Making healthy food choices is key to maintaining good artery and blood vessel health. People who do not eat a balanced diet they often suffer consequences, such as obesity or high cholesterol and are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
For this reason, according to specialists, It is essential to monitor cholesterol levels, because if they are not controlled, they can lead to more complex conditions such as heart attacks.
To have clean arteries, it is important that people consume foods daily that help reduce the amount of fat that raises not only cholesterol but also triglycerides in the blood.
The Spanish Heart Foundation defines cholesterol as a natural fatty substance present in all the cells of the human body, necessary for its normal functioning; however, its excesses can clog the arteries, which are part of the circulatory system, a network of blood vessels, which are responsible for transporting blood through the body to perform each of its functions.
When these tubes are clean, blood can flow normally. However, sometimes small obstructions known as plaques accumulate, which develop when fat adheres to the artery wall, states the Healthline portal. As plaques grow, they can completely block blood from flowing through an artery, experts say.
Thus, the best way to avoid these problems related to heart conditions is to eat a balanced diet, in addition to being physically active on a regular basis. This prevents cholesterol (fat) levels from building up in the arteries.
There are foods that can prevent the formation of these plaques. One of them is tangerine. According to researchers from the University of Western Ontario (Canada), this fruit contains a substance called nobiletin, a type of flavonoid that not only prevents obesity, but also protects once morest type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis (plaques in the arteries).
The study, carried out with mice, confirms that nobiletin acts once morest the accumulation of plaque, which considerably reduces the chances of suffering a myocardial infarction or a cerebral stroke, according to the Spanish Heart Foundation.
However, it is not only the fruit that can help in this purpose, but the skin can be favorable. An article published in the newspaper The universalfrom Mexicoensures that the peel of this citrus fruit protects once morest heart disease because the compound nobiletin is also present in it.
Other fruits
Lemon is another fruit that can help remove plaque from the arteries, thanks to its richness in vitamin C. It is an antioxidant food that reduces high blood pressure and inflammationaccording to this study carried out by the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and cited by the Better with Health portal.
Thanks to its essential oils, antioxidants and vitamins, it helps clean the veins and arteries to remove excess lipids that accumulate in these ducts.
Pomegranate is also rich in antioxidants. It has compounds called phytochemicals that protect the circulatory system from the oxidation of fats. Its regular consumption decreases the accumulation of plaque and the formation of blood clots in the arteries, according to a study by the Technion-Institute of Technology (Israel).
Another option is avocado, which is characterized by its high content of fatty acids and antioxidants ideal for fighting free radicals.
“Eating one piece a day lowers lipid levels in the body. In addition, it improves metabolism and significantly reduces the risk of atherosclerosis and other heart problems”, says Better with Health, mentioning a study conducted by Tufts University.