4 Herbs for the Heart
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America for both men and women.
Unhealthy diets, lack of physical activity and excessive drinking are all poor lifestyle choices that cause individuals to be at a higher risk for heart disease. According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, major risk factors for heart disease also include high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking.
The external pressures such as work and family only adds to the stress and strain on your heart. However, by taking a few moments to breathe each day, exercise and eat a balanced diet, you can alleviate a little stress on the body and your heart.
There are a variety of herbs for the heart that help decrease blood pressure and blood sugar, help to lower high cholesterol as well as manage stress. Cinnamon and garlic are two popular and versatile herbs with great flavor and most likely already in your kitchen. Ginseng is another herb providing many benefits for your heart and can be added to tea and soups. By incorporating these multifaceted herbs into your diet, you’re providing your body with an amazing line of defense against heart disease and other illnesses. It is a spice that is commonly used in cooking and baking. Still it also has been used in traditional Eastern medicine for thousands of years. Cinnamon extracts from the bark, flowers, roots and leaves have high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
The antioxidants in cinnamon help reduce inflammation in the body that may cause heart disease. Additionally, cinnamon has been found to help lower glucose levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes. In the morning sprinkle cinnamon into your coffee, cereal or yogurt to boost your body with heart-healthy fuel. Sign Up for The Alchemist's Kitchen newsletter. Get the latest savings, events, herbal education and save 10% on your first purchase. Ginseng, also known as the King of All Herbs or the Elixir of Life, has been used for improving overall health and has powerful antioxidant properties that helps treat anxiety and stress-related fatigue, strengthens your immunity, lowers cholesterol and inflammation and many other healing modalities.
The roots of ginseng can be added to tea and soups.
The herb can also be taken in supplement form. Ginseng also helps the body combat infection, disease and also reduces the risk of contracting the cold or flu.
The results of two studies at Mount Sinai Hospital showed those who took 400 mg of ginseng for 4 months daily had fewer colds than those who did not take ginseng. In addition, ginseng has been found to increase physical stamina, concentration, reduce stress and help treat diabetes as well as depression. Known to help prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases, garlic is an outstanding herb. Clinical studies show garlic to have a notable impact on decreasing blood pressure and cholesterol. In addition, garlic has been found to help lower blood sugar. An analysis of nine clinical studies published in 2017, reported 768 patients with type 2 diabetes having remarkable decreases in blood sugar levels as a result of taking a garlic supplement every day for at least two months. Start adding garlic into your meals not just for great flavor but also a healthy heart. Dried Clementine is an incredible herb for the entire body. Clementines are a hybrid of sweet orange and mandarine orange.
The herb is packed with vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and folate. Dried Clementine helps strengthen bones and muscles, boosts cardiovascular health and supports brain function. Citrus peels have also been used for centuries in Eastern Medicine to improve digestion and alleviate gas and bloating. More recently, scientists are researching the constituents in citrus fruits for their anti-cancer properties.
The flavonoid, hesperidin, which is found in citrus peels, has been found to reduce cancer cells in the colon. Images courtesy of Grace Yoon of Qi Alchemy Grace is an herbalist, AADP certified health practitioner and founder of Qi Alchemy, an herbal company that specializes in sourcing high quality herbs and organic superfoods from South Korea. During her spare time she enjoys foraging edible plants and flowers near her family farm in Paju, Korea. You can learn more about her business at www.qialchemy.com.
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References:
- https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/index.htm
- https://wisdom.thealchemistskitchen.com/introduction-to-herbalism/
- https://www.qialchemy.com/pages/cinnamon
- https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/24/health/cinnamon-health-benefits/index.html
- https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-734/korean-ginseng-oral/details
- https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/asian-ginseng
- https://www.consumerreports.org/diet-nutrition/the-health-benefits-of-garlic/
- https://www.qialchemy.com/pages/dried-clementine
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4690266/
- https://www.motherearthliving.com/health-and-wellness/citrus-peel-medicine
