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Smoking, alcohol consumption, too little exercise: all of this favors cardiovascular diseases. But one of the main reasons for heart attacks and the like is often an extremely unhealthy diet. If fats are deposited in our body, our arteries will gradually become clogged. If the blood can no longer flow properly, the risk of heart disease increases. For the sake of your health, you should actually avoid foods that many people like because they are very high in fat.

Clogged arteries: You should only eat these 8 foods in moderation – for the sake of your heart

Due to the lack of symptoms, clogged arteries are often only noticed when they have already triggered a heart attack. That’s why a balanced diet with lots of raw fruit and vegetables, as well as exercise, is very important to rule out an increased risk factor for a heart attack.

Meat and sausage – greasy and even carcinogenic

Even if many people can no longer hear it: Meat is not a healthy food. Due to the high content of saturated fatty acids and cholesterol in meat, meat consumption is a particular risk for the cardiovascular system. Processed meat products such as sausage or bacon also contain a lot of salt. By the way: Even types of meat such as poultry, which are considered low in fat, can cause the LDL levels in the blood (the “bad” cholesterol) to skyrocket and thus be an increased risk factor for a heart attack.

Poultry skin – tasty, but extremely harmful

Think the skin is the tastiest thing about fried chicken? At least it’s the unhealthiest thing, because the skin of fried chicken & Co. contributes a lot to fat accumulation in your blood vessels. At first glance, poultry skin seems less relevant when it comes to the health of our blood vessels. However, it is full of calories and lipoprotein and is therefore very high in fat. It clogs your arteries and increases your risk of heart attack.

Eggs – Cholesterol clogs your arteries

Not only is the skin a potentially harmful part of poultry, the egg is also a tough one: an average egg contains five grams of fat and up to 280 mg of cholesterol, more than half the recommended daily allowance.

High-fat dairy products – Fat is deposited in blood vessels

Milk, cheese, yoghurt, butter, ice cream or cream: Many eat these foods several times a day without realizing how harmful dairy products can be to their health. Because they can all lead to deposits and blockages in the blood vessels, especially whole milk products.

Trans fats – a high risk factor for heart attacks

They can be found in many everyday foods: trans fats or trans fatty acids. When talking about trans fats, it is usually about food fats containing trans fatty acids (triglycerides). These trans fats are mainly found in meat, dairy products and processed foods such as baked goods and are a particularly high risk factor for a heart attack.

Baked goods and candy – savory treats that clog your arteries

As expected, baked goods and sweets are by no means harmless to our health. There are several reasons for this: They contain very little antioxidants or fiber, but they do have high levels of trans fats, refined flour and processed sugar. The problem? All of these ingredients can clog human arteries.

Oils, salty snacks and junk food – tempting and unhealthy

Most cooking oils in our kitchens, such as sunflower oil or corn oil, contain high levels of saturated fat. These damage the cardiovascular system and can clog the arteries. Common snacks such as fries, roasted peanuts or potato chips also contain saturated fatty acids and should only be eaten in small amounts. It is better to use oils with many unsaturated fatty acids such as olive or rapeseed oil.

Sweets and sweetened drinks – tasty addictive

Foods high in sugar also have a negative effect on your arteries. In addition, sweets, cakes and the like increase your risk of being overweight – a key factor in the development of hardening of the arteries and a major risk factor for a heart attack. Excess sugar is converted to fat in the liver and transported through the bloodstream surrounded by LDL cholesterol. The result: an increased risk of high blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia, adiposity (obesity) and type 2 diabetes.

The stroke is due to a circulatory disorder in the brain. In many cases, so many brain cells die that the patient suffers permanent damage. But there are ways to prevent a stroke.

Prevent stroke: The right diet cleans your arteries

The result was shown by a European study that examined the connection between eating habits and the risk of stroke. Around 420,000 people from nine countries took part in this study. They have been observed over a period of several decades. According to the experts, the effects found are due to the effect of the corresponding foods on blood lipid levels and blood pressure. It was found that excessive consumption of red or processed meat increases the risk of ischemic stroke.

Suffering from a stroke: Third leading cause of death

Four out of five strokes are ischemic attacks. This is also referred to as a so-called “cerebral infarction”. A blood vessel supplying the brain narrows or closes and there is an insufficient supply of nutrients and oxygen to an area of ​​the brain. In addition to the “cerebral infarction”, there is another type of stroke, which accounts for 20 percent of all strokes. It is referred to as a hemorrhagic attack or cerebral hemorrhage.

