Blocked arteries, or atherosclerosis, occur over time as the fat and cholesterol from the foods you eat pack together along the walls of your arteries. If you have blocked arteries, you are at a higher risk for certain diseases, including heart disease. Your doctor has likely prescribed medication or recommended lifestyle changes to help you reverse your blocked arteries and improve your health. Certain foods can help by flushing the plaque out of your arteries, as well as helping to lower your cholesterol level.
Clogged Arteries
When the fats and cholesterol from your food pack together in your arteries, they form plaque. Plaque sticks to the walls of your arteries and makes it more difficult for blood to pass through efficiently. Blocked arteries become hard and inflexible over time, as well, which increases your odds of developing cardiovascular disease. Plaque can also separate from the walls of your arteries and lead to a blood clot, a condition that can prevent proper blood flow to your organs. If the blockage occurs in the arteries leading to your brain, you could suffer a stroke.
Symptoms
The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that you may not experience any symptoms of blocked arteries until they are at least 40 percent clogged. If the blocked arteries affect your heart, you may experience chest pain, stomach, neck, jaw or shoulder pain, weakness, sweating and shortness of breath. If the affected arteries go to your brain, your symptoms may include temporary loss of brain function, weakness or paralysis, trouble speaking, loss of vision, muscle weakness, trouble walking, dizzy spells, loss of balance or a severe headache.
Diet
The foods you eat or do not eat play a role in how blocked your arteries become. High-fat and high-cholesterol diets encourage the buildup of plaque and contribute to blocked arteries. Making changes to your diet can help prevent additional plaque formation but may also help sweep existing plaque out of your arteries before your long-term health is further affected. Reducing your intake of fat and cholesterol, as well as adding soluble fiber-rich and nutrient-dense foods may help you unclog your arteries and improve your health.
Suggested Foods
Soluble fiber is one of the most important foods you can eat to help reverse blocked arteries. Foods with soluble fiber help prevent your body from absorbing the cholesterol from your food, which reduces the amount of plaque that sticks to your artery walls. Whole-grain foods, such as oatmeal and oat bran, are top sources of soluble fiber. Beans, such as black, pinto and navy, as well as fruits such as bananas, prunes, pears, apples and oranges are also healthy sources of soluble fiber. Fatty fish, such as salmon and trout, contain omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce your risk of high cholesterol and may also help reverse blocked arteries. Unsaturated fats, such as olive oil and avocados, and fresh vegetables can also help improve your artery health and aid in reversing blockages.
