Having high cholesterol can lead to severe and even fatal health conditions. If left untreated the fatty substance, called cholesterol, can build up in your blood vessels. This can then cause blockages and ultimately heart attacks or strokes.
One of the major contributing factors to high cholesterol is earring too much fatty food.
However, it can also be linked with not exercising enough, drinking alcohol, smoking and family genes.
Although there are medications to help lower cholesterol, a change in lifestyle is usually recommended.
And one study has shown that making a certain drink at home could also help.
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The paper, published in the Indonesian National Nutrition Journal in 2020, recommends mixing garlic, ginger, lemon, honey and apple cider vinegar for the best results.
It explains: “Cholesterol-lowering herbal treatment made from natural ingredients are believed to be able to replace modern medicine even though it has not been scientifically proven.
“Purpose of this study was to test perceptions of customers and effects of mixed herbal drink on lipid profile of consumers with hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol).”
As part of the study 55 people consumed “at least” one spoonful of the mixed drink for six months.
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Both their health records and questionnaires completed by the participants were then analysed.
It says: “Consumer perceptions toward health aspects showed that 83.7 percent of subjects experienced a decrease in cholesterol after consuming mixed herbal drink.
“Consumer emotional perception showed that 90.9 percent of subjects feel healthier and fitter after consuming mixed herbal drink.
“Results of subject medical records on lipid profile showed a decrease in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides.
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“Based on perceptions and medical records, it is known that mixed herbal drink can be used as an alternative to traditional cholesterol-lowering medicines.”
Low-density lipoprotein – also known as “bad” cholesterol is what can build up on the walls of your blood vessels and over time this causes the insides of the vessels to narrow.
In contrast, high-density lipoprotein works to reduce cholesterol levels by absorbing it and carrying it back to the liver. The liver then removes it from the body.
Generally a healthy level of total cholesterol in the blood is considered to be five or less millimoles per litre (mmol/l).
More specifically, a healthy level of high-density lipoprotein is one or more mmol/l and you should have four or less mmol/l of low-density lipoprotein.
The study concludes: “There were positive changes in both health and emotional perception of the subjects after consuming mixed herbal drink.
“Furthermore, the results of medical records on lipid profiles showed that there was a decrease in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides before and after consuming mixed herbal drinks for six months.”
To reduce cholesterol levels the NHS advises:
- Eating less saturated fat
- Exercising more
- To stop smoking
- Cutting back on alcohol.
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