Clogged Arteries – Symptoms, Causes, And Diet Tips + 11 Natural Remedies

Around 32% of deaths worldwide occur due to atherosclerosis – the end result of clogged arteries.

Clogged arteries don’t just put you at a higher risk of developing serious cardiac conditions but can also turn lethal if not treated in time. And although medical intervention can help unclog your arteries, it cannot stop the recurrence of the condition. That is, unless you decide to make some major changes to your diet and lifestyle.

If you are looking for natural alternatives for unclogging your arteries or want to know how you can prevent the recurrence of this condition, this article is for you. Keep reading.

What Are Clogged Arteries?

Clogged arteries result from the build-up of a substance called plaque in the arterial walls. It is also medically referred to as arterial plaque. This plaque can reduce blood flow or even block it altogether.

Clogged arteries increase your risk of developing other health complications like a heart attack or stroke and may even lead to death.

Given the seriousness of this health issue, it is important that you understand its causes and risk factors.

Causes And Risk Factors For Clogged Arteries

Clogged arteries, as we already mentioned, are caused due to the accumulation of plaque on the inner walls of your arteries.

This plaque is made up of various substances that are circulating in your blood, such as calcium, cholesterol, fat, cellular waste, and fibrin (a material needed for blood clotting).

In response to the build-up of plaque, the cells in your arteries multiply and secrete even more substances, thus worsening the state of the already clogged arteries.

As the arterial plaque keeps on building up, you are at risk of a condition called atherosclerosis that causes your arteries to narrow and harden.

Some of the most common risk factors for clogged arteries are:

• High levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) or low levels of HDL (good cholesterol)
• A high blood pressure
• Smoking tobacco
• Diabetes or elevated blood sugar levels
• A family history of atherosclerosis or clogged arteries
• Stress
• Obesity
• A sedentary lifestyle

The plaque build-up in your arteries often starts during childhood or your teenage years. This results in clogged arteries when you are middle-aged or older.

Most cases of clogged arteries do not exhibit any symptoms until a heart attack or blood clot presents itself. However, in cases where 70% or more of the arteries are blocked, you will notice the following symptoms.

Signs And Symptoms Of Clogged Arteries

Severe cases of clogged arteries may exhibit symptoms like:

• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Chest pain or angina
• Palpitations of the heart
• Dizziness
• Weakness

If these symptoms have left you uneasy and doubtful about your condition, a few diagnostic tests will help clear the air.

Diagnosis Of Clogged Arteries

Several tests can diagnose clogged arteries. Some of them include:

• X-ray of the chest
• Cholesterol screening
• A CT scan
• An ultrasound
• Echocardiogram
• Cardiac stress test
• Electrocardiogram
• MRI or PET scanning
• Angiogram (cardiac catheterization)

Once your condition is diagnosed, your doctor may give you the following treatment options:

• Surgical or interventional procedures like stent placement, balloon angioplasty, or bypass surgery
• Medications for lowering cholesterol or blood pressure and other blood-thinning drugs like aspirin
• Acupressure
• Diet and lifestyle control and reversal of plaque

Your diet is of utmost significance when it comes to dealing with clogged arteries and preventing further complications. To help you get a better idea of what you should eat or avoid, we have prepared the following list.

Best Foods To Cleanse Your Arteries

A variety of foods can help in cleansing your arteries naturally and unclogging them. They include:

• Buckwheat
• Cranberry juice
• Pomegranate juice
• Avocados
• Broccoli
• Asparagus
• Watermelon
• Olive oil
• Nuts
• Spinach
• Whole grains

Foods To Avoid

You must eliminate a few foods from your diet as they can worsen clogged arteries. They are:

• Refined grains
• Too much salt
• Sweeteners
• Processed foods
• Dairy products like cheese, butter, milk, ice cream, etc.
• Egg yolks
• Fried or fast foods
• Pastries
• Meats

To help unclog your arteries naturally, you can also give the following home remedies a shot for a safe and effective recovery.

Home Remedies That May Unclog Arteries

1. Apple Cider Vinegar

You Will Need

• 1 tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar
• 1 glass of warm water

What You Have To Do

1. Add a tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water and mix well.
2. Consume this mixture immediately.

How Often You Should Do This

You must drink this 1 to 2 times daily.

Why This Works

Apple cider vinegar can help in getting rid of the bad cholesterol that is lining up your arteries and clogging them. It can also help manage diabetes that further increases your risk of clogged arteries (1).

2. Cayenne Pepper

You Will Need

• ½ – 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper powder
• 1 glass of warm water

What You Have To Do

1. Mix a teaspoon of cayenne pepper powder in a glass of slightly hot water.
2. You can also add a little honey to this mixture to improve its flavor.
3. Consume immediately.

How Often You Should Do This

Drink this mixture 1 to 2 times daily for a few weeks to start seeing results.

Why This Works

Cayenne pepper contains a compound called capsaicin. This compound can alleviate inflammation in your arteries and also help in reducing the bad cholesterol (LDL) lining your arteries (2).

3. Essential Oils

a. Ginger Oil

You Will Need

• 3-4 drops of ginger oil
• Water
• A diffuser

What You Have To Do

1. Fill a diffuser with water and add
2. three to four drops of ginger oil to it.
3. Inhale the diffused aroma.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this 1 to 2 times daily.

Why This Works

Ginger oil contains gingerol, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory compound. It alleviates inflammation in the arteries, preventing clogging and oxidizing bad cholesterol (3).

b. Helichrysum Oil

You Will Need

• 3-4 drops of helichrysum oil
• Water
• A diffuser

What You Have To Do

1. Add three to four drops of helichrysum oil to a diffuser filled with water.
2. Inhale the diffused air.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this 1 to 2 times daily.

