Heart disease is the leading cause of death for people living in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association. While no one juice or juice blend can prevent heart disease or repair damaged heart and blood vessel tissue, some juices contain heart-friendly nutrients. Some juicing proponents say that juicing is better for you than is eating whole fruits and vegetables because your body can absorb the nutrients better and it gives your digestive system a rest from working on fiber. Pomegranate, beet and red grape juices could give your cardiovascular system an overall health boost.
Pomegranate juice has shown the ability to lower blood pressure and is considered a heart-healthy fruit juice. Scientists found, as published in “Nutrition Journal,” that beet juice, combined with a low-nitrate diet, lowered blood pressure as soon as six hours after drinking the juice. Grape juice is naturally high in flavonoids, particularly in the case of red or purple grape juice. Flavonoids are natural antioxidants that can protect your cells from damage from aging and may help reduce your risk of developing cancer and heart disease. An article from “Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology” said studies have shown that red grape juice provided protection from “bad” or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which can cause hardened arteries. The scientists concluded that medical findings made it reasonable to suggest including purple grape juice in a daily diet as a way of reducing the risk of developing heart disease.
As with all premade juices, check to make sure there is little added sugar to derive the most benefits from the juice. Also, make only as much juice as you can drink in one sitting because fresh squeezed juice can quickly develop harmful bacteria. When juicing, try to keep some of the pulp. Not only does it have healthy fiber, but it can help fill you up.
Although these juicing ingredient suggestions have proven to prevent heart disease it is still important to check in with your doctor for heart health tests. The Department of Cardiology at Flushing Hospital Medical Center is available to assess and treat heart conditions and diseases. To make an appointment, please call 718-670-5486.
All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.