If the blood vessels become stiff, such as the road narrows and garbage accumulates, it not only affects the normal blood flow, but can also lead to various health problems such as heart disease and stroke. So the question is, how to improve arteriosclerosis? What can we do with food?

I have worked in the hospital for so many years, and I have seen many patients who always feel that the matter of arteriosclerosis is far away from them, that they are still young, and that there is no problem with physical examinations, and that it is a disease unique to the elderly.

But in fact, the signs of arteriosclerosis often come quietly and inadvertently, and many people may not realize that they have walked on the road of arteriosclerosis.

Strawberry

One patient gave me a deeper understanding of strawberries, she is a middle-aged woman who likes to eat snacks every day, especially high-sugar snacks, and most of the drinks she drinks are high-sugar fruit juices.

Over the years, her weight has gradually increased, and the results of the physical examination have deteriorated year by year, especially her blood lipid level is high, and her blood pressure has also risen a little, and every time she comes for a check-up, she will complain to me about a series of symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, and insomnia.

After a detailed medical history, I recommended that she have a test for the health of her blood vessels, and it turned out that her blood vessels were already showing some signs of hardening.

Studies have shown that strawberries are rich in antioxidants, especially anthocyanins, which can effectively remove free radicals in the body and slow down the aging process of blood vessels.

The anthocyanins in strawberries can promote the health of vascular endothelial cells, help dilate blood vessels, improve blood flow, thereby reducing the occurrence of arteriosclerosis, and the vitamin C content of strawberries is also quite high, which can promote collagen synthesis and help blood vessels maintain elasticity.

I advised her to eat more strawberries, especially fresh strawberries, and eat some every day, and after a few months, her weight has decreased, her blood lipid levels have gradually returned to normal, symptoms such as dizziness and fatigue have been significantly reduced, and her vascular health has improved greatly.

What's more, she began to develop a good habit of eating fruit every day, and the risk of arteriosclerosis was greatly reduced.

Momordica charantia

When it comes to bitter gourd, many people may frown and think that it tastes bitter and unpalatable, however, if you understand its efficacy, you may change your opinion, bitter gourd can be called a "natural prescription" when it comes to improving vascular health.

There was a former patient who worked under pressure every day, often worked overtime, liked to drink alcohol, eat takeout, and especially those fried and heavy foods.

As he grew older, he gained weight, and at first he didn't pay much attention to this until a medical check-up, when the doctor told him that his blood lipid levels were high and that the signs of arteriosclerosis had begun to appear.

Although the doctor advised him to change his diet and lifestyle habits, he felt that these recommendations were too empty and never really implemented.

I have developed a diet plan for him, among which bitter gourd is one of my special recommended foods, bitter gourd is rich in bitter melon, which can effectively promote fat metabolism in the body and help reduce blood lipid and cholesterol levels.

Studies have shown that the active ingredients in bitter gourd are able to enhance the liver's detoxification ability and improve blood circulation, thereby reducing the accumulation of fat in the blood vessels, while the dietary fiber in bitter gourd also has a positive effect on promoting intestinal health.

Following my advice, this patient started eating some bitter gourd every day, especially when it was fried and eaten with other vegetables, and after three months, he had another blood test.

He was amazed by the results: his blood lipid levels had dropped significantly, his arteriosclerosis had been controlled, his weight had been significantly reduced, and he was most pleased that his chest no longer felt heavy and he looked more energetic.

Therefore, bitter melon is not just for weight loss, it is also a natural food that helps improve arteriosclerosis, and although it tastes a little bitter, for the sake of health, try it once in a while, and its effect may surprise you.

tomato

Tomatoes are widely known and often used in our daily diets, especially as an ingredient in salads, however, the benefits of tomatoes for vascular health are often overlooked.

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that has been found to be effective in reducing free radical damage to blood vessels, protecting blood vessel walls and preventing them from hardening.

I was particularly impressed by one patient, who had been exposed to dust and heat for a long time, had an irregular diet, and especially liked to eat greasy foods.

Years of lifestyle have caused him to have a lot of problems with his blood vessels, especially the case of arteriosclerosis, and even feel weakness in his legs and difficulty in walking in severe cases.

To improve his vascular health, I advise him to increase his intake of tomatoes, especially ripe tomatoes, as lycopene is better absorbed after cooking.

After a few months, he reported to me that he often felt more relaxed, his leg weakness improved significantly, and his strength had recovered a lot.

Most importantly, at the time of the follow-up, his vascular health improved significantly, the elasticity of his blood vessels was improved, and the signs of hardening were effectively suppressed, not only because of the lycopene in tomatoes, but also because of its rich vitamin C, which can help keep blood vessels healthy.

Garlic

Garlic is not only a common condiment in our kitchens, it is also a food that has been widely studied to have a protective effect on vascular health, garlic is rich in sulfides, which help lower blood pressure, reduce blood cholesterol, improve blood circulation and prevent hardening of the blood vessels.

我曾經遇到過一位年約五十的男性患者，他有著較為嚴重的高血壓和高膽固醇，長期吃藥控制，血管硬化已經成為他健康的隱患。

In addition to medication, I recommend that he include more garlic in his diet, especially raw garlic, to better release the beneficial components in it.

After a period of conditioning, his blood pressure gradually stabilized, his cholesterol level also decreased significantly, and the hardening of the arteries was effectively alleviated.

The effect of garlic is so significant, which also made me realize that it is not only a common spice in the kitchen, but also a natural protector of blood vessels, and through the treatment of garlic in the daily diet, the risk of arteriosclerosis can be reduced at the source.

These foods may seem simple and you can find them at home every day, but they have a significant impact on the health of your blood vessels, and with a good mix of these foods and a long-term stick, your blood vessels will be healthier and your risk of hardening will be greatly reduced.

And arteriosclerosis, a health problem that seems to be far away from us, is actually all around us, and doing a good job of prevention and improvement can ensure that each of us has a healthy blood vessel and lives a long and healthy life.

The above content is for reference only, if you feel unwell, please consult a professional doctor in time

What do you think about hardening of the arteries? Welcome to discuss in the comment area!

Proofread by Zhuang Wu