Guide and tips

How to clear clogged arteries

When your cholesterol is too high, a waxy substance called plaque builds up on the inside walls of your arteries -- a condition called arteriosclerosis. This sticky, fatty plaque impedes blood flow to your heart and raises your risk of heart disease, heart attack or stroke. Fortunately, if you have high cholesterol, you can make dietary changes to reduce your cholesterol level and decrease the amount of plaque in your arteries. Lowering your intake of saturated fat and trans fat, adding omega-3 fatty acids to your diet and eating more high-fiber fresh produce are standard cholesterol-lowering measures. Certain natural supplements and herbal remedies could help in treating your blocked arteries, but you should consult your doctor before taking any natural treatment to discuss the side effects, proper dosage and potential drug interactions. Do not replace a medical treatment you are now receiving with a herbal remedy.

Supplements that clean the blocked arteries

To help clear clogged arteries, you might take supplements such as alpha-linoleolic acid, or "ALA," omega-3 fatty acids, sitostanol or beta-sitosterol, calcium, coenzyme Q10, or cod liver oil, Alternatively, you could take chromium, copper, magnesium, lutein, vitamin C, selenium, resveratrol, trimethylglycine, or "TMG," or oligomeric proanthocyanidins or "OPCs". Mesoglycan, l-carnitine, arginine, policosanol and inositol hexaniacinate are also supplements that are sometimes recommended for treating or preventing blocked arteries. Many other natural supplements can also potentially help to treat or prevent arterial plaque buildup, including tocotrienols, folic acid, fish oil, chondroitin sulfate, lycopene, quercetin and certain B-complex vitamins such as B-6 and B-12. Selenium supplements might reduce your risks of heart disease or help to protect against subsequent heart attacks.

Herbs
Numerous herbal remedies may clear or prevent the clogging of your arteries. Keep in mind that no widely accepted medical research supports the use of any herbal remedies for treating or preventing plaque blockages in arteries. These herbs include garlic, psyllium, fenugreek, guggul, green tea and horny goat weed. You could also take turmeric, ginger, ginkgo, rosemary, hemp seed, butchers broom or bilberry.
Cod liver, fish and flax seed oils, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, appear to help to slow down the progression of atherosclerosis by reducing cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

Hawthorn berries

Studies have shown that hawthorn berries are very effective in improving the heart function in people with congestive heart failure. It also improves the ability of such patients to exercise. Hawthorn berries are rich in antioxidants, which prevent the formation of plaques. Hawthorn berries also improves the symptoms of shortness of breath and fatigue.

However one may take Hawthrone extracts or supplements make sure it is the Standardized hawthorn Extract (which comes from the leaves and flowers) rather than just the berries. (it is ok to have the berries too, but the leaves and flowers are important). As far as dosage, start at 300mg/day and work up from there. However - do not take hawthorn or Crataegus Q with any beta blockers (like toprol XL or any other beta blocker) - there could be bad interaction between the two. Also - going off the beta blocker should be a gradual process of tapering off the dosage gradually over a 10-14 day period. 

Turmeric

Western scientists have conducted numerous studies on turmeric and the trio of yellow pigments that it contains known as curcuminoids. The curcuminoids (sometimes simply called "curcumin,") are antioxidant polyphenols known to function as potent anti-inflammatories.
According to a study published in the journalAtherosclerosis in 2004, turmeric extract may reduce the susceptibility of LDL ("bad") cholesterol to oxidation, an important step in the development of atherosclerosis and heart disease. Turmeric extract also reduced overall LDL and total cholesterol levels. The researchers also found that curcumin seemed to actually change the expression of genes related to plaque build up in arteries. However do not take more than a trace of turmeric in diabetes.

Fenugreek

Fenugreek contains saponin. The levels of the artery clogging LDL cholesterol reduces significantly if you consume Saponin rich fenugreek seeds regularly. Saponin attach themselves with LDL cholesterol and remove completely out of the body. High amount of fibre present in the seeds further reduce the bad cholesterol levels. A significant reduction in cholesterol levels open up clogged arteries. Seeds to be soaked in water to make paste in the morning. Add it in a  glass of warm water. Drink it as first thing in the morning to open the clogged arteries.

Cayenne Pepper or red chilli

The compound capsaicin present in red chillies prevents LDL oxidation. This in turn reduce bad cholesterol levels in the blood. Regular intake of cayenne pepper (in moderation) can gradually reduce plaque build-up in the arteries and prevent clogged artery condition. Capsacin is also sold in capsules but do not take more than three capsules a day.

