5 spices for a healthy heart

A healthy heart is a key to a happy life as you feel less depressed, normalized blood pressure and cholesterol with less fat in the body.

However, all this can only be achieved when you follow a heart-healthy diet and lifestyle.

Now, everyone knows that green veggies and fruits play an important role when it comes to a healthy diet.

But, many don’t know that there are several herbs and spices, which when consumed regularly can help you achieve a healthy heart.

Here is a list of some of the common spices that can help maintain a healthy heart. Take a look.

Turmeric is an inevitable spice as well medicine used in the ancient traditional medicinal systems. It helps reduce LDL cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations while increasing HDL cholesterol. Both turmeric and curcumin, due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, have been demonstrated to counteract several disorders such as heart attack, chronic inflammatory lung diseases, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, hepatic and lung damages as well as muscle injuries and cystic fibrosis.

It is used universally as a flavouring agent, traditional medicine, and a functional food to enhance physical and mental health. In addition to its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-fungal properties, garlic is also claimed to have beneficial effects on the prevention of various aspects of cardiovascular disease, including hypertension and dyslipidemia. Garlic acts as a heart tonic by maintaining the fluidity of blood and strengthens the heart. Considerable evidence from the literature supports the invaluable role of garlic in the treatment of high cholesterol through the inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis in the liver and also inhibition of the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins.

Research shows that ginger may aid in maintaining a healthy heart. Ginger possesses anti-inflammatory properties, reducing oxidative stress that is damaging to the heart. In several studies, ginger was also shown to reduce cholesterol levels, improve liver function, and reduce blood pressure, all implicated in healthy heart function. Adding dry ginger as a spice to any cooked meals and using fresh ginger in tea preparations are excellent ways to incorporate this spice into your diet to reap heart health benefits.

One of the most widely used spices for seasoning purposes, black pepper is also a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory booster and has positive associations with lipid-lowering effects. Its active ingredient, piperine, is the one responsible for the reduction of LDL (bad) cholesterol and an increase of HDL (good) cholesterol levels. Black pepper is also rich in vanadium, which may promote cardiac function recovery after a heart attack.

Coriander has a long history as traditional medicine and is commonly used in several Asian, Mediterranean and Mexican cuisines. The seeds of coriander have a remarkable hypolipidemic action. Coriander seeds were noted to have a remarkable lipid-lowering action, leading to reduced LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels and increased HDL levels.