One of the important requirement for a healthy heart is circulation. A whole food diet of fruits and vegetables, lots of water and regular exercise can keep your heart and vessels healthy.

Prevention is the better and herbs have a lot to offer. The therapeutic effect of some well-known herbs is empirically proven.

Undoubtedly, garlic offers the body with protection against cardiovascular sluggishness. Scientific trials reveal that it can lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, raise high-density lipoprotein levels, reduce the formation of plaque in carotid arteries and provide protection against aging in the all-important aorta the cardiac blood vessel responsible for maintaining blood flow and pressure with every heartbeat.

Curcumin gives the Indian spice turmeric (used in curry) its yellow hue, curcumin "shows strong anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities when used as a remedy for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases," including cardiovascular disease, according to a new review published in the journal Molecules.

Essential oil from thyme blocks the inflammatory COX-2 enzyme in a similar way as resveratrol, the compound associated with the cardiovascular benefits of red wine, according to a study published in the Journal of Lipid Research.

Cayenne shares some of the same health-promoting properties of garlic and hawthorn. Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin. Studies indicate it lowers cholesterol and lessens blood clotting while improving capillary strength throughout the bloodstream.

In conjunction with a plant-based diet and stress management, these traditional herbs are the perfect preventive measure for people who have a family history of heart disease.