How come mainstream media worries about unclogging our arteries? What is it all about? For those who are unaware of the architecture of the human body, the artery is a blood vessel that brings oxygenated blood to the different parts of our body - brain, heart, kidney, liver, skin, tip of our fingers – even the tips of our hair. The arteries are part of the intricate plumbing system that helps in nourishing the body through the oxygen that the blood carries. Without oxygen, our body cells weaken and die.

Obstruction of arteries happens when there are too much fats sticking at the walls of the arteries. But arterial congestion also happens when the arteries are abraded and inflammation reaction occurs. If blocking of artery happens, if it is minute, there is no discernible effect in the body. But when the blocking is major, complications will arise, such as a stroke, a heart attack, renal failure, blindness and other dreadful diseases. While there are surgeries to open up the clogged arteries, there are also natural remedies that can prevent the formation of the obstructions. Below are some of the safest ways to unclog the arteries of our body:

1. Eat Foods High in Fiber

   Dietary fiber is found in split peas, lentils, black beans, pinto beans, barley, lima beans and almost all types of beans in the world. There is also dietary fiber found in root vegetables, wheat, fruits and edible seeds. Fiber is one of the most talked about nutrients that can help in preventing and perhaps removing the obstruction in the arteries because of its ability to reduce the cholesterol levels and the blood sugar levels of the body. This happens when the fibers reduces the absorption of the dietary cholesterol in the gastrointestinal tract. Additionally fibers bind with the bile acids. If this happens, cholesterol absorption is reduced since there will be deactivation of the bile acids necessary for the cholesterol to be digested and taken in by the body. As to the blood sugar levels which can sometimes affect the microscopic arteries found in the kidney and the eyes, fiber can help by delaying the blood sugar absorption in the stomach. Additionally, it has the capability to increase the sensitivity of the insulin, lowering the amount of glucose in the blood.

2. Feed on Fish

   There are hundreds of fish, but what is in the fish that protects the arteries from blockage? In a research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, they found out that those who are on seafood-rich diet are protected from having clogged arteries in spit having all the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases. The secret, it turned out, is the abundance of omega-3 fatty acids in the fish, especially tuna, salmon and sardines. Dr. Akira Sekikawa said that Japan’s death rate from coronary disease is puzzlingly low. And they attribute this to the lifelong high consumption of seafood and fish product by the Japanese population.

3. Use Healthy Oils

   While all oils are healthy, there are healthier oils that protect the body from developing clogged arteries and its complications. Some of the healthy oils are extra-virgin, virgin and light olive oils, safflower oil, canola oil, peanut oil, avocado oil, macadamia, hazelnut and almond oil. Among this, the well studies are the olive oil. Olive oil, like the rest, is mono-unsaturated fats. They can help in lowering the total cholesterol and the low-density lipoprotein that can increase the chances of getting arterial obstructions. Additionally, they also carry with them antioxidants that prevent the destruction of the arterial walls and the red blood cells, events that can lead to cardiovascular diseases and its complications.

4. Go for Garlic

   For years, garlic has been known to benefit the cardiovascular system of the body. Even with limited studies, garlic has shown that it can protect the heart, arteries and veins. Although the reduction level is moderate, garlic can lower the triglyceride levels and the cholesterol, elements that are sometimes responsible for the clogging of the arteries. But beyond that, garlic has shown some potential in the inflammatory process and oxidative stress of the cells. Sometimes, the blood vessels are damaged due to the overactive oxygen molecules that will result to blood vessel inflammation. The sulfur-containing compounds of garlic lower the risk of oxidative stress as well as the unnecessary inflammation.

5. Choose Cayenne

   It’s hot and it’s spicy. But in spite of that, cayenne brings great benefits to the cardiovascular system by not just lowering the cholesterol and triglyceride levels, it also lessens the chances of having too much platelet aggregation. This happens because cayenne can actually increase the ability of the body to dissolve fibrin. In the coagulation system fibrin is that substance responsible for the formation of blood clots. With lowered blood clotting mechanism, the arteries are decongested.

6. Exercise and Exercise

   According to Stefano Taddei, MD of the University of Pisa in Italy, those who involve themselves in regular physical activity actually have protected blood vessels. The study of Taddei is published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association that shows that the blood vessels of the older athletes is the same as that of the younger group who either are active or live a sedentary lifestyle. A follow-up study also showed that walking 1.5 miles per day reduces the chances of getting cardiovascular diseases in older adults. So if you exercise regularly, you prevent the clogging of your arteries.

7. Stop Smoking

   A large European epidemiological study has proven that there is a correlation between tobacco exposure and the thickness of the carotid arterial walls. It should be noted that a sign of impending atherosclerosis is the thickening of the arterial walls. The study further showed that this effect is high when the woman is a smoker. In fact, the effect is five-fold. While the woman’s hormone protects her from cardiovascular problems, it isn’t so when she smokes. Therefore, stop smoking to reduce thickening of arterial walls, which results to clogging of the arteries.

Sources
healtharticles101.com
nutralegacy.com
sciencedaily.com
whfoods.org