Drink Pomegranate Juice Everyday
Antioxidant properties in Pomegranate juice is much higher than other fruit juices, including blueberry, cranberry, and orange. It contains nearly three times as many antioxidants as green tea or red wine, making it a perfect natural drink to lower cholesterol levels.
This Antioxidant-rich juice not only helps with lowering LDL cholesterol, but it also reduces blood vessel damage and prevents the hardening of the arteries. A study suggests that consuming concentrated pomegranate juice significantly reduced the total cholesterol level in type II diabetic patients. In another study, drinking pomegranate juice for eight weeks showed positive impacts on blood pressure, serum triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol.
To get the most health benefits out of pomegranate juice, make sure to drink pure pomegranate juice without added sugar. The added sugar adds more calories resulting in reduced effectiveness.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Blackberry Wine
Fact Checked
Wine drinkers of the world can rejoice that their favorite beverage touts health benefits in addition to its ability to help them unwind after a long day 2.Red wine derived from grapes or dark-colored berries like blackberries has long been thought to hold beneficial properties.Some of the beneficial ingredients are well-known, while still others are being researched and tested. What is clear is that by consuming blackberry wine in moderation, you can reap some of the benefits of this super-fruit.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
The Power Of Red Wine
Red wines contain lots of polyphenols, which are organic compounds that come packed inside many plant-based foods. Once inside your body, polyphenols act as antioxidants, which have the power to counteract free radicals that might damage your cells.Free radicals tend to be responsible for all kinds of harmful conditions including cancer and heart disease. The two polyphenols linked to a variety of health benefits include procyanidins and resveratrol, both of which are inside red wine.In study after study, these polyphenols have been shown to reduce inflammation in the body, resulting in an elevation of the good cholesterol and lowering the bad cholesterol.
How much wine does it take to achieve these health benefits? Studies suggest a glass a day for women and two for men should offer you the level of protection you need.
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Green Tea Top Cholesterol Lowering Drink
Is it any wonder that teas have been cherished for their healing properties since ancient times? Now that science can delve more in-depth, we can confirm that green tea, is one of the best drinks to lower cholesterol. Green tea a loaded with beneficial antioxidants such as catechins.
Unlike other teas, green tea doesnt go through extensive processing. Thats why many of its antioxidants like catechins, are preserved. Many studies suggest antioxidants like catechins in green tea can lower LDL cholesterol significantly, plus it helps with regulating blood pressure.
When choosing green tea, though, you must find minimally processed ones to reap the benefits. Hibiscus tea has also been noted for high antioxidants, which halt free radical damage and help the heart and body heal.
Does Excessive Drinking Contribute To Heart Disease
Heavy drinking, on the other hand, is linked to a number of poor health outcomes, including heart conditions. Excessive alcohol intake can lead to high blood pressure, heart failure or stroke. Excessive drinking can also contribute to cardiomyopathy, a disorder that affects the heart muscle.
Whats more, alcohol can contribute to obesity and the long list of health problems that can go along with it, McEvoy says: Alcohol is a source of excess calories and a cause of weight gain that can be harmful in the long term.
The takeaway, McEvoy says, is what you probably already knew: If you choose to drink alcohol, stick to moderate levels of drinking, and dont overdo it. Were not talking about going out and drinking yourself merry and then expecting good heart outcomes, McEvoy says.
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Red Wine Can Lower Cholesterol
The polyphenols in red wine have antioxidant properties. This means they prevent or reduce the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins , the “bad” type of cholesterol molecules we carry in our bloodstream.
When LDLs are oxidized, they build up in the walls of our arteries and narrow them, so that less blood and oxygen can reach the heart. This can cause coronary heart disease, the most common type of heart disease, and the leading cause of death in the US.
Moderate consumption of red wine can also increase the level of high-density lipoprotein , or the “good cholesterol” in our blood, which is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. HDL cholesterol is good because it helps remove excess LDL cholesterol from the blood vessels.
For example, a small controlled study published in the journal Atherosclerosis in 2006 found that after drinking 400 ml of red wine every day for six weeks, LDL cholesterol decreased by 8% in postmenopausal women who had high LDL levels, while HDL cholesterol increased by 17%.
Another study published in 2005 in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that four weeks of moderate red wine consumption daily 300 ml for males and 200 ml for females increased levels of HDL cholesterol by a greater amount than drinking the non-alcoholic, wine-equivalent dose of red grape extract tablets with water.
Change The Way You Drink Cranberry Juice
Everyone loves that cranberry juice cocktail, but its loaded with sugar and very little natural juices. Find a natural creation with zero added sugar to get those cardiovascular benefits youre searching for.
A study suggests, if you drink this kind of cranberry juice twice daily, you can raise your HDL cholesterol while lowering the bad LDL cholesterol, all thanks to cranberrys potent antioxidants. It should be noted that cranberries can taste very bitter without all that sugar.
