According to Life Extension, there are two vegetable sources that Mother Nature provides which can enhance blood flow, improve LDL’s resistance to oxidation, modulate blood pressure, and improve endothelial function.  One is cacao beans and the other is pomegranate. For more ideas about cleaning your arteries see our articles about Heart Attack.

Cacao beans
Cacao (called cocoa in the US) is the seed of a small tree native to the deep tropical region of the Americas. Cocoa is the dried and fully fermented fatty seed of the cacao tree, from which chocolate is made.

Cocoa is the primary ingredient of dark chocolate.  Actually, cocoa is in all chocolate, but milk chocolate simply has more sugar and more milk in it.  Cocoa is what you want.  It improves blood vessel health by improving the dilation of blood vessels.

The best source is cacao nibs (meaning bits of the fresh and raw cacao beans) which you can buy on the internet.  However, cacao tastes bitter so many want it sweeter.  Unfortunately, sweetenings aren’t really healthy for us.

You can buy sugar-free cocoa (or at least dark chocolate with 70% cocoa).  Any added sugar and milk will reduce the benefits.

Persimmon
This reddish-orange fruit from China may be able to keep your arteries open for business.  Persimmons have high levels of fiber, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and antioxidants, all super weapons for artery cleansing.

Pomegranate
Pomegranate is a fruit you can find in many grocery stores.  Also, you can buy it as a drink.  Pomegranate

helps enhance cardio health by reversing atherosclerotic plaque buildup, supporting nitric oxide activity, and improving blood pressure.

Online resources:

Chocolate.org
Wikipedia.org/pomegranate

Images: Courtesy of Amazon.com and Dreamstime.com

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