Why This Works

Helichrysum oil helps reduce high blood pressure, which is one of the leading causes of clogged arteries (4).

4. Garlic And Lemon

You Will Need

• 30 peeled garlic cloves
• 6 lemons
• Water (as required)
• Sugar or honey (optional)
• Glass bottles

What You Have To Do

1. Blend the cut lemons and peeled garlic cloves.
2. Add water as necessary to get a thin consistency.
3. You can also add some sugar or honey for added flavor.
4. Pour this mixture into a pot and bring it to a boil.
5. Simmer for 5 minutes and strain.
6. Allow the mixture to cool for some time before pouring it into glass bottles.
7. Refrigerate the solution.
8. Drink a glass of this solution every day for 3 weeks initially.
9. Stop for a week.
10. Continue drinking a glass of this solution daily for another 3 weeks.

How Often You Should Do This

You must repeat the above remedy once every year or as required to steer clear of clogged arteries forever.

Why This Works

Garlic and lemon work wonderfully in the treatment of clogged arteries. While garlic prevents further clogging, lemon peels are a rich source of vitamin P that strengthens the entire arterial system (5).

5. Turmeric

You Will Need

• ½ – 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
• 1 glass of slightly hot water (optional)

What You Have To Do

1. Add small amounts of turmeric powder to different dishes.
2. You can also add half to one teaspoon of turmeric powder to a glass of warm water and drink it.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this on a daily basis.

Why This Works

Turmeric contains a compound called curcumin. This compound reduces the plaque build-up in your arteries by reducing inflammation and lowering bad cholesterol in your arterial walls (6), (7).

6. Vitamin C

You Will Need

100-500 mg of vitamin C

What You Have To Do

1. Consume foods rich in vitamin C, like citrus fruits and green leafy veggies.
2. You can also take supplements for vitamin C after consulting your doctor.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this on a daily basis.

Why This Works

Vitamin C exhibits powerful healing properties when it comes to your heart and arteries. Its powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties can reduce inflammation in the arterial walls and the consequent clogging (8).

7. Black Fungus

You Will Need

• 40 g black fungus
• An inch of ginger
• 10 red dates
• 1 liter of water

What You Have To Do

1. Soak the black fungus for about 2 hours.
2. After 2 hours, drain the fungus and transfer it to a slow cooker.
3. Add a liter of hot water, ginger, and dates to the cooker and bring the ingredients to a boil.
4. Simmer for about 8 hours and strain.
5. Discard the ingredients used while retaining the water.
6. Have a glass of this preparation.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this daily for at least 2 weeks to start seeing results.

Why This Works

Black fungus is a popular remedy used in Chinese medicine to reduce LDL or bad cholesterol. As we are aware, elevated levels of LDL are one of the main causes of clogged arteries, and black fungus provides relief from this condition (9).

8. Green Tea

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of green tea
• 1 cup of water

What You Have To Do

1. Add a teaspoon of green tea to a cup of water and bring it to a boil in a saucepan.
2. Simmer for 5 minutes and strain.
3. Allow the tea to cool a little before drinking it.

How Often You Should Do This

Drink green tea 1 to 2 times daily for optimum results.

Why This Works

Green tea contains polyphenols that are powerful antioxidants. These compounds help in unclogging your arteries and also prevent cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis (10), (11).

9. Onion Juice

You Will Need

• 100 mL of fresh onion juice
• Honey (as required)

What You Have To Do

1. Extract 100 mL of onion juice and
2. add a little honey to it and mix well.
3. Consume a tablespoon of this juice daily before meals.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this thrice daily, half an hour before your meal.

Why This Works

Onion juice not only helps in lowering the existing cholesterol levels but also prevents many cardiovascular diseases. It can also be used as a remedy for atherosclerosis, a disease that occurs as a result of clogged arteries (12).

10. Oatmeal

You Will Need

A bowl of cooked oatmeal

What You Have To Do

1. Have a bowl of cooked oatmeal regularly.
2. Try and cook the oats in almond or soy milk.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this daily for optimum benefits.

Why This Works

Oatmeal is a popular remedy for treating clogged arteries due to the presence of a soluble fiber called beta-glucan in it. With its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, oatmeal can also help lower the LDL (bad) cholesterol in the arteries (13).

Merely following these home remedies while you continue to eat unhealthy and remain inactive will not help at all. It is equally important to make a few lifestyle changes to prevent your arteries from clogging again.

How To Prevent Clogged Arteries

• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Quit smoking.
• Follow a healthy plant diet that is ultra-low in saturated fats and cholesterol.
• Exercise regularly.
• Manage your stress.
• Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control.
• Maintain low blood sugar levels.

Clogged arteries can put you at high risk of developing many other health complications. This highlights the need to treat this condition as soon as you can to prevent risks and even death.

Try these remedies and tips and share your feedback with us in the comments box below.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long it takes to reverse clogged arteries?

Some benefits can be seen within weeks but it may take months or even a year to reverse clogged arteries. You can speed up the recovery by managing your cholesterol, sugar levels, and other risk factors.

Can a skinny person have clogged arteries?

Yes, even skinny people can have clogged arteries if they indulge in unhealthy eating habits and other lifestyle choices.

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Reviewer Author

Joel KahnMD

   

Joel Kahn, MD is a practicing cardiologist with 39 years of experience and a Clinical Professor of Medicine at Wayne State University School of Medicine. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Michigan Medical School and trained in interventional cardiology in Dallas and Kansas City.

Read full bio of Joel Kahn

Shaheen NaserHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Shaheen holds a postgraduate degree in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology from Bharathiar University. She is a Geneticist with proficiency in Biotechnology, Immunology, Medical Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Genetic Counseling.

Read full bio of Shaheen Naser