How to Shop the Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen
(Health Secrets)The arteries are major blood vessels the heart uses to pump blood from it to the rest of the body. Over time, arterial walls can become congested with a fatty substance known as plaque. When this happens to a severe point, arteries may begin to harden and blood flow can become compromised and ultimately result in a heart attack. Mainstream medicine’s approach for treating plaque is to use drugs or surgery. However, there are natural ways to prevent and remove plaque.
As is the case when addressing many health concerns, exercise and diet can play major roles in avoiding and reducing plaque. Exercise is already known for many benefits to the body such as reducing risk factors for disease, better mental function, and weight control. Exercise can also improve circulation which then helps reduce plaque. According to the Mayo Clinic, you can do this by getting 30 to 60 minutes of exercise on most days of the week.
When it comes to diet, what you avoid is equally as important as what you eat. Many foods can cause plaque to build up and “bad” cholesterol to rise. Examples include deep fried foods, foods that are high in trans fats, refined foods and processed foods. Alcohol should be limited to two glasses of red wine a day, and red meat eaten only infrequently and in small portions.
Eating a diet made up of whole foods can help keep a healthy cholesterol ratio and avoid and reduce arterial plaque. Fiber from fiber rich foods such as bananas and beans helps block the intestinal absorption of cholesterol. It also helps you feel full longer, leading to less overall calorie consumption. Fiber rich foods include whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats that the body cannot make on its own. They can be found in supplements and also in foods like cold water fish, walnuts, flax seeds and healthy oils such as olive oil. Fish oil supplements can lower blood pressure, promote healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and reduce arterial plaque.
Niacin, one of the B vitamins, raises HDL, which is known as “good” cholesterol. HDL cholesterol lowers “bad” LDL cholesterol and arterial plaque. According to an article that appeared on the FDA website, “Niacin is the best agent known to raise blood levels of HDL, which helps remove cholesterol deposits from the artery walls.”
Vitamin C is critical in repair and healing of the endothelial layer of cells inside coronary and carotid arteries. When this layer is not maintained properly by the body, it can become the site for lesions that begin the process of atherosclerosis
You will find niacin and Vitamin C in the best multivitamin and mineral supplements. Nutrients are highly synergistic and work much better together than if taken separately. This makes a top quality broad spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement the foundation of good heart health.
Coenzyme Q10 strengthens veins and cleans out accumulated plaque.
Digestive enzymes help break down the food our body does not easily digest. When taken on an empty stomach, they enter the bloodstream intact. As they circulate, they remove toxins and break down the fats responsible for plaque formation. Digestive enzymes in supplements and raw foods help prevent heart disease.
Serrapeptase is a particularly potent digestive enzyme when it comes to dissolving arterial plaque. It has the unique ability to digest non-living tissue that is a by-product of the healing response without harming living tissue. Serrapeptase is used to dissolve non-living tissues including: scar tissue, fibrosis, blood clots, cysts and arterial plaque.
Some herbal remedies can help fight plaque by improving circulation, reducing blood clots, lowering cholesterol and reducing stress. The herb hawthorn helps remove plaque blockages by widening blood vessels. Horsetail is rich in silica and can aid removal of plaque by strengthening artery walls.
Other helpful herbs include ashwagandha, ginger, garlic and guggul.
For more information:
http://www.tbyil.com/High_Cholesterol.htm
http://www.tbyil.com/Heart_Disease.htm
http://www.actualcures.com/heart-disease-high-hdl-reverses-and-prevents-plaque/
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/1928315
http://www.ehow.com/way_5692286_natural-carotid-plaque-removal.html
