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Saturday November 19, 2022
Books – Sayed Metwally
High levels of “bad” cholesterol in the blood are a common cause of strokes and heart disease, but getting cholesterol levels out of the danger zone can be difficult, often requiring medication, breaking some bad habits, or even a major style overhaul. of life.
There are few things that can ease your efforts, like taking sulforaphane. The sulfur-rich compound, found in many green leafy vegetables, can lead to a “significant” drop in “bad” cholesterol levels, according to the British express newspaper.
Broccoli is one of the few foods that are high in sulforaphane, making it a great addition to a cholesterol-lowering diet.
In 2016, a study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology and Medicine found that sulforaphane, found in broccoli, can cause a dramatic drop in LDL cholesterol levels.
Researchers at Mansoura University in Egypt divided a group of rabbits into three groups, one fed normally, the second on a high-cholesterol diet, and the second on a high-cholesterol diet plus sulforaphane supplements.
The feeding continued for four weeks, after which the rabbits given sulforaphane had a 40 percent decrease in blood LDL cholesterol compared with rabbits that were fed only high-cholesterol substances. The researchers also noted a 70-point decrease in triglyceride levels.
Triglycerides are another type of blood fat and are an essential source of energy, but too much of them can also lead to an increased risk of heart disease.
According to the Cholesterol Charity Heart UK, “high triglyceride levels are known to contribute to the risk of other cardiovascular diseases, and very high triglyceride levels can cause serious medical conditions such as pancreatitis.”
The researchers also found that sulforaphane has an effect in improving rabbit vascular function and that it reduces inflammatory markers in the rabbits’ blood vessels. The main limitation of the study was that it was in rabbits, not humans.
However, the signs are encouraging: a recent study published in the European Heart Journal found that about an apple and a large serving of broccoli a day can reduce the risk of stroke by 13%.
The findings were likely due to the foods’ cholesterol-lowering properties, experts told the Times. There are previous studies that support the author’s claim.
Why is broccoli so useful?
Broccoli is considered a superfood, and not surprisingly, the food has many other benefits, as it contains lutein, which is known to improve eye health.
“Eating foods that contain lutein will help improve the health of your eyes and reduce the risk of eye disease,” said Sharon Copeland, optometrist at Feel Good Contacts.
Foods that contain lutein include kale, spinach, broccoli, squash, carrots, and pistachios. Alternatively, you can try taking a lutein supplement, but getting the vitamin through food is the most effective way.
But there’s also research indicating that how you cook broccoli has a significant impact on the benefits you’ll get from the vegetable.
According to one study, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli must be chopped, shredded or chewed to release the enzymes needed to activate the effect of sulforaphane.
One study even found raw broccoli to be better, finding that raw broccoli contains 10 times the amount of sulforaphane than cooked broccoli.
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