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Inflammation causes heart disease. Among other things: arthritis, diabetes, Alzheimer's, depression, schizophrenia, attention deficit disorder, asthma. Don't forget cancer.
What causes inflammation? Constantly bombarding your body with unhealthy foods, drugs (recreational and pharmaceutical), smoking (of course), over doing the alcohol (moderate consumption of red wine is good for you, especially good for your heart). Then there's the myriad of chemical toxins introduced to your body in hundreds of ways: your shampoo, toothpaste, cosmetics, water, and environmental pollution. Eating plastic foods...any fast or junk or processed food that you buy today is likely to contain the ubiquitious trans fats...a sure-fire cause of inflammation.
Inflammation is strongly connected to heart disease. Dr William J Meggs in his book The Inflammation Cure
says that atherosclerosis (clogged arteries) is the disease responsible for more deaths worldwide than any other cause. He goes on to explain that while cholesterol plays a part in this form of heart disease "...inflammation has the lead role".
So how do you know if you have life-threatening inflammation? A tell-tale sign is gum disease. Again Dr Meggs: "Our gums are the most visible indicator of an inflammation imbalance in our bodies and we would be wise to pay attention."
Gum disease, especially if you have bleeding gums, can introduce heart-attack-causing bacteria to your blood stream. Get more detail about gum disease and how it causes other diseases here.
What are these people lining up for?
Donuts!
This is the JCO donuts shop at the new Pavillion shopping center in Kuala Lumpur. I guess this is not a Krispy Kreme in disguise but it sure looks like it. The donuts look exactly like Krispy Kreme donuts.
Denying myself a Krispy Kreme used to take a lot of discipline. If you've ever had a Krispy Kreme then you probably know exactly what I mean.
It feels good to turn my back on this stuff. Here's the thing. They may taste orgasmically good but they are categorically not good for you. There is very little, if any, nutritional value in these donuts. It is all processed stuff...white flour, sugar and unhealthy fats. Is it any wonder obesity is on the rise in America? And shame on America for exporting its obesity. Malaysians are getting fat and fatter eating American junk food. Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonalds and this Krispy Kreme look-alike.
I haven't had a Krispy Kreme since I read an article in the Tucson Weekly (2005) that completely grossed me out about the dangers of this particular junk. More recently I've learned the truth about cholesterol and the role of trans fat as a major contributor to heart disease. Trans fats are plastic and Krispy Kreme donuts are reportedly made with trans fats.
If you are concerned about clogging your arteries make the smart choice: don't eat JCO or Krispy Kreme donuts ever again! Avoid eating anything that contains or is cooked in trans fat.
Learn more about the negative health effects of trans fat.
Research suggests that there is a link between a magnesium deficiency and atherosclerosis. If you have clogged arteries then you must know what atherosclerosis means. But for those who don't it is hardening of the arteries, a build up of a plaque in blood vessels, specifically arteries.
Magnesium is another one of those minerals that is good for the heart. Good for lots of other things too. Migraines. Sleep. Muscle cramps. But when it comes to the heart, it is especially good. The man who wrote Dead Doctors Don't Lie categorically said that magnesium is an essential heart mineral that is now missing from today's common diet...a diet of processed foods with fruits and veggies grown in soil that is over used, leached of important nutrients. Crops grown in leached soil are equally devoid of nutrients. This is a prime reason for buying organic (and isn't it irritating that organic costs more? Revolt. Grow your own.)
You can take magnesium supplements but it is better and safer to get magnesium naturally from a good healthy diet. I could go into a long discussion about the danger of taking supplements but I'd rather focus on the positive step of eating healthy foods to prevent the buildup of plaque in your arteries.
Eat foods rich in magnesium. Here is a list.
Oatmeal, millet, kamut, amaranth, brown rice, quinoa, buckwheat, prawns, oysters, blackstrap molasses, brewer's yeast, wheat germ, nuts (brazil nuts, almonds, walnuts, cashews), sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seed, salba, bananas, black currants, rhubarb, ginger, cider vinegar, honey, and dark green veggies (spinach, watercress, swiss chard, parsley, wheatgrass, alfalfa sprouts).
Learn also about foods high in antioxidants. Antioxidants are also an important ingredient in the battle against heart disease.
Technorati Tags:clogged arteries, heart, magnesium, magnesium rich foods
The technical term for clogged arteries is atherosclerosis. Before you can unclog existing blockages of the arteries, you must take steps to stop the clogging. Exercise is a key component as discussed in previous posts.
The next step is to change the eating habits that caused the clogging in the first place. I could focus on what you should not eat. In future posts I'll get to an enlightening discussion on cholesterol and hydrogenated fats, the single biggest contribution to heart disease and other ailments. But I prefer to start you on a positive note with action that you can take. Start eating healthy, wholesome, raw foods.
Here are three key nutrients for the heart and the foods you can eat to get them.
In addition to preventing memory loss, Vitamin E protects the heart. Foods high in Vitamin E include mango, kiwi Fruit, blackberries, avocado, asparagus, parsnips, kale, tomatos, sweet potato, mushrooms, brazil nuts, almonds, walnuts, peanuts, sesame seed, sunflower seeds, oats, barley, quinoa, chickpeas (garbanzo beans), oysters, eggs, green tea, wheatgrass, alfalfa sprouts, wheatgerm, coconut oil (use cold pressed only), olive oil.
Potassium reduces high blood pressure and maintains a regular heartbeat. Foods high in Potassium include grapes, papaya, oranges, lemons, bananas, prunes, kiwi fruit, blackcurrant, canteloupe, grapefruit, figs, cherries, rhubrab, avocado, beetroot, cucumber, celery, parsnip, cabbage, tomatos, sweet potato, radishes, mushroom, asparagus, swiss chard, almonds, walnuts, cashews, peanuts, millet, lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans, sardines, prawns, chicken, yoghurt, parsley, fennel, dandelion leaves, cayenne pepper, wheatgrass, alfalfa sprouts, cider vinegar (like Braggs).
Essential fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6) provide many anti-aging benefits but in particular protection against heart disease. Foods high in essential fatty acids include avocados, brazil nuts, walnuts, cashews, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flaxseed, sardines, salmon, herring, wheatgerm.
Essential fatty acids prevent and combat inflammation, a major factor in heart disease. Read more about inflammation here.
Source: Top 100 Foods for a Younger You, Sarah Merson. Every food listed in this book is good for the heart.
Lots of people are searching the web for information about unclogging arteries. Are you one of them? Do you have clogged arteries?
It is possible to unclog your arteries in a natural way...without drugs or surgery.
Start with exercise. Nothing too strenuous is required. Just start walking. If you are out of shape, start with 15 minutes every day, twice a day. Work your way up to 30 minutes, twice a day. Walking is good for your heart and if you need to lose weight, that will happen too.
Walking is enough but if you also want to work on general flexibility, muscle tone and get a wealth of other health benefits try some yoga. Its good for your heart, your lungs and all of your organs. It will make you feel good all over including mentally.
Exercise is a good first step. Changing your diet is the next step. Think raw and get off the junk food.
Watch this site for more natural remedies to unclog arteries.
