Healthy and harmful drinks for heart and vascular health — scientific facts

Every day, everyone drinks a large number of different drinks. Together with them, substances enter the body that can improve or worsen the state of health. The main burden of fluid intake falls not only on the kidneys and liver, but also on the heart and blood vessels.

There are a large number of recipes for making drinks that improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system and increase immunity. Everyone can cook medicinal jelly at home or brew medicinal tea.

We will talk about which drinks are the most useful in the article, actively using links to scientific research.

8 Drinks for Cardiovascular health

Currently, mortality from cardiovascular diseases firmly occupies the 1st place. The exacerbation of ailments depends not only on the quality of drinks consumed by a person, but also on the amount of alcohol consumed.

1. Water

Conducted studies of the effect of water on the cardiovascular system English scientists have come to an interesting conclusion. The results they obtained showed that Hard drinking water reduces the risk of human mortality from cardiovascular diseases by 4%.

The effective effect of hard water on the human body, in comparison with soft water, is explained by the higher content of magnesium, calcium and potassium in it.

Potassium and magnesium increase the elasticity of vascular walls. An increased amount of sodium in the composition of soft water increases the load of the heart and increases blood pressure. There is no need to confuse water and drinks. The pure product enriches the body's cells with oxygen. As part of other drinks, water loses its properties.

Learn more about the effects of water look at the heart in this article.

In order for the heart to be healthy, you need to drink water:

• 2 glasses in the morning;
• 1 glass 30 minutes before meals;
• 1 glass 2.5 hours after eating.

It is not recommended to drink water during meals and 4 hours before bedtime. During the day, water is drunk between meals in 2-3 glasses. The total amount of water consumed per day depends on the weight of a person and is 1.5-2 liters. It is especially important for hypertensive patients to drink clean water. The recommended daily doses of drinking clean water are:

• For hypertension — 1.5 liters;
• In case of heart failure — 1-1.5 liters.

Purified raw water brings the greatest benefits to the body.

2. Green tea

Green tea works in two ways. At the first stage, the caffeine contained in the drink stimulates cardiac activity. After that, the body is saturated with potassium. This substance is one of the essential elements for the heart muscle.

The positive effect of tea on the cardiovascular system is confirmed large-scale research .

The use of green tea replaces a wide range of medicines intended for the treatment of the heart.

Learn more about the benefits of tea for the cardiovascular system, see here.

Studies conducted by Japanese scientists on the effect of green tea on blood pressure have shown that its daily use reduces blood pressure by 20% . To achieve the desired effect, it is recommended to drink green tea in combination with vitamin C. A large amount of this substance is contained in lemon and rosehip.

To reduce and normalize blood pressure, drink green tea 1-2 hours after eating for at least 3 consecutive days.

Green tea contains a large amount of antioxidants. They purify human blood from cholesterol plaques. Regular consumption of green tea significantly reduces the likelihood of blood clots. The drink is a good preventive measure against stroke and coronary heart disease.

3. Coffee

The drink loved by many has opposite effects on the cardiovascular system. The effect of drinking coffee depends on the state of the human body. The mechanism of its influence of the drink can be divided into two directions of action:

• Central. Coffee ingredients affect the brain.
• Peripheral. The caffeine contained in the drink relaxes and expands the walls of blood vessels.

Scientific facts about the effects of coffee on the cardiovascular system at the link.

Benefits can only be obtained from a natural drink. It improves blood flow in the organs, promotes the supply of oxygen to the blood.

4. Natural juices

Several types of juices are used for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Each of them has its own individual properties. The benefits can only be obtained from a freshly squeezed product. Among the most useful:

1. Pomegranate. Prevents the growth of blood pressure, nourishes the heart and supplies it with oxygen, dilutes the blood, cleanses the body of cholesterol plaques. Doctors recommend taking pomegranate juice to prevent angina attacks. To stabilize blood pressure, it is recommended to drink at least 50 ml of the drink daily.
2. Grape. The effects of grape juice are similar to wine, but with fewer negative consequences for the body. Thanks to grape juice, a person gets rid of shortness of breath and increased puffiness. Juice reduces blood pressure and stabilizes the rhythm of the heart.
3. Pumpkin. Cleanses the body at the cellular level. To prevent cardiovascular diseases, it is recommended to drink 0.5 liters of juice daily. It is better to do this 30 minutes before meals.
4. Tomato. The drink is used to treat hypertension. Its regular use improves the functioning of the heart muscle, reduces the risk of blood clots, atherosclerosis and anemia. Doctors recommend drinking tomato juice to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
5. Cranberry. The drink contains a large amount of polyphenols. They actively influence the state of the cardiovascular system. To reduce the level of "bad" cholesterol in men, it is necessary to drink juice for 12 weeks at 0.5-0.75 ml every day. Juice does not have such an effect on the body of women. When drinking cranberry juice, the vessels narrow. This reduces the blood flow rate.

