To lower cholesterol through diet, you’ll have to say goodbye to some unhealthy foods and add some new heart-healthy substitutes, including this inexpensive herb.
Your body needs cholesterol to function properly, however, too much «bad» cholesterol is known as high cholesterol.
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«Bad» cholesterol is also called LDL cholesterol, which stands for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
LDL cholesterol is what clogs your arteries, while the «good» cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, is a necessary substance that helps prevent disease.
According to The British Heart Foundation, high cholesterol is linked to a quarter of all deaths from heart and circulatory disease in the UK.
The main causes behind high cholesterol are high-fat diets, smoking, drinking too much alcohol, being overweight, and not getting enough exercise.
But some foods are credited with naturally lowering cholesterol, including this ingredient for daily use.
This fragrant herb might help lower cholesterol levels. How does it work?
Since the time of the ancient Egyptians, garlic has been used as a natural medicine for all kinds of conditions: from the common cold to toothache.
However, research suggests that garlic might help treat high cholesterol.
One study found that participants’ cholesterol levels were reduced by an average of 9 percent after eating a clove of garlic a day during three months.
Studies have found that garlic’s healing properties likely come from the active substance that gives this herb its strong odor.
This substance is a sulfur compound called allicin.
Allicin is a type of antioxidant and antioxidants are believed to help prevent cholesterol from oxidizing into hard plaque in the arteries.
Therefore, try cooking with garlic or taking garlic supplements to help lower cholesterol.
In addition to using garlic, you should make sure eat plenty of fiber, add more plant sterols to your diet, and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables while avoiding excess saturated fat.
But remember, the use of garlic is a addition, not a replacementany treatment your doctor suggests.
Your doctor is the best person to recommend a course of action to lower your cholesterol levels.
Garlic is also credited with reducing the risk of other heart diseases because it has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
For this reason, garlic also appears to help reduce hypertension (high blood pressure).
There are other reasons cooking with garlic might help lower blood pressure, including its very strong flavor.
Since garlic is so flavorful, it gives your food a more intense flavor, making you less likely to reach for salt.
Eating too much salt increases the risk of heart diseaseand experts say you shouldn’t eat more than a teaspoon of salt a day.
Adding flavor to your dishes with garlic, which is also low in calories but rich in nutrients, and other herbs and spices can make home-cooked meals more heart-healthy.