In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Dr. Carlos Jaramillo explained that "cleaning the arteries" doesn't refer to a magical procedure, but rather to stabilizing atheromatous plaque, reducing inflammation, improving endothelial function, and controlling glucose and insulin levels.
The specialist emphasized that cholesterol is only one of the risk markers, and that ApoB allows us to identify how many LDL particles are circulating in the blood. He noted that nearly 50% of people who suffer a heart attack have normal cholesterol levels, which highlights the importance of considering this additional marker.
Jaramillo detailed six main factors that affect arteries: elevated ApoB levels, insulin resistance, chronic inflammation (measured by ultrasensitive CRP), sustained hypertension, smoking or vaping with oxidative stress, and consumption of ultra-processed foods with refined sugars, flours, and oils.
To counteract these risks, he recommended 12 foods that promote arterial health, including leafy greens, beets, extra-virgin olive oil, oily fish, nuts, legumes, oats, flax seeds, garlic, pure cocoa, pomegranate, and green tea. He also suggested simple habits such as three 10-minute walks a day after eating, three colors of vegetables per meal, and adequate hydration.
Finally, he presented a checklist of useful tests to assess cardiovascular health: ApoB, lipid profile, glucose and insulin, ultrasensitive CRP, and blood pressure. He emphasized that the approach should be comprehensive and not limited to a single indicator such as total cholesterol.