See also:

• Learn more about the most useful juices for the heart.
• 9 fruits and vegetables for cardiovascular health.

5. A decoction of rosehip

Rosehip is one of the the most heart-healthy berries. Cardiologists recommend drinking a decoction of rosehip all year round. Dry rosehip fruits can be bought at any pharmacy. The decoction increases immunity, strengthens the walls of blood vessels and prevents the development of atherosclerosis. Regular consumption of the drink enhances the production of red blood cells, and reduces blood pressure.

The decoction contains a large amount of vitamins of various groups. A decoction of rosehip is brewed like tea. Drink 100-150 ml 3 times a day. He has contraindications. It should not be used by people suffering from diseases:

• Endocarditis;
• Thrombophlebitis.

6. Red wine

Recent studies have confirmed that moderate consumption of wine and cognac have cardioprotective properties. For the treatment of the vascular system, dry varieties of red wine of the highest quality are used. Regular consumption of the drink 1 glass per day reduces the risk of heart attacks by 2 times and strokes by 20%. Wine has the ability to prevent the formation of blood clots.

Is red wine good for blood vessels: opinion of scientists.

Flavonoids and quercetin contained in wine prevent the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. The drink acts as an anticoagulant. It improves blood clotting rate and reduces blood pressure.

7. Cognac

Cognac is useful only in small quantities. Its daily intake should not exceed 30-50 grams. This amount of alcohol is enough to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, and cleanse the body of cholesterol.

More details about the effect of cognac on health.

Thanks to cognac, the elasticity of the vessel walls improves. They can be effectively cleaned with a cognac cocktail, which is prepared on the basis of this alcohol and orange juice.

8. Dried fruit compote

ACCORDING to scientists, dried fruits have a positive effect on the heart , especially useful dried apricots and raisins . You can prepare a drink all year round. It is boiled from various dried fruits.

• Compote of pears and apples lowers blood pressure and helps to cope with depression.
• Raisins strengthen blood vessels and reduce puffiness.
• A compote of dried apricots, figs and prunes is especially useful.

Instead of compotes, you can cook medicinal mixtures of dried fruits , such as Amosov paste .

See the rest of the drinks on the infographic:

And now let's talk about what you need to give up.

What should be avoided?

Not all drinks consumed by humans are healthy. Many of them have a negative effect on the heart and blood vessels.

Energy

A dose of energy drinks exceeding 0.5 liters per day can lead to a heart attack or stroke. In older people, they lower blood pressure, and in young people they sharply increase it.

Caffeine contained in energy drinks in huge doses is addictive.

About the destructive influence of energy companies a separate article has been written.

Sweet water

Sweet water leads to atherosclerosis. It accelerates the aging process, which leads to the active deposition of cholesterol plaques. They grow rapidly and constrict the ducts of blood vessels. The most dangerous consequences for human health are heart attack, stroke and blood clots.

Alcohol abuse

Alcohol has a negative effect on all internal organs. Any alcoholic beverages disrupt the metabolic processes and are addictive. The ethanol contained in them blocks the growth of growth hormone. This leads to the destruction of the heart muscle. Alcohol abusers have blood pressure spikes.

Regular beer consumption affects hormonal changes. They are especially strongly committed to this negative influence of men. Regular exercise increases the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes.

What else is desirable to include in your diet?

A well-chosen diet has a serious impact on human health. Food can act as medicine and poison. Among the products necessary for the health of the cardiovascular system:

1. Nuts. The most useful are walnuts, peanuts, pistachios, almonds, hazelnuts.
2. Honey . The best option is natural buckwheat honey.
3. Fruits . The diet includes bananas, pomegranates, lemons, and persimmons.
4. Vegetables . All kinds of peppers, tomatoes, pumpkin, avocado, onion, garlic are used.
5. Berries . Blueberries, cranberries, viburnum, and grapes contain the most useful substances.
6. Dairy products . Sheep's cheese, butter, cow's milk.
7. Fish . The diet should include herring, mackerel, salmon and halibut.
8. Olive and linseed oil.
9. Fresh salted lard.
10. Bitter chocolate.

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So, choosing food and drinks for daily use, you need to understand what effect they can have on the body, you need to give up something, and take a large share of something in the diet.