Just ‘Three Grams a Day’ Could Reduce your Blood Cholesterol

With World Heart Day taking place on the 29th September and in the time of COVID-19, taking care of your heart is more important than ever before. A clinical trial carried out by leading researchers in Italy has confirmed that the beta-glucans found in oats can reduce your blood cholesterol levels.

Beta glucans are the main natural fibres found in oats and barley; they can also be found in supplement form such as in Herbalife Nutrition’s Beta heart® – a nutritious vanilla-flavoured powdered drink that contains the key ingredient OatWell oat beta-glucan.

By including three grams of oat beta-glucans in their diets every day, trial participants reduced their LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels by an average of 12% after only four weeks, further reducing to 15% after only eight weeks.  Often referred to as ‘bad cholesterol’, LDLs make up most of the body’s cholesterol and, if high, can  increase the risk of coronary heart disease.*  

Overall, the trial, conducted using Beta heart®, showed an average reduction in total cholesterol of 6.5% after four weeks and 9% after eight weeks. The researchers also found that participants’ cholesterol levels returned to their original levels once they’d stopped taking Beta heart® – highlighting the importance of a daily beta-glucan intake. 

The trial was carried out by researchers at Bologna’s Sant’Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, on behalf of the Nutrition Foundation of Italy, and comprised 83 participants (48 women and 35 men) and was one of the first clinical trials in a southern European population.  At the start of the trial, each participant had moderately high levels of cholesterol, low cardiovascular risk and consumed a typical Mediterranean diet. 

Commenting on the study, Dr Carel Leroux said

“The findings of this trial are significant and strengthen our knowledge that beta glucans are an effective and safe way to reduce cholesterol in people with mild to moderate levels, including relatively young patients. The World Health Organization reports that in Europe, 54% of adults aged 25 and over have high levels of cholesterol – the highest rate globally”.  

The results of the trial have been published in the scientific journal ‘Nutrients’.

The post Just ‘Three Grams a Day’ Could Reduce your Blood Cholesterol  appeared first on Wellbeing Magazine.

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