6 Foods That Can Help Protect You Against Life-Threatening Ailments

A person with coronary heart disease is at risk of suffering from a heart attack. Coronary heart disease results from cholesterol build-up within the coronary arteries, which can then interrupt the blood supply to the heart.

This build-up can eventually break open inside the artery, causing a blood clot to form on its surface. If the clot is big enough, it can block blood flow completely through the coronary artery.

Cholesterol build-up is caused by eating unhealthy diets that are rich in trans fat, sodium, and saturated fat. These fatty substances are found in innocent-looking food types like fast-food delights, snack foods like popcorn, cakes, vegetable shortenings, creamers, doughnuts, and cinnamon rolls.

The only way of minimizing cholesterol build-up, and in some rare cases reverse it, is by switching to a healthier diet. Six of the foods that are seen to help minimize plaque build-up and help the heart are walnuts, fatty fish, garlic, edamame, dark chocolate, and avocados.

Eating sufficient amounts of walnuts are found to help protect against various types of heart diseases. In one study, researchers found that making walnuts part of the daily diet can decrease LDL cholesterol by as much as 16%. It can also bring down diastolic blood pressure as well as lower inflammation and oxidative stress.

Consuming fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids also provide huge benefits for the heart. Like walnuts, a healthy daily serving of fish can help lower diastolic blood pressure.

In the case of garlic, it is rich in the organosulfur compound called allicin, which medical experts say can greatly help in improving heart health. A research conducted on the health benefits of allicin revealed that consuming garlic extracts daily for several weeks can help reduce blood pressure. It can also help reduce bad LDL cholesterol levels by at least 9mg per dL and also lower total cholesterol levels by as much as 17mg.

Boiled immature soybeans in the pod, called edamame is also found to help lower total cholesterol levels as well as improve the health of the heart. Studies show edamame can reduce total cholesterol levels by at least 3.9mg per dL and bad LDL cholesterol by as much as 5mg per DL.

The antioxidant properties and flavonoid content of dark chocolate have been known to improve heart health. Patients who eat dark chocolate at regular intervals are at a lower risk of developing coronary heart disease as compared to non-chocolate eaters.

Flavorful avocados, on the other hand, are rich in monounsaturated fats, which are healthy for the heart. The fruit has also been found to help reduce total cholesterol levels.

Eating these six food types can greatly help lower the risk of suffering from fatal heart attacks. Switching to a healthier diet and making these six food types part of the daily meal can very well save your life.