Foods That Support Heart Function

If you would like to support your heart function and fight off a predilection towards diabetes and heart disease it is suggested that you start ingesting at least a few of the following foods.

Artichoke leaf extract: This food extract, which reduces the level of LDL in your blood whilst also helping to protect your liver. The extract also exhibits antioxidant qualities, which it is believed, help to reduce the oxidization of LDL whilst ‘encouraging’ it to leave your body more quickly.  This prevents the cholesterol form building up in the arteries and other disorders like high blood pressure from happening.

Brewer’s yeast: In one study a group of volunteers were given a daily dose of brewer’s yeast for eight weeks. At the end of the test, only one of the 11 original test subjects did not show lowered LDL rates as well as increased good cholesterol levels.

Green tea: Green tea is an ancient herbal remedy that has been popular in many Asian countries for centuries. In the West, it is recognized that green tea is very helpful for keeping blood pressure under control and also for reducing the levels of bad cholesterol in your blood. This is due to the high levels of antioxidant substances in green tea.

Garlic: Garlic is another powerful antioxidant, which helps to prevent the oxidization of LDL in the body and bloodstream. This was confirmed in one study where a few drops of garlic juice added to a fatty meal lowered the ‘bad’ cholesterol level by around 7%. Another study suggests that 600 mg of garlic powder every day could reduce your LDL levels by around 10%.

Ginger: Ginger is another food that possesses many of these same qualities as garlic.  Including just a little ginger in your diet every day significantly reduces the risk of heart attacks as well as lowering your blood pressure at the same time.

Gingko biloba: This herbal remedy stimulates blood flow and helps prevent the formation of potentially harmful free radicals that can damage arterial walls.

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Guggul: This is another herbal remedy derived from Ayurvedic medicine that is capable of lowering blood fat levels whilst helping to increase the levels of high-density lipoproteins – ‘good’ cholesterol – in your blood.

Turmeric: Turmeric is a spice that not only adds a delicious kick to your cooking but also lowers your LDL levels at the same time by stimulating the production of bile. It has certain anticoagulant properties similar to those demonstrated by aspirin too, but without the potentially harmful side effects.