Dietary hack significantly reduces artery blockage by 82%

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Some dietary changes can lead to just as radical health improvements as drug treatment.

Lipid-lowering drugs such as statins have become the mainstay of cholesterol treatment, but many cases can be corrected with simple lifestyle changes. Studies have shown that a complete change in diet is not necessary to achieve results. However, eliminating certain foods may be important.

Early studies have shown that intensive lifestyle changes can lead to regression of atherosclerosis within a year.

Atherosclerosis involves the accumulation of fatty deposits on the inside of the walls of the arteries, causing them to thicken and harden over time.

These deposits are mostly made up of fatty substances that strip the walls of the arteries of their elasticity. Over time, this obstructs blood flow and paves the way for other complications such as high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and sudden cardiac death.

Two dietary changes proved revolutionary in treating the condition. Of the twenty-two participants in the study, 18 (82 percent) who followed a vegetarian diet that limited fat intake to 10 percent of total calories experienced improvement in their condition. The participants experienced significant regression of progressive coronary heart disease within a year. Another key aspect of the diet is that it limits cholesterol intake to five milligrams per day.

A balanced vegetarian diet will help lower cholesterol if it is low in saturated fat and high in fiber. Soluble fiber, found in plants, is particularly useful for removing plaque from arteries because it works inside the veins.