If the causes of arteriosclerosis are known, remedial action should be taken promptly to remove them. To begin with, the patient should resort to a short juice fast for five to seven days. All available fresh, raw vegetable and fruit juices in season may be taken.
Grapefruit juice, pineapple juice, lemon juice and juices of green vegetables are specially beneficial. A warm water enema should be used daily to cleanse the bowels during the period of fasting.
After the juice fast, patient should follow a diet made up of the three basic food groups, namely, seeds, nuts and grains, vegetables and fruits, with emphasis on raw foods. Plenty of raw and sprouted seeds and nuts should be used.
Cold pressed vegetable oils, particularly safflower oil, flax seed oil and olive oil should be used regularly. Further short fasts on juices may be undertaken at intervals of three months or so, depending on the progress being made.
The patient should take several small meals instead of a few large ones. He should avoid all hydrogenerated fats and an excess of saturated fats, such as butter, cream, ghee and animal fat.
He should also avoid meat, salt and all refined and processed foods, condiments, sauces, pickles, strong tea, coffee, white sugar, white flour, and all products made with them.
Foods cooked in aluminium and copper utensils should not be taken, as toxic metals entering the body are known to be deposited on the walls of the aorta and the arteries. Smoking, if habitual, should be given up as smoking constricts the arteries and aggravates the condition.
Recent investigations have shown that garlic and onions have a preventive effect on the development of arteriosclerosis. Vitamin C has also proved beneficial as it helps in the conversion of cholesterol into bile acids.
The patient should undertake plenty of outdoor exercise and eliminate all mental stress and worries. Warm baths or carefully graduated cold baths are helpful. Prolonged neutral immersion baths at bed time on alternate days are also beneficial.