Ginger

Ginger contains several compounds called gingerols and shogaols, which have biological activity and may be responsible for its health benefits. Ginger may help prevent plaque buildup or lessen existing plaque by lowering total cholesterol and blocking oxidation of LDL, one of the steps in plaque formation. This is suggested by several research studies, including one in the "Journal of Nutrition" in 2000. Ginger may cause gastric upset or heartburn in some people and should not be taken if you have gallbladder problems or gallstones.

Garlic

The study suggests that garlic may help to prevent fat in the arteries from hardening and causing blockage. Garlic tends to raise blood levels of high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, while reducing LDL. It also reduces levels of two other compounds, called homocysteine and C-reactive protein, that are associated with atherosclerosis and heart disease. Garlic is also an antioxidant and it may help reduce blood pressure, another factor that contributes to plaque formation in your arteries.

Pomegranates

Pomegranates are high in polyphenols, powerful antioxidants that protect against cell damage and disease. The University of Maryland Medical Center says that the antioxidants in pomegranate juice show promise in keeping arteries free of plaque and lowering "bad" cholesterol. Though more research is needed, drinking pomegranate juice on a regular basis appears to be beneficial for cholesterol and arterial plaque levels.

Grape juice

Much like pomegranates, grapes are a rich source of healthy antioxidants. According to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, grape juice contains flavonoids and resveretrol, substances that seem to potentially prevent heart disease and possibly clear plaque from arteries,

Grapefruit Juice

Grapefruit pectin is thought to lower cholesterol and decrease plaque deposits inside your arteries. Therefore, grapefruit juice is a healthy choice for those with ateriosclerosis and high cholesterol.

Lemon

Lemons are extremely high in vitamin C. The American Dietetic Association notes that vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that fights damaging substances called free radicals and therefore helps protect the body from cardiovascular disease. Lemon juice contains a total of 10 minerals, including magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, selenium, copper and calcium. There are a total of 15 different vitamins found in lemon juice, including vitamin C, niacin, riboflavin, choline, folate, lutein and vitamin B-6. Other compounds include fatty acids, carbohydrates, ash, fibre, sugars and fructose. , lemon juice may help reduce cholesterol through its high concentration of vitamin C. The Vitamin C is among the compounds used by your body to metabolize cholesterol into bile acids. This conversion may help reduce blood cholesterol levels and prevent cholesterol build up. By lowering blood cholesterol levels, it may help prevent plaque accumulation.

Green Tea

In a study published in the "Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology" in December 1986, researchers found that green tea catechins significantly expelled lipids and cholesterol in rats, thus suggesting these compounds can help reduce total cholesterol. Because your body cannot sustain catechins during the digestion process, you only absorb around 20 percent of total catechins. However, research cited by Purdue University states that adding lemon juice to green tea allows your body to absorb up to 80 percent of the catechins in the tea.

Bilberry

Bilberry is a berry fruit similar to blueberry that is rich in heart-health chemicals known as anthocyanosides. Anthocyanosides can act as antioxidants to protect arteries and veins from hardening and clogging. Bilberry extracts can not only prevent hardening of arteries, but also helps to relax blood vessels so that more blood can flow through veins and arteries.

Olive Leaf

Extracts of the olive plant leaf are rich in compounds called oleuropeins which also act as vasodilators to relax blood vessels and increase blood flow through arteries. Olive leaf extract may also lower levels of fats in arteries to prevent artery blockage and increase blood flow

Flax seed

Flax seeds are super foods for heart. They are loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids and fibre. Both can reduce cholesterol levels and fibre binds with LDL and take it out of the body to clear the clogged arteries.

Because many of these natural supplements and herbs can produce similar effects as common prescription drugs for clogged arteries, your doctor might need to adjust your medication dosage. For example, turmeric taken with a blood-thinning drug like Coumadin could increase your bleeding risks, and taking garlic with antihypertensive drugs could lower your blood pressure too much. Ask your health-care provider about the dosage thats right for you and about how the natural remedy will affect the medications that youre taking.
Many herbs and natural supplements can produce side effects and potentially dangerous drug interactions. For instance, taking excessive doses of fenugreek seeds can cause nausea and stomach upset, and fenugreek can also potentially stimulate uterine contractions and cause miscarriages in pregnant women. Guggul can cause skin rashes and stomach pain, as well as adverse effects in people with ulcerative colitis, Crohns disease and liver disease. Taking L-carnitine supplements could lower thyroid hormone levels and interfere with thyroid medications.

Posted by Unknown at 2:15 AM

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