Heart health is incomplete without its supporting systems, such as arteries that take blood to and from your heart. Keeping these arteries clean, especially coronary arteries is very important. We are discussing here the best foods for healthy heart arteries that will naturally cleanse them.
But before that, let us learn a little background about heart disease and the importance of arteries below:
What is Heart Disease or Cardiovascular Disease?
Heart diseases or cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally. Coronary arteries are the most common blood vessels that are affected by heart disease.
According to WHO, heart diseases account for approximately 17.9 million deaths each year. This makes an estimated 31% of all deaths globally.
For your heart to function properly, coronary arteries play a vital role as they assure continuous blood supply to other heart vessels and organs of the body.
If plaque (deposits of cholesterol and other substances) is formed in the walls of the vessels, it causes them to clog.
Clogged arteries lead to reduced blood supply to the heart and other parts of the body. As a result, it causes cardiovascular diseases or heart diseases.
So, now you know the background of coronary arteries. You can better understand what I am going to talk about foods for healthy heart arteries which will protect and cleanse your vessels or arteries naturally.
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
These are the words from an ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, who is also called the father of Western medicine.
Foods not only provide us with energy to fulfill our daily needs but also provide special nutrients that cleanse arteries and protect us from developing cardiovascular diseases in the future.
Here are Some of the Best Foods For Arteries:
Garlic
Ancient history shows that garlic has many health and medicinal properties (source).
Hence, it has been widely used by many ancient civilizations, including Greeks, Babylonians, Egyptians, Romans, and Chinese (source).
Garlic can lower total and/or LDL (the bad cholesterol) levels by 10-15%. Hence, it helps in cleansing arteries by keeping your LDL cholesterol level in check, which may lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Oatmeal or Oats
Study shows that oats contain phenolic antioxidants that hinder the ability of cholesterol to stick to the artery walls (source).
Oats are rich in soluble fiber, which can help to regulate your cholesterol levels from your body. Oatmeal prevents the buildup of cholesterol in the arteries and eliminates it from your body.
If you have a problem with clogged arteries try eating oats as it will help unclog the arteries.
So, always keep a bowl of oats at your breakfast table and keep your heart and arteries thrilled.
Pomegranate
According to the study, researchers found that pomegranate juice may significantly benefit by preventing the hardening of the arteries (also known as atherosclerosis or buildup of plaque in the artery).
Pomegranate juice also reduces blood vessel damage and prevents them from losing their elasticity.
Buy a 100% pure pomegranate juice without sugar and add in your smoothie or you can mix it in your festive mocktail. Sprinkle its seeds on your morning breakfast oatmeal.
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Nuts – naturally one of the best foods for arteries
I have added nuts on the list because they are the powerhouse when we talk about heart health.
Consuming 5200 grams of almond, walnut or cashew can considerably reduce your LDL (bad cholesterol) levels. This is because they contain good cholesterol, also known as Omega 3.
Cashews or Brazil nuts or almonds are rich in magnesium. Magnesium cleanses arteries by hindering the buildup of plaque in the walls of the artery, hence preventing clogged arteries.
According to the American Heart Association, it recommends eating four servings of unsalted nuts. Roasted nuts are more preferred than cooked in oil. So, one serving is approximately 1.5 ounces of whole nuts.
Avocado – one of the best foods for clogged arteries
How can I forget avocado when we talk about heart-healthy foods? Not possible at all, because they are a great source of potassium (even more than banana).
Potassium in Avocado has proven benefits for your vessels and prevents calcification, hence reducing the chances of cardiovascular disease.
The number of antioxidants found in avocado can effectively keep your cholesterol level check and also different lytic enzymes present in it can help to prevent the deposition of excess fat in the body.
So, keep avocado in your daily diet, such as you can add it in your favorite smoothies or tuna salad, etc.
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In Conclusion – these are the best foods for arteries!
There are many medicines available that can unclog, clear, unblock, reduce, or dissolve plaque by certain mechanisms, but they also have many side effects. On the other hand, natural foods specified above have proven benefits as they are the best source of heart-healthy nutrients. These sources work as natural home remedies and are natural cleansers of arteries that are easily available in the market.
