12 Foods for Clean Arteries

When your diet is unhealthy, it badly affects your body – especially your circulatory system. The good news? The right foods will give you clean arteries. The reason that this is so important is because sluggish circulation can lead to cardiac arrest.

If you habitually choose foods that are difficult for your body to use efficiently, you could end up with arteries that are sluggish. They restrict blood flow to the rest of the body and you’ll be at serious risk. Happily, a few tweaks – and the inclusion of some key foods – can turn things around for you. This article explains all!

Clean food for clean arteries

• Garlic is renowned for its healthy properties. Surely, you’ve heard about its seemingly endless list of benefits and uses in home remedies. Well, now you do! This beautiful, bulbous root is packed with antioxidants that battle daily damage. How does it help your arteries? Well, it reduces the ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL – low density lipoproteins) and increases the ‘good’ kind (the HDL). This regulates blood pressure and distribution. Garlic is versatile, as well. You can eat it raw or cook it in savoury dishes.

• Oats are outstanding. Not only are they low in carbs, but they’re also high in fibre. They can absorb up to seven times their weight in water. Another advantage of oats is their flexibility. You can easily add them to your diet. They’re equally good in both sweet and savoury foods, from cakes to veggie burgers. Humble and simple, the strength of oats lies in its abilities to stop cholesterol from sticking to artery walls. This impedes the development of arteriosclerosis and reduces the risk of heart disease.
• Pomegranate juice is another of nature’s gifts to human health. Clinical research conducted in Naples and Los Angeles has shown that the antioxidants in pomegranate juice are greater than in any other fruits – even those that are better known: blueberries, oranges and blackberries, for instance. The vitamins, minerals and antioxidants in pomegranates protect against arterial damage and arteriosclerosis.
• Apples aren’t just crisp and lovely to eat. They are packed with pectin, which is a fibre that clings to cholesterol. This action greatly reduces cholesterol levels. There’s more truth than you realise in the adage about an apple-a-day. Make them a regular habit and their flavonoid content will halve your risk of heart attack.

• Flaxseeds are full of omega-3 fatty acids. These have long been a buzzword in health circles – and for good reason. Flaxseeds are better for the environment than other sources – such as unsustainably caught salmon. Don’t fret, though. They’ll still give you clean arteries – and they’re easier for your body to digest. They reduce inflammation and clear obstructions from your circulatory system. Nice one, flax!
• Walnuts are chocka with beneficial fats and omega-3 fatty acids. Although many nuts (from almonds to hazelnuts and peanuts to pecans) are good for heart health, walnuts are considered the gold standard. This is because their enviable levels of alpha-linolenic acid improve blood flow. ALA also clears out obstructions and eases inflammation. Treat yourself to a daily serving. You can pop them in a smoothie or add them to a salad.
• Olive oil is more than just a pretty face. It’s got real power in its golden hue. If you’re not using it regularly, don’t wait! Just be sure that you’re splashing out on the extra-virgin, cold pressed variety. It won’t set you back much more than the bog standard stuff. Go organic if you can. It doesn’t cost a lot. What do you do with it? Add a mellow, unmistakable flavour to dressings and sauces. Enjoy its subtle taste whilst you benefit from it. Olive oil is a monounsaturated fat, so it significantly reduces your risk of coronary disease. Because it’s not saturated, it doesn’t create artery-clogging plaque that can damage your circulatory system.
• Avocado tastes heavenly – and it’s paradise for your body. Loaded with monounsaturated fats, this fruit won’t oxidise inside you. This means that they don’t contribute to plaque formation which leads to arteriosclerosis. Treat yourself to one or two each week. You can even use them as a healthy replacement for mayonnaise, salad cream or heavy dressings.

• Tomato is great if you like lycopene – or even if you don’t. Lycopene is an oxidiser that reduces the production of LDL cholesterol. That’s the ‘bad’ kind that oxidises and sticks to artery walls. Raw tomato is the best source of this antioxidant, so chuck a few on your next salad.
• Spinach isn’t just Popeye’s BFF. It should be yours, too. Its track record for creating vitality is well merited, given the vast amounts of vitamins A and C that it contains. These things confront oxidisation head-on and wipe it out. Leafy green and lush, spinach is bountifully beneficial in fortifying your body against arteriosclerosis.
• Whole grains are where it’s at – and we’re not just talking about rice. These days, you can eat a different grain every day. Most supermarkets stock a good array, so get stuck in to some amaranth, teff, quinoa or millet. Sound too exotic for your tastes? Well, you can always rely on oats, rye, barley and maize. All are excellent for a hearty heart. Packed with soluble fibre, adding them to your diet will stave off bad cholesterol and stop plaque from forming.
• Asparagus is a treat for your arteries. It alleviates blood pressure in your veins, which inhibits the formation of (possibly fatal) blood clots.

Recipes for clean arteries

Have you been feeling fatigued lately? If you’re run down and you don’t know why, have your blood tested. High cholesterol can be effectively treated with the right diet, but you need to know if it’s a problem. See your GP first and discuss natural alternatives with him or her. The recipes detailed below should have a positive effect upon your overall health – and, specifically, your circulatory health.

• In half a cup of apple cider vinegar, drop a clove of minced garlic. Blend it well and drink it before breakfast in one swift gulp. Quickly chase it with a glass of water. We won’t lie: it’s not the nicest taste in the world. It works, though…and you only have to do this remedy for a week.
• Blend three peeled carrots with two peeled apples. Place the resulting juice in the fridge and drink it chilled. The optimal time to take this juice is just before breakfast. Enjoy this routine for a full seven days.
• Make a smoothie by blending three tablespoons of maple syrup or agave nectar with one tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Add two tablespoons of warm water. Mix vigorously and drink once a day for an entire week.

Photos courtesy of Patrick J Lynch, Colin Davis, lowjumpingfrog, Dan Foy, Jaanus Silla and Alan Levine