Based on products that have proven their effectiveness by international studies. This article looks at the 7 most effective of these products.
1 grape seeds
In 2015, a study was conducted on 287 patients with atherosclerosis. The group received 200 mg of proanthocyanidin extract (a powerful antioxidant) from grape seeds. As a result, atherosclerotic plaques were reduced by 10,9% at 6 months, by 12% at 24,1 months, and by 24% at 33,1 months. While in the placebo control group, they only continued to rise. [1].
Scientific studies have shown that the antioxidant power of proanthocyanidins is 20 times greater than vitamin E and 50 times greater than vitamin C. They improve vision, flexibility of joints, arteries, heart function, and improve blood circulation by strengthening capillaries, arteries and veins. Reduce blood sugar, improve insulin resistance, promote weight loss.
How to squeeze grape seeds? To do this, you will have to purchase an auger juicer, there is no other way to do this. Grape seeds contain about 5-8% polyphenols (the variety does not matter), including procyanidins, so the minimum dosage will be 4 g of grape seeds.
Of course, you can also chew the bones with your teeth, but in this way you will get only a small part of all the useful substances.
Can I buy? Grape seed oil extract, which typically contains 0,5% procyanidins. In this case, the therapeutic dosage will be 1 teaspoon per day.
Another source of proanthocyanidins This is the bark of the French maritime pine. Its extract is often used in dietary supplements, and is called pycnogenol (pycnogenol).
2 Ginger
The active ingredient in ginger root is gingerol. It has the unique property of stimulating the tyrosine kinase enzymatic apparatus of the liver. As a result, a number of specific reactions are activated that convert low-density lipoproteins (LDL), triglycerides into high-density lipoproteins (HDL). The specificity of the ongoing processes is that lipoproteins that have been excreted from the body are not reabsorbed.
The introduction of ginger extract into the daily diet prevents the formation of atherosclerotic lesions in the walls of blood vessels. A positive effect is formed due to a pronounced decrease in cholesterol levels in blood plasma, LDL levels. Gingerol reduces the basal oxidative state of LDL, their sensitivity to oxidation and aggregation processes.
A daily intake of 5g of fresh ginger has been shown to inhibit platelet aggregation, which causes blood clots. One of the latest studies showed that ginger has the ability to stimulate the fibrinolytic activity of the blood, that is, to dissolve clots. [1].
There are several ways to take ginger:
The easiest way – add a few thin slices of ginger root to tea. You can use ginger, chopped on a grater.
Ginger drink with honey and lemon. To do this, grind 100 g of ginger root, pour 250 ml of water and boil over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Strain the resulting broth into a jug or glass jar, add freshly squeezed juice of one lemon to it. Add honey to taste (about 3 teaspoons) to the drink. Pour in the cooled boiled water to the desired volume.
Ginger powder. A medicinal drink is prepared by mixing 1 teaspoon of ginger powder in a glass of milk. For a more pleasant taste, add some sugar. The healing properties of the drink can be enhanced with a pinch of turmeric, cinnamon or ground black pepper.
Ginger Lemon Blend. To do this, wash the young ginger root, grate together with the peel. Grind 2 unpeeled lemons, this is about 250 g. Mix everything in a glass bowl, pour in 250 g of liquid honey and mix thoroughly again. Close the dishes with a lid or cling film, place in the refrigerator for a day. The therapeutic mixture is consumed twice a day, 1 teaspoon.
3 Garlic
The main valuable component of garlic is allicin, which can lower total cholesterol by 30%, atherogenic lipids by 40%. The intake of allicin simultaneously raises high-density lipoproteins by 10%, which are very important for the life of the body.
For 12 weeks, observations were made on a group of subjects who received 900 mg of garlic powder every day. The results showed that in primary hyperlipoproteinemia, there was a marked drop in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides. At the same time, data on high-density lipoproteins are increasing [2].
The active substances of garlic protect the arterial walls from lipid deposits. At the level of the membranes of the arteries, garlic has a preventive anti-sclerotic effect.
Recipe 1 – simple. To prepare the drink, take two cloves of garlic, cut into thin slices and put in a glass, pour 250 ml of chilled boiled water and leave to infuse overnight. In the morning, garlic water is drunk on an empty stomach and a new portion of the drink is prepared from fresh ingredients. The drink is infused during the day and drunk in the evening. The course of admission is a month.
