Avoiding Arterial Blockages: A Nutritional Guide

Arteries act as the transport system for all the cells in our body. They deliver oxygen to every single cell, as well as the energy source and essential raw materials.

For them to effectively carry oxygen to cells, two conditions must be met:

A. The flow must be efficient, meaning that each neuron in the brain receives a blood supply.

B. The blood must contain all the necessary components, about 60 in total, that the body needs to deliver to the cells for optimal functioning.

In a situation of arteriosclerosis, when the flow isn’t normal, having all nutritional components won’t help – the brain is damaged, along with memory, orientation, and cognitive learning ability.

It can also lead to ischemia – a lack of oxygen supply to the heart – causing heart damage, or ischemic disturbances in the legs, causing walking difficulties and leg pain.

Understanding Arteriosclerosis

Arteriosclerosis is the narrowing of the artery due to the consumption of hardened fats and trans fats. When there is blockage and narrowing in the heart, 70% of the artery is under stress, and people feel pressure and breathing difficulty when climbing stairs.

In the brain, above 50% narrowing leads to cognitive decline, speech disturbances, and thinking problems. "Vascular dementia" is also caused by artery narrowing.

Therefore, our diet should be full of nutritious values and low in calories – nourishing but not fattening.

The diet should not be heavy on digestion to ensure that our intestines well absorb the nutritional components that the body needs, ensuring they are transported to cells. It’s recommended to consume antioxidants – 2 cups of green tea daily, almond milk, oatmeal, orange soup, grains, berries, watermelon, red grapes, pomegranate, turmeric, and water – which is most crucial for proper brain function and also prevents dehydration and headaches.

The body also needs B and C vitamins daily, found only in plants – legumes, whole grains, green leaves, etc.

When there is a deficiency of B vitamins, homocysteine levels (which is a radical and toxic to the body) become high in the blood, leading to LDL cholesterol oxidation. This is one of the main causes of arteriosclerosis – where bad cholesterol settles on the artery walls and narrows them.

Essential fatty acids E.P.A, found in omega-3, nuts, cold-pressed olive oil, and sea fish, have anti-inflammatory properties. They prevent LDL oxidation, improve the structure of the blood vessel walls – the myelin – and clean the arteries.

For booking home sessions with Rabbanit R. Bazari (free of charge), call 073-2221240