# Can one clear clogged arteries through diet? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 13, 2001, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-clear-clogged-arteries-through-diet/81250 "2001-09-13T03:04:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GENE\_STONER](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@GENE\_STONER](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GENE_STONER)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-clear-clogged-arteries-through-diet/81250/1 "2001-09-13T03:04:19Z")
If a person has clogged arteries, can he clear them with a diet high in omega 3 fish oils, and supplements of polyunsaturated fats? It would seem to me that ingesting certain oils and fats into the body would tend to “loosen” up clogged arteries. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-clear-clogged-arteries-through-diet/81250/2 "2001-09-13T03:14:15Z")
For what it’s worth. [http://www.space-age.com/bypassthebypass.html](http://www.space-age.com/bypassthebypass.html) ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-clear-clogged-arteries-through-diet/81250/3 "2001-09-13T05:35:09Z")
A recent [article](http://www.medscape.com/Medscape/Nurses/journal/2001/v01.n02/mns0817.02.ande/mns0817.02.ande-06.html) in Medscape (free registration required) says there is some slight effect but not enough to recommend it as treatment. ---
**Author:** ![bwanasimba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/53a042/32.png) [@bwanasimba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bwanasimba)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-clear-clogged-arteries-through-diet/81250/4 "2001-09-13T08:20:04Z")
The Japanese and Koreans swear by tofu and other soya products to “clean the blood”. Cannot vouch for the medical properties of tofu, but add some bonito flakes, soy sauce, grated ginger and chopped spring onions (scallions) and who cares? Yummy! Also remember somewhere in the distant past that a fairly high level of soluble fibre in the diet can help reduce the level of crap in your arteries\*. - I do not know where I get all this stuff from - I just read a lot, think “oh, that’s interesting” and forget where I read it. Somebody help. Quick. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-clear-clogged-arteries-through-diet/81250/5 "2001-09-13T13:36:43Z")
extreme reductions of LDL cholesterol (less than 80) have been associated with reversal of artery lesions ---
**Author:** ![bwanasimba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/53a042/32.png) [@bwanasimba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bwanasimba)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-clear-clogged-arteries-through-diet/81250/6 "2001-09-13T15:27:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\*extreme reductions of LDL cholesterol (less than 80) have been associated with reversal of artery lesions \*\* Sorry, I have an IQ of 147 and am only just a genius - could you explain what that statement means in laymans terms please? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-clear-clogged-arteries-through-diet/81250/7 "2001-09-13T16:14:25Z")
If you lower the bad (ldl) cholesterol below 80, (it is often over 160), it is associated with clogged arteries becoming less clogged over time. One can accomplish this with very low-fat diets, weight loss, and also with the use of statins (medications which cause the liver to make less cholesterol). ---
**Author:** ![bwanasimba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/53a042/32.png) [@bwanasimba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bwanasimba)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-clear-clogged-arteries-through-diet/81250/8 "2001-09-14T08:52:17Z")
Thank you. Do Omega 3 fish oils, tofu and others act in the same way as statins or in another way? ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-clear-clogged-arteries-through-diet/81250/9 "2001-09-14T13:46:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\*If you lower the bad (ldl) cholesterol below 80, (it is often over 160), it is associated with clogged arteries becoming less clogged over time. One can accomplish this with very low-fat diets, weight loss, and also with the use of statins (medications which cause the liver to make less cholesterol). \*\* Interesting. I had always heard that the damage, once done, was permanent–that it was possible to reduce your serum cholesterol levels and prevent future damage, but that old plaques, lesions, and narrowed points in arteries were there to stay. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-clear-clogged-arteries-through-diet/81250/10 "2001-09-14T14:03:27Z")
No. Statins alter the liver’s metabolism. Eating tofu or fish (omega 3 oils) supplies the body with fats which the body tends to not use to make more bad cholesterol, and in some cases uses to make good cholesterol. It’s basically substituting healthy foods for less healthy foods. IMO, there’s no good evidence showing that taking omega 3 oil supplements really help; rather eating the foods that contain the oils instead of eating cheeseburgers is what helps. IMHO. Qadgop, MD ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-clear-clogged-arteries-through-diet/81250/11 "2001-09-14T14:05:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by toadspittle \* > Interesting. I had always heard that the damage, once done, was permanent–that it was possible to reduce your serum cholesterol levels and prevent future damage, but that old plaques, lesions, and narrowed points in arteries were there to stay. That’s what I was taught in med school too, but now new evidence suggests that sometimes it can be reversed. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-clear-clogged-arteries-through-diet/81250/12 "2001-09-14T15:40:05Z")
The research conducted by [Dean Ornish](http://www.americanheart.org/Heart_and_Stroke_A_Z_Guide/ornish.html) showed that circulatory disease can be reversed through a combination of lowfat vegetarian diet and stress relief.