Global PAD Association CEO Kym McNicholas and Nurse Practitioner Deidre Arms explore the surprising link between environmental toxins, gut health, and protein intake in cardiovascular wellness and longevity — plus practical steps you can take today.
When I invited Nurse Practitioner Deidre Arms to share what she learned from the recent longevity conferences she attended, I wasn’t expecting her to start with toxins. But what she revealed changed how I think about cardiovascular disease and peripheral artery disease — and the everyday environment we live in.
Deidre explained that toxins — from heavy metals to mold to chemicals we barely notice — can silently damage the cardiovascular system. She described a physician at the conference who shared patient imaging before and after “detoxing” and showed remarkable improvements in cholesterol, inflammation, and arterial imaging once toxins were removed.
That made me pause. Like Deidre, I wondered, how many of us are walking around with toxins we don’t even realize are undermining our efforts to stay healthy?
She decided to find out for herself, ordering what’s called a Total Toxin Burden test. The results startled her.
“I had quite a bit of environmental toxins,” she told me, listing BPA from plastics and off-gassing from materials used in her newly expanded clinic as top offenders. Even one of her staff members, who works in the same space, showed elevated levels.
It made perfect sense: new paint, new carpet, new furniture — all releasing invisible compounds we breathe every day. Even when we make the effort to buy cleaner products, Deidre reminded me, we can’t fully control what’s in the air, furniture, or buildings around us.
Still, she believes there’s plenty we can control. Start with what goes into your body and what’s inside your home. Scan your personal-care products with tools like the Yuka app or the Environmental Working Group’s database at ewg.org. Swap fragranced plug-ins and candles for essential oils. Use air purifiers in your bedroom and main living spaces. And if you live near farmland or construction, make sure your water and indoor air are filtered — especially in regions like Ohio where pesticides are prevalent.
“Clean air, clean water, clean food,” she said. “It sounds simple, but it’s not always easy.”
I could relate. After a recent trip to Las Vegas filled with cigarette smoke, I felt sluggish for days. I ended up fasting for nearly 24 hours — and woke up the next morning feeling like my body had reset.
Deidre nodded knowingly.
She explained that fasting for at least 16 hours can trigger a natural process called apoptosis, where damaged cells are cleared out and replaced by new, healthy ones. “It’s like a cellular reboot,” she said — but always check with your provider first.
Getting Rid of Toxins
For Deidre, true detox begins with the gut. “If your gut isn’t healthy, you can’t detox properly,” she told me. She recommends optimizing digestion before attempting any detox regimen. That means supporting the gut lining with ingredients like L-glutamine, quercetin, or slippery elm, drinking plenty of water, and sweating regularly — whether through exercise or infrared saunas. But she warns against overdoing supplements like charcoal binders, which can deplete essential vitamins and minerals if used long term.
All of this made one point clear: longevity isn’t just about adding years to life, it’s about reducing the internal stressors that chip away at vitality every single day.
Why Protein is Key To Longevity
Once we finished talking toxins, we turned to what Deidre called the other pillar of longevity: protein.
At the conference, nearly every expert underscored its importance. “Most people aren’t getting enough,” she said. “We need at least 90 grams a day — more if you’re active — unless you have kidney disease.”
Protein is about more than muscle tone. Studies show that thigh muscle strength directly correlates with longevity. Yet, even the “healthy” protein powders many of us rely on can carry hidden dangers. “Some popular protein blends were found to contain heavy metals,” Deidre said. “It comes down to sourcing.”
I had just met a biotech founder whose company produces organic pea- and chickpea-based protein for food manufacturers. Their process is so clean it’s certified by multiple international regulatory agencies. I told Deidre I wished more companies sold directly to consumers.
Her advice: whenever possible, get your protein from whole foods. “Grass-fed, grass-finished beef, wild-caught fish, eggs, cottage cheese — those are excellent sources,” she said. She also reminded us that even at fancy restaurants, “grass-fed” doesn’t necessarily mean “grass-finished.” Many cattle are grain-fed in their final weeks.
That hit home for me. My dad and I stopped buying red meat from supermarkets altogether. We now source directly from a local ranch to guarantee it’s 100 percent grass-fed and grass-finished. We eat smaller portions — just three or four ounces — and fill the rest of our plates with vegetables and fiber-rich foods.
As Deidre put it, “We live in a toxic world. We can’t eliminate everything, but we can make better choices every day.”
What We’re Talking About Next Week
In the end, her advice was both practical and hopeful. Control what you can control. Stop smoking. Avoid chemicals when possible. Drink clean water. Eat protein that nourishes your muscles and your heart. Move more, sweat more, and feed your gut the nutrients it needs to protect you from the inside out.
Next week, Deidre and I will continue our conversation as she returns from another conference — this one focused on immune health and longevity. If her latest insights are anything like these, you won’t want to miss it.
To learn more about Nurse Practitioner Deidre Arms, visit AspireWih.com. She offers telehealth services across multiple states and in-person appointments in Ohio. You can also watch this full episode of Ask NP Deidre on the Global PAD Association YouTube Channel at youtube.com/@TheWayToMyHeart and on Nurse Practitioner Deidre’s YouTube Channel at youtube.com/@NPDeidre.