The bursting of a blood vessel leads to an undersupply of oxygen and nutrients to the brain tissue behind it. In addition, escaping blood can put pressure on surrounding areas of the brain, causing additional damage.

But no matter what type of stroke the person suffers, neurological deficits are often the result. Professor Doctor Wolfgang-Rüdiger Schäbitz, press spokesman for the German Stroke Society, emphasized, “Precisely because stroke is still one of the main causes of death in Europe, prevention is particularly important.”

Different effects of foods can reduce the risk of stroke

The effect of food on the risk of stroke varied between different species. As mentioned above, the participants who suffered an ischemic stroke had consumed more red and processed meat. The negative effect of the meat could, for example, be offset by a whole-grain diet. The positive effects of a diet with whole grain products, lots of fruit and vegetables, nuts and seeds, as well as cheese and other dairy products were proven in all analyzes and showed that it is possible to reduce the risk of stroke.

“On the other hand, these nutritional factors do not seem to have a protective effect on the risk of cerebral hemorrhage,” explained Professor Hans-Christoph Diener, spokesman for the German Neurological Society.

The available results showed only one connection. Only the consumption of eggs significantly increased the risk of a hemorrhagic stroke.

The 5 most important risk factors for stroke – in addition to diet

Smoking, alcohol, stress, an unhealthy diet and too little exercise are – as with other diseases in old age – risk factors that favor a stroke. Medicine has formulated a total of five known risk factors that can trigger a stroke – and which you should therefore avoid.

The 5 most common risk factors for stroke are:
high blood pressure
High cholesterol levels
diabetes mellitus
Smoking
obesity and lack of exercise

Cranberries are healthy – not only for the heart, digestion and intestinal flora, but also for the brain. As a recent study shows, cranberries have considerable neuroprotective potential and counteract arteriosclerosis. You can find out what that means here.

Preventing dementia with cranberries: How the fruit affects your memory

The study shows the neuroprotective potential of cranberries. The research team looked at the health effects of eating a cup of cranberries a day in people aged 50 to 80. The scientists paid particular attention to the effects of 12-week cranberry consumption on brain function and cholesterol levels in 60 cognitively healthy participants. Half of the participants were given freeze-dried cranberry powder daily, which corresponded to around 100 grams of fresh cranberries. The other half took a placebo.

According to study author Dr. David Vauzour had shown in previous studies that higher dietary intake of flavonoids (a type of polyphenol) was associated with slower cognitive decline and the development of dementia.

The study also showed that foods high in anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins improve cognitive abilities. Anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins are found in berries, for example, and give them their red, blue, or purple color, according to the study author. The fruit also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties

LDL cholesterol levels and atherosclerosis: Cranberries protect you from clogged arteries

In addition to the positive developments in the brain, the study participants also showed significant reductions in LDL cholesterol levels, which are known to contribute to atherosclerosis – the thickening or hardening of the arteries caused by a build-up of plaque that clogs the arteries.

Cranberries therefore make a positive contribution to blood vessel health and also improve cerebral circulation and cognitive abilities, the researchers write in summary in their study.

Additionally, independent research recently found that a daily intake of cranberry powder can significantly improve cardiovascular function. For this, the powder had to be taken for just a single month. Cranberries could also protect against cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiovascular diseases are still among the most common causes of death. The main reason is often diet. Here you can find out which 8 foods clog your arteries.

Smoking, alcohol consumption, too little exercise: all of this favors cardiovascular diseases. But one of the main reasons for heart attacks and the like is often an extremely unhealthy diet. If fats are deposited in our body, our arteries will gradually become clogged. If the blood can no longer flow properly, the risk of heart disease increases. For the sake of your health, you should actually avoid foods that many people like because they are very high in fat.

Clogged arteries: You should only eat these 8 foods in moderation – for the sake of your heart

Due to the lack of symptoms, clogged arteries are often only noticed when they have already triggered a heart attack. That’s why a balanced diet with lots of raw fruit and vegetables, as well as exercise, is very important to rule out an increased risk factor for a heart attack.

