Arteries have an essential body function. They carry blood and provide oxygen from the heart to different tissues in the body. However, their function can be obstructed by plaque, which accumulates on the inner arteries walls, which impedes proper blood flow.
Furthermore, various factors can cause plaque formation, like the following conditions: coronary, carotid, and peripheral artery disease, heart attack, and stroke. Fortunately, there are many types of foods that can clean and remove the accumulated matter from your arteries.
Here is a list of the eight greatest artery cleaner foods:
1. Turmeric
Turmeric is not only a spice but also a powerful artery cleaner. It has an anti-inflammatory effect due to its ingredient called curcumin. This ingredient prevents harmful clogging in the arteries by stopping them to harden.
Turmeric may also stimulate prevention of blood vessels damage and accumulation of plaque because it abounds with vitamin B6. Furthermore, it also has the ability to lower the levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) in the blood, and cholesterol oxidation also.
2. Salmon
Salmon is beneficial for reducing blood pressure, increasing good cholesterol (HDL) levels, reducing triglyceride levels, and for preventing blood vessel inflammation which can lead to blood coagulation in the arteries. All of these benefits are due to salmon’s abundance with omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid).
3. Avocados
Avocados are also beneficial for your arteries, decreasing LDL cholesterol, and increasing HDL cholesterol in your blood. They also prevent cholesterol oxidation because they abound with vitamin E. Moreover, potassium, found in avocados, also stimulates reduction of LDL cholesterol. So, all in all, avocados are extremely efficient in cleaning arteries.
4. Cranberries
Like avocados, cranberries are also rich in potassium, thus stimulate reduction of LDL cholesterol and raising HDL cholesterol levels in the blood. You can bring the risk of heart disease to 40% by consuming cranberries on a daily basis. So, try the various uses of this fruit, from eating it fresh, adding it to your breakfast oatmeal, or adding color to your meal.
5. Spinach
Spinach contains a large amount of potassium and folate which is making it a great artery cleaner. It can also control and decrease blood pressure. Spinach stimulates the function of nitric acids, which is beneficial for blood vessel health, circulation, and again, blood pressure.
6. Olive oil
Virgin olive oil is rich in antioxidant polyphenols and monosaturated fats which are beneficial for preventing plaque formation by decreasing LDL and increasing HDL cholesterol levels in the blood. As a result, the chances of having a stroke become lower.
7. Pomegranates
Phytochemicals in pomegranates are beneficial for the health of the arteries’ membrane because they have a similar effect like antioxidants. Moreover, pomegranates promote nitric oxide production in the body, which can stimulate blood flow and clean the arteries.
8. Broccoli
Keep your arteries healthy by consuming a cup of broccoli regularly because broccoli stops plaque accumulation in the arteries. It is rich in sulforaphane, thus helps in the utilization of protein, which protects the arteries from plaque.
Furthermore, broccoli abounds with vitamin K, which prevents plaque accumulation, due to its ability to prevent calcium formation that leads to unhealthy arteries.