Four Powerful Vitamins (Nutrients) That Remove Plaque from Arteries

It’s clear that having a nutritious diet is essential for maintaining healthy arteries. But did you know some nutrients may promote clear arteries and lower your risk of coronary artery disease?

Plaque buildup is the body’s natural response to arterial damage. However, over time, this plaque can become calcified, leading to stiff arteries, elevated blood pressure, and an increased risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

Discover the four nutrients that contribute to a healthy cardiovascular system and learn how to support optimal nutrient stores to promote heart health. 

What is plaque?

Arterial plaque, also known as atherosclerotic plaque, is a buildup of cholesterol, proteins, and calcium in the walls of major arteries. This buildup can cause the blood vessels to harden and become less flexible, leading to atherosclerosis and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. 

Arterial plaque formation stiffens and narrows blood vessels, reducing blood flow and interfering with the oxygen supply to vital organs and tissues. Continuous plaque buildup can cause arterial blockage, significantly increasing the risk of heart attacks and stroke.

“Can High Cholesterol Cause Headaches? Health Clue | Dr. Berg.” Dr. Berg. https://www.drberg.com/blog/can-high-cholesterol-cause-headaches

“Understanding Cholesterol Levels and Numbers | Dr. Berg.” Dr. Berg. https://www.drberg.com/blog/how-to-read-and-understand-cholesterol-numbers

In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove or bypass the plaque to restore blood flow and lower blood pressure.

Watch the video below to learn more about the steps you can take to decalcify your arteries. 

What causes plaque in your arteries?

Arterial plaque formation is a natural response to damaged blood vessels. Factors including smoking, elevated insulin levels, excessive alcohol, and chronic inflammation can injure the lining of arteries and lead to lesions and leaks.  

The immune system reacts to tissue damage and triggers the repair of the affected blood vessel. Your immune response involves using cholesterol and protein deposits to heal the damaged blood vessel wall. 

Cholesterol and protein deposits form plaque similar to scar tissue, leading to stiff blood vessels that lower the body’s ability to regulate blood pressure. 

“Arterial plaque also accumulates calcium and other substances naturally present in the blood,” explains Dr. Berg. “Plaque calcification narrows blood vessels, impedes normal cardiovascular function, and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.”

Cholesterol plays a vital role in healing damaged arteries. However, elevated levels of bad LDL cholesterol, in particular, small dense LDL cholesterol (sdLDL-c), have been found to accelerate plaque buildup and trigger inflammation in the arterial wall. This causes more tissue damage and subsequently worsens plaque formation.

In contrast, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), known as good cholesterol, can reduce plaque buildup and lower inflammation within arterial walls. 

4 nutrients that help remove arterial plaque

A Healthy Keto® lifestyle paired with intermittent fasting helps support cardiovascular health by promoting circulatory health and helping reduce inflammation, a key driver of arterial plaque formation.

“What Vitamins Remove Plaque from Arteries? | Dr. Berg.” Dr. Berg. https://www.drberg.com/blog/best-nutrients-to-remove-plaque-from-arteries

Here are four nutrients that help maintain healthy arteries.  

1. Vitamin K2

Vitamin K2 is an essential vitamin involved in bone health and blood clotting, and prioritizing vitamin K2-rich foods may help support arterial health.

This fat-soluble vitamin activates a group of proteins that bind calcium into bone rather than releasing it into the bloodstream. This supports healthy calcium blood levels and directly reduces calcium deposition into arterial plaque. 

A study published in Diseases highlights that maintaining optimal vitamin K2 levels may be linked to reduced coronary artery calcification, and deficiency was a common factor associated with the severity of coronary artery disease.¹

Additionally, research published in Open Heart found that vitamin K2 may slow the progression of coronary artery calcification and improve the flow of oxygen-rich blood to tissues and organs by activating matrix Gla protein.²

Some of the best natural sources of vitamin K2 include natto, butter, egg yolk, goose liver, pepperoni, salami, sausage, sauerkraut, and grass-fed cheese, particularly Muenster cheese. 

2. Vitamin D3

According to research published in Nutrients, maintaining healthy vitamin D3 levels may play a significant role in supporting blood vessel health.³

The researchers noted, “Physiological levels of vitamin D are capable of inhibiting calcification through modulating inflammation, with vitamin D deficiency leading to pro-inflammatory activity that subsequently drives calcification.”

Vitamin D also helps suppress inflammatory cytokines, a group of proteins linked to LDL oxidation, plaque calcification, and the stiffening of blood vessels. 

It’s important to note that vitamin D stimulates intestinal calcium absorption, which increases calcium blood levels, and may contribute to arterial calcification if not properly regulated.

“Vitamin D3 to K2 Ratio: How Much You Need | Dr. Berg.” Dr. Berg. https://www.drberg.com/blog/best-ratio-of-vitamin-d3-to-k2-for-optimal-health

Natural food sources of vitamins D3 and K2 include fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel, egg yolks, and certain aged cheeses. 

In addition, regular direct exposure to sunlight remains one of the most effective ways to support optimal vitamin D3 levels.

Watch the video below to learn how vitamin D3 supports healthy blood vessels. 

3. Magnesium

Including plenty of magnesium-rich foods may be an excellent strategy for those seeking to support vascular integrity and heart function.

Magnesium is an essential mineral that supports cardiovascular health by disrupting the movement of calcium into cells and by lowering calcium concentrations in the blood. 

In addition, magnesium is crucial for muscle relaxation. Stiff arteries can lead to high blood pressure and an increased risk of injury and plaque formation. 

Magnesium relaxes the smooth muscles of blood vessels, widening arteries and improving arterial flexibility, which supports cardiovascular health and lowers heart disease risk. 

Some of the best dietary sources of magnesium include dark leafy greens like spinach and Swiss chard, avocados, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, almonds, and fatty fish such as mackerel and salmon.

4. Phytic acid 

Inositol hexaphosphate, commonly known as phytic acid, is a naturally occurring compound and potent antioxidant found in a wide variety of plant-based foods, especially in seeds and nuts.

As a natural mineral chelator, phytic acid binds to calcium ions, potentially preventing them from accumulating in blood vessel walls and contributing to arterial plaque formation.

Evidence published in Antioxidants notes, “Phytate has been shown to inhibit calcium salt crystallization and, therefore, to reduce vascular calcifications, calcium renal calculi and soft tissue calcifications.”⁴

These findings suggest that regularly consuming foods high in phytic acid may support arterial health and reduce the risk of vascular calcification and atherosclerosis.

FAQ

Sources

1. https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/13/1/12 ?
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34785587/ ?
3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5986531/ ?
4. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/12/1/146 ?