Proper nutrition is the basis of a healthy lifestyle. At the same time, doctors note that recently there have been more and more deaths associated with chronic cardiovascular diseases.
And the precursor for them is atherosclerosis - the formation of cholesterol and atherosclerotic plaques and blood clots on the walls of blood vessels. All this develops precisely against the background of poor nutrition and the predominance of animal fats and protein foods in the diet.
However research confirms that with the help of nutrition you can significantly reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases.
Scientists claim that there are products that help clean blood vessels, thin the blood and maintain the entire circulatory system in a healthy state. What are these products? All the answers are in our article.
General recommendations
The main principle of healthy eating is balance. Food containing animal fats and cholesterol must be present in the diet of a child or adult. Fatty acids are a source of energy, cholesterol is an integral part of cells, and bile is also produced from it.
But any products should not be in excess. Moreover, the human body is designed in such a way that the basis of its diet should be plant foods . From it a person receives vitamins, minerals, fiber, and vegetable oils, which directly and indirectly participate in all biochemical processes (including the absorption of fatty acids and cholesterol).
Is it really possible to clean arteries and blood vessels with the help of special nutrition? Doctors say that it is possible to get rid of formed atherosclerotic plaques only mechanically - through surgery. But it is really possible to break down excess cholesterol in the blood. To do this, it is enough to maintain the correct biochemical balance of blood and lymph.
Cholesterol is also quite easily broken down with the help of vitamin C, tocopherol, and potassium compounds. More precisely, the process of its breakdown, which occurs in the liver, is stimulated.
The procedure for cleansing blood vessels will bring the desired benefit if the liver properly performs its main function - filtering blood.
What kind of artery cleansing foods should you eat? We divide nutrition into classes, each class has its own most useful products that help strengthen the blood vessels of the brain, arteries and veins.
1-7: Fruits and vegetables
The main benefit of vegetables and fruits for blood vessels is the presence of a large amount of vitamins, as well as fiber, which is not digested or absorbed by the body, but takes part in metabolism (promotes intestinal motility and removes toxins and dense feces from it). What fruits and vegetables are rightfully considered necessary for our vessels?
Lemon
Lemon is known to cleanse arteries. It is one of the largest sources of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), which is involved in the oxidation of cholesterol and stimulates its breakdown into derivative elements.
Moreover, it predominantly reacts with low-density cholesterol, which is usually called “harmful”.
Doctors recommend consuming at least 50 grams of fresh lemon weekly (during heat treatment or, for example, adding citrus to tea, most of the ascorbic acid breaks down into derivatives).
Beet
Beets have an anti-cholesterol effect. This vegetable is one of the largest sources of fiber. Its frequent consumption significantly reduces the risk of developing chronic intestinal diseases.
And beets also help get rid of accumulated toxins , thereby “speeding up” metabolism - “complex” animal fats are absorbed much more actively, cholesterol practically does not accumulate in the circulatory system.
Celery
Celery is good for the heart. It also contains the lion's share of fiber, and it also contains elements such as tyrosine, aspargine, and carotene.
It also contains a whole combination of essential oils (which give the plant its specific taste), which enhance the functioning of the endocrine system, in particular the synthesis of enzymes.
Celery brings the most benefits to the gastrointestinal tract, and indirectly it regulates lipid metabolism.
Pumpkin
Nutritionists say that pumpkin is one of the best sources of “simple” carbohydrates, which are absorbed by the body within 30 to 50 minutes after consumption.
But pumpkin seeds, which contain a fairly large amount of essential oil, are no less useful - it acts as an irritant to the entire digestive system and enhances peristalsis.
And pumpkin oil contains a considerable amount of unsaturated fatty acids - the best option for those who are overweight.
Onion
Although onions are not sour, they contain only slightly less ascorbic acid than lemon and other citrus fruits. In addition, it contains a combination of rare essential oils that stimulate the production of enzymes.
For information on the effect of onions on the cardiovascular system, see a separate article.
They also act as a bactericidal agent, reducing the likelihood of developing infectious diseases.
