HDL cholesterol, also known as good cholesterol, is important in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Find out which food lowers cholesterol.
HDL cholesterol, also known as good cholesterol, is important in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Eating almonds helps improve good cholesterol and lower bad cholesterol, a new study shows.
Good cholesterol, known as HDL, helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Almonds are rich in vitamins E and B. They are also an excellent source of minerals such as calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus and zinc, and also provide an excellent supply of fat and fiber.
Almonds can increase the functionality of HDL cholesterol, which collects bad cholesterol from tissues such as arteries and helps transport it out of the body. A controlled trial found that HDL cholesterol levels and function were improved among participants who followed a diet that included 43g of unsalted almonds every day for six weeks.
This group was compared to the group of participants who followed the same diet, but instead of almonds they ate a muffin.
The researchers found that participants who ate almonds had improved levels of HDL cholesterol.
Professor Penny Kris-Etherton, author of the study said:
“HDL is very small when it is put into the bloodstream. It’s like a garbage bag that slowly expands and collects cholesterol from cells and tissues before it is deposited in the liver to be broken down.”
HDL cholesterol is found in different subspecies and different particle sizes ranging from very small to very large. A concentration that is too low or too high or a combination of the two can lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Including almonds in a low-fat diet improves HDL subspecies and their functions.
