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13 Foods That Scrub Our Arteries Clean

As we get older, the collective opinions of the medical community and the mainstream media begin to instill a fear of cardiovascular disease in our minds. Every food becomes a danger for clogging your arteries. Every gym workout is spurned on by the growing fear that your heart isn’t as strong as it should be.

And with all that fear-mongering aside, your concerns are not without merit. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 614,348 deaths were caused by heart disease in 2014. This makes it the leading cause of death amongst all other diseases and health conditions, cancer included.

Atherosclerosis refers to the progressive clogging of the arteries. It is a key contributor to heart disease, along with stroke and a range of other cardiovascular conditions. Atherosclerosis is affected by a range of variables including autoimmunity, infection and dietary complications. It is also a condition which is entirely preventable. And in my opinion, it’s very easy to prevent or even reverse, provided you know which foods to eat and which to avoid.

I’ve put together a list of foods known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, nutrient-dense and fiber-rich properties. These are all important elements which can set you back on the path to healthier arteries and improved cardiovascular health. The added effect is that these foods will improve your health in general, meaning you’ll feel better than ever!

Fruit for Scrubbing Arteries.

Avocado.

A personal favorite of mine, avocados are unbelievably nutritious and make a great addition to any meal. They supercharge a boring sandwich and make salads a whole lot more exciting. They are great simply on their own or in a delicious homemade guacamole dip. It seems hard to believe that something so creamy and delicious can also be good for you, but you better believe it!

In addition to their other wide-ranging health properties, avocados have been shown to dramatically improve blood cholesterol. A study published in the Archives of Medical Research found that consuming avocado on a daily basis leads to a decrease in triglycerides. LDL cholesterol (the unofficial “bad” kind) dropped by about 22 percent and HDL (“good”) cholesterol increased by around 11 percent. Lower triglycerides and LDL cholesterol means clearer arteries and less chance of plaque buildup. And yes, avocados are technically fruit!

Cranberries.

The deep red hue of cranberries belies their antioxidant-rich properties, along with their deliciously tart flavor. Similar to avocados, the high concentrations of antioxidants contained within their ruby depths really give your cardiovascular health a boost by lowering LDL cholesterol and elevating HDL cholesterol levels. And the best thing about it? You can enjoy all the artery-scrubbing benefits of this fruit in a simple glass of pure cranberry juice. Easy as that.

Persimmons.

Let’s face it: they’re a little bit weird. You’ve probably bypassed the occasional persimmon display at the supermarket because you simply didn’t trust the darn things. Are they oranges, tomatoes or something else? Whatever their loyalties, persimmons are positively overflowing with antioxidants and polyphenols. Like the avocado and cranberry, these help to decrease both LDL cholesterol and triglycerides from your bloodstream. It also just so happens that persimmons are high in fiber, which is a critical aspect of regulating blood pressure and cleansing your arteries on a regular basis.

Watermelons.

It seems hard to believe that something so sweet and delicious can also play an important role in keeping your arteries clear and your heart healthy, but the experts seem to think it’s true. Watermelon contains plenty of a little thing called L-citrulline, an amino acid which lowers blood pressure and decreases inflammation. Therefore, it eases pressure on your arteries and promotes a healthy heart. Reflect on that next time you’re considering whether you’ve earned that next juicy slice of watermelon!

Vegetables and Spices.

Broccoli.

It’ll come as no surprise to you that broccoli, that flowery green vegetable that your mom always forced you to eat, is dynamite when it comes to artery scrubbing. This bushy brassica is packed with vitamin K, an essential antioxidant which helps to prevent calcification and hardening of the arteries. Not only that, broccoli is surprisingly high in readily available fiber. As we know, this helps to support heart health by normalizing blood pressure and lubricating arterial walls against damage.

Cinnamon.

The delicious taste and non-sugary sweetness of cinnamon mean that you shouldn’t really need any other reasons to use cinnamon on a daily basis. But here’s another one. It turns out that a tablespoon of cinnamon every day can dramatically reduce LDL cholesterol levels while simultaneously preventing plaque buildup. This effect is further supported by the fact that cinnamon makes an excellent replacement for sugar. It provides that sought-after sweetness in your coffee or baking but without elevating blood sugar levels and increasing inflammation in your arteries.

