10 Foods that Prevent Clogged Arteries

Atherosclerosis, an inflammatory condition where plaques (fatty deposits composed of cholesterol and other substances) build up inside arteries, is something that millions of Americans are infected with. This condition interferes with normal blood flow and can lead to heart disease, heart attacks, and stroke. Per some estimates, atherosclerosis is the underlying cause of 50% of all deaths in Westernized society, and it’s the major underlying cause of strokes and Alzheimer’s disease. What Causes Your Arteries to Get Clogged? A common misconception about arterial plaque (atherosclerosis) is that it’s mainly caused by high LDL cholesterol levels. But the thinking in this area is changing. Many experts say it’s only a small part of the picture. So what’s really causing it? Insulin resistance—having prediabetes or diabetes—is the most common cause of atherosclerosis (clogged arteries), and therefore heart attack and stroke, kidney disease, blindness, etc. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around a third of Americans have insulin resistance, a condition in which cells in your muscles, fat, and liver don’t respond well to insulin and can’t easily take up glucose (or sugar) from your blood. This, in turn, elevates levels of insulin and glucose in the bloodstream, which creates...