Cholesterol-lowering and cleansing vessels

Many people know that cholesterol is harmful to the cardiovascular system, and its accumulation in the body leads to the development of diseases such as atherosclerosis and stroke. That is why it is important to adhere to proper nutrition. There are products that effectively lower blood cholesterol. We will talk about them in this article. But first of all, you need to understand what cholesterol is and what its functions are.

Healthy and bad cholesterol

Cholesterol is called lipid organic compounds that are part of the cell membranes of all living organisms. This is a building material for the formation of new cells, as well as an indispensable component involved in the production of certain hormones. If cholesterol plays such important functions in the body, why are many so afraid of it?

The thing is that there are two types of cholesterol: HDL (high density lipoproteins) and LDL (low density lipoproteins). The first type is considered useful. It plays an important role in the cellular structure. But LDL is harmful. Its excess leads to the development of diseases such as atherosclerosis, stroke and heart attack. Bad lipids settle on the walls of blood vessels, forming the so-called atherosclerotic plaques.

The ratio of HDL to LDL 4 to 1 is considered normal. You can regulate the lipid balance using a diet, for this you need to know which products lower blood cholesterol.

Cholesterol-containing foods

Egg yolk, as well as many seafood (mussels, squids, fish and caviar), contain large amounts of cholesterol. However, they should not be abandoned, as they do not increase LDL levels.

Saturated fats, which are found in lard, fatty meats, liver and butter, pose a great danger. The use of such products increases the risk of accumulation of bad cholesterol in the blood. But it is also impossible to completely abandon them. The normal functioning of the thyroid gland depends on saturated fats. Only consume such products in small quantities. In your daily diet, saturated fats should not be 15 g.

Cholesterol-lowering and cleansing vessels

A balanced diet will help improve the condition of blood vessels and reduce the content of bad cholesterol in the blood. Properly selected nutrition is an excellent prevention of atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease and strokes.

Next, we look at which foods quickly lower cholesterol. This list includes:

• citrus fruit;
• oat bran;
• legumes;
• carrot;
• green tea;
• pistachios;
• Bell pepper;
• eggplant;
• Tomatoes
• berries and others.

Now we will analyze the features of each of them.

Citrus fruit

Lemons, oranges and grapefruits have a number of beneficial substances. Pectin, which is rich in citrus fruits, plays an important role in the breakdown of cholesterol. Soluble pectin fibers form a mass of viscous consistency in the stomach, absorbing harmful lipids. They prevent cholesterol from entering the bloodstream and clogging blood vessels.

Cereals

Thanks to this product, you can increase the level of acidity. Oatmeal contains a lot of fiber and a unique component of beta-gluconate. Nutritionists have called this substance a cholesterol trap. In addition to oatmeal, it is recommended to eat whole grain bread and bran.

Legumes

The value of legumes lies in their nutritional value and a large amount of fiber. Dishes from beans, lentils, chickpeas or ordinary peas are very useful for intestinal function. Getting into it, the fruits of legumes do not allow the pathogenic microflora to multiply. In the process of digestion, they capture toxic substances that enter the human body, and remove them. They also prevent trans fats and bad cholesterol from being absorbed into the blood.

Carrot

To reduce LDL in the blood by 15%, it is enough to eat 2 carrots per day for two months. Also, this root crop is useful for healthy teeth and gums. It effectively removes food debris from tooth enamel, and the substances that make up it help fight bacteria that trigger tooth decay and gum disease. Fresh carrots are recommended for people who have problems with the liver, kidneys and cardiovascular system.

Tomatoes

Cholesterol-lowering foods must be present in the diets of people suffering from cardiovascular disease. Tomatoes have similar properties. Lycopene - a bright red pigment - is part of tomatoes. It effectively breaks down bad cholesterol. According to scientists, 25 mg of lycopene per day is enough to get rid of 10% of LDL. Such an amount of substance is contained in two glasses of tomato juice.

The composition of tomatoes include a valuable trace element - potassium. It provides myocardial tone. Thanks to this property, people who have diseases of the cardiovascular system, doctors recommend consuming as many tomatoes as possible.

