Hardening of the Arteries
Hardening of the arteries is usually the consequence when you abuse yourself by drinking alcoholic beverages, smoking, and eating foods that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol.
You've probably heard that drinking red wine is good for the heart, but isn't it that red wine has alcohol content? Red wine is made from grapes the skin of which is found to be beneficial to the heart. Many doctors do recommend half a glass of red wine a day to maintain good heart health. Now, to drink red wine like water would be an entirely different thing. Remember that while red wine would offer lots of benefits to the heart, too much alcohol in the body can damage the liver. Besides alcoholic beverages are not fat-free or cholesterol-free, and eating more than what is recommended only adds up to plaque build-up. Drinking alcoholic drinks is okay when done in moderation. Do it excessively and you will risk your health in the process.
Hardening of the arteries can also result from too much smoking. Smoking injures the inner lining of your arterial walls, making it difficult for blood components (cholesterol and fat in particular) to pass through. Thus, these components instead collect on the walls of the arteries, build up and harden over time. This is the reason why smokers, especially chain smokers, are at high risk for developing heart attacks.
Foods that have high cholesterol and saturated fat must be limited in healthy individuals to prevent atherosclerosis. In high-risk individuals, such as those who are obese, with diabetes, or with a family history of heart problem, a high cholesterol and saturated fat diet is an absolute no-no. What exactly are these food items to avoid? Refined foods, eggs, milk and dairy products, red meat, animal fat, and foods high in preservatives are among those you have to eat in minimal amounts only. Surely, you wouldn't want to stuff your body with more saturated fat than your heart can handle.
It's good to know that while atherosclerosis can have very serious complications, it can actually be reversed with the proper diet, exercise, and attitude. When you have atherosclerosis, it is important that your diet includes vegetables, preferably in their raw state. Raw vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce, tomato are highly recommended. Add chopped garlic, onion rings and walnuts and drizzle with fresh lemon juice or olive oil and you have a meal that's truly heart-friendly. Have tuna instead of red meat, and skimmed milk instead of full cream milk.
Exercising on a regular basis will be very good for your heart. It keeps your blood circulating and improves your general well being. It is not necessary that you enroll in an aeorobics class actually because any kind of exercise is good enough as long as you don't sit on the couch all day long. Doing simple activities at home, walking the dog, and jogging around the neighborhood are all great means to get your heart pumping.
As you can see there is still hope in the midst of hardening of the arteries.
You've probably heard that drinking red wine is good for the heart, but isn't it that red wine has alcohol content? Red wine is made from grapes the skin of which is found to be beneficial to the heart. Many doctors do recommend half a glass of red wine a day to maintain good heart health. Now, to drink red wine like water would be an entirely different thing. Remember that while red wine would offer lots of benefits to the heart, too much alcohol in the body can damage the liver. Besides alcoholic beverages are not fat-free or cholesterol-free, and eating more than what is recommended only adds up to plaque build-up. Drinking alcoholic drinks is okay when done in moderation. Do it excessively and you will risk your health in the process.
Hardening of the arteries can also result from too much smoking. Smoking injures the inner lining of your arterial walls, making it difficult for blood components (cholesterol and fat in particular) to pass through. Thus, these components instead collect on the walls of the arteries, build up and harden over time. This is the reason why smokers, especially chain smokers, are at high risk for developing heart attacks.
Foods that have high cholesterol and saturated fat must be limited in healthy individuals to prevent atherosclerosis. In high-risk individuals, such as those who are obese, with diabetes, or with a family history of heart problem, a high cholesterol and saturated fat diet is an absolute no-no. What exactly are these food items to avoid? Refined foods, eggs, milk and dairy products, red meat, animal fat, and foods high in preservatives are among those you have to eat in minimal amounts only. Surely, you wouldn't want to stuff your body with more saturated fat than your heart can handle.
It's good to know that while atherosclerosis can have very serious complications, it can actually be reversed with the proper diet, exercise, and attitude. When you have atherosclerosis, it is important that your diet includes vegetables, preferably in their raw state. Raw vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce, tomato are highly recommended. Add chopped garlic, onion rings and walnuts and drizzle with fresh lemon juice or olive oil and you have a meal that's truly heart-friendly. Have tuna instead of red meat, and skimmed milk instead of full cream milk.
Exercising on a regular basis will be very good for your heart. It keeps your blood circulating and improves your general well being. It is not necessary that you enroll in an aeorobics class actually because any kind of exercise is good enough as long as you don't sit on the couch all day long. Doing simple activities at home, walking the dog, and jogging around the neighborhood are all great means to get your heart pumping.
As you can see there is still hope in the midst of hardening of the arteries.
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