How to reduce Atherosclerosis

 

Quite simply, atherosclerosis is the fancy name for clogged arteries. However, it is a bit more complicated than that if you want to truly understand the situation.

Atherosclerosis -- hardening and narrowing of the arteries -- gets a lot of bad press but with good reason. This progressive process silently and slowly blocks arteries, putting blood flow at risk.
Atherosclerosis is the usual cause of heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral vascular disease -- what together are called "cardiovascular disease. According to experts, atherosclerosis begins with damage to the endothelium caused by high blood pressure, smoking, or high cholesterol. That damage leads to the formation of plaque. Plaque is a jumble of cholesterol, cells, and debris that creates a bump on the artery wall. As atherosclerosis progresses, that bump gets bigger. And when it gets big enough, it can create a blockage. That process goes on throughout your entire body. As a result, not only is your heart at risk but you are also at risk for stroke and other kinds of health problems. Atherosclerosis usually causes no symptoms until middle or older age. But as narrowings become severe, they choke off blood flow and can cause pain. Blockages can also suddenly rupture, causing blood to clot inside an artery at the site of the rupture. When certain cells die, such as triglycerides or cholesterol, or become caught by inflamed tissue in the arteries and blood vessels, they begin to build up. White blood cells attack these areas in order to remedy the situation, but further add to the blockage and the gradually narrowing arteries. As arteries and blood vessels narrow, the heart must work harder to pump blood through, causing blood pressure to rise. This can be additionally stressful on the cardiovascular system, and if a blood clot of some kind flows through these clogged arteries and gets stuck, a heart attack or a stroke is experienced. Heart attacks take place in the heart, while strokes occur in the brain. Clots in other parts of the body are dangerous, and potentially deadly, but these are the two most critical and fatal areas of the body for this cellular build-up to occur.Fortunately, there are ways of lowering triglyceride levels, reducing inflammation in the cardiovascular system, and eliminating that WBC build-up that causes the arteries to harden and narrow.
This is why atherosclerosis is often called “hardening of the arteries”. Below, we will cover a number of the most effective and well-researched home remedies to prevent or reverse the effects of atherosclerosis. While some damage to the cardiovascular system is irreparable, atherosclerosis can be significantly reduced or “treated” through natural dietary and behavioral changes, rather than risky and expensive surgery. Let’s take a look at some of those natural approaches and home remedies for atherosclerosis.

Home Remedies for Atherosclerosis

Fish Oil: The high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids (also known as “good cholesterol” or HDL cholesterol), versus omega-6 fatty acids (also known as “bad cholesterol” or LDL cholesterol) found in fish oil make it very effective in rebalancing the cholesterol balance in the cardiovascular system and preventing a dangerous build-up of plaque in the blood vessels that can catch a blood clot and cause a stroke or heart attack. People think that fats are all bad, but in fact, certain fats are essential for our body to function properly.

Salmon: For a similar reason as above, salmon has one of the most favorable balances of HDL-LDL cholesterol in fish. Furthermore, salmon has a wide range of unique minerals that make it beneficial for many other aspects of health as well, including selenium, protein, phosphorous, potassium, choline, and pantothenic acid. Potassium, for example, is also a vasodilator, which means that it can reduce the strain on the cardiovascular system by relaxing the blood vessels, effectively lowering blood pressure and preventing coronary heart disease.

Avoid Meat: The title might be a bit unclear; I’m not trying to say that you have to be a vegetarian to reduce atherosclerosis, but the proteins, minerals, fiber, and nutrients found in fruits and vegetables are easier for the body to break down and process efficiently. Furthermore, they tend to have less dangerous fats that can increase triglyceride and bad cholesterol content in the body. Essentially, you have to undo some of the “bad” that you do with animal protein that you largely don’t need to worry about with vegetables.

Processed Foods: Cutting out processed food is a very effective way to reduce the effects and severity of atherosclerosis. Many processed foods contain hydrogenated fats, which can cause even more problems than dangerous saturated fats (opposed to monounsaturated fats, which are beneficial in the body.) For that reason, eating organic or natural, as opposed to those overly processed and frozen foods that you may find at normal grocery stores.

Garlic and Onions: When it comes to proven methods of reducing bad cholesterol levels effectively, the allium family is one of the best. The most common forms of this family are garlic and onions, which can be easily added to countless meals and dietary plans. Allicin is the active component in the allium family, and this particular organic compound has been proven in research studies to directly lower the levels of LDL cholesterol in the body. This has made garlic and onions some of the most popular recommendations for preventing atherosclerosis in those susceptible to cardiovascular issues.
Spinach and Nightshade Vegetables: This very special type of vegetables is one of the most respected and relied on groups when it comes to boosting heart health and reducing general atherosclerosis in the body. Firstly, spinach is able to lower blood pressure by inhibiting the angiotensin 1-converting enzyme, which effectively calms the body. Secondly, selenium, beta-carotene, and manganese can all help to reduce atherosclerosis in the body, and spinach is high in these nutrients. Finally, neoxanthin and violaxanthin are two anti-inflammatory compounds in spinach that can help to reduce inflammation in the blood vessels, which helps maintain their integrity.

 Beans: The vast majority of beans contain high levels of potassium, but white beans are certainly the highest in that concentration. Although people think of bananas as the potassium-rich superfood, white beans contain far more, and are easy to incorporate in your diet as a source of essential minerals and protein. Potassium, as mentioned earlier, lowers blood pressure by dilating blood vessels and easing strain on the cardiovascular system.

Exercise: Regular exercise is essential to keep your heart healthy, because a sedentary lifestyle means a faster accumulation of fat deposits and triglycerides in your body. Also, by keeping your metabolism is good shape, you’re far more likely to burn fat more effectively, avoid obesity, and generally boost your overall health.

Quitting Smoking: Smoking has an astringent effect on your blood vessels, arteries, meaning that they harden and narrow faster, and you are at a much higher chance of suffering a heart attack or atherosclerosis-related issues if you smoke. Also, smoking makes you less likely to remain active, as it damages your lungs and oxygen capacity, which leads to a sedentary lifestyle

Drinking in Moderation: Research on alcohol consumption and its exact link to atherosclerosis is still ongoing and often contradictory; however, heavy drinking has been seen to be positively associated with atherosclerosis and heart disease. That being said, low levels of alcohol can actually be good for the heart, as it can reduce LDL cholesterol’s injurious actions. It’s a delicate balance, obviously. As always, everything in moderation.