According to nutritionists, tomatoes are a wonderful tool in the fight against extra pounds. This is due to the fact that their composition contains chromium - an element that inhibits the feeling of hunger, although the tomatoes themselves are considered a low-calorie product.

Garlic

One of the cholesterol-lowering foods is garlic. The anticholesterol effect is due to the presence of a substance - alliin, due to which garlic has such a specific smell and pungency. It does not bring any benefits to the body. However, the organic compound allicin, into which alliin is transformed by the mechanical destruction of garlic cells, cleans the vessels of atherosclerotic plaques well.

It is worth noting other positive characteristics of the spicy vegetable:

1. The allicin contained in this plant crop helps to increase muscle mass. It is not so much more effective compared to steroids, but it does not harm the body. So that the volume of biceps and triceps begins to increase, it is recommended to eat 4-5 garlic cloves, and, accordingly, do not forget about training.
2. Garlic helps increase efficiency, activates brain activity and normalizes the functions of the nervous system. All this thanks to the organic compound - allicin.
3. Using a clove of garlic, you can normalize blood pressure. But if you have already taken the medicine, you should wait a while with the garlic therapy. In combination with some drugs, it will not only not help, but it will also harm health.

Pistachios

Pistachios are a valuable cholesterol lowering product. Natural plant substances phytosterols contained in these nuts act as blockers, preventing low-density lipoproteins from being absorbed into the blood.

Pistachios are necessary to maintain the health of the cardiovascular system, as they contain fiber, antioxidants, a large amount of nutrients and monounsaturated fatty acids.

Green tea

A quick cholesterol-lowering product is green tea. With this drink you can reduce LDL in the blood by 15%. The presence of flavonoids in green tea allows you to strengthen the capillary system, as well as reduce the number of harmful lipids and increase the level of good cholesterol necessary for the formation of new cells.

This property has an exclusively high-quality drink. Packaged green tea will not bring any benefit.

Bell pepper

Another product that lowers blood cholesterol is sweet pepper. This vegetable has a firming effect on blood vessels, has an anti-sclerotic effect and removes LDL from the body. It also helps regulate blood pressure. Pepper contains a huge amount of vitamins. In the Middle Ages, this vegetable was used to treat scurvy.

Eggplant

Potassium, which is found in large quantities in eggplant, is very useful for diseases of the cardiovascular system. Due to the chemical composition of the vegetable, the water-salt balance is normalized, the acid-base balance of the body is maintained, and the level of cholesterol is effectively reduced.

Fish and fish oil

The value of fish oil is the availability of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. The most useful is marine fish. In large quantities, fish oil is found in cod liver, sardines and salmon. This product must be present in the diet of each person. It not only helps to reduce the level of bad cholesterol in the blood, but also is a supplier of protein, so necessary for the normal functioning of the body.

Fish meat has a low content of connective fibers, therefore, unlike pork, beef and other types of meat, it is better absorbed and quickly digested. Consider other beneficial substances that make up fish:

1. Tauric acid is an excellent prophylactic against neurological and cardiovascular diseases.
2. Fluorine and phosphorus are substances that are good for dental health.
3. Potassium - helps normalize blood pressure.
4. Selenium - is responsible for strengthening the immune system, prevents the occurrence of frequent mood swings.
5. Vitamin D - is a prophylactic against rickets.

Berries

Summer is a wonderful time. During this period, it's time to include in your diet the most useful foods that lower blood cholesterol. Berries have such a feature:

• grapes;
• blueberry;
• Blueberries
• chokeberry;
• blackberry;
• cranberry;
• lingonberry.

To improve metabolic processes, it is recommended to eat 150 g of these berries daily. Very useful are garden raspberries and strawberries. Pomegranate is beneficial for the circulatory system. Berries can be consumed raw or made from fruit drinks, juices and mashed potatoes.

Having learned which foods quickly lower blood cholesterol, you can balance your diet yourself. Such a diet will get rid of harmful lipids.