Spinach.

Here’s another vegetable which has long received it’s fair share of fame due to its wide-ranging health properties. Spinach is a powerful ally to have on your side when it comes to cardiovascular peace of mind. Spinach contains loads of fiber, potassium and folate, which collectively help to lower blood pressure and keep your arteries humming along without a care in the world. In addition, this study showed that one serving per day of folate-rich leafy greens, spinach included, significantly lowered homocysteine levels, which are recognized as a contributor to cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis.

Spirulina.

While technically not a vegetable, this powder derived from a particular species of blue-green algae holds its own in the vegetable department due to its vast array of amino acids. These amino acids surpass any found in any plant-based sources of protein, helping to fortify your health and regulate lipid levels in your blood. This, combined with plenty of omega-3 fatty acids, can significantly lower arterial inflammation and boost the health of your heart. Spirulina is best enjoyed as a nutrient-rich addition to your morning green smoothie or simply as a daily supplement.

Turmeric.

Turmeric is a spice which just keeps getting better and better in the eyes of the health community. This powerful anti-inflammatory orange powder owes many of its health benefits to the ultra-high levels of curcumin. This compound has been shown to reduce the fatty deposits in our arteries by as much as 26 percent. Not only that, studies show that curcumin supplementation, or simply getting plenty of turmeric in your diet, can reverse arterial dysfunction and reduce the oxidative effects of aging on your arteries. All good news for your heart.

Oils.

Coconut Oil.

If you’ve been following the dramatic rise of coconut oil in the alternative health community, you’ll probably be aware that the saturated fats found in this oil are loaded with essential nutrients. As a result, they’re amazingly good for your heart. The high concentrations of medium-chain triglycerides (MGT) in coconut oil can significantly reduce plaque buildup in your arteries. They can convert the cholesterol in your bloodstream into a form that is more readily available for utilization by your body. Far from saturated fats being a cause of heart disease (as the authorities led us to believe over the past 30 years), they are actually an important part of robust cardiovascular health.

Olive Oil.

Olive oil has been a favorite amongst health-savvy eaters for considerably longer than coconut oil, and for good reason. It has high concentrations of monounsaturated oleic acid. This is an essential fatty acid which has been linked to a lowering of triglycerides and a reduction of oxidative stress in the bloodstream. And while we’re on the topic, studies suggest that the positive effects of olive may be so profound that people who consume it on a regular basis have a 41 percent lower risk of stroke than those who don’t.

Seeds and Nuts.

Chia Seeds.

If you haven’t yet dabbled in the versatility of chia seeds, it’s time you did. They contain impressively high levels of both fiber and alpha-linolenic acids. These two important compounds work together to regulate blood pressure, reduce LDL cholesterol, increase HDL cholesterol and lower triglycerides. All important aspects of maintaining healthy arteries.

You’d probably be surprised by just how many delicious meals and snacks you can construct with chia seeds. Here are five recipes with chia seeds that I have a feeling you’ll love.

Almonds.

Due to their high levels of healthy fats and protein, nuts make an excellent snack alternative for anyone thinking of heart health. But in addition to their high fat and protein content, almonds contain plenty of vitamin E and fiber. Both of these support healthy artery function and robust cardiovascular function. If almonds aren’t really your thing, why not walnuts instead? They contain loads of alpha-linolenic acid, the same compound found in chia seeds. It reduces blood pressure, inflammation and keeps things running smoothly in your arteries.

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Contributor: Liivi Hess, Alternative Daily

Dry Skin Brushing… A Path to Good Health

Dry Skin Brushing...A Path to Good Health

The skin is the largest most important eliminative organ in the body and is responsible for one quarter of the body’s detoxification each day?

The skin eliminates over one pound of waste acids each day in the average adult, most of it through the sweat glands?
That the skin is known also as our third kidney?
That the skin receives one third of all the blood circulated in the body?
That the skin is the last to receive nutrients in the body, yet the first to show signs of imbalance or deficiency?

