The lab accident that rewrote heart health episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 7, 2026 · 9 MIN

The lab accident that rewrote heart health

from The mindbodygreen Podcast · host mindbodygreen

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 heart health. In other words: how you eat may matter as much as what you eat. Link to the actual study Chapters 00:00 – The mysterious rabbit experiment 01:35 – A result that made no sense 02:30 – The detail researchers almost missed 04:00 – What this teaches us about eating & stress 05:00 – Why love may protect the heart 🎙️ This new format episode, hosted by founder and co-CEO Jason Wachob, is from the mindbodygreen podcast, where science meets meaning—and small shifts lead to big health changes. If this story resonated with you: 👍 Like this video 💬 Share your thoughts in the comments 🔔 Subscribe for more science-backed stories on longevity, nutrition, and whole-body health Read more here: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/ Shop our supplements: https://shop.mindbodygreen.com/ Join 1M+ subscribers on their journey towards strong and healthy: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/newsletters  Follow us:  Instagram: @mindbodygreen   TikTok: @mindbodygreen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 heart health. In other words: how you eat may matter as much as what you eat. Link to the actual study Chapters 00:00 – The mysterious rabbit experiment 01:35 – A result that made no sense 02:30 – The detail researchers almost missed 04:00 – What this teaches us about eating & stress 05:00 – Why love may protect the heart 🎙️ This new format episode, hosted by founder and co-CEO Jason Wachob, is from the mindbodygreen podcast, where science meets meaning—and small shifts lead to big health changes. If this story resonated with you: 👍 Like this video 💬 Share your thoughts in the comments 🔔 Subscribe for more science-backed stories on longevity, nutrition, and whole-body health Read more here: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/ Shop our supplements: https://shop.mindbodygreen.com/ Join 1M+ subscribers on their journey towards strong and healthy: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/newsletters  Follow us:  Instagram: @mindbodygreen   TikTok: @mindbodygreen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NOW PLAYING

The lab accident that rewrote heart health

0:00 9:35

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The mindbodygreen Podcast?

This episode is 9 minutes long.

When was this The mindbodygreen Podcast episode published?

This episode was published on January 7, 2026.

What is this episode about?

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...

Can I download this The mindbodygreen Podcast episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!