Onions and garlic
The heart and its interconnected blood vessels—arteries, veins, and capillaries—comprise the circulatory system, an amazing network that is capable of sending five liters of blood through it every single minute.
The hardworking heart muscle drives the cardiovascular system, which makes sure oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and cellular waste products reach the proper parts of the body. The system can be affected by circulatory issues—among them hardening of the arteries, high cholesterol, blood-pressure problems, or stroke, as well as blood diseases and heart conditions, such as coronary disease, which imperils the heart’s arteries and is the top killer of adult men and women in the United States. Preventative measures are always preferred to surgical solutions, and botanicals offer many properties that can heal, strengthen, and maintain the cardiovascular network.
HEART-HEALTHY OPTIONS
Herbs and spices can offer many forms of assistance to the circulatory system, from lowering cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar, to thinning the blood and steadying heartbeat, to avoiding strokes, to acting as a healing tonic for the heart itself.
Lower Those Levels: Garlic (and its cousin, the onion) has a long history of lowering cholesterol and to some extent blood pressure, treating arteriosclerosis, and preventing stroke that goes back to Stone Age laborers and the builders of the pyramids. These beneficial effects are believed to be the result of the plant’s sulfur-bearing compounds.Anti-inflammatory ginger can thin the blood, reduce bad cholesterol, and relax the blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure. Green tea, with its many antioxidants and flavonoids, is another go-to for its ability to strength the lining of the heart and blood vessels, while battling triglycerides and bad cholesterol.
Onions and garlic
DIY: A Sweet Cure
Boost Heart Function: Hawthorn (Crataegus oxycanthus) had a long history in the natural-healing community as the go-to herb for increasing the strength of the heart, and in the 1800s medical doctors began experimenting with the herb, with encouraging results. The leaves, flowers, and fruit all contain chemical compounds that increase blood flow, and can treat angina pectoris, arrhythmia, and circulatory insufficiency in addition to heart disease. Hawthorn is safe for long-term use and should be taken for several months to be truly effective. Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) is another respected tonic that benefits the circulatory system; this herb has been used to strengthen the heart and treat palpitations, mild irregularities, and high blood pressure. It too should be taken for a period of several months.
Bring the Heat: Cayenne pepper and its active ingredient, capsaicin, are known to fight free radicals, prevent blood clots, and dilate blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure. The herb also increases metabolism and helps with weight loss, two other factors in maintaining a healthy ticker.
Cardio Champs: Other powerhouse herbs that impact the heart include turmeric, with its circulation-stimulating curcumin; thyme, which combats free radicals that can damage the cardiovascular system; antioxidant cardamom, which lowers blood pressure; cardioprotective fenugreek seeds; and coriander, with its antioxidant and antiplatelet compounds; it also helps to manage diabetes, a risk factor for heart disease. Tasty hibiscus tea can reduce hardening of the arteries and high blood pressure.
Cinnamon