Let’s now look at inflammation, the food we eat, and hardening of the arteries. Inflammation and the hardening of the arteries occur together. Certain foods and drinks cause inflammation in the walls of the arteries. Once inflammation sets up, your body mounts an immune system response causing white blood cells to come to the area and calcium can subsequently deposit, hardening the artery causing high blood pressure and possible heart attack or stroke.
The foods which cause the most inflammation in the walls of the arteries are the dangerous vegetable oils which hydrogenate and form trans fats when cooked. These are corn, canola, safflower, sunflower, mustard, peanut, palm kernel, soy oils. Over time, alcohol and caffeine cause inflammation in the artery wall as well.
Magnesium as Prevention
Magnesium prevents calcium from depositing into your arteries, but most of us have low levels of this vital nutrient as stress and most pharmaceuticals flush magnesium out of the body. Also, magnesium keeps the arteries very pliable so they can expand each time the heart beats. If magnesium levels go low the arteries get hard and stiff.
Vitamin K2 as Prevention
Vitamin K2 keeps calcium out of the arteries and directs it to the teeth and bones. Ghee protects the lining of the artery as it both cools the inflammation down and protects plaque from building up in the wall of the artery due to the presence of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). It also is one of very few sources of Vitamin K2.
How to Safely Consume Foods to Prevent Inflammation
To be safe, consume mainly ghee and olive oil, as both are considered cooling and can thus prevent inflammation in the walls of the arteries. Coconut oil is considered a cold oil, is waxy and very hard to digest so it is best avoided unless you live in a very hot climate which gives you a stronger digestive fire needed to burn up this very cold oil.
Many fruits, vegetables, grains, and lentils contain magnesium and other nutrients which prevent plaque build up as their fibers bind the waxy fat particles and direct them into the bowel movement. Some foods contain nitric oxide, a gas which relaxes blood vessels and encourages flexibility in the arteries. These foods include oats, watermelon, blueberries, beets, kiwis, cooked green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, arugula, celery, radishes, almonds, walnuts, sesame seeds and avocados.
Turmeric and Inflammation
Turmeric is especially good as it not only prevents inflammation in the walls of the arteries, but it also encourages nitric oxide production. However we do not want to take capsules of turmeric or curcumin (its active compound) as it heats the liver too much. Instead, turmeric needs to be cooked in a fat such as ghee or milk, as the fat will transport it into the cell.
Ginger and Cinnamon
In addition, ginger both lowers blood pressure and can improve circulation. Cinnamon has been shown to be protective to the arteries as well.
Recipe to Battle Inflammation
- Two cardamom pods
- 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/8 ginger powder
- Piece of cinnamon stick
- One cup of whole, unhomogenized milk or goat’s milk
A good recipe is to simmer the milk or goat’s milk with cardamom pods, turmeric powder, ginger powder, and a piece of a cinnamon stick for 5 minutes, strain and drink once a day on an empty stomach.
Always use unhomogenized milk (with the cream layer at the top) as the homogenized milk can cause heart disease due to the incorrect processing of the fats during the homogenization process. If cow’s milk bothers you use goat’s milk which is lighter and is the closest to mother’s milk.
Other Tips to Address Inflammation
- Pomegranates can lower high blood pressure and decrease plaque in the arteries.
- Always remember to stay hydrated with good quality alkaline pH water (most ground water has an acid pH)
- exercise and try to keep stress levels as low as you can.
Follow these guidelines as much as you can, which will help you in preventing high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries.