You can naturally "open" or support healthy arteries with a heart-healthy diet (fruits, veggies, whole grains, fish), regular exercise (150 mins/week), quitting smoking, managing stress, staying hydrated, and getting enough sleep, all of which reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol, and improve blood flow, preventing plaque buildup. Key foods include fatty fish, leafy greens, nuts, avocado, oats, and berries, while habits like quitting smoking are crucial.
Making plaque disappear is not possible, but with lifestyle changes and medication they can shrink and stabilize. Doctors especially want to target the softer plaques before they rupture.
Lifestyle and home remedies
Heart-healthy drinks (other than water)
Here are 15 foods that may help prevent clogged arteries.
Certain actions and foods can help open blood vessels immediately. Deep breathing exercises, stretching, and light physical activity like walking can stimulate blood flow. Consuming foods rich in nitric oxide, such as beets, garlic, spinach, and dark chocolate, helps dilate blood vessels.
In addition to chest pain, symptoms of a clogged artery may include:
Lab and animal studies have found that cinnamon may also help with atherosclerosis (fatty deposits in the arteries). But human studies are lacking. Two trials involving people with Type 2 diabetes didn't find that cinnamon helped with inflammation or plaque in the arteries.
Cardiologists generally advise avoiding processed meats, sugary drinks and sweets, and foods high in trans fats and sodium, like most fried foods and salty snacks, because they raise bad cholesterol, blood pressure, and inflammation, significantly increasing heart disease risk. Focusing on whole foods and limiting these culprits is key for heart health.
Signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction include:
Turmeric is one of nature's most potent anti-inflammatories, due to a compound called curcumin. This not only reduces arterial inflammation, but also fatty deposits known as plaque, by as much as 26%!
Among foods that contribute to clogged arteries are:
The goodness of natural acids in lemon helps flush out toxins from the blood and liver, indirectly supporting arterial health and boosting good cholesterol (HDL) levels.
Vitamins C, A, E and B6 are all essential vitamins to maintain healthy arteries. Vitamin C helps reduce cholesterol levels and promotes the formation of collagen that provides support to the arterial walls, and vitamin A encourages healthy cell growth for a strong arterial wall.
Symptoms
Although fully hardened plaque won't go away without dental intervention, it's possible to manage plaque as it builds up, before it hardens, and it's also possible to prevent plaque buildup from happening at all. If you notice that your teeth feel fuzzy when you run your tongue across them, you're noticing plaque.
Why do some cardiologists say not to eat blueberries for breakfast? Some cardiologists worry about blueberries' sugar and how they might affect blood sugar. But, it's not a reason to avoid them completely.
A buildup of fatty substances in the arteries, called atherosclerosis, is the most common cause of coronary artery disease. Risk factors include an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, obesity, and smoking. Healthy-lifestyle choices can help lower the risk of atherosclerosis.
Vitamin C is a very powerful antioxidant and is essential for the formation of collagen and optimum extracellular matrix (ECM) [10,11]. It has been demonstrated to prevent lipoprotein deposition and development of atherosclerosis by protecting the integrity and strength of the vascular wall [12].
Low Blood Sugar: Cinnamon has a blood sugar-lowering effect, so consuming large amounts can cause hypoglycemia, particularly for those on diabetes medication. Gastrointestinal Issues: Excessive intake might lead to digestive problems like nausea, bloating, or diarrhea.
In some cultures, blowing cinnamon into your front door on the first of the month is a ritual to attract wealth and prosperity into your home. The belief is that the door represents a portal between the outside world and a person's spiritual space.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a versatile spice known for its sweet flavor and numerous health benefits. Studies suggest that cinnamon can help lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels while increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, also known as “good” cholesterol.
The symptoms of an artery blockage include chest pain and tightness, and shortness of breath. Imagine driving through a tunnel.
Nearly half of all Americans have one of the three major risk factors for coronary artery disease: smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. High blood pressure is often called “the silent killer” because you may have it without experiencing any symptoms.
Sometimes referred to as hardened, blocked or clogged arteries, atherosclerosis can be a complex condition. But the good news is that atherosclerosis is highly treatable when diagnosed early. Atherosclerosis symptoms can begin as early as childhood and usually progress more rapidly between ages 40 and 50.