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Top 15 Herbs for a Strong Healthy Heart
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11. Grapes
OK, so it’s not an herb, but the regular consumption of grapes is thought to be beneficial for the heart. There is research that shows that grapes are high in important flavonoids that are known to fight high blood pressure and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and heart muscle damage.
The University of Michigan health System conducted a study that showed that the high antioxidant level in grapes improve the diastolic pressure of the heart, prevent heart muscle enlargement, reduce the occurrence of fibrosis, as well as heart failure due to high blood pressure.
12. Green Tea
Green tea is well known for its high levels of antioxidants and it’s becoming even more well- known for its benefits to the heart. The cells in the blood vessels in and around the heart are more delicate than you might think. Drinking green tea improves their health and condition, which will invariably improve their performance. The European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation reported in their 2008 issue that scientists have found that green tea improved the functioning of the blood vessels within 30 minutes after drinking it. Read also about green tea for cancer.
13. Chokeberry
Sometimes called Aronia berries, chokeberries are rich in vitamins A, K, and C. In a 2010 study, researchers found chokeberries to be very helpful for persons with metabolic syndrome, subjects that suffered from numerous health problems that will increase the risk of heart disease. Another plant that is rich in antioxidants, chokeberry is known to vastly decrease LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and greatly decrease blood pressure.
14. Dong Quai
This ancient herb from China, sometimes called Angelica Root, has been used for thousands of years to help treat blockages that increased blood flow to the heart. Although there have been very few actual scientific studies involving humans, some lab tests involving animals suggest that it can reduce pain, open blood vessels, and stimulate the female reproductive system, as well as the heart. One study showed that a combination of dong qui, Asian ginseng, and astragalus greatly decreased chest pain in subjects that had heart disease.
SEE ALSO: 21 Foods For Healthy Heart Infographic
15. Sacred Pine
Familiarity breeds contempt. So many of us walk by pine trees and never give them a second thought. Pines are one of the oldest seed bearing trees on the planet. This little know pine has a powerful antioxidant called pycnogenol that can be found in the bark, nuts, and needles that can help lower inflammation in the blood vessels, and greatly lowering the risk of plaque buildup, which can reduce heart attacks and stroke. The needles are high in vitamin C; the inner bark contains quercetin and tannin, and the seeds, fatty oils.
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