The connection between diet and health is undeniable. The foods you ingest can either augment your health or be detrimental to it. The vascular system, or the network of blood vessels in your body, can be stimulated and maintained through regular exercise and a healthy diet. Foods that stimulate the vascular system include pomegranates, beets, soy, and garlic.
Pomegranates
Pomegranates contain high levels of polyphenols that are protective to the vascular system. Polyphenols act to prevent the aggregation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and the deposition of LDL cholesterol on the arterial walls. The polyphenols in pomegranates also act on the endothelial cells of blood vessels to cause vessel dilation, which improves blood flow.
Beets
Some vegetables can directly protect and stimulate the vascular system. One such vegetable is beet. Beets contain the pigment betacyanin that acts as an antioxidant, preventing oxidative damage to the cells of blood vessels. Though you might think of the large red root as being the most beneficial portion of the plant, betacyanin can also be found in the leaves of the beet plant.
Soy
Another food that can potently stimulate the vascular system is soy. Soy, derived from soybeans, decreases the levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood and, thus, prevents arterial hardening and development of heart disease. In recognition of soy's benefits, the Food and Drug Administration of the United States as well as the American Heart Association support the inclusion of soy in the diet to prevent heart disease.
Garlic
Not only does garlic decrease LDL cholesterol, it also increases high-density liproprotein (HDL) cholesterol, which is considered to be the "good" cholesterol. Garlic also decreases platelet aggregation, which prevents the blood from clotting and improves blood flow and decreases blood pressure, which benefits the blood vessels and the heart.
References
- "Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition"; Dietary Polyphenols and the Prevention of Disease; Augustin Scalbert, et al.; 2005
- "Nutrition Research and Practice"; Red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) leaf supplementation improves antioxidant status in C57BL/6J mice fed high fat high cholesterol diet; Jeung Hee Lee, et al.; June 2009
- UMDNJ- New Jersey Medical School; Homocysteine and Risks for Cardiovascular Disease; Beth A. Pletcher, M.D.
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Soy; Steven D. Erlich, N.M.D.; December 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Garlic; Steven D. Erlich, N.M.D.; November 2008
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