Top 7 most harmful foods for blood vessels — which food clogs them the most?
Almost all diseases of the cardiovascular system are directly or indirectly related to an unhealthy diet. The main "mistakes" that patients with such diseases make are the inclusion in the diet of excessively large amounts of protein and animal fat–rich foods.
Most often, this leads to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the vascular system already in 40-50 years. They, in turn, worsen the speed of blood flow, increase the chance of stroke or heart attack, varicose veins, thrombosis.
Numerous studies confirm that nutrition directly affects the health of the cardiovascular system.
But which foods in this regard are the most harmful to the health of our blood vessels? Which of them should be completely abandoned, and which should be limited in the daily diet?
Content
A little bit about the effect of nutrition on the cardiovascular system
The main rule of a healthy diet is that it should be balanced. That is, animal fats, plant foods, and carbohydrate-rich foods should be consumed equally. If any product or dish prevails in the diet, then this will lead to an imbalance of the entire digestive system.
After all, for example, vitamins C, A and E are necessary for the oxidation of the same cholesterol, and they are mainly found in vegetables and fruits.
If you eat mostly fatty meats, but at the same time eat the same vegetables only 1 time a week, then cholesterol in the blood will gradually accumulate, but it will not break down into derivatives , because there are not enough vitamins for this.
What foods destroy and pollute our blood vessels? First of all, with a high content of low-density cholesterol. These include foods rich in animal fats (for example, pork, fish, whole milk, butter).
Food with a high content of simple carbohydrates is also no less harmful to blood vessels – it leads to excessive accumulation of glucose in the blood, and as a result, to clogging of vessels. If it is not in demand (and it is used only during physical activity, synthesized to energy), then glucose is transformed into lipid compounds and accumulates in the form of subcutaneous fat deposits.
Over time, this will necessarily lead to increased pressure on blood vessels, as well as to the replacement of hepatic tissue with fatty tissue (the same thing happens with the pancreas).
7 of the most harmful products
It should be clarified immediately that these products should not be completely excluded from the diet. Ideally, you should consult with a nutritionist on this matter. It will help to make an optimal diet, taking into account the clinical picture of the patient.
1. Sugar
Sugar consists of almost 98% carbohydrates. When they enter the gastrointestinal tract, they are digested and synthesized to glucose, which is oxidized with the release of energy. That is why doctors recommend making breakfast rich in carbohydrates – it helps to maintain the energy tone of the body.
Learn more about the effect of sugar on the heart and blood vessels see a separate article.
But if glucose is not used, it is transformed into lipid compounds. That is, it turns into fat, is deposited in subcutaneous adipose tissue and clogs blood vessels.
And excessive sugar in the blood provokes the appearance of micro-damage to the internal walls of blood vessels. It is in these places that cholesterol and lipids subsequently "settle", which form the basis of atherosclerotic plaques, which confirmed by research .
2. Alcohol
The harm of alcohol to blood vessels and the entire human body is an axiom that does not require any confirmation. Russian scientists even claim that the main cause of the demographic crisis in the Russian Federation is precisely widespread alcoholism among the adult population.
The following factors of its influence can be distinguished:
- Promotes the accumulation of toxins in the blood . All derivatives of ethyl alcohol act as a poison, gradually reducing the elasticity of the blood vessels of the brain and the whole body.
- Increases blood pressure. Hypertension is one of the most dangerous precursors of heart attack and stroke.
- Impairs the functioning of the nervous system. At the same time, the work of the sinus node is disrupted, which causes the period of contraction of the chambers of the heart muscle to be disrupted, which provokes spasms.
- Has a destructive effect on the liver. Namely, it is necessary for the oxidation and breakdown of cholesterol, the removal of toxins from the blood.
Alcohol in small quantities can really be useful – it improves the production of red blood cells, increases blood oxygen saturation for a short time. But we are talking about very small doses – from 30 to 50 milliliters of red wine per day, and no more than 3 times a week.
3. Deep-processed meat
Chicken meat, pork or beef are rich not only in animal fats, but also in proteins, B vitamins, and The heart needs potassium and magnesium
.