Doctors also say that daily consumption of red onions (they contain a large amount of iodine) significantly reduces the likelihood of developing diseases of the pancreas and gall bladder - these organs are one of the most important in the entire digestive system.
Ginger
Also rich in vitamin C and specific essential oils.
It acts as an irritant and a long-acting antibacterial agent (that is, the positive effect of its use will be observed after several weeks).
Read more about the benefits of ginger for blood vessels and the heart here.
And ginger root and tea based on it have a positive effect on overall tone. The substances it contains stimulate the absorption of protein and fats, thereby reducing the likelihood of the formation of atherosclerotic plaques . It should be used with caution by those who have problems with the reproductive system (in particular, the prostate gland).
Horseradish
Most of the horseradish root, which is used in cooking, is occupied by fiber and essential oils with a powerful antibacterial effect.
reduces the likelihood of developing chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system by almost 10 times .
It also helps normalize blood pressure in hyper- and hypotensive patients. Horseradish is also a product that lowers sugar levels, thins the blood and reduces hemoglobin.
Meat you shouldn't eat if you have high cholesterol
Doctors recommend avoiding fatty meats and fish, but many people understand this as a recommendation to completely eliminate these foods from the diet. This position is incorrect - the complete absence of meat in food can cause more harm - hemoglobin will decrease, dizziness will begin, leading even to fainting.
You can eat lean parts of beef, lamb, and calf meat. Fillet, tenderloin, shoulder, lumbar and thigh areas are more suitable. Before you start stewing or boiling meat, you should remove all fat from it. At the same time, you should avoid eating meat in the form of semi-finished products altogether - store-bought minced meat, sausage, frankfurters, and bacon contain the maximum amount of animal fat.
As you know, bad cholesterol is found in foods rich in animal fats.
For meat lovers, veal is a good choice - it consists of only 26% saturated fat. Fatty varieties of beef and pork can easily be replaced with poultry - chicken, turkey, chickens. You need to eat them after removing the skin and visible fat particles. If you want to fry poultry, it is better to choose vegetable oils, for example, cold-pressed olive oil.
It has been proven that the list of foods that can cleanse blood vessels and significantly reduce the risk of myocardial infarction includes fatty fish. Frequent consumption of such fish is not recommended for people with high cholesterol, but in order to clean the blood vessels, it is enough to eat fatty fish in portions 2-3 times a week.
Many people know that egg yolks are rich in cholesterol, so you should avoid them when switching to a low-cholesterol diet. But this organic compound is absent in proteins, so you can eat proteins without restrictions.
8-10: Berries
The composition of the berries necessary for blood vessels is quite similar to ordinary fruits, but they have several significant advantages:
- high content of “complex” glucose (therefore they can be included in the diet for diabetes);
- the presence of fatty oils (which can replace animal fats);
- a wide combination of vitamins (there are over 10 of them in rowan).
Kalina
In addition to vitamin C and B vitamins, it contains phytosterols - a class of substances of plant origin that act as mediators on the human body. That is, they provoke various kinds of biochemical processes.
Phytosterols, which are found in viburnum, accelerate the absorption of vitamin E, which is precisely necessary for normal hematopoiesis.
Viburnum also helps remove accumulated toxins from the blood. Moreover, it is better to use it in dried form.
Cranberry
Cranberries contain a huge amount of vitamin C, so it is almost impossible to consume them fresh. But it is an excellent preservative.
And the tincture of cranberries with garlic and lemon helps make blood vessels more elastic - in this case, cholesterol is practically not deposited on them even in old age.
Cranberry slightly helps to slightly dissolve atherosclerotic plaques, accelerating the breakdown of lipids. But you still won’t be able to completely get rid of them.
Rowan
Black rowan is more suitable for cleansing blood vessels. Its key benefits are lowering low-density cholesterol levels and increasing the synthesis of erythrocytes (red blood cells).
Just keep in mind that in excess, rowan can be harmful. Most often this ends in gastritis or stomach ulcers .
