Eating fruits and vegetables is a key to maintaining good health that only 1 in 10 Americans consume in their daily diet. A new study suggests that if you have cholesterol problems, these types of foods will ensure your healthy life.
In the study, experts looked at low-density lipoproteins (LDL) – known as bad cholesterol because their elevation increases the risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease.
Participants following a plant-based diet saw their total cholesterol drop by 7%, along with a 10% reduction in their LDL levels compared to those who ate meat and plants.
Dr Ruth Frickschmidt, professor of clinical biochemistry and chief physician at Rigg Hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark, said: “This corresponds to one-third the effect of taking cholesterol-lowering drugs such as statins, and results in a 7% increase in “There was a reduction in the risk of heart disease in someone who maintained a plant-based diet for five years.”
“Importantly, we found similar results across continents, ages, different ranges of body mass index, and across people in different health states,” Frickschmidt said.
“If people start eating a vegetarian or vegan diet at an early age, the potential to reduce the risk of heart disease caused by clogged arteries is substantial.”
Tracey Parker, a senior nutritionist at the British Heart Foundation in Birmingham, said: “This large analysis supports what we already know: that adding more plant-based foods to your diet is good for your heart. Is.” .
However, the study also highlighted that the effect of diet on cholesterol may be limited for people who “inherit a tendency to make too much cholesterol for their livers, meaning that high cholesterol in our “It’s more influenced by our DNA than diet,” he said. Robert Storey, professor of cardiology at the University of Sheffield in the UK.
Frikke-Schmidt said statin therapy is better than a plant-based diet in lowering fat and cholesterol levels.
“However, one regimen does not exclude the other, and combining statins with a plant-based diet may have a synergistic effect, resulting in an even greater beneficial effect,” he said. noted.
Dwayne Miller, a senior teaching fellow at the University of Austin Medical School in Birmingham, UK, said: “Anyone who is considering becoming a vegetarian or vegan should be sure to get enough iron, Iodine, vitamin B12 and vitamin D are planned to be added.”
Also, people who transition to a plant-based diet should still be mindful of the types of foods they are eating.
Aiden Cassidy, professor and director of interdisciplinary research at Queen’s University Belfast’s Institute for Global Food Security, emphasized that only “a healthy plant-based diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains, improves health.” , while other plant foods that contain carbohydrates. And processed foods don’t do much fat, sugar, and salt.”
“If people have trouble adjusting to a fully vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, consider trying the Mediterranean diet, which includes mostly fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and fish, few eggs and minimal Contains full-fat dairy, and very little meat.” Parker said.