Heart Disease
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fibre, beta-glucon, which on digestion acts as a sponge to take up cholesterol and remove it from the system. Eating about one medium bowl of cooked oatmeal a day can reduce bad LDL cholesterol levels by 23%.
10.17 Soyabeans – Research suggests that soya may help reduce total cholesterol and LDL and prevent plaque build-up in the arteries, thus cutting the risk of heart attack and stroke. They are also good source of vitamin E that prevents oxidation of LDL cholesterol. About 25-50 grams of soya a day lowers the bad cholesterol by about 12% and reduces heart attack and stroke risk.
Herbs and Spices
10.18 Cocoa – With a cocoa content of 70% or above dark chocolate is known to contain high quantities of antioxidants called flavanols which can reduce blood pressure, prevent the build-up of plaque and hardening of arteries and improve blood flow. Cocoa also improves the immune system and contains cancer-fighting enzymes. So eating and drinking cocoa can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems.
10.19 Garlic – The believers of garlic’s medicinal cult say that 2 or 3 cloves of fresh garlic a day will cure everything from common cold to high blood pressure, heart disease, impotence to plague! Garlic, containing more than 100 biological useful chemicals has been used for medicinal purposes in all ancient cultures since 3,000 BC. The garlic’s sulphur containing compounds, like allicin, allin, cyeroalin and diallyldisulphide, which are responsible for its strong odour, are the source of its medicinal strength. Ayurveda describes garlic as a digestive, carminative, cardiac stimulant, expectorant, diuretic, analgesic, anti-arthritic, anti-ageing, anti-clotting, anti-flatulent, liver protective, antiseptic (defeats bacterial, fungal and viral infections), antioxidant and an aphrodisiac (libido enhancing) agent.
10.20 Nutritionally garlic contains amino-acids, minerals like sulphur, phosphorus, selenium, calcium, potassium, germanium, zinc and manganese and vitamins like A, B1, B2, B6, C and niacin. Antioxidant property of garlic helps boost immune system by increasing natural killer white blood cells.
10.21 A number of studies have shown that garlic protects heart health. Even regular consumption of 2-3 garlic cloves a day can reduce the risk of heart attack by 24%. Compounds in garlic relax and enlarge blood vessels, preventing coronary artery calcification, thinning the blood and preventing the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. Garlic prevents blood from being overly sticky, helps lower blood pressure and blood sugar, decreases LDL cholesterol and increases good cholesterol. It also lowers high blood levels of homocysteine which is a major risk factor for heart disease. Garlic helps prevention of blood clots formation thereby reducing possibility of strokes and thrombosis.
