(ORDO NEWS) — Elevated cholesterol levels are dangerous because they increase the risk of developing heart disease and can even threaten a stroke. According to the Daily Express, bananas, due to their fiber content, can affect “bad” cholesterol.
High cholesterol means you have too much of this fatty substance in your blood. Cholesterol is a waxy substance produced in the liver and taken in with food. When there is too much of it, it clogs the blood vessels, increasing the likelihood of health problems.
Almost 40% of people in the UK have high or almost high levels of “bad” cholesterol.
However, not all cholesterol is harmful. As the name implies, “bad” cholesterol increases the risk of heart problems and stroke.
While “good” cholesterol reduces this risk, experts from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explain.
According to a study published in the Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, one food can “significantly” lower cholesterol levels. And it’s about bananas.
The experiment involved 30 volunteers with elevated cholesterol levels and 15 volunteers with type 2 diabetes.
For 12 weeks, they had to eat 250-500 grams of bananas for breakfast.
The researchers then measured the volunteers’ blood lipid, sugar, and insulin levels.
It turned out that daily consumption of bananas “significantly” lowered cholesterol levels in those who had it.
In addition, they noticed a positive trend in blood sugar levels.
While the results look promising, the researchers insist that the experiment should be repeated on a larger group of volunteers.
Why do bananas lower cholesterol?
The effect of this sweet snack is due to the fiber content.
“It does not allow a certain amount of cholesterol to pass from the intestines into the bloodstream,” experts at Heart UK said.
According to the Mayo Clinic, five to ten grams of soluble fiber per day can help lower bad cholesterol levels.
If you don’t like fruits, vegetables also have a similar effect.
Heart UK experts suggest following the golden rule of eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
In case you don’t know, for an adult one serving is about 80 grams or a handful.
Remember, the most accurate way to determine your cholesterol level is to take a blood test. And while lifestyle changes can effectively address the cause of problems, some people need to take special medications to avoid complications.
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