In a study of senior women, those who ate at least a 1/2 cup of yogurt per day had healthier arteries from the yogurt benefits compared with those who ate less of the tangy stuff. Living a healthy life helps reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk at any age, but it's especially important as you get older.
Greek yogurt has been connected to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which can reduce your risk of heart disease. Cholesterol and triglycerides can harden or block your arteries over time, leading to heart disease or atherosclerosis.
Higher yogurt intake in combination with an overall heart-healthy diet was associated with greater reductions in cardiovascular disease risk among hypertensive men and women.
But there's also research suggesting that yogurt is specifically good for heart health: Yogurt has been linked to healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels. And some research shows that eating yogurt as part of a healthy diet can help prevent long-term weight gain, which is good for the heart.
Leafy greens such as spinach, broccoli, cabbage, etc. promote thinning of arterial walls (which may have thickened due to atherosclerosis). They also stabilise sugar levels and lower cholesterol, both of which help unclog arteries. Garlic is a superfood that provides various health benefits and nutrients.
Yogurt can be a super source of nutrition. Eating it regularly might protect you from high blood pressure. But watch the kind you buy. Flavored yogurts are full of added sugar, with its links to weight gain, high blood pressure, inflammation, and heart disease.
Therefore, those with lactose intolerance may need to avoid yogurt. However, some people who are lactose intolerant may be able to tolerate it. Some of the lactose breaks down during production, and probiotics may assist with its digestion ( 54 ).
Full-fat yogurt
Research associates increased intake of full-fat fermented dairy products with reduced LDL (bad) cholesterol and blood pressure, as well as a lower risk of stroke, heart disease, and diabetes ( 23 ).
You can “unclog” your arteries with natural methods, including diet, exercise, and stress management. Quitting smoking, if you smoke, can also help reverse plaque.
"By eating yogurt every day, you continue to supply your GI tract with healthy bacteria. These healthy bacteria prevent 'bad' bacteria from taking over, which leads to improved gut and immune health."
Having a daily yogurt can also help protect and support “good” bacterial growth in your colon. It's also great for other digestive maladies, and can help recovery after intestinal infections and diarrhea.
How important is it to eat yogurt every day? It's certainly possible that eating more yogurt and fiber could have many different health benefits, according to Kevin Sullivan, MD, an attending physician at the Northwell Health Cancer Institute. Yogurt is rich in calcium, B vitamins, vitamin D, and many other nutrients.
There are three options in treating the symptoms of a blocked artery which causes chest discomfort and/or shortness of breath with exertion (this symptom is called angina). One is medication; two is PCI - Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, or Angioplasty; and three is CABG or Coronary Artery Bypass Graft surgery.
Eat more vegetables and fruits
Vegetables and fruits are good sources of vitamins and minerals. Vegetables and fruits are also low in calories and rich in dietary fiber. Vegetables and fruits, like other plants or plant-based foods, contain substances that may help prevent cardiovascular disease.
A healthy diet rich in nutrient-dense foods may help reduce your risk of developing clogged arteries. Research has shown that adding foods like cruciferous vegetables, fish, berries, olive oil, oats, onions, greens, and beans to your diet may be an effective way to prevent atherosclerosis.
Although it isn't possible to remove plaque from your arterial walls without surgery, you can halt and prevent future plaque build-up. Research does not support that specific food items can help clear arteries naturally, but a healthier diet is essential to reduce the chance of it forming in the first place.
Eating two to three servings of yogurt per week decreases sugar and caffeine cravings. This helps with weight management and improved heart health. It also reduces the risk of diabetes and age-related cognitive impairment.
Yogurt by itself does not lower blood pressure or prevent hypertension. But a diet that includes nutrient-rich foods like low-fat yogurt instead of less healthy foods does combat high blood pressure. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) plan calls for two to three servings of low-fat dairy per day.
Besides sugar, many types of yogurts have noteworthy levels of cholesterol. Nonfat Greek yogurt has about 9 mg of cholesterol per serving, while a single serving of Yoplait Original French Vanilla Yogurt has 10 mg, and Chobani Flip Cookie Dough Yogurt has 15 mg.
Vasant Lad notes that yogurt shouldn't be paired with milk. In addition to this, he also lists down a couple of everyday foods, that you may have been combining all your life with yogurt but shouldn't be! These include sour fruits, melons, fish, mango, starches, cheese and bananas.
Curd and yoghurt can actually impair digestion, if you have a weak digestive system and eat them at night. “People with digestion issues such as acidity, acid reflux or indigestion should avoid yoghurt or curd at night as it can cause constipation when the system is sluggish and sleep-ready.