Detoxification is performed by a number of organs, glands, and transportation systems, including the skin, gut, kidneys, liver, lungs, lymphatic system, and mucous membranes. The dry brushing technique deals with detoxification of the skin.

Dry brushing is a way to stimulate all the above organs of detoxification because it provides a gentle internal massage.

Dry Brushing was recommended by the Finnish Dr. Paavo Airola for his patients 30 years ago and is still popular in European spas and many cancer treatment centers today. The Russians, Turks and Scandinavians have used this treatment for centuries. Dry brushing is promoted as a preventative for dry skin and a way to exfoliate the skin, thus stimulating skin renewal that is super soft to the touch, but there are many other benefits as well:

Removes cellulite

Cellulite is a non-scientific term defined as toxic deposits of subcutaneous fat material and fibrous tissue that are not able to be eliminated and which cause a dimpling effect on the overlying skin. These deposits most commonly occur on the thighs and hips of women. Cellulite can affect men and women of any body weight or size. What causes the toxins? Well, some think that we store the breakdown product of cells as toxins in this subcutaneous tissue. Others think that toxic emotions can be stored in the subcutaneous tissue which then builds up as cellulite.

Your best bets for getting rid of cellulite are dry brushing, connective tissue massage, working though the emotional issues that are causing the toxins to stagnate, eating foods that feed the skin, an alkaline diet program and a consistent/persistent exercise routine. These techniques will break down the unwelcome toxic body deposits and send them scurrying out your body through the elimination channels we discussed above. And your health will be SO much better for it!

Foods that feed the skin include foods that are rich in lecithin, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants such as eggs, organ meats, a balance of Omega-3-6-9 oils like Udo’s Choice, fresh dark green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, berries of all kinds, and dark chocolate (in condiment amounts—like an ounce a day!)

Cleanses the lymphatic system

Lymph is considered part of our immune system and is made of white blood cells called lymphocytes and the interstitial fluid that bathe our cells, bringing our cells nutrients and removing their waste. All detoxification occurs first and foremost through the lymph. Our bodies contain far more lymph than blood, so you can see how important this might be. Paavo Airola maintains that dry brushing is an essential part of any intestinal cleansing and healing program.

Dry brushing literally moves the lymph containing large proteins and particulate matter that cannot be transported in any other way back into circulatory system. If these proteins stayed in our systems outside the blood vessels, it would attract other fluid. Pretty soon we’d get swollen ankles, limbs and eventually we’d be leaking fluid out our skin (not a pretty sight.) This is called lymph edema and is why most health programs include some type of exercise and body work.

So, why don’t we die if we don’t do this dry brushing thing? Well, lymph vessels themselves have their own pumping mechanism sensing when the vessels have more fluid in them or in the interstitial fluids. Lymph only goes one way because of the many one-way valves on the insides of each lymph vessel. The body is a fascinating thing. It literally pumps the lymph along its path back to the heart. Removal of proteins from the interstitial spaces is an essential function. Without this happening, we would die within 24 hours. We can help speed this process up when we dry brush or massage toward the heart, contract our muscles and move our bodies (like when we walk or exercise.)

Increased lymph flow can also be caused by high blood pressure. This is why it is so important to attend to this malady and why the doctors get into a frenzy of prescribing so many different medications for it. (Currently there are over 140 medications for high blood pressure!)

Removes dead skin layers

Dry skin brushing helps shed dead skin cells, which can help improve skin texture and cell renewal. Dry skin is a sign of detoxification. Therefore it’s good to keep the process going by removing the dead skin daily. If this does not occur, a “log jam” can happen where the person ends up with eczema, psoriasis, and dandruff.

Strengthens the immune system

Dry skin brushing may reduce duration of infection and accelerate the clearing of toxins. It helps support the immune system during cancer and other chronic illness treatment. By stimulating the lymph vessels to drain toxic mucoid matter into organs of detoxification we can purify the entire system. After several days of dry brushing, sometimes you may notice a gelatinous mucoid material in your stools. This is a normal sign that the intestinal tract is renewing itself. Best of all, it feels invigorating!

