The following dietary suggestions are based on the work of Dr. Louis Ignarro. Dr Ignarro was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his discovery that nitric oxide helps blood flow to every part of our body.
These foods specifically help support nitric oxide production which in turn leads to a much healthier cardio profile.
Egg Whites
If eating the yolk does not appeal to you, instead, eat only the protein-rich whites. Almost all restaurants offer a variety of egg-white omelets that are not only tasty, they are heart healthy.
One of the primary nutritional advantages of egg whites is they are a good source of nitric oxide boosting protein.
Garlic
When garlic is crushed or sliced it releases a sulfurous compound called allicin, which gives it not only its pungent odor but also is curative abilities, because it is powerful antioxidant.
Green Tea
Green tea contains a major antioxidant called EGGG (epigallocatechin gallate), which appears to kill cancer cells without harming healthy ones. EGGG as an antioxidant combats oxidative stress and in so doing, protects your endothelial cells from invading molecules.
Flaxseed
Flaxseed can be a very important player in maintaining cardiovascular health. Its seeds can be left whole and shewed, or make into meal or an oil. Whatever form you prefer it will do wonders for your cardiovascular health.
One of the best antioxidant supplements for your nutritional arsenal. Flaxseed oil is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids and soluble fiber. It has a startling 53 grams of omega-3 per 3.5 ounces fo the oil,compared to 11 grams in an equal amount of canola oil.
Soy
A growing number of nutritionists and scientists are finding themselves persuaded by the mounting evidence supporting a role for soy in a heart-healthy diet. Researchers at the University of Milano in Italy wrote, ” The soybean diet is the most potent dietary tool for hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol levels).” In the New England Journal of Medicine scientist reported that when eating an average of 47 grams of soy protein a day rather than animal protein, total cholesterol levels dipped 9.3 percent, LDL cholesterol declined 12.9 percent, and triglycerides fell 10.5 percent.
Dark Chocolate
The benefits of chocolate and cocoa powder rest with substances called polyphenols, which are antioxidants that can minimize free radical damage and preserve nitric oxide.
Pennsylvania State University researchers pointed out in their published paper, dark chocolate can increase your antioxidant intake, but it is only one means of doing so. Because of the high caloric content it should be a small part of an overall healthy diet.
The biggest drawback to dark chocolate is that is contains tons of calories. Warning – consume chocolate only in moderation.
Red Wine
Researchers have been impressed by large epidemiological studies showing that people who drank a glass or two of wine a day had a greater life expectancy, and were less likely to develop heart disease.
Scientists began studying the specific ingredients of wine under the microscope. They found that red wine in particular is rich in polyphenols – antioxidants that interfere with platelet aggregation and also appear to protect nitric oxide and markedly stimulate nitric oxide production.
Wine and other types of alcohol can also increase the levels of HDL cholesterol in the blood and may interfere with the inflammatory processes that can contribute to heart disease.
Grape Juice
If you are not into red wine there appears to be another simple way to reap many of is benefits another way – purple grape juice. Grape juice contains the same polyphenols that are found in red wine; it just has not been fermented.
Blueberries
If you are looking for a potent source of antioxidants, you can’t do much better than blueberries. Blueberries are believed to function by preserving the bioavailability of nitric oxide.
The U.S Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition research Center on Aging at Tufts University, blueberries were ranked as the best source of antioxidant activity and nitric oxide protection when compared to forty other fruits and vegetables – better than strawberries, better than kale, better than garlic, spinach, and every other food that was tested. They are also a good source of fiber. Blueberries contain plenty of pectin, which may be best known as a cholesterol-lowering fiber found in apples, most other fruits and vegetables.
Pomegranate Juice
Studies out of Israel have shown that pomegranate juice may be vying to be the richest known source of natural antioxidants – possessing more healthful polyphenols than red wine and green tea. The juice from pomegranates can not only protect against increases in cholesterol levels, but it can also actually lower cholesterol counts. In animal studies, pomegranate juice effectively reduced the severity of atherosclerosis.
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