We all have them, and we all need them. Healthy arteries are essential to life itself. And the threat of one contracting this one disease should see us executing some preventative measures.
Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, is the major cause of cardiovascular disease. To help avoid these conditions we can include some basic foods and nutrients in our diets that help maintain healthy arteries.
Diseases associated with atherosclerosis contribute to over 600,000 deaths each year in the United States. Atherosclerosis comes in several varieties including carotid artery disease, coronary artery disease, renal disease, and peripheral artery disease, all of which, if left unaddressed, are life-threatening.
Signs of these conditions include trouble breathing, headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, pain in your jaw, neck, arms or back, irregular heartbeat, loss of appetite, swelling in your extremities, and high blood pressure, among other warning signs.
But there are some supplements and foods that you can include in your diet that can help to reduce the risk of contracting these disorders:
- Curcumin (Turmeric) – thought to reduce LDL cholesterol and the buildup of plaque.
- Garlic – helps prevent heart disease, lowers blood pressure, and slows down atherosclerosis.
- Ginger – has incredible anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects.
- Cayenne Pepper – helps lower the risk of stroke and heart attack, and improves blood circulation.
- Lemon – aids in reducing blood cholesterol levels and prevents oxidative damage to arteries.
- Cinnamon – is believed to lower glucose, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol in type 2 diabetics.
- Ground Flaxseed – is an excellent source of alpha-linolenic acide, an omega-3 acid that can help lower inflammation and blood pressure.
- Fermented Cabbage (Kimchi) – aids in slowing the atherosclerotic process.
- Sesame Seed – is believed to effectively inhibit atherosclerotic lesion formation, blood cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol levels.
- Pomegranate Juice – helps decrease plaque formation, unclogs arteries, and fights atherosclerosis
So, by including these supplements and foods to our diets, we can all help ourselves avoid becoming one more victim of “the silent killer”: cardiovascular disease. It’s good food that is good for you!
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