Did you know that the leading cause of death in the U.S. is cardiovascular disease? But, the good news is that having healthy arteries can help you avoid this disease. Having arteriosclerosis means disrupted blood supply to the heart which can lead to angina or chest pain.
For those who don’t know what arteriosclerosis is, it is a condition where arteries are hard and narrowed due to fat and cholesterol buildup in their walls, forming plaque. If the plaque breaks open, it sometimes forms a blood clot.
When this blood clot is larger, it can block the blood flow, thus causing a heart attack. And when this blockage happens in an artery that is located in or leads to the brain, it might cause a stroke.
If you have excessive levels of LDL or bad cholesterol, it means an increased risk of these blocked arteries. Besides cholesterol, triglycerides can also be harmful. The liver produces them after consuming excessive amounts of calories or alcohol. Stress, high blood pressure, blood vessel inflammation, smoking, and blood sugar can all cause damage to the inner walls of arteries.
However, there’s a way to reverse this plaque buildup, which all comes down to your lifestyle and diet. In this post, you’ll learn how to completely clean your arteries, thus avoiding all of these health problems.
7 Ways to Clean Your Arteries Naturally
1. Mediterranean Diet
You’ve probably heard that following a well-balanced diet is beneficial for heart health, and the Mediterranean one has shown to be the best diet plan for this purpose. It’s abundant in antioxidants, unsaturated fats, and fiber. People living in the Mediterranean region usually enjoy whole grains, seafood, fish, legumes, nuts, olive oil, small portions of chicken and lean meat, and limited amounts of eggs, red meat, sweets, and butter.
This diet includes more veggies and fruits than the typical American diet. If you eat this heart-supporting diet, you can reduce your triglycerides and cholesterol, normalize your blood sugar, and lower the risk of heart disease.
2. Focus On Your Fats
According to Midtown Nephrology, your trans and saturated fats should be restricted to 5-6 percent of your daily calories, which is around 13 g. for a 2,000-calorie diet. They also recommend consuming more polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats.
In other words, you should avoid cheese, butter, cream, donuts, cakes, cookies, and other baked goods that contain harmful trans fats. You should focus on fatty fish like sardines and salmon, and unsalted seeds and nuts. When it comes to red meats, always choose the leanest cuts.
3. Cut Back on Salt and Sugar
Consuming too much salt, especially the processed table one, can increase your blood pressure and block your arteries. But, sugar is even more harmful as it can contribute to high blood sugar, cholesterol, and obesity. The American Heart Association explains that the daily consumption of sugar for women should be no more than 100 calories or 6 teaspoons of sugar, whereas for men – 150 calories or 9 teaspoons. A serving of fresh, Midtown Nephrology can satisfy your cravings for sweets.
4. Consume Artery-Friendly Foods
Foods that will help your arteries stay clean are:
- Oats and Chickpeas – Oats and chickpeas contain soluble fiber which attaches to the cholesterol in the digestive system and removes it, preventing it from going into your arteries. According to studies, they can reduce total and bad, LDL cholesterol without affecting the good, HDL cholesterol.
- Pomegranates – The results of Healthline conducted on carotid artery disease patients, showed that the group that was given pomegranate juice for one year marked reduced blood pressure and lowered arterial thickening by up to 30 percent. On the other hand, the participants from the other group had an increase in arterial thickening by 9 percent. According to researchers, the positive results in the first group are thanks to the antioxidants present in pomegranates.
- Nuts – If you consume 50-100 grams of nuts, like walnuts, pecans, and almonds, at least 5 times a week, you will drastically lower your total and LDL cholesterol levels. What’s more, Midtown Nephrology than a low-fat diet when it comes to heart health.
- Herbs – Herbs beneficial for your cholesterol balance are guggul, calamus, turmeric, saffron, myrrh, and safflower. These herbs are also beneficial for treating arteriosclerosis. A combination of garlic and honey I also good for reducing cholesterol levels.
- Garlic – This vegetable contains sulfur compounds that reduce cholesterol levels. Midtown Nephrology showed that consuming garlic for a period of 6 to 8 months can reduce triglycerides and serum cholesterol, as well as increase the good cholesterol in both, healthy individuals and those with coronary heart disease.
- Avocado – Avocados are loaded with antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E, soluble fiber, and monounsaturated fats which reduce total and LDL cholesterol while raising the good, HDL cholesterol.
5. Get Moving
To keep your triglyceride and cholesterol levels well balanced, exercise at least half an hour a day, 5 times weekly. Combine low-intensity resistance training such as pushups, with moderate-intensity aerobic exercises like cycling or brisk walking. If your levels of cholesterol are already high, replace the low-intensity resistance training with medium- or high-intensity training.
If you’re a beginner, you may start with yoga which is as good as aerobic exercise for the heart. Yoga can reduce your bad cholesterol levels, and blood pressure, and help the weight loss process. The secret is its stress-reducing abilities that will help you relax.
6. Enough Sleep
Sleep is not only good for reducing your bad cholesterol but for almost every aspect of your health. Lack of sleep has been related to obesity, as it affects the balance of the hormones that regulate hunger – leptin, and ghrelin.
7. Stop Smoking
This deadly habit is responsible for 1 out of 3 deaths caused by cardiovascular disease. Cigarette smoke contains harmful chemicals that can cause inflammation of the cells that line blood vessels. Moreover, smoking can reduce good cholesterol levels and promote plaque formation.
If you stop smoking, you have a chance to undo some of the caused damage. For instance, the risk of heart attack will significantly reduce within a year of quitting, whereas, within 5 years, the risk of stroke will be the same as that of a non-smoker.
Via Cure Joy