Food and Herbs for a Healthy Heart

  Healthy foods serve as a medicine that can enhance vibrant health and prevent disease. There are particular foods that are strengthening, calming and purifying to your heart that can be included in your daily diet. Eat vegetables that are bitter tasting includingbroccoli, celery, dandelion greens, spinach, kale, chard, watercress and burdock root.  These are cleansing for the circulatory system, and help to cool and calm the heart. Include these fruits in your diet: blueberries, cherries, grapes, grapefruit, kiwi, peaches, bananas and plums.  Seaweed reduces cholesterol levels and arteriosclerosis.  Red colored foods help strengthen a deficient heart, including radish, red apples, and tomatoes.  Garlic, horseradish, leeks, onions and watercress help keep the blood platelets from clumping together and promote heart health. Fish is a better choice over red meat, and it contains omega-3 fatty acids that can help prevent blood clots that can lead to stroke and heart attacks.  Vegetarian sources of omega-3 fatty acids include beans, seaweed, whole grains, flaxseed and olive oil. Reduce foods that have a negative impact on the cardiovascular system such as red meats, high fat dairy products, margarine, butter and fried foods. Eliminate hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils which are hidden in crackers, breads, pastries and chips. Eat foods high in fiber. Avoid or minimize consumption of alcohol. Green tea is high in antioxidants that has blood thinning, stroke prventing and choesterol lowering properties. Supplements and Herbs That Nourish and Strengthen the Heart Fish oils can lower serum triglycerides. Cayenne pepper is an antioxidant that can help lower cholesterol, improve circulation, normalize blood pressure, reduce the risk of blood clotting, improve cardiac output, strengthen capillaries and peripheral vasculature. Garlic clove inhibits LDL production yet raises HDL’s. It can also reduce coronary blockage and normalize blood pressure. Ginger root can prevent clots from forming.  It improves circulation to the extremities, lowers cholesterol, and dilates blood vessels. Hawthorn leaves, berries, flowers dilates peripheral blood and coronary vessels.  Rich in flavonoids, hawthorn improves oxygen and blood supply to the heart. It is a traditional remedy in Europe and North America to treat angina, arrhythmia, arteriosclerosis, and blood clots and to normalize blood pressure. Motherwort herb is an antispasmodic for myocardial spasms, angina, and palpitations. It improves blood flow, reduces hypertension, and helps calm heart problems associated with anxiety and neurosis. Information taken from Herbs and Food for a Healthy Heart by Brigitte Mars

Consult with a holistic health practitioner to understand the best diet, herbs and supplements that would best support your health condition.