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Add These Foods To Lower Ldl Cholesterol
Different foods lower cholesterol in various ways. Some deliver soluble fiber, which binds cholesterol and its precursors in the digestive system and drags them out of the body before they get into circulation. Some give you polyunsaturated fats, which directly lower LDL. And some contain plant sterols and stanols, which block the body from absorbing cholesterol.
1. Oats. An easy first step to lowering your cholesterol is having a bowl of oatmeal or cold oat-based cereal like Cheerios for breakfast. It gives you 1 to 2 grams of soluble fiber. Add a banana or some strawberries for another half-gram. Current nutrition guidelines recommend getting 20 to 35 grams of fiber a day, with at least 5 to 10 grams coming from soluble fiber.
2. Barley and other whole grains. Like oats and oat bran, barley and other whole grains can help lower the risk of heart disease, mainly via the soluble fiber they deliver.
3. Beans. Beans are especially rich in soluble fiber. They also take a while for the body to digest, meaning you feel full for longer after a meal. That’s one reason beans are a useful food for folks trying to lose weight. With so many choices from navy and kidney beans to lentils, garbanzos, black-eyed peas, and beyond and so many ways to prepare them, beans are a very versatile food.
4. Eggplant and okra. These two low-calorie vegetables are good sources of soluble fiber.
How Does Alcohol Affect Cholesterol
While alcohol itself doesnt contain cholesterol, it can still affect your cholesterol levels in several ways.
To begin with, alcohol is processed through your liver, which also makes and eliminates cholesterol. When you drink excessively, your liver focuses on getting rid of the alcohol and becomes less efficient at other tasksincluding managing your cholesterol levels.
Your liver also processes fat and sugar more slowly when dealing with alcohol, leading to higher fat storage. Triglyceridesthe most common type of fat stored in the bodyare also linked to fatty buildup in the arteries. The extra calories in many alcoholic drinks can worsen this problem, even contributing to fatty liver disease, further affecting how well you process cholesterol.
Overall, higher alcohol consumptioneven occasional binge drinkingseems to increase lipid levels in the bloodstream, and is generally not good for heart health5.
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How Much Alcohol Is Safe To Drink
To stay in good health and avoid illness, the government recommends drinking no more than 14 units of alcohol per week, for men and women. To keep the risks down:
- spread your units out across the week
- have some alcohol-free days
- avoid drinking more than six units in six hours, which counts as binge drinking thats less than three 175ml glasses of wine or three pints of beer.
If you have high cholesterol or FH, it should be OK to drink alcohol within these limits. There are some health problems and treatments which can mean its safer to avoid alcohol all together. Speak to your doctor or nurse about whats safe for you.
In the past, it was thought that drinking in moderation was good for your heart. Its now believed that the only possible benefits are for women over 55 when drinking 5 units a week or less, and the benefits are modest.
We dont recommend drinking alcohol to improve your health, as you will improve your health more by eating well and being active. With alcohol, the cons could out way the pros.
How much is a unit of alcohol?
A unit of alcohol is roughly the amount your body can clear from your blood in one hour. Its the equivalent of 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol.
Different drinks contain different amounts of alcohol, as some are stronger than others. For example, a 175ml glass of wine can contain anywhere between 1.9 and 2.4 units. It can be surprising how many units are in your favorite drinks, and how quickly they add up.
14 units is roughly:
The Effect Of Beer On Cholesterol And Triglycerides
There are not a lot of studies solely looking at how beer can affect your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Most studies look at all types of alcoholic beverages and their effect on cholesterol, triglycerides, and heart health as a whole. Studies have examined the consumption of beer products on lipids in amounts ranging from 60 to 340 mL daily from anywhere between 4 and 6 weeks on average.
It was found that, in some studies, people drinking at least one beer beverage a day saw an increase in HDL cholesterol levels by up to 11 percent. Additionally, LDL levels in some studies were lowered by up to 18 percent, although some other studies did not see a significant decrease in LDL. The manner in which beer affects your lipid levels is not known. In these studies, the type or brand of beer was not usually noted.
One study also showed that one beer daily could reduce oxidation of LDL. However, consumption of three or more beers daily actually promoted LDL oxidation. Studies have shown that oxidized LDL can promote inflammation of the inner lining of blood vessels and contribute to the formation of atherosclerosis leading to the development of cardiovascular disease.
Although there were some positive effects noted from drinking beer and other types of alcohol, there were also some negative effects: elevated triglyceride levels were also noted as consumption of beer increased. Having very high triglyceride levels is another risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease.
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Myths About Red Wine And Heart Health
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Youve heard about the benefits of drinking red wine, including recent studies that claim red wine improves cardiovascular health.
Scientists and doctors are still trying to understand the connection between red wine and heart health. That means there are a lot of myths about the benefits of drinking red wine. So is drinking red wine actually good for your heart? Lets separate the myths from the facts.