Stimulates the hormone and oil- producing glands

…thus helping all of the body systems perform at peak efficiency. The skin is your body’s largest organ. When improperly maintained, the elimination duties of the skin are forced upon the kidneys. Chemical analysis of sweat shows that it has almost the same constituents as urine. If the skin becomes inactive, its pores choke with millions of dead cells, uric acid and other impurities which will remain in the body putting extra stress on the liver and kidneys. People with big hips and thighs usually have low-grade bladder infections. Another sign of this is that the body gives off a distinct sickening odor. When the bladder and kidney are really sick, the calves are often swollen as well and the feet stink. So, give your kidneys a break—keep your skin clean and rejuvenated. Bathe daily and do a dry brushing before the bath to help stimulate blood flow to the surface so that toxins can more easily escape.

Tightens the skin preventing premature aging

…which, in turn moves toxins and lessens the appearance of cellulite. Our bodies make a new top layer of skin every 24 hours – skin brushing removes the old top layer, allowing the clean new layer to come to the surface, resulting in softer, smoother skin

Tones the muscles

Dry skin brushing helps muscle tone by stimulating the nerve endings which causes the individual muscle fibers to activate and move. It also helps mobilize fat and helps to even distribution of fat deposits. This is a great technique for invalids who can’t exercise.

Stimulates circulation. Our skin breathes!

And yet, in most people, this vital route of detoxification is operating far below its capacity, because it is clogged with dead skin cells and the un-removed waste excreted through perspiration. Dry skin brushing increases circulation to skin, encouraging your body’s discharge of metabolic wastes. Increased blood flow begins entering the areas brushed and you will experience an increase in electromagnetic energy that permits you to feel energized and invigorated. By activating the circulation you can also prevent varicose veins.

Improves the function of the nervous system

Dry skin brushing rejuvenates the nervous system by stimulating nerve endings in the skin.

Helps digestion

Dry skin brushing helps your skin to absorb nutrients by eliminating clogged pores. Healthy, breathing skin contributes to overall body health. When you brush, the pores of your skin open allowing your skin to absorb nutrients and eliminate toxins. Clogged Dry Brushing:

To dry brush, use a soft natural fiber brush with a long handle, so that you are able to reach all areas of your body. One with a removable head is a good choice.Pores are not just a cosmetic concern. Healthy, breathing skin contributes to overall body health.

AND it’s easy, inexpensive and invigorating!

So, What Are You Waiting For?

CLICK HERE FOR EVEN MORE DETAILS ON DRY SKIN BRUSHING BENEFITS

Stress May Have Some Important Cognitive Benefits, New Study Suggests

In a new study, people who reported feeling no stress experienced better moods and were less likely to have chronic health conditions than people who did face stressors.

However, the people who did not experience stress scored lower on cognition tests. They were also less likely to experience positive events and to give or receive emotional support than people who experienced stress.

If accurate, these findings could complicate the seemingly one-sided relationship between stress and health by suggesting that stress may play a positive role in some elements of health and well-being.

More than 75% of adults living in the United States report experiencing emotional or physical symptoms related to stress.

In addition, a recent survey that the American Psychological Association (APA) commissioned found that almost 78% of adults in the U.S. are experiencing significant stress associated with the current pandemic.

The body is equipped to handle small, occasional periods of stress, but researchers have linked excessive or chronic stress with a slew of negative health consequences, ranging from migraine headaches to cardiovascular problems.

Despite this, there has been little research investigating the possible association between experiencing less stress and an increase in health or well-being.

That is why a team of researchers from Penn State set out to explore whether people who experience little to no stress are healthier than people who do become stressed.

“The assumption has always been that stress is bad,” says senior author David M. Almeida, a professor of human development and family studies at Penn State.

“I took a step back and thought: What about the people who report never having stress? My previous work has focused on people who have higher vs. lower levels of stress, but I’d never questioned what it looks like if people experience no stress. Are they the healthiest of all?”

Stress and Health
Stress is a healthy human response that most people experience from time to time.

It can sometimes be helpful. Stress causes a release of epinephrine that makes it easier to do tasks and enhances performance and problem-solving skills.

This rush of epinephrine can also help prepare the body to handle a threat or flee for safety by increasing pulse, breathing rate, and muscle tension. Stress can also act as a source of motivation in everyday situations, such as completing a project or taking a test.

