasons I encourage people to think more broadly about heart health. Cholesterol is important, of course, but our gut, our diet and the wider inflammatory environment are all part of a much bigger picture.
It also reinforces why I’m interested in ingredients such as beta-glucans, the soluble fibre found in oats. When choosing products containing them, I look closely at where those ingredients come from and how they have been formulated. The beta-glucans in our Dr Wolz Cholesterol Balance, for example, are sourced from Scandinavian oats selected for their beta-glucan content.
If you’re interested in the relationship between food, the gut microbiome, inflammation and long-term health, A Silent Fire is a fascinating read. We've got some copies in store so come in and have a read!
— Nicola Johns, Pharmacist
