The Mindbodygreen Podcast

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