Recipe 2 – Tibetan garlic tincture. For the composition you will need 400 g of fresh garlic and 250 ml of ethyl alcohol. The garlic is peeled, washed, dried with a paper towel and passed through the garlic press. The mushy mass is transferred to a glass jar and poured with alcohol. Close the jar with a tight lid and shake. The tincture is kept in a cool, dark place. After 10 days, the composition is filtered through gauze, squeezed. The tincture is ready for use. The total volume of liquid is divided into 20 days and taken every day, one serving.
4 Hawthorn
Hawthorn has a vasodilating effect, which helps to stabilize blood pressure and normalize heart rhythm. Active phyto compounds stimulate blood flow in the vessels of the heart, which provides our most important organ with the necessary nutrients and oxygen. In addition to everything, hawthorn is able to stop heart pain, including spasmodic nature.
Drinking hawthorn drinks helps strengthen blood vessels, heart muscle, lower cholesterol levels and reduce blood viscosity. Studies have shown that hawthorn extract stabilizes the cardiovascular system, counteracts the development of atherosclerosis. It alleviates pre-existing disease by suppressing signs of inflammation and factors that influence cell death. [3].
China’s National Administration of Medical Products for Sale has approved some hawthorn leaf-based drugs for use in the treatment of coronary heart disease and angina pectoris.
How to brew? Hawthorn flowers and leaves are used as raw materials, which can be combined with black, green tea or medicinal herbs. Exclusively hawthorn is rarely brewed. To prepare a healing drink, take equal parts of hawthorn and black tea. You can use mint, lemon balm, chamomile. The herbal composition is poured with hot water, approximately 85 ° C.
5 Aloe vera
Aloe vera juice is rich in special plant enzymes that are easily absorbed into the gastric mucosa and penetrate into the bloodstream. Active elements are able to break down the structure of lipids and cholesterol. Observations have shown the effectiveness of aloe juice in the treatment of atherosclerosis [4].
How to use? Use the thickest, lower leaves of aloe that has reached 3 years. They are cut and placed in a place protected from the sun at a temperature of 4 to 8 ° C, for example, in a refrigerator. After 12 days, the leaves are crushed in a blender, the resulting mass is squeezed through cheesecloth. Juice and honey are mixed in equal parts in a glass bowl. Drink 1 tablespoon 1-3 times a day 30 minutes before meals. The juice can be refrigerated for up to 30 days.
6 Dandelion
Dandelion protects arteries from cholesterol by suppressing “bad” lipoproteins and increasing levels of “good” ones. In addition, dandelion has a pronounced antioxidant effect. Plant antioxidants inhibit the oxidation of lipid compounds found in foods. Thus, the mechanism of formation of atherosclerotic plaques is inhibited, the aggressive effect on the vascular walls is reduced. [5].
Not only dandelion flowers have anti-atherosclerotic properties. Active phytocomponents are found in roots and leaves. It has been noticed that people who use dandelion in salads every summer are 20% less likely to have atherosclerosis of the thoracic aorta and 19% less likely to have atherosclerotic lesions of the abdominal region.
How to use? In the summer season, soups and salads are prepared from all parts of the dandelion. For use in winter, dandelions are frozen or dried.
7 Cinnamon
Regular use of cinnamon helps prevent cardiovascular diseases. The effect is observed due to a decrease in LDL and triglycerides, while HDL levels remain stable. In general, there is an improvement in the proportions of “good” lipoproteins, a decrease in the atherogenic index.
Histological examination of the biomaterial fixes the minimum density of cholesterol deposits in the aorta, narrowing of the diameter of the arteries of the heart [6]. To achieve a pronounced therapeutic effect, it is recommended to consume about 120 mg of cinnamon daily.
How to use? It is enough to take 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon powder per day. The spice can be added to cereals, desserts, soups, drinks. It is recommended to add cinnamon to kefir, coffee.
8 Omega-3
One 2016 study showed that omega-3 fatty acids can prevent coronary heart disease. The evidence is published based on data from 19 cohort studies conducted in 16 countries. The total number of participants exceeded 45 people, who were observed for an average of 10 years.
Omega-3s contain several fatty acids:
α-linolenic acid (ALA).
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).
Docosapentaenoic acid (DPA).
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
The study showed that they all have a preventive effect on atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. [7].
Several medical observations have confirmed that a low omega-3 index is directly associated with the early development of atherosclerosis of the heart vessels. [8].
The effectiveness of combining EPA and DHA with statins was proven by one of the studies. It showed that the complex effect of drugs prevents the progression of plaques in the vessels. [9].