Diet is one of the most important parts of a healthy lifestyle. If you are suffering
from any illness or disease, then it's likely eating better will help to
alleviate at least some of the symptoms and in some cases, such as diabetes, a
healthier diet can have dramatic effects. For a condition such as heart disease,
then healthier eating is paramount to recovering from the disease and enhancing
quality of life, and adding years to life. Though the advice has always been to
eat 5 portions of fresh fruit or vegetables a day, this can be a difficult thing
to keep up, particularly if you are new to a healthy diet. Therefore, one of the
best investments a person suffering from heart disease can make is purchasing a juicer. Then they can get all the nutrients they want from just a couple of
glasses of fresh juice each day.
There are a number of different fresh fruits and vegetables that can help people
suffering from heart disease. These can help lower blood pressure, which in turn will lower the risk
for heart disease, as well as other diseases and illnesses, such as strokes. A
person that has cause to worry about their heart will find that drinking a glass of juice each day can significantly lower their risk of heart disease. However, the
benefits are only really found if the person drinks the juice regularly. This is
one of the reasons a juicer is a good idea. For one, they can prepare their own
juices, rather than constantly looking for the correct store-bought options, and
two, it is far easier to drink a juice for five minutes a day than prepare a
meal containing the correct portions of fruit and vegetables. Below are three
different ingredients, widely available, that can be included in a homemade
juice that can significantly lower your risk of heart disease.
Heart disease is not the only problem that juices of fresh fruit and vegetables can
help with. Because of all the vitamins and nutrients packed into products, they
can help with other problems such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and
arthritis. Juices can help reduce inflammation and are rich in antioxidants. The
antioxidants have been shown to help prevent damage to cells, leading to
cancer.
Beetroot
If you are going to make a juice specifically targeted towards heart disease, then
the best vegetable to choose for the juice is beetroot.
Beetroot lowers blood
pressure, which in turn can lower the risk of heart disease by putting less
stress on the heart. Beetroot has high levels of nitrate, which is thought to be
the chemical responsible for its healthy properties. Beetroot works by producing
nitric oxide, which helps to keep blood vessels wide, reducing blood pressure.
Though patients can also take nitrate supplements for a similar effect, the
additional benefits of the other nutrients in Beetroot means that it is a far
healthier alternative to supplementary vitamins. There are also no side-effects
from Beetroot juice as opposed to taking high levels of medication.
Pomegranate
If
Beetroot juice doesn’t sound like your kind of thing, then pomegranate juice could also be used as a way to lower blood
pressure in heart disease. Pomegranate also contains nitrates and including just
a half of pomegranate in your juice each day could replace any extra nitrate
medication that a person with heart disease has to take. Pomegranate tastes
delicious on its own, but can be combined with blueberries for additional antioxidants and
health benefits.
Cranberry
Cranberry
is already a fruit used in juices all the time, but it is when it is on its own
that the greatest benefits for your heart come through, and if you want to use a
juicer at home for a better diet, it is a great addition to your menu. Cranberry
juice can increase the level of HDL cholesterol in your blood system.
High levels of HDL can protect against heart disease, and low levels are
associated with heart problems.
Choosing
to juice at home is a good idea for anyone, but particularly for people who have
to increase their level of fruit and vegetable intake. The nutrients available
in these products are a natural way to help protect against heart disease, as
well as a lot of other diseases. However, if you are planning to reduce your
medications and replace them with natural produce, make sure you consult your
physician first.
Contributed by Jenni Yates
Thursday, June 5, 2014
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