Can Dieting Improve Carotid Artery Blockage?
Blockage in the carotid arteries is a potentially life-threatening situation that can lead to partial loss of brain function or even stroke. While severe blockage almost always necessitates surgery for effective repair, moderate to minor blockage can be helped by taking steps to eat a healthier diet. If you, or someone you know, has been diagnosed with partial carotid artery blockage and elects not to pursue surgery, dieting can make a difference.
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How Diet Can Help
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Diet can help positively affect artery blockage by altering blood lipid levels. LDL (the "bad" cholesterol) in the bloodstream can, over time, adhere to and build up on the walls as a thick plaque. This leads to blockage, which can in turn lead to heart disease and stroke. Thus, you can help prevent further blockage---and somewhat improve pre-existing blockage---by changing your diet to comply with a more heart-healthy regime.
Keep Cholesterol Levels in Check
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In addition to watching fat levels, also take care to minimize consumption of cholesterol. Specifically, minimize LDL (the "bad" cholesterol) while keeping HDL levels reasonable. To do this, consume raw nuts (almonds and walnuts) and eliminate or cut back sharply on consumption of cornstarch, sugar and wheat. Drinking several cups of green tea every day can also positively affect LDL levels.
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Regulate Fat Intake
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Modulating fat intake involves striking a healthy balance between providing enough fat to keep the body functioning properly while not overindulging, which can lead to arterial blockage. Thus, ensure that you consume at least 25 percent of your daily calories from fat, but also strive to minimize (but not completely eliminate) consumption of saturates. Additionally, eradicate consumption of trans fats. Your diet should comprise a roughly equal mix of saturates (animal fats), polyunsaturates (flax oil), and monounsaturated fats (olive oil).
Consume a More Natural Diet
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A diet designed to help destroy artery blockage should be well-balanced: consume fruits and vegetables with each meal. Base your diet on lean protein sources like fish, meat, chicken, and turkey. Sticking to natural, unprocessed foods for the majority of your diet will go a long way toward keeping you healthy and stave off arterial blockages.
Use Fish Oil
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Although further studies are needed to make the link clear, consumption of several grams of fish oil daily may help diminish arterial blockage. For best effect, fish oil can be obtained from natural sources (such as salmon), or from supplements. Five to ten grams a day is a reasonable dose.
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