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The heart pumps oxygenated blood, which is then dispensed all over the body through an intricate and extensive web of narrow tube-like structures called arteries. The force of the blood flowing through these blood vessels determines your blood pressure.
The walls of the arteries are muscular and elastic, which means they can expand or constrict according to the volume of blood. This helps maintain stable blood pressure. But as one grows older, different factors can damage the arteries over time, triggering cardiovascular problems.
An unhealthy diet and lifestyle are major culprits behind such problems. What usually happens is that excessive fat and calcium in the blood accumulate on the inner wall of the arteries, making them hard and clogged. These waxy deposits are called plaque, which eventually solidifies and causes hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis).
Thus, it is very important to make sure that your arteries are well maintained for the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases. (1) Nutrition is an important component in the maintenance of arterial and overall cardiovascular health. (2)(3)
Foods Beneficial for the Health of Arteries
Foods that are beneficial to the health of your arteries help to reduce the size of the existing plaque and/or to keep the amount of plaque stable as well as to reduce and prevent excessive inflammation in the body, thus preventing arterial wall damage. (4)
The following foods are beneficial in the daily diet to support healthy arteries:
1. Unsaturated fats
Unsaturated fats are fats that are beneficial in the health of the arteries; they contain HDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol assists the body in transporting LDL cholesterol out of the body and prevents plaque buildup. (5)(6)
As discussed previously, inflammation in the body negatively affects the health of the arteries. Avocado oil, olive oil, (6)(7) and flaxseed oil (6) are also anti-inflammatory.
2. Complex carbohydrates
Complex carbohydrates are high in fiber. Fiber aids in the excretion of LDL cholesterol in the body. (6)(8) Complex carbohydrates, such as the following, also reduce inflammation in the body:
- Legumes
- Whole-grain bread (7)
- Buckwheat
- Sorghum
- Oat
- Chickpea flours
For those who are on a gluten-free diet, the type of flour and/or grain to replace is vital in your overall health. Choose flours that are made of legumes or complex carbohydrates to prevent inflammation.
3. Lean cuts of meat and fish
Lean cuts of meat and fish contain lower amounts of saturated fats. Diets that are low in saturated fats help reduce the formation of plaque in the arteries. (9)
When preparing poultry products, make sure that you trim the skin off of the cut of meat during preparation. This reduces the amount of saturated fat in the final product.
Fish is not only low in saturated fat (7) but also contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are anti-inflammatory. (10)
Lean meat and fish that are good for the arteries include:
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Wild Alaskan salmon, herring, freshwater trout, albacore tuna
4. Anti-inflammatory foods
Anti-inflammatory foods help to prevent the buildup of plaque and aid in preventing oxidative stress. Anti-inflammatory foods contain antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, which are helpful in protecting the arteries from inflammation. (11)
Some anti-inflammatory foods include:
- Blueberries
- Kiwi
- Oranges
- Tomatoes
- Garlic
- Avocado
- Green tea
- Chia seeds
- Pomegranate
- Broccoli
- Leafy green vegetables
Nutrients for Healthy Arteries
The following vitamins and minerals can help reduce plaque accumulation inside the arteries to keep them open and flexible for proper blood flow:
People who already suffer from cardiovascular ailments should also consider adding more vitamins E and C to their diet. Both these nutrients are strong antioxidants that work together to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol.
Oxidized cholesterol is a key component of the plaque that clogs arteries, and these vitamins help reduce its formation. In that sense, they help keep your arteries relaxed and open.
Vitamin E is known to lower the risk of heart attack, while vitamin C helps it work better inside the body. Vitamin C also helps your arteries function better. (13)
Good food sources of vitamin E include:
- Wheat germ
- Almonds
- Safflower oil
- Sunflower oil
- Walnuts
Good food sources of vitamin C include:
- Sweet red peppers
- Oranges
- Grapefruit
- Broccoli
- Strawberries
- Kiwi
- Kale
- Asparagus
- Grapefruit
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Pineapple
- Tomatoes
Food That Negatively Affects Your Arteries
Diets high in saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, added sugar, and inflammatory foods negatively affect the health of the arteries by causing plaque buildup and/or damage to the arterial wall in the following ways:
1. Foods high in unhealthy fats
Foods high in unhealthy fats (saturated and trans fats) cause plaque buildup in the arteries. Saturated and trans fats are solid at room temperature.
Examples of saturated fats in the diet are butter, coconut oil, palm oil, cheese, full-fat dairy products, and fatty cuts of meat. Examples of trans fat are shortening, some margarine products, French fries, baked goods, and pizza.
Foods that contain saturated and trans fats commonly also have excessive sodium. It is best to limit foods that are high in dietary sodium and to choose food items that are classified as low sodium (<140 mg of sodium per serving). (14)
2. Added sugar
Excessive added sugar (e.g., table sugar, honey, molasses, high-fructose corn syrup) not only causes an increase in the total amount of fat in the body, in the form of triglycerides, but it also causes inflammation in the body.
Excessive amounts of dietary fat in the form of triglycerides contribute to the formation of plaque buildup in the arteries. (15)
3. Inflammatory foods
Another dietary factor that can negatively affect the health of your arteries is inflammatory foods. (11)
4. Alcohol consumption (in excess)
Excessive alcohol consumption is not good for your heart (11) as it increases your triglyceride levels, blood pressure, and calorie load. (16) All these are risk factors for atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular ailments.
How the Health of Your Arteries Affects Your Cardiovascular System
The function of your arteries is to transport oxygen and nutrients in your blood away from your heart and to your body’s tissues. Therefore, your arteries are vital in the support of your overall health. (17)
Your dietary intake is crucial in the maintenance of healthy arteries, prevention of atherosclerosis, and restoration of arterial health. (18)
A diet with high amounts of sodium can cause vasoconstriction of the arteries and increase fluid in the arteries. Vasoconstriction causes less blood flow through the arteries. The increase of fluid in the arteries due to excess sodium can cause an abnormal increase in blood pressure (hypertension). (18)
Healthy arteries easily allow blood to pass through to all parts of your body and are elastic in nature. When atherosclerosis develops, blood flow is impaired due to plaque buildup. (19)
Inflammation in the body causes an immune response that causes damage to the walls of the arteries, and inflammation can start the buildup of plaque in the arteries as well. The inflammation, in effect, causes the arteries to become less elastic and leads to less blood flow throughout your body. (19)
Over time, without a diet supporting the health of the arteries, their health can decline. Although plaque buildup in the arteries is not reversible, so prevention is key, nutrition’s role in relation to the health of your arteries is beneficial.
Final Word
Nutrition’s role in the prevention and maintenance of arterial health is vital. It is recommended to choose a diet that can be maintained in your daily lifestyle and supports the health of your arteries such as the DASH diet, the Mediterranean diet, (7) and the MIND diet.
It is also very important to choose foods that are anti-inflammatory, low or have no added sugars, low in sodium (less than 140 mg per serving), lean cuts of meat, and rich in antioxidants.
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