Orange Juice And Turmeric For Healthy Heart
July 25, 2009
It is time that you included orange juice and turmeric in your regular diet. According to recent studies, these two food products are extremely beneficial for our heart.
Orange juice
According to a study, which was recently presented at the Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Annual Conference, sponsored by the American Heart Association in Las Vegas, regular intake of orange juice could keep cardiovascular ailments at bay.
Orange juice contains a powerful antioxidant known as hesperidin. Hesperidin is a flavonoid found in plants. Like any other flavonoid, hesperidin is beneficial for the endothelium, which is made of the cells that form the lining of the blood vessels.
If the endothelial cells fail to perform their normal functions, the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack and stroke increases. Endothelial dysfunction may occur from diabetes, high blood pressure, septic shock and environmental pollution.
Hesperidin present in orange juice promotes endothelial function, consequently preventing blocking of the arteries. According to a study, drinking 500ml orange juice every day could significantly improve the endothelial function within a month.
Men who are at risk for heart diseases could drink orange juices or a hesperidin fortified drink every day, to prevent heart attacks. Orange juice also helps to lower blood pressure level.
Turmeric
Turmeric is an important spice used for coloring food. This is an important ingredient in curry powder. The yellow color of turmeric comes from curcumin. According to latest studies, curcumin is a powerful antioxidant, which is beneficial for the heart.
Earlier studies have found that the different compounds present in turmeric could be used for treating a host of ailments, including arthritis, breast cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. New findings by French researchers have shown that owing to the presence of curcumin, turmeric is equally good for the heart.
Curcumin is a type of polyphenol, chemicals found in plants. Polyphenols are powerful anti-inflammatory agents. Researchers found that curcumin could inhibit and significantly reduce plague buildup in the blood vessels. You can therefore take turmeric to prevent blocked arteries, atherosclerosis and heart attack.
Curcumin is not only good for the heart, but it can also prevent proliferation of bacteria responsible for gastric ulcer and gastric cancer. Curcumin also prevents heavy metal toxicity.
Drinking Orange juice regularly is very healthy – if you drink it for breakfast (as many people do), be sure to eat something and not do drink it on empty stomach.