For more information about heart-healthy practices, contact the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute.
Best Drinks To Lower Cholesterol
In this following list, were looking at some of the drinks that contain certain compounds such as antioxidants that may effectively reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Only having at least one of the following drinks each day can positively impact your cholesterol level and your overall health in a positive way!
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Red Wine And Grape Juice
Alcohol may raise levels of good HDL cholesterol by as much as 5 to 15 percent, research shows and red wine is particularly beneficial because its polyphenol antioxidants may also lower LDL levels. If youre not into vino, grape juice can provide some of the same heart-healthy benefits.
Try this: Stick to one 5-oz glass of wine a day for women and two for men. For grape juice, Smithson suggests 8 oz per day of purple grape juice for women and 16 oz a day for men pick 100 percent fruit juice, not the sugar-added varieties. You can also snack on purple or red grapes, which contain the same antioxidants with the added benefit of fiber, notes Smithson.
Red Wines That Are Good For You
Yes, you read that right. Your eyes and your tastebuds arent wishfully deceiving you. That glass of merlot accompanying your steak or the pinot noir rounding out a long day has a surprising amount of health benefits science is just beginning to uncork.
Yet, we also know not all red wines are made equal. While most varieties and blends contain the same basic makeup, the unique chemical compounds, fermentation processes and even the nutrition of the soil where vines were grown play a part in the health benefits you get with each sip.
Were putting the age-old question of red wine being good or bad for you to bed. Exactly what types of red wine are best for your health, as well as the ins and outs of why and how, are all answered below.
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Before Taking Garlic For Cholesterol
Most of the studies that examined the effectiveness of garlic on cholesterol used anywhere from 500 to 1000 mg of garlic in their study. The garlic preparations vary widely, from powders used in tablets to raw garlic used in cooking. The dose generally recommended is one to two cloves of raw garlic per day or 300 milligrams of dried garlic powder in tablet form.
- Be sure to tell your healthcare provider that you are taking garlic supplements to lower your cholesterol, since they may interact with certain disease conditions or medications you are taking, including saquinavir, a drug used to treat HIV infection.
- The most notable side effect of garlic is the presence of its persistent, distinctive odor being present on your breath and body. Some commercial preparations may boast of lowering this side effect, but you should still be aware that this undesirable side effect might occur.
- Additionally, if you are taking any type of blood thinner or need surgery soon, you should not take garlic without first consulting your healthcare provider because this may lower your ability to clot your blood.
- Although there is not a definite limit on how much garlic you can consume a day, some studies have suggested that too much garlic may be harmful to your liver. For instance, if you weighed 150 pounds, this would roughly equal to consuming 70 grams of garlic in a day. This would be equivalent to eating 18 cloves of garlic or taking over 100 commercially available tablets .
Don’t Drink Beer To Lower Cholesterol
Although one beer a day appears to improve your lipid profile and lower oxidation of LDL in some cases, drinking three or more beers may adversely affect your lipid profile, heart health, and increase your risk of getting certain diseases such as certain cancers, high blood pressure, and having a stoke.
This trend has also been noted with other types of alcohol. Therefore, it is recommended that you do not drink too much beeror any alcoholic beverage for that matterif you are concerned about your heart health.
The American Heart Association recommends that if you do drink alcohol, you should only drink one to two 12 ounce servings of beer daily if you are a man, and 12 ounces of beer a day if you are a woman. Twelve ounces roughly equals 350 mL of beer. If you do not typically drink, the American Heart Association cautions that you should not start drinking beeror any other alcoholsolely for the purpose of improving your heart health.
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Is It True That Wine Lowers Your Bad Cholesterol
Q: Is it true that wine lowers your bad cholesterol?
A: First of all, what is “bad” cholesterol? The term refers to low density lipids found in the bloodstream. High levels of LDL can contribute to atherosclerosisthe hardening and narrowing of arteries due to plaque depositwhich can lead to heart disease.
In clinical studies, some foods and drinks, especially wine, have been shown to lower LDL. But according to Miriam Pappo, a registered dietician and director of Clinical Nutrition at Montefiore Medical Center, “There is conflicting evidence on this. Antioxidants in general have been shown to lower bad cholesterol and increase HDL,” also known as “good” cholesterol. She continued, “The antioxidant resveratrol, found in wine, might be the key ingredient in wine that helps prevent damage to blood vessels, reduce bad cholesterol or LDL, and increase good cholesterol HDL.” Much resveratrol research, however, has been performed on animals and in larger doses than would be found in normal wine consumption.
Pappo pointed out that several major studies on this topic have produced different results. The 2005 “French Paradox” study showed that alcohol found in red wine increased HDL but did not decrease LDL. Researchers in Madrid, meanwhile, found that red wine could lower LDL levels by 9 percent in healthy people and by 12 percent in less-healthy people.
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