Above all, you should avoid foods and dishes that are high in saturated fat. You can find out here which foods you should add to your diet to permanently reduce your risk of heart attack and even clean your arteries.

However, since unhealthy foods in particular taste very good to many, it is important to be aware of the risks. These foods can cause fat to build up in the arteries

Meat and sausage – greasy and even carcinogenic

Even if many people can no longer hear it: Meat is not a healthy food. Due to the high content of saturated fatty acids and cholesterol in meat, meat consumption is a particular risk for the cardiovascular system. Processed meat products such as sausage or bacon also contain a lot of salt. By the way: Even types of meat such as poultry, which are considered low in fat, can cause the LDL levels in the blood (the “bad” cholesterol) to skyrocket and thus be an increased risk factor for a heart attack.

Poultry skin – tasty, but extremely harmful

Think the skin is the tastiest thing about fried chicken? At least it’s the unhealthiest thing, because the skin of fried chicken & Co. contributes a lot to fat accumulation in your blood vessels. At first glance, poultry skin seems less relevant when it comes to the health of our blood vessels. However, it is full of calories and lipoprotein and is therefore very high in fat. It clogs your arteries and increases your risk of heart attack.

Eggs – Cholesterol clogs your arteries

Not only is the skin a potentially harmful part of poultry, the egg is also a tough one: an average egg contains five grams of fat and up to 280 mg of cholesterol, more than half the recommended daily allowance.

High-fat dairy products – Fat is deposited in blood vessels

Milk, cheese, yoghurt, butter, ice cream or cream: Many eat these foods several times a day without realizing how harmful dairy products can be to their health. Because they can all lead to deposits and blockages in the blood vessels, especially whole milk products.

Trans fats – a high risk factor for heart attacks

They can be found in many everyday foods: trans fats or trans fatty acids. When talking about trans fats, it is usually about food fats containing trans fatty acids (triglycerides). These trans fats are mainly found in meat, dairy products and processed foods such as baked goods and are a particularly high risk factor for a heart attack.

Baked goods and candy – savory treats that clog your arteries

As expected, baked goods and sweets are by no means harmless to our health. There are several reasons for this: They contain very little antioxidants or fiber, but they do have high levels of trans fats, refined flour and processed sugar. The problem? All of these ingredients can clog human arteries.

Oils, salty snacks and junk food – tempting and unhealthy

Most cooking oils in our kitchens, such as sunflower oil or corn oil, contain high levels of saturated fat. These damage the cardiovascular system and can clog the arteries. Common snacks such as fries, roasted peanuts or potato chips also contain saturated fatty acids and should only be eaten in small amounts.

Sweets and sweetened drinks – tasty addictive

Foods high in sugar also have a negative effect on your arteries. In addition, sweets, cakes and the like increase your risk of being overweight – a key factor in the development of hardening of the arteries and a major risk factor for a heart attack. Excess sugar is converted to fat in the liver and transported through the bloodstream surrounded by LDL cholesterol. The result: an increased risk of high blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia, adiposity (obesity) and type 2 diabetes.

While conventional desserts fill you up a little and are therefore not normally eaten by the kilo, this is unfortunately different with sweet drinks: Cola, lemonades or sugary iced tea are so dangerous because large amounts of liquid sugar end up in our bodies within a very short time – an enormous risk factor for heart attack, obesity, type 2 diabetes and arteriosclerosis. According to the current state of research, sweeteners are probably not harmless either, since they get us used to an extremely sweet taste and possibly (!) damage the intestinal flora.

Still, all indications are that no-calorie beverages sweetened with artificial sweeteners are the lesser evil. It is still better to drink water, coffee or unsweetened tea to reduce your risk of heart attack.

Another tip: Make sure you drink enough fluids

Due to the high temperatures, you can sweat out several liters of water every day. Caution: People with heart disease are sometimes not allowed to drink too much water, as their cardiac output can be impaired if they drink too much water. If you already have heart problems, you should definitely discuss the right amount of water with your doctor.

Those who eat unhealthy food have a higher risk of heart disease and are also generally detrimental to their health. Conversely, with a healthy and balanced diet, you can prevent numerous ailments and diseases. We introduce you to 9 foods that are good for your cardiovascular system, clean your arteries – and thus reduce your heart attack risk.

