Here is a very useful contribution to the nutritional question about fats, by Terry Draper
·
Medical Research at Health Insurance (2002–present)
Is there anything we could do or eat to unblock clogged arteries?
YES!
Diet plays a huge role in so called clogged arteries, medically known as Arterial Plaque, and if in the Heart, Arterial Sclerosis.
I have answered about this before and I will answer again.
The number one cause for Arterial Plaque is, or clogged arteries is diet! This condition is caused by consuming so called Trans fats, which are not natural fats, but man made fats, also known as Hydrogenated Oils, or Partially Hydrogenated Oils, (Trans Fats, more famously known as Crisco).
During WWII, the German Nazi Party was looking for a way to produce a synthetic petroleum oil. They failed. But in doing so, they added Hydrogen to plant oils. The US got ahold of this research, and because of the shortage in dairy products, decided to sell these changed oils as a butter substitute called Oleo. The name was later commercially changed to Margarine.
After the war, Margarine was sold as a commercial replacement for butter, with heavy marketing. But it was never tested to make sure it was safe to eat! And it didn’t stop there! The fat that made margarine began to be added to all kinds of other other commercial foods, because it did not go rancid, (spoil), like butter and other natural oils could, and pastries and pie crusts made with it came out with more volume and higher texture.
Still, it was never tested in clinical trials to be sure that it was safe for humans to eat! It was not even tested on animals!
In the 1970s, a very dramatic rise in heart disease and obesity was seen in the US, and this was a mystery to Doctors and Scientists. Nobody was quite sure what was causing this. But autopsies did reveal clogged Heart arteries as the cause, and this had never been seen before!
The short version is that after many years of research, and many false leads, including blaming eggs, red meat, and dairy, all of which turned out to be false, the researchers finally found out that it was the Hydrogenated Fats that where the cause!
It turns out that when we eat these fats, our bodies cannot burn them up the way normal and natural fats get burned for energy. The body does not know what to do with them. They are really indigestible! So they end up circulating in the body and being deposited along the major arteries, until those arteries get clogged!
Around the year 2000, the US Food and Drug Administration, (FDA.gov), tried to get these harmful and artificial fats removed from the market in the US, but they were only partially successful. The commercial food manufactures fought this regulation so hard, the FDA was only successful in getting the Trans fats reduced.
In 2015, the FDA issued a Final Determination about Trans Fats, Stating:
“PHOs, (Partially Hydrogenated Oils) are the primary dietary source of artificial trans fat in processed foods. Removing PHOs from processed foods could prevent thousands of heart attacks and deaths each year.”
This forced the commercial food manufactures to remove all Trans fats from their products! Unfortunately, they complied with the letter of law, and not the spirit of the law, replacing the Trans fats with Palm Oil. Natural Palm Fruit oil is a healthy Oil, but the type being used commercially is not healthy, because it is highly processed, and does not come from the fruit. It is also a problem because the Rare Orangutan Ape relies on Palm Tree Forests for the Habitat. Clearing acreage to grow more Palm Trees has severely jeopardized these rare apes.
So, what to do?
- Cook a healthy diet at home! That way you know what you are eating! There are very simple dishes that taste delicious! You can cook them in less than an hour! And you can cook your way back to health!
- Eat a diet high in plant fiber! There are certain foods that have been proven to have the right type of fiber to literally “scrub” the arteries clean. Although this takes time, and doesn’t happen overnight, it does happen. The body has an amazing ability to heal, if you give it the right tools.
- Oatmeal has what it is called water soluble fiber. This means that the fiber in Oats can circulate in the body. VERY helpful if you are experiencing artery issues. 1/2 cup of day of dry oats is all that is needed. Make a hearty breakfast, with Maple syrup, currants, sunflower seeds, some sea salt, and maybe some milk, or a pat of butter. Buy Old fashioned or Steel Cut Oats.
- Beans, nuts and seeds are full or fiber and great tasting! They also contain important vitamins, trace minerals and oils. Beans are an important source of Fiber and very easy to cook, just boil them, or buy them canned and already cooked. Beans and Rice is a classic dish and one that is easy to cook and serve.
- Plant oils are very important in your diet. Plant oils come from fruits, seeds, and beans. Form example, the famous Olive Oil, is from a fruit, and Soybean oil, like it says, is from a bean. There are many other healthy oils, but not all of them are for cooking, some are just for salads or dipping. Everyone needs at least a tablespoon of oil everyday, for soft skin, strong nails, and shiny hair. Oil is also important for brain and nerve function. Canola Oil is great for cooking, because it doesn’t smoke at high heat, and has a very mild flavor. Canola oil is from a seed.
- Meat, Fish and Dairy. Contrary to popular opinion, eating any of these cannot raise your cholesterol level. This is a myth, (Bad cholesterol I mean). When researchers where looking for what was causing clogged arteries, they originally, and mistakenly, blamed red meat and eggs. Sadly this mis-information has stuck. Everyone needs to eat animal protein to stay healthy. At least 5 servings a week. Choose low fat meat, dairy, and fish if you can get it fresh. Fish is delicious, and and very healthy. But not everyone can get it.
- Whole grains. Almost nobody in the US eats enough whole grains. Whole grains are very important for their Vitamin E content, and high fiber content. Choose bread, pasta, brown rice, and pastries. Barley is a great whole grain, and is easily added to to soups and stews. It is easy to cook and easy to digest.
- Fruit and Vegetables: It is very important to eat fresh fruit and vegetables every day. From these foods come most of our vitamins and minerals. Try to get these fresh and in season for your area. In other words, if you live in South Dakota, don’t buy Strawberries in January! Eat at least 5 servings per day of a mix of fruits and veg.
- Herbs and seasonings. Herbs and seasonings not only make our food more delicious, they are loaded with vitamins and minerals! For example, 1 tablespoon of thyme contains 200% of the daily requirements of Vitamin C, and also contains Vitamin A, Copper, Iron, and Manganese. This is why we use herbs and seasonings! No fast food contains this!
- DO NOT eat or drink anything with Trans fats, or artificial sweeteners. It has been proven that these artificial substances are toxic to people!
As always, consult with your Doctor, and always follow your Doctor’s orders
·