That's just most of the useful trace elements are destroyed during thermal and mechanical processing. That is why different kinds of sausages or sausages do not bring practical benefits – they only give calories and a feeling of satiety. It is necessary to use only healthy meat .
And processed animal fat also becomes harmful – carcinogenic compounds are formed in it , which in the future may provoke the development of cancer.
And the negative effect of these harmful substances on the vessels of the heart and brain has been confirmed by research. So, it is better to give up such meat, giving preference to home cooking.
4. Mayonnaise and similar sauces
Homemade mayonnaise is quite a useful product, although it contains a considerable amount of cholesterol (it is found in chicken and quail eggs).
And the one that is offered on store shelves often contains palm oil, saturated trans fats. All these substances in excess provoke the accumulation of low-density lipids , which are extremely willing to settle on the walls of blood vessels.
Mayonnaise &8212; one of of the most heart-damaging foods.
And there are practically no useful trace elements in such sauces – the same mayonnaise is pasteurized before sale for long-term storage.
5. Margarine
Classic margarine is made using melted butter and butter (their derivatives). Such a product in moderation is useful for the human body.
But the margarine that is being produced now does not bring any benefit to the body at all. You can safely abandon it completely. It is based on palm oil - vegetable oil, 90% of which is practically not absorbed by the body. And in addition to it – trans fats are also added there , which increase the likelihood of cancer.
As practice has shown, daily consumption of at least 50 grams of margarine (in any form, that is, including as a ready-made pastry) increases the likelihood of atherosclerosis by 12 times.
6. Carbonated drinks
Contain a huge amount of sodium combinations (which, when in excess in the body, act as toxins), as well as sweeteners – carbohydrates, which, at high concentrations, transform into lipid compounds.
How energy affects the heart see here.
Frequent consumption of sugary carbonated drinks (including mineral water with gas) increases the risk of formation of cholesterol plaques, even if the level of that cholesterol is low enough (less than 4 mmol/l).
7. Chicken of mechanical deboning
Is most often included as an additional component to sausages, sausages. The basis of such meat is chicken skin, which contains a huge amount of cholesterol.
Even when cooking homemade soups, it is recommended to get rid of it. Moreover, it contains even more cholesterol than chicken yolks.
Controversial Food
There is a category of products that indirectly have a positive effect on the cardiovascular system, but at the same time increase the risk of developing certain chronic diseases. These include, for example, salt, red wine. Why should their presence in the diet be limited?
Dry red Wine
On the one hand, it improves hematopoiesis, optimizes the balance of red blood cells. On the other hand, it contains a large amount of carbohydrates.
And modern technologies for the production of such wine lead to excessive content of fusel oils in such drinks - they are the strongest toxins derived from ethyl alcohol.
Only dry red wine is considered useful for blood vessels. If you really drink such wine, then rarely and in small portions up to 30 milliliters.
Coffee
Coffee contains plenty of antioxidants
- they prevent the oxidation of healthy cells. And caffeine slightly dilates the blood vessels of the brain. But at the same time, it increases blood pressure, thereby increasing the load on the heart.
Caffeine itself refers to narcotic substances with a powerful somatic effect. Its daily use
in higher dosages, it may increase the risk of developing chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system. And due to short-term vasodilation, it can provoke the movement of formed blood clots and blockage of the supply vessels.
At the same time, moderate consumption Coffee is even good for the cardiovascular system , which is confirmed by numerous studies.
Salt
Salt is the largest source of chlorine and sodium. The first one is mainly used in the synthesis of gastric juice, sodium regulates salt metabolism, and the more it accumulates in the body – the more actively the kidneys work and potassium is "washed out".
Learn more about the effects of salt on blood vessels see here.
And we should not forget that salt does not carry any nutritional value for humans, but in a small amount it is still necessary (for the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract).
Useful video
For a more detailed introduction to the topic, we recommend watching the video:
Conclusion
In total, a healthy diet is the key to good health and normal functioning of the cardiovascular system and clean blood vessels. And some products should still be discarded. First of all, it is store–bought mayonnaise, margarine, which are based on harmful fats. The same applies to all kinds of sausages, sausages – there are practically no nutrients in them, but there is a lot of cholesterol. And the most important thing is to follow a balanced diet, where no products or dishes prevail.