However, research shows that when stress becomes long-term, it can negatively affect every system in the body.

Over time, chronic stress can become debilitating. It can also increase the risk of serious health complications, such as obesity, depression, and heart disease.

Many symptoms of stress are easy to ignore or mistake for symptoms of other common conditions. The symptoms of chronic stress include:

Headaches
digestive problems
skin problems
pain
lack of energy, focus, and interest in previously enjoyed activities
being irritable, easy to anger, and forgetful
eating too much or too little
misuse of alcohol or drugs
feeling overwhelmed, anxious, fearful, or out of control
feeling depressed
insomnia
heart palpitations

While there is substantial proof of the negative health impacts of stress, little research has assessed whether experiencing less stress actually improves health. According to the new study’s findings, this connection may be more complicated than experts previously thought.

Stress May Have Cognitive Benefits
In the study, the researchers tracked 2,804 participants for just over a week. Before the study began, all of the participants completed a cognition test.

During the study, the researchers interviewed the participants nightly for 8 consecutive nights, asking questions about their chronic conditions, physical symptoms, mood, and the number of stressors they experienced during the day. They also asked the participants how many positive experiences they had had within the previous 24 hours.

About 10% of the participants did not report experiencing stress during the study period. These individuals were more likely to experience positive moods and less likely to have chronic health conditions.

On the other hand, the participants who did not experience stress scored lower on the cognition test than those who did. The difference in scores equated to the cognitive decline that would occur in approximately 8 years of aging.

Participants who did not report any stress also experienced fewer positive events than those who did, and they were less likely to give or receive emotional support. These participants were also more likely to be older, unmarried men.

“I think there’s an assumption that negative events and positive events are these polar opposites, but in reality, they’re correlated,” says Almeida.

“It’s possible that experiencing stressors creates opportunities for you to solve a problem — for example, maybe fixing your computer that has suddenly broken down before an important Zoom meeting,” Almeida adds.

“Experiencing these stressors may not be pleasant, but they may force you to solve a problem, and this might actually be good for cognitive functioning, especially as we grow older.”

Almedia notes that minor daily stressors might also be a marker of “a busy and maybe full life.” In this case, he says, “having some stress is just an indicator that you are engaged in life.”

More Research Necessary
More research is necessary to define the correlation between stress, health, and emotional well-being.

However, the link is unlikely to be clear and easy to define, given how many factors influence how someone experiences, responds to, and manages stress.

For example, on average, females and males have different mental and physical reactions to stress.

Some groups of people may also be more likely to have exposure to certain stressors. A 2020 study found that in the U.S., some Black and Hispanic people may experience higher rates of stress than white people, due primarily to socioeconomic factors.

Despite the challenge, these new findings could encourage more researchers to explore and better understand whether reducing stress improves health.

It will probably require substantial supportive research, as well as a total shift in how society and researchers view stress, before people start to see stress as a positive event.

However, Almeida says that the team’s findings may offer new insight into how to interact with and process stress, which is a largely unavoidable event for most people. He notes that the findings suggest it may be better to change the response to stress than to try to avoid it outright.

“Stressors are events that create challenges in our lives. And I think experiencing stressors is part of life,” says Almeida. “I think what’s important is how people respond to stressors. Responding to a stressor by being upset and worried is more unhealthy than the number of stressors you encounter.”

Contributor: Jennifer Huizen, Medical News Today

Sex Addiction Isn’t a Medically Recognized Diagnosis

Sex Addiction Isn't a Medically Recognized Diagnosis

Contrary to cultural belief, psychiatrists don’t consider sex addiction an actual addiction, disorder or diagnosis.

Local law enforcement told reporters that shooting suspect Robert Aaron Long had “made indicators that he has some issues — potentially sexual addiction — and may have frequented some of these places in the past.” Law enforcement also shared that Long had recently been kicked out of his family’s house because of his sex addiction, which included regularly watching pornography for hours. Former rehabilitation facility roommates of Long’s have said sexual addiction was something the suspect was being treated for and was distraught over.

But despite social acceptance of the term — and the pattern of killers claiming it as a motive for their crimes — sex addiction isn’t an accepted psychiatric diagnosis.