10: Garlic
Garlic contains essential oils and phytoncides, which optimize the functioning of the entire digestive tract, and also accelerate the breakdown of lipids and cholesterol.
Garlic also removes toxins from the blood and prevents their accumulation during infectious diseases (many viruses and bacteria literally poison the body during their life processes). There are a lot of garlic-based recipes that can be identified as the most effective for cleansing the body:
- Tibetan recipe for garlic tincture. It is believed that this remedy will help increase the average lifespan up to 100 years. And this is explained precisely by its positive effect on the cardiovascular system. This tincture can be used both for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.
- Garlic tincture with red wine. Positively affects hematopoiesis. It will be especially useful for hypertension and obesity, when the red spongy substance produces significantly less red blood cells (which often leads to oxygen starvation of the brain and other organs).
- Honey, lemon and garlic. It helps in a comprehensive manner to reduce cholesterol, optimize lipid metabolism, and strengthen the liver (which breaks down cholesterol into derivative elements that can be absorbed by the body). You just have to remember that when honey is heated above 60 degrees, it loses a lot of useful substances. But at the same time, it is an excellent preservative that prevents the oxidation of garlic or lemon. Ready-made products, which include honey, lemon and garlic, can be stored for at least several months in a household refrigerator.
- Ginger, lemon, honey and garlic. This “combination” helps cure a whole range of diseases of the cardiovascular system. And with its help you can significantly strengthen the body's immune response. But it is worth considering that garlic, ginger, and lemon contain a high content of ascorbic acid. And in excess, vitamin C acts on the body as a powerful toxin.
- Garlic oil. With its help, the functioning of the stomach, liver, gallbladder and pancreas is normalized. The normal functionality of these organs minimizes the likelihood of excessive accumulation of lipids in the body and blood (which form the basis of atherosclerotic blood clots).
Blood cleansing in traditional medicine
In folk medicine there are many recipes for blood purification. The Tibetan method allows you to clean arteries from cholesterol plaques. This composition strengthens the vascular walls and restores their elasticity.
350 g of garlic should be crushed and placed in a dark glass container. The mixture should be poured with a glass of alcohol and left for 10 days in a dark place at room temperature. Then squeeze out the contents through gauze.
For the medicine you will need a sticky liquid obtained during the squeezing process. The method of application is as follows: 1 drop of liquid is mixed with a glass of boiled milk and drunk. With each meal, the number of drops is increased by 1 (1 - breakfast, 2 drops at lunch, 3 - dinner, 4 - next breakfast, etc.). Having reached 15 drops, begin the countdown, reducing to 1 drop.
After 10 days of treatment according to the regimen, they begin to take 25 drops per glass of milk three times a day. Drink until the mixture runs out.
It is believed that such a course is enough for 5 years.
In folk medicine, nettle, potatoes, echinacea, kombucha and other remedies are also used to cleanse the blood.
11: Honey
The main benefit of honey for the cardiovascular system is the presence in its composition of a wide range of vitamins and minerals, which together normalize the biochemical composition of the blood.
All this helps to optimize the salt balance and reduce the concentration of sodium in the body (which is excreted primarily through the urinary system). The most useful combinations with honey are the following:
- Lemon with honey. Not only reduces cholesterol, but also improves the biochemical composition of the blood. Indirectly, it also reduces the likelihood of cancer (as free radicals in the blood and lymph are neutralized).
- Honey and cinnamon. Doctors say that this combination will bring more benefits to men, since cinnamon significantly increases blood flow in the pelvic organs (this includes the prostate gland). However, this remedy helps well with varicoceles and varicose veins.
- Cranberry, honey and garlic. It has a healing effect on the vessels themselves, improving their elasticity. It also prevents spasms, which often causes blockage of venous valves.
12-17: Herbs and fees
Many medicinal herbs and cleansing decoctions based on them are certified for use in official medicine - this only confirms their effectiveness. Cloves and horse chestnut are considered the most beneficial for the cardiovascular system. At the same time, their main active components are phytoncides - biologically active components that stimulate many chemical processes in the body (including the breakdown of cholesterol).
