Foods That Heal the Arteries

Healthy Fats

Replace saturated and trans fats with olive and fish oils to help keep your arteries free and clear of obstructive plaque buildup advises the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide. These fats quell inflammation that can instigate atherosclerosis. A study published in the August 2012 issue of the "European Journal of Nutrition" found that polyphenol antioxidants in olive oil improve function of the endothelium -- the inner linings of arteries -- in people with early signs of endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. Participants included 30 milliliters of olive oil in their diets each day for four months. Results showed significant reduction in inflammation and reduced levels of white blood cells and platelets, both of which contribute to arterial plaque formation.

Whole Grains

Complex carbohydrates help heal your arteries by preventing spikes in blood sugar that occur after meals that contain processed sugars and carbohydrates. In a study published in the October 2012 issue of the journal "Atherosclerosis," participants with Type 2 diabetes ate a diet of rice that was supplemented with resistant starch -- a type of dietary fiber -- for four weeks. Results showed improvements in function of the endothelium along with a decrease in post-meal blood sugar levels and decreased oxidation, or cellular stress from accumulated toxins and waste products, in the arteries.

Curried Foods

Curried foods may keep your arteries healthy by virtue of the healing properties of turmeric, one of the main spices in curry, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, prevents cholesterol from accumulating in foam cells -- white blood cells that absorb oxidized cholesterol and burrow into the endothelium, initiating plaque formation, according to an animal study published in the May 2012 issue of the journal "Molecular Nutrition and Food Research." Curcumin also promoted the removal of cholesterol from existing foam cells, in effect reversing the process of plaque formation.

Cruciferous Vegetables

Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, such as cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts, protect muscles that line arteries from becoming damaged, according to a study published in the November 2012 issue of the journal "Atherosclerosis." Sulfur-containing compounds, called sulforaphanes, in these vegetables inhibited inflammation and scar tissue from developing within artery walls in the laboratory animal study. Researchers concluded that high-sulforaphane vegetables may help prevent arteries from developing blockages.