Plaque is a fatty substance that can build up in your arteries, restricting blood flow and increasing your risk of stroke, heart attack and pulmonary embolism, or blockage of arteries in your lungs, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Plaque may be caused by excess blood cholesterol, diabetes or chronic, heavy alcohol use. Certain foods may help clear plaque from your arteries, helping to prevent heart disease and stroke. Talk to your doctor before altering your diet to remove plaque from your arteries.
Apples
Increasing your consumption of apples may remove plaque from your arteries. These fruits are rich sources of pectin, a soluble fiber that may help lower blood cholesterol, according to Dr. James Balch and Phyllis Balch, authors of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing." Lowering blood cholesterol may allow your body to naturally clear away fatty deposits in your arteries and blood vessels. Remove seeds before eating apples--apple seeds contain cyanide, a poison that can be fatal.
Cayenne
Cayenne is a hot pepper that is commonly used in Jamaican jerk sauces, Thai curries and Cajun dishes. Capsaicin, the chemical that produces heat in cayenne peppers, may help remove plaque by lowering cholesterol levels in your bloodstream, according to Michael Castleman, author of "The Healing Herbs." This chemical may also dilate your arteries, improving blood flow and reducing your risk of heart disease. However, this pepper may cause stomach upset and heartburn.
Beans
Beans contain dietary fiber, which may help clear excess cholesterol from your bloodstream, according to the Balches. These foods are also low in fat and high in protein. Use lentils, kidney beans, black beans and garbanzo beans as replacements for fatty meats in your diet. However, limit your consumption of canned beans, which may contain sodium that can raise your blood pressure and compound the effects of arterial plaque.
Avocados
Avocados contain oleic acid, a chemical that may help lower low-density lipoproteins, according to the Balches. Low-density lipoproteins are the components of cholesterol that cause plaque buildup in your arteries. Reducing low-density lipoproteins may help your body clear away fatty deposits from the inner walls of your arteries.
Saffron
Saffron is a rare spice used in Chinese, Spanish and Indian cooking. The stigmas of saffron flowers contain a chemical called crocetin, which may lower blood cholesterol and remove arterial plaque, according to Castleman. In rare cases, saffron may cause diarrhea or stomach upset.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Atherosclerosis
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; James F. Balch, M.D. and Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.; 1997
- "The Healing Herbs"; Michael Castleman; 1991
