A study, published in the African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines (AJTCAM) has come out to say that both ginger and rosemary are great superfoods for boosting the health of the heart and the arteries. This paper pointed out that ginger and rosemary have strong cholesterol-reducing effects.

Over one-third of Americans have hypercholesterolemia, or high cholesterol levels. This significantly lowers the quality of their health and it puts them at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases down the line such as high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. Having a high amount of cholesterol in your body also puts you at risk of atherosclerosis, which builds up plaque in your arteries.

While the risk of hypercholesterolemia varies with age and gender and genetics does come into play, you can lower your risk of having high cholesterol levels through a variety of natural interventions. One of these interventions, according to the AJTCAM, is to consume ginger and rosemary, two natural remedies for hypercholesterolemia.

Ginger, Zingiber officinale, is known all over the world for its rich compounds that offer it a variety of medicinal uses. According to the study, ginger, when paired with rosemary and several food grade essential oils, can reduce your weight and alleviate your hypercholesterolemia. Other studies have also shown that ginger can lower your total cholesterol and triglyceride levels and boost your HDL (“good” cholesterol) levels. Ginger is also known for its anti-inflammatory and digestive properties.

Rosemary, particularly food grade rosemary essential oil, is also a great supplement for lowering your cholesterol, especially if, as the study pointed out, it’s paired with ginger and other heart-healthy foods. Other studies have also shown that rosemary has anti-inflammatory properties and a strong antioxidant effect.

Other spices that can contribute to heart health

According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women and people of most ethnic and racial groups in the United States, killing around 647,000 Americans every year. There are various types of cardiovascular disease, whose risk factors include a sedentary lifestyle, family history, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, and excessive alcohol use.

Among the herbs, spices, and foods that can contribute to heart health are:

• Cardamom – It lowers blood pressure and is rich in antioxidants that can help eradicate free radicals that threaten to cause damage to the heart and other tissues in the body.
• Thyme – It has antimicrobial properties to help ensure that the body is safe from harmful bacteria and fungi.
• Garlic – In a 2006 study, the American Society for Nutrition stated that ingesting garlic is good for the heart as it can lessen bad cholesterol and hypertension levels and increase platelet aggregation. For best results, eat one or two cloves of crushed garlic each day or ask your physician for proper dosage of garlic supplements to fit your condition.
• Fenugreek seeds – They bring about powerful cardiovascular benefits due to their high content of antioxidants. Fenugreek seeds also aid in declogging arteries, regulating blood pressure, lowering cholesterol levels, and preventing the incidences of heart attacks. They also protect against obesity by lowering blood sugar levels. For best results, eat fenugreek seeds on an empty stomach every day.
• Rosemary – Rosemary is good for the immune system and the brain. As such, the heart is strengthened because it is the immune system’s response to fight short-term threats, such as the flu or a cold, and long-term threats to health, such as a heart attack. Rosemary is also good for the circulatory system.
• Green tea – It is loaded with healthy antioxidants and flavonoids that can boost heart health by improving the health of the lining of your heart and blood vessels while decreasing triglyceride and cholesterol levels, according to a study that was published in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation in 2008. The study added that one could reduce the risk of dying via heart attack or stroke by 26 percent by drinking as much as five cups of green tea each day.

For more stories about herbs with medicinal health benefits, visit Herbs.news.

Sources:

Journals.ATHMSI.org

CookingLight.com

Healthline.com

BMCComplementMedTherapies.BioMedCentral.com

CDC.gov

NaturalOn.com