Lowering the risk of heart attack: How to unclog clogged arteries with healthy foods

A high-fat diet is a risk factor for clogged blood vessels – as are high blood pressure, obesity and high cholesterol. The blood vessels supply our organs with oxygen and nutrients. If they are blocked, it can lead to organ damage, heart attacks or strokes.

In addition to foods that clog your arteries, there are also foods that clean them, helping to prevent cardiovascular disease. This is exactly why you should try to keep your arteries as healthy as possible – i.e. flexible, elastic and stable. The following foods can help with this.

1. Grapefruit – the citrus fruit helps your arteries with a fiber

The grapefruit is not only the largest of all citrus fruits, but also good for your cardiovascular system: the tropical fruit is full of pectins. Pectins are sugar-like dietary fibers that can slow down arteriosclerosis. For those who have lived an unhealthy lifestyle, grapefruit is therefore the ideal snack for heart health. If you don’t like grapefruit, you can also use apples or grapefruit. These fruits also contain pectin. Apples also contain procyanidins – a substance that prevents blood clots. But be careful: not all apples have the same number of procyanidins. It is best to use the Granny Smith or Red Delicious varieties.

2. Green tea – booster for your cardiovascular system

Green tea is also the perfect booster for a healthy cardiovascular system. What makes green tea so healthy for our arteries are also procyanidins. On the one hand, they can prevent blood clots and thus both heart attacks and strokes, and on the other hand, they can stabilize the arteries and ensure more elasticity.

3. Whole grain products, legumes and nuts – this is how they lower the cholesterol level

There is a lot of dietary fiber in legumes, whole grain products, but also in brown rice or oatmeal. These are not only good for digestion, but can also greatly reduce blood lipid levels. Another advantage of high-fiber foods is that you can combine them with almost any meal.

4. Spinach – With vitamins D and E to fight deposits in the arteries

Saying hello to Popeye: While spinach doesn’t contain quite as much iron as was long thought (and portrayed in the popular Sailor comic), it’s all the better for your heart. Because what should actually make spinach famous is its vitamin D and E content. These two vitamins prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. This means that no plaque can form which would build up and constrict the arteries.

5. Fat is allowed: But please use healthy cooking oils

In general, a healthy diet that is good for your cardiovascular system tends to be low in fat. However, healthy cooking oils are an exception. These include olive oil or rapeseed oil, as they contain a particularly large number of unsaturated fatty acids and can reduce the risk of heart attack. They also contain many antioxidants, which can also prevent the oxidation of cholesterol.

6. Fresh salmon – how it lowers the risk of heart attack

Salmon is also good for heart health and may reduce your risk of heart attack. With the high content of omega-3 fatty acids, plaque formation on the artery walls is prevented. It also reduces the risk of stroke and heart attack because blood clots cannot form.

7. Delicious – and very healthy: Swiss chard, garlic and cabbage

Many types of vegetables are only rarely consumed today, even though they are true miracle cures. Swiss chard is such a vegetable. The leafy greens have a very high content of antioxidants and thus reduce the risk of inflammation in the body. In addition, chard has a lot of vitamin D, which prevents the oxidation of cholesterol and thus prevents arteriosclerosis.

8. Did you know? Tomatoes and fruit also clean your arteries

Tomatoes, which by definition are actually a fruit and not a vegetable, are high in lycopene. Lycopene is an antioxidant substance that prevents the oxidation of cholesterol and thus prevents arteriosclerosis. But: Lycopene is only found in relevant amounts in heated tomatoes, not in raw ones. So it’s better to use tomato soup or sauce instead of raw tomatoes.

9. For those who like it spicy: cayenne pepper

Cayenne pepper also protects the cardiovascular system: the spice, made from dried and ground chilies, is rich in capsaicin. The substance prevents plaque deposits in the arteries and thus prevents arteriosclerosis, as an American research group found out. In addition, cayenne pepper has other health-promoting effects: it stimulates digestion and promotes blood circulation.

Conclusion: With the right diet, you can do your heart good

It’s no surprise: Eating a healthy diet has a positive impact on your health. Above all, your cardiovascular system benefits from healthy food – and it can be delicious. You don’t have to constantly limit yourself in your diet, but you should find the right balance in your diet. This keeps your arteries clean and can reduce your risk of heart attack.