Diet to Clean Heart Arteries

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Diet to Clean Heart Arteries

Overview

Plaque buildup in your arteries can signal many health risks. If blood cannot flow easily to the heart and other organs, you increase your chances of a heart attack, stroke and chronic cardiovascular diseases. Medication and physical activity are a couple of ways to keep heart arteries clean; however, diet is very important as well. Nutrient-dense, antioxidant-rich foods should comprise most of your diet to maintain healthy arteries.

Fish

--> Fish contain a significant amount of omega-3 fats, which can help your body in many ways. They can raise HDL, or "good," cholesterol, which can reduce artery plaque buildup. Choose fish like trout, herring, anchovies and tuna to obtain plenty of omega 3's. If eating fish does not thrill you, you can choose flaxseeds, soybeans or canola oil instead.

Fiber

Fiber can aid in reducing heart artery plaque. Soluble fiber binds cholesterol, decreasing the likelihood of absorption into your body. Plaque and cholesterol are instead, excreted and eliminated as a waste product. Eat fiber-rich foods like oatmeal, brown rice, millet and whole wheat pastas.

Fruits and Vegetables

Plenty of fruits and veggies are rich in antioxidants, which combat free radicals. They also naturally contain nutrients that help clean heart arteries -- some more than others. Apples contain soluble fiber, which decreases cholesterol and eliminates it from your system. Avocados have oleic acid, which lowers LDL cholesterol, or low density lipoproteins, also known as the "bad" cholesterol, which can clog your arteries.

Nuts

Nuts contain both polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats; these are effective at reducing artery plaque and fighting cholesterol. Almonds, brazil nuts, pistachios and peanuts are a few that aid in lowering LDL cholesterol. Walnuts are particularly useful because they contain omega-3 fatty acids, which also clean out arteries and prevent plaque buildup.

Source : http://www.livestrong.com/article/375437-diet-to-clean-heart-arteries/