Keeping up with our health can be difficult, especially in this fast-paced world where eating unhealthily is the quickest way to a meal. Unfortunately, unhealthy foods can also pave the way to clogged arteries. You may be thinking that you have perfectly fine health, but you very well may have clogged arteries without even knowing it.
But what exactly are clogged arteries?
According to WebMD, “Clogged arteries result from a buildup of a substance called plaque on the inner walls of the arteries. Arterial plaque can reduce blood flow or, in some instances, block it altogether. Clogged arteries greatly increase the likelihood of heart attack, stroke, and even death.”
To start, check out the hidden signs of clogged arteries that you may not even notice, and then see the best kinds of foods to start eating to prevent it.
4 Hidden Signs Of Clogged Arteries
1. Unexpected Baldness
Regardless of age, a study of 37,000 men found that baldness on the crown of their head suggested the presence of CHD, where as a study of 7,000 people (4,000 of which were women) found that moderate to severe baldness increased the risk of death by heart disease in both men and women. You may just think that balding is in your family, but it could also be a sign of clogged arteries that lead to heart disease.
According to WebMD, “The biological link between hair loss and heart disease could involve elevated levels of male hormones. The scalp has a higher density of male-hormone receptors, and high levels of hormones such as testosterone are associated with an increased risk of hardening of the arteries and blood clotting.”
You may want to seriously consider your diet and your health if you find that you have moderate to severe balding, because it may just be your body’s way of telling you that something has got to change.
2. Pain In Your Calves
Especially while walking, pain in the calves is called “claudication”. Atherosclerosis can be the cause of blockages in your arteries before CHD is detected, especially in people who smoke cigarettes. If you feel pain in your calves when you walk, and there’s no other explanation for it such as a lengthy work out the day before, you will want to get the pain in your leg assessed quickly.
A doctor will measure the blood flow and pressure in order to determine whether or not you have poor blood circulation. This can help assess heart issues and clogged arteries as early as possible, so no other damage occurs.
3. Crease In Your Earlobe
Do you spend much time thinking about your earlobe? No, I didn’t think so. Other people don’t, either! However, if you have CHD, you may find that you have a crease in your earlobe that goes from your ear canal all the way to the lower portion of your earlobe. Of course, this is all due to the poor blood circulation from your clogged arteries.
According to clinical professor for medicine and author Joel K. Kahn, MD, “Although some medical professionals have argued that a crease is just a general sign of aging, researchers last year used the most sophisticated CT scan method to measure silent CHD and found that ear crease predicted heart disease even after the authors accounted for other risk factors, such as age and smoking.”
If you notice this ear crease, it’s important to go to a doctor to get assessed for heart problems or clogged arteries.
4. Erectile Dysfunction
Of course, old age may also be a factor when it comes to erectile dysfunction, but for men who are otherwise at the age where obtaining an erection should be easy, this can be a huge indicator for clogged arteries. If an erection is difficult to achieve, or cannot be maintained, then it may be a sign that the arteries that are in the pelvis are clogged, causing decreased blood flow to the penis. Most men were diagnosed with CHD after 3 to 5 years of the initial erectile dysfunction, so there’s plenty of time to get it looked at and discover the clogged arteries.
Now, it’s important to know the signs of a clogged artery so you can get yourself checked out by a doctor. But it’s equally important to know the types of food to eat to help prevent your arteries from getting clogged in the first place.
Here Are 4 Best Foods To Help Prevent Clogged Arteries
“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” – Mahatma Gandhi
1. Fresh Vegetables
Eating your veggies is very important, and it always has been! There’s a reason that your parents always tried to get you to eat your vegetables. Plant foods are very high in minerals, fiber, and vitamins which are perfect for keep your body healthy and your arteries free of clogs. According to Reader’s Digest, “people who ate 8 or more servings were 30 percent less likely to have a heart attack or stroke than people who consumed 1½ servings or fewer.”
2. Herbs And Spices
One of the easiest and tastiest ways of keeping your body healthy when it comes to blocked arteries is adding herbs and spices to your meals. Most herbs and spices are even medicinal for the body, which means that even though they taste delicious and unhealthy, they’re actually incredibly good for you.
Have you wondered why, though?
According to Reader’s Digest, herbs and spices “are concentrate from plants, so they contain the same protective chemicals that plants use to ward off pests and disease. When we consume these chemicals from spices, they protect the cells in our body from disease too.”
3. Fish
Certain types of fish are full of omega-3 fatty acids, which are ideal for your heart health. These fatty acids actually lower heart rhythm disturbances, lower your blood pressure, and even lower inflammation.
According to Prevention, “fatty fish such as salmon and anchovies are loaded with the omega-3 fatty acids that will help your heart maintain a steady rhythm. Having even one fish serving a week could reduce your risk of death from a heart attack by 52%.”
Seasoning your fish with herbs and spices, and eating with a serving of vegetables is a great way to make your whole meal heart-healthy.
4. Leafy Greens
Arugula, kale, lettuce, spinach, and beets are all high in nitrate, which they get from the soil. Nitrate is transformed into a gas during your digestion, with can help prevent blood coagulation, which in turn minimizes both heart problems and strokes. Also, “one serving of nutrient-packed leafy greens (like spinach) a day can help reduce your risk of heart disease by 11 percent,” states Shape.com
Therefore, if you’re looking for a way to prevent clogged arteries, then leafy greens are one of the best ways to go.
Final thoughts
Watching out for your health can be difficult, but learning the right signs to look for, and the right foods to eat can make being heart-healthy both easy and delicious. Avoiding clogged arteries and coronary heart disease is much better than having to deal with either of those things down the line. Keep an eye out for these symptoms, while switching your diet over to foods that can prevent clogged arteries in the first place.
