A cutting board may not be a new idea, but it’s now being linked to a possible link between heart attacks and smoking.
A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that cutting boards were linked to an increased risk of developing heart attacks, strokes and other heart problems.
Researchers looked at data from more than 3,000 men and women in the U.S. and Canada who had a history of heart attacks.
They found that those who had cut board use had a higher risk of having heart attacks than those who didn’t.
One theory is that cutting the boards in order to relieve stress may have triggered the heart attack.
The study authors suggest that cutting a cutting board might help the heart recover faster and reduce the chance of another heart attack in people who are already at risk for heart disease.
It’s unclear if the link between the two is causal, though the findings do raise the possibility that cutting down a board could reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular conditions.
“These results have important public health implications, given that cutting and other lifestyle behaviors are associated with higher risks of cardiovascular disease and premature death,” the researchers wrote.
“This study adds to evidence that cutting board use is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease.
This suggests that cutting, in combination with other lifestyle factors, may be a better strategy for reducing cardiovascular risk.”