Herbal Treatments For A Healthier Heart
Your heart beats involuntarily so it is quite easy to forget about the one of the most important organs of the body. This is definitely a problem if you follow a sedentary lifestyle and load up on foods high in fat, cholesterol, salt and other ingredients bad for you. Sprinkle a little stress and a smoking habit and you have a recipe for heart disaster. Luckily, you can control heart disease with a few changes in your life.
The number one component of a healthy heart is the need for healthy blood vessels to promote good circulation. Your body cannot get all the oxygen and nutrients it needs to survive unless your heart can easily pump your blood throughout your arteries and veins from the tip of your toes to the top of your head.
In order to have the best blood vessel health possible, you must eat a sensible diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low fat dairy, lean meats and fish. Add exercise and plenty of water and you have great blood flow. Sometimes though your body could use a bit of a helping hand in the diet department and herbs can definitely fit the bill.
Herbal treatments work
Herbs are often consumed as a way to improve the health of the blood vessels that provide passage of your blood to the heart. Without good circulation, your heart has to work a lot harder, which is where heart disease comes in. Here are some great herbal remedies that can help:
1. Garlic – This herb is perhaps the most widely touted treatment for heart disease as well as the prevention of it and many other ailments. There have many studies of garlic and most of them prove that this herb can effectively lower cholesterol levels as well as triglycerides and raise the good HDL levels in the blood. Garlic also can help reduce the amount of plaque build-up in the blood vessels as well as protect against the signs of aging.
2. Cayenne pepper – Various peppers including cayenne contain capsaicin, an herbal component that can help lower cholesterol and reduce blood clotting. Cayenne can help improve the strength and elasticity of the blood vessels in the body, namely the small capillaries. This pepper helps regulate blood flow and strengthens the heart muscle. Overall, it also helps lower blood pressure too.
3. Hawthorn – This herb contains power antioxidants that can help reduce atherosclerosis, a build-up of plaque in the arteries. Hawthorn regulates the liver by preventing too much cholesterol from being produced. It also helps expand the blood vessels to promote better blood flow.
4. Bilberry – This is a type of herb related to blueberries and contains some powerful antioxidants called flavonoids which help strengthen blood vessels.
5. Valerian – This common herb has been widely used for sleep aids but it also does wonders for the heart as well. If you are by nature nervous, hyperactive or stressed, valerian can soothe those nerves and calm blood pressure.
There are dozens more herbal remedies out in the world and each one has particular strengths. Your body chemistry, tolerance for the herb and current medications will likely dictate which herbs are best for you and the best at preventing heart disease.