That’s because the “gold standard in terms of how we think of addiction” is determined by how substances, behaviors or activities trigger certain brain receptors and responses, said Dr. Ziv Cohen, a forensic and clinical psychiatrist and an adjunct assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University. That is neurobiological evidence of addiction, which researchers have observed in people who gamble or consume drugs or alcohol, but largely not in people who have identified as sex or porn addicts.

For this reason, sex addiction has previously been rejected for inclusion in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the handbook used by health care professionals as the authoritative guide to diagnosing mental disorders. People are still treated for or seek support for this issue, but experts have said there are other factors to consider.

Other reasons why ‘sex addiction’ isn’t an addiction
Symptoms of addictions include “impaired control over behavior, social impairment, … risky use that is continuing despite clear physical and other risks to the individual, and the development of, in the case of substances, tolerance and withdrawal,” said Dr. Paul Appelbaum, the chair of the DSM Steering Committee at the APA and a professor of psychiatry at Columbia University in New York City. Psychiatrists are also hesitant to characterize levels or brands of sexuality as pathological.

“American psychiatry, for many years, considered homosexuality a psychiatric illness,” Cohen said. “There’s a legacy from that, a very painful legacy.”

Secondly, there are many people “who struggle with healthy sexuality who feel guilty or ashamed of normal sexuality,” Cohen added. “There’s a concern that if you say that there’s something called ‘sex addiction,’ that a lot of people who really don’t have it will start to think that their sexuality, their sexual urges, are not healthy.”

Also, knowing “where to draw the line between healthy and unhealthy sexual urges” is difficult, Cohen said. Sexual urges that violate the rights of other people are easy to classify as pathological. “But if you’re simply saying you have a high sex drive, which leads you to watch a lot of pornography or to pay for sex, it’s harder to just intrinsically label that as pathological because it’s not involved in violating the rights of others.”

Diagnosing and treating issues with sex
The clinical illegitimacy of sex addiction doesn’t mean, however, that people’s personal issues with sex aren’t real. Brain activity isn’t the only way that mental health professionals identify and diagnose disorders. Whether a person’s symptoms interfere with the ability to function in various aspects of life is also a consideration.

Advocates of treating sex addiction as a legitimate disorder “would say, ‘we have subjective distress and functional impairment in individuals with sex addiction, and therefore it should be a diagnosis,'” Cohen said. “You do have clinicians who are out there treating sex addiction, even though it’s not an official diagnosis. So that can seem a little confusing.”

Sex Addicts Anonymous is a 12-step recovery program that provides no scientific or clinical expertise, and therefore doesn’t get involved in clinical discussions “around whether sex addiction is an addiction or not,” said Phillip, the program manager of public information at the International Service Organization of SAA, Inc., in Houston. “I can tell you, however, from our experience, that we can definitely say that for us, sex addiction exists.”

What seems like sex addiction could be hypersexuality, which is sometimes a symptom of bipolar disorder or impulse control disorders, Cohen said.

“In bipolar disorder, when you’re having a manic episode, you tend to be very hyper, you have a lot of energy, you become very hedonistic, seeking pleasure,” he explained. “Manic people often end up becoming very sexually impulsive.”

People who feel normal sexual urges but aren’t satisfied with sexual activities — and therefore can’t stop — would be exhibiting compulsive sexual behaviors, which could be in the obsessive-compulsive disorder spectrum, Cohen said.

The most robust predictor for identifying as a sex addict is coming from a conservative, religious background “where very rigid, heteronormative, monogamy-focused rules about sexuality are promoted,” said David J. Ley, a clinical psychologist and author of the book “The Myth of Sex Addiction.”

“Through the sexual world that we live in, these people … are not prepared to manage these sexual desires that come up for them and the opportunity to pursue them. And so they hate themselves for having these sexual desires.”

Suppressing those desires may make the feelings more powerful and harder to avoid, Ley added, even if they don’t rise to the level of a mental disorder.

“People do struggle with these issues,” Ley said. “But it’s really important for us to understand why they struggle with them, and why certain people struggle with them and others don’t, so that we can help these people.

Contributor: Kristen Rogers, CNN