4 Little Known Herbs That Help Protect Your Heart

4 Little Known Herbs That Help Protect Your Heart

Worried about your risk of stroke or heart attack?

Maybe you have high cholesterol?

In addition to medicine prescribed by doctors, plenty of exercise, and a balanced diet of heart-healthy foods, natural remedies that promote heart health are an important part of clearing out clogged veins and arteries.

Let’s look at the 4 best herbs that promote free flowing blood and heart health. Also, learn about this powerful antioxidant that strengthens your heart.

1. Garlic

Garlic is, by far, the most popular natural herbal remedy for heart health. Using garlic for medical purposes became popular in ancient Egypt. There, ancient doctors used garlic to treat hundreds of conditions.  Even today, garlic remains one of the most popular go-to home remedies for every ailment under the sun.

It’s not just a tall tale or ancient medical folklore, the medical power of garlic is substantiated by research that proves it can clear your arteries and help treat coronary heart disease.

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition investigated the hypolipidemic action of garlic oils, determining that garlic decreases serum cholesterol levels, triglycerides, and low density lipoprotein. The result? Participants who ate more garlic, saw cholesterol levels go down and blood pressure improve.

2. Cayenne Pepper

Just like garlic, cayenne pepper has a long herbal remedy history. Used by Native Americans to treat a variety of diseases for over 9,000 years, cayenne is becoming medically recognized as an important anti-inflammatory herbal cure.

The University of Maryland Medical Center recognizes the use of cayenne and capsaicin for the anti-inflammatory treatment of many skin-related diseases and trauma incidents that cause inflammation.

Additionally, doctors are currently studying the positive results of capsaicin supplementation for circulatory problems. It’s anti-inflammatory properties can extend to your heart and arteries, expanding them to allow thick blood to pass.

3. Cacao

According to researchers, Cocoa-based products contain powerful anti-inflammatory flavanols that can protect your heart. This isn’t a fair reign to consume as many chocolate bars as possible. Many varieties of chocolate contain way too much fat and sugar and do more harm than good.

Still, in it’s pure form, cacao can help elicit positive anti-inflammatory responses that balance blood pressure, solve insulin resistance, and reduce vascular damage.

An article in the academic journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research titles “Chocolate at Heat: The Anti-Inflammatory Impact of Cocoa Flavanols” thoroughly details the positive benefits of chocolate’s primary flavanol and the importance of ongoing research of this heart healthy food.

4. Hawthorn Extract

Hawthorn extract is a natural substance that comes from the hawthorn tree. Several types of hawthorn are popular in traditional herbal medicine. For thousands of years natural hawthorn extract has cured everything from indigestion to heart failure. Now, scientists are currently uncovering the action behind this powerful herb.