Harmful substances arteries: sodium (primarily in the form of table salt), saturated fat and cholesterol, which is found only in animal products.
Useful ingredients: antioxidants contained mainly in fruits and vegetables, soluble dietary fiber (fruit, vegetables and legumes) and unsaturated fatty acids (nuts, seeds and vegetable oil).
Cholesterol - the main enemy of the arteries
Cholesterol is needed by the body and should not be assumed that it in itself is a poison. The body is able to produce enough cholesterol for its needs without outsourcing.
Cholesterol is bad because it settles on the walls of arteries, causing arteriosclerosis. Upon reaching the critical level of cholesterol in the blood increases the risk of arteriosclerosis and heart attack.
Cholesterol - a necessary but not sufficient condition for the occurrence of arteriosclerosis. This disease occurs as a result of several factors:
- Elevated blood cholesterol levels.
- Lack of antioxidants such as provitamin A, vitamins C and E, flavonoids and other phytochemicals, due to a diet poor in fruits, vegetables, whole grain products, and nuts.
- Excess saturated fat due to a diet rich in milk, eggs, shellfish, meat and meat products.
- Lack of exercise, smoking, stress, hormonal abnormalities, genetic predisposition.
Therefore, only enough to take care not to exceed the permissible levels of cholesterol. Some doctors prescribe medications and recommend a diet to lower cholesterol levels, but such half-measures are not sufficient to prevent arteriosclerosis and its complications. A heart attack usually happens with people who have normal cholesterol levels.
There are two types of cholesterol, different lipoproteins that transport them:
- Harmful cholesterol. Combines with low density lipoproteins (LDL) and causing arteriosclerosis.
- Good cholesterol. Combined with high-density lipoproteins (HDL), which protect against arteriosclerosis. Olive oil and increase physical activity level of HDL.
The term "cholesterol" refers to the total amount of cholesterol.
To have healthy arteries and reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and its complications (heart attack, stroke, poor blood circulation), it is necessary to reduce total cholesterol levels and increase the levels of antioxidants in blood.
The above requirements are easily achievable if you include in your diet fresh vegetable products.
Arteriosclerosis
It is a degenerative process that can affect all the arteries. It begins with the deposition of cholesterol on the inner shell - the intima. Thickening and hardening of the arteries, along with a decrease in the inner diameter reduces the circulation of blood through them. The worse the blood circulation, the less vital functions.
Smoking and improper diet - these are the two main causes of arteriosclerosis.
Diet is probably the most important factor influencing the arteriosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis practically does not occur among the under-developed or leading a primitive life populations that eat more crude and natural food. By contrast, in Western countries, arteriosclerosis is becoming more common as the use of refined and artificial food there increases.
Increase | Reduce or eliminate |
Fruits | Meat |
wholegrains | eggs |
pulse | Salt |
Vegetables | Milk products |
nuts | hard cheese |
Alimentary fiber | Coffee |
Garlic | white sugar |
Vegetable oil | Alcohol |
folic acid |
»
Stroke
Stroke is also called paralysis or stroke. This is the result of what part of the brain is suddenly deprived of blood supply due to:
- artery rupture and subsequent bleeding into the brain;
- blockage of an artery by a blood clot, formed directly in the brain or got there.
Arteriosclerosis - main cause of stroke because it causes breaks and arterial thrombus formation. Hypertension, smoking and diabetes also increases the risk of stroke.
Increase | Reduce or eliminate |
Fruits | Meat |
Vegetables | eggs |
Garlic | Salt |
Olive oil | Milk products |
Fish fat | hard cheese |
Selenium | white sugar |
Coffee | |
Alcohol |
»
vascular fragility
This is the weakness of the small blood vessels, leading to bleeding and bruising as a result of minor injuries.
The reason is common hereditary connective tissue weakness that makes up the walls of arteries and veins. Deficiency of some vitamins, in particular vitamin C, it can worsen.
Increase |
Lemon |
Citrus |
Vitamin C |
flavonoids |
»
Hypertension
The arteries must be maintained for a certain blood pressure blood circulation to all tissues. The diagnosis of "hypertension" is placed, if there are one or both of the following indicators:
- Systolic (upper) pressure above 140 mm Hg.
- Diastolic (lower) pressure above 90 mm Hg.
Hypertension has no symptoms, characterized by a gradual deterioration of the arteries and various organs.
Diet can play an important role in maintaining the blood pressure in a healthy range. The more you eat only cooked fruit and vegetables, the lower the risk of hypertension.
Nicotine - a vasoconstrictor (constricts the arteries). Therefore smoking causes an increase in blood pressure, which is recorded after a single cigarette.
Increase | Reduce or eliminate |
diuretics products | Salt |
Leafy green vegetables | Meat |
pulse | ham |
Fruits | frankfurters |
Celery | Alcohol |
pumpkin | Coffee |
Garlic | mature cheese |
guava | eggs |
pear | Pepper |
Grapefruit | cordials |
Alimentary fiber | |
Potassium | |
Calcium | |
Magnesium | |
Fish fat |
»
Raynaud's syndrome
The disease, which is characterized by sudden spasms of the peripheral arteries, usually in the hands, which, because of this, first turn pale, then become blue and finally turn red when the spasm passed.
This syndrome is more common in post-menopausal women.
Known circumstances that trigger Raynaud's syndrome:
- smoking,
- emotional stress,
- hypothermia,
- the use of vibrating devices, such as a hair dryer or a kitchen blender.
Although in some cases, can not do without medical treatment or surgery, certain foods can help avoid the appearance of Raynaud's syndrome.
Increase | Reduce or eliminate |
Garlic | Alcohol |
nuts | cordials |
vitamin E | |
flavonoids | |
Fish fat |
»
chilblain
Frostbite or perfrigeration - a consequence of lack of blood circulation in the small capillaries that supply the skin. Hypothermia or narrow shoes can cause or aggravate this disorder. Tobacco also contributes to frostbite, narrowing the arteries and reducing blood flow.
Symptoms - swelling of damaged areas of the skin, usually the hands or feet, itching and burning. Inflammation usually goes away by itself, but sometimes inflammation place ulcerate and become infected.
The disease requires a topical treatment in the form of compresses or herbs. Certain foods can also improve the condition of capillaries and blood circulation.
Increase | Reduce or eliminate |
Citrus fruit | Alcohol |
Garlic | cordials |
Vitamin C | |
vitamin E | |
flavonoids |
»
Based on the book "Healthy food».