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Diet Related Risk Factors For Atherosclerosis |
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Irregular or
disorderly diet/eating habits have always been a major issue in any
type of disease. Atherosclerosis is not an exception to it.
In atherosclerosis, blood flow in any
part of the body can be obstructed due to the deposition of cellular
wastes, fibrin and fatty substances. This deposition creates plaques,
causing less flow of blood through the arteries. This deposition in
the inner wall of the arteries is significantly associated with the
food habits of an individual.
Basically there are two types of risk
factors responsible for atherosclerosis. One is modifiable and the
other is non-modifiable. Age, sex and heredity are non modifiable
risk factors but diet as usual is the modifiable risk factor. An
individual taking care of his diet can always reduce the chances of
the atherosclerosis to grab him. Although this disease is
non-symptomatic and strikes at the adolescent stage but a restrained
and balanced diet can always be helpful in preventing the severity of
this disease after 50s or 60s.
Risk factors
associated with diet comprises high concentration of serum
cholesterol, lower level of good cholesterol, high blood pressure and
high blood sugar level. People having diabetes or high blood sugar
level are three times more prone to atherosclerosis than those
without diabetes. Anti-oxidants and enzymes like glutathione
peroxidase counter the harmful effects of oxygen species which form
oxidized bad cholesterol (responsible for the progression of
atherosclerosis).
Choosing proper diet containing
antioxidant vitamins may always be helpful in reducing the risk of
atherosclerosis. Traditional Mediterranean diet has been found to be
effective in balancing oxidative stress but clinical trial of
antioxidant was not found effective in atherosclerosis.
Patients suffering from this disease
are usually advised to take hemp seeds, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds.
These eatables reduce the inflammation in arteries and thus
facilitate the smooth flow of blood. According to a published report,
food containing omega-3 fatty acid might lower the level of
triglyceride. It also improves the cells of heart and arteries and
they function properly. It reduces the chances of aggregation of
cells. Moreover garlic, turmeric, ginger, fresh fruits and green
salads have always been found to be good for heart patients.
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