Altai tea
Altai tea comprehensively improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system and also reduces the risk of heart attack . Acts as a sedative, improves the conductivity of the sinus node.
In combination with lemon, it also reduces low-density cholesterol (without any effect on high-density cholesterol, which is beneficial).
Clover
Various kinds of infusions and decoctions with clover have a positive effect on the nervous system. Acts as a somatic remedy, but without any consequences.
It slightly reduces blood pressure, so if you have hypertension, be sure to include it in your diet.
horse chestnut
Its fruits are considered poisonous, so flowers and prickly skins are used in folk medicine.
Chestnut practically eliminates the risk of developing atherosclerosis, but at the same time it slightly increases blood pressure.
Pine cones
It is the “green cones” that should be used to clean the vessels. Moreover, they should be collected precisely in the forest, and not in dense urban areas.
See the recipe for tincture on cones here.
Pine itself actively absorbs toxins, but the cones contain a large amount of tannins, resins and essential oils.
Carnation
The taste of clove-based infusions is quite specific. But with its help you can significantly strengthen the immune system , and also improve the elasticity of blood vessels and normalize the functioning of venous valves.
Flax seeds
The main benefit is for the digestive system. They normalize lipid metabolism and also accelerate the breakdown of cholesterol.
Doctors also claim that a decoction of flaxseed reduces the likelihood of constipation and diarrhea to a minimum.
Surgical methods for restoring blood flow (cleaning blood vessels)
Surgical methods of cleaning blood vessels are used for clinically pronounced manifestations of vascular insufficiency. In case of damage to the abdominal aorta and arteries of the lower extremities, the indications are:
- reducing the distance of pain-free walking to less than 200 meters,
- pain in the foot at rest,
- development of trophic ulcers and peripheral gangrene.
Surgical cleaning of blood vessels involves: removal of blood clots from the lumen of the artery, elimination of plaques narrowing or clogging the lumen of the vessel, the so-called endarterectomy. If it is impossible to locally remove obstacles in the lumen of the vessel, a new roundabout blood circulation path is created (bypass surgery).
Currently, surgeons have in their arsenal new, progressive methods of restoring or improving blood circulation in vessels, using X-ray endovascular interventions, during which it is possible to expand the lumen of the vessel (balloon plasty) and install a device to prevent narrowing of the vessel in the plasty area (stenting).
The problem of atherosclerosis cannot be eliminated by using any one method, even the most modern one. Treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis are complex and constant, with mandatory monitoring of their effectiveness.
18-20: Other products
There are many more foods that can be used to lower cholesterol. Ideally, you should consult a nutritionist on this matter, as he can select an individual diet taking into account the patient’s requirements. “Universal” products of this kind include walnuts or apple cider vinegar.
Propolis
Propolis is no less beneficial for blood vessels than honey. At least there are more minerals in the composition.
However, it may cause an allergic reaction. It's better to start with small doses . It is better to prepare alcoholic infusions with propolis. They are especially useful for diabetes.
Baking soda
Oddly enough, soda can also be used for cleansing. The positive effect is achieved by regulating salt metabolism and accelerating the elimination of sodium combinations.
This is extremely important for the heart.
Apple vinegar
Apple cider vinegar contains a combination of organic acids, many of which literally break down cholesterol and lipids.
But you should use it carefully - no more than 100 milliliters per week. If more, there will be harm to the cardiovascular system.
Also pay attention to the infographic:
Sample menu for the week
Nutritionists recommend eating 5 times a day during the diet:
- Breakfast: semolina porridge with water or low-fat milk, tea or compote.
- Afternoon snack: Apple or Orange.
- Lunch: cabbage soup, stew or rice, vegetables, stewed dumplings, or juices.
- Afternoon snack: herbal tea with toast.
- Dinner: mashed potatoes, baked fish or chicken, carrot salad.
- Before going to bed: you can drink a glass of kefir with 1% fat content.
Approximately this menu can be used every day for a week, making small changes.
Diet is combined with exercise. They must be carried out for at least 30 minutes daily.
