The #1 Way to Unclog Your Arteries Naturally
Heart disease is still the No. 1 killer in the United States, but there may be a breakthrough in a major aspect of cardiovascular health: clogged arteries.
The condition, known as coronary artery disease, is the most common form of heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It's characterized by plaque buildup in the walls of the arteries.
Don't get it twisted, though: this plaque is very different from the gunk on teeth. "The most common plaques are formed by cholesterol deposition that becomes inflamed and calcifies or hardens over time," Dr. Alexander Postalian, MD, an interventional and general cardiologist at The Texas Heart Institute, explains to Parade. What can make clogged arteries so scary is that many people don't even know they have them—until they have a major health episode, like a stroke or heart attack.
"Lipid-rich plaques build up over time and can decrease blood flow through the blood vessel, or the plaque can rupture, causing a blood clot which shuts down the blood vessel and restricts blood flow," Dr. Bradley Serwer, MD, cardiologist and chief medical officer at VitalSolution, says. "Vascular plaque, also referred to as atherosclerosis, can occur in any blood vessel. It is common to find atherosclerotic disease in the heart, brain or in the lower extremities."
Fortunately, cardiologists share tips on how to unclog your arteries naturally.
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What Causes Clogged Arteries?
Much of the blame for clogged arteries comes down to diet, according to Dr. Briana Costello, MD, general and interventional cardiologist at The Texas Heart Institute.
"Foods high in trans and saturated fats are certainly the worst for heart health," she says. "When you think of trans fats, think of cakes, cookies, fried foods and pastries. Saturated fats include red meats and whole-fat dairy products."
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How To Unclog Your Arteries Naturally
Studies on whether lifestyle changes can unclog your arteries have seen mixed results. That said, cardiologists agree that there are common changes that can prevent your arteries from getting clogged overall.
Just like diet is to blame for artery-clogging, it's also key to keeping them clear, Dr. Yu-Ming Ni, MD, board-certified cardiologist and lipidologist at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, tells Parade. She recommends a plant-based diet to keep your arteries from clogging. Dr. Postalian agrees that plant-based is the way to go and advises also minimizing your consumption of simple carbohydrates.
"Some studies have shown some minimal regression of plaque with the use of a very strict plant-based diet along with high doses of pharmacotherapy," Dr. Postalian adds. "However, in practical terms, it is best to understand that we cannot remove plaque—we can only slow or stop its deposition in the blood vessels."
Experts we spoke to also agreed that in addition to watching what you eat, other heart-healthy habits can absolutely help to keep your arteries unclogged, including managing stress, exercising regularly and quitting smoking (or, ideally, never starting in the first place!).
Related: The Best Workout for Heart Health, According to Cardiologists
Can Manganese Help Unclog Arteries?
"Two recent studies based in China and published in Nature Cell Biology and Life Metabolism showed the potential benefits of manganese on atherosclerotic plaque in mice," Dr. Costello says. "By disrupting certain cellular complexes involved in cholesterol metabolism, they drastically decreased cholesterol levels and even illustrated a reduction in intravascular plaque. This observation of plaque regression was shocking, as we don't yet have therapies to reverse plaque buildup."
Dr. Costello notes that the experiments are still in their early stages and have only been conducted on mice, so it's not necessarily a sure bet right now, but "is certainly something to keep an eye on."
"One small clinical trial of a manganese-containing compound showed safety as an adjunct treatment to coronary angioplasty in patients with STEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction, a type of heart attack)," Dr. Ni concurred. "Further studies are needed to determine the role of manganese in cardiovascular disease."
According to preventative cardiology dietitian Michelle Routhenstein, manganese's benefits likely are the result of its antioxidant properties.
"Manganese is a mineral that is needed for one of the main antioxidant pathways in the body, which helps combat oxidative stress and inflammation, two main risk factors for heart disease and plaque formation in the arteries," she explained.
Next, Your Live-Well Guide to Maintaining Heart Health and Preventing Heart Disease
