Improve ldl cholesterol and increase coronary heart well being with fashionable Christmas facet dish
A popular Christmas side dish is packed with surprising health benefits – including improving cholesterol levels and boosting heart health
Christmas is a season when we indulge in a variety of foods that aren’t usually on the menu throughout the rest of the year. Our plates are heaped with turkey, pigs in blankets and honey-roasted veggies, not to mention all the trimmings.
However, there’s one common side dish found on every Christmas dinner table that boasts some surprising health benefits, some of which might be news to you. Cranberries have long been championed as a home remedy for those suffering from urinary tract infections, but they also offer a host of other health benefits that may surprise you.
These include aiding with cholesterol levels and heart health. The fruit, available in various forms, is brimming with plant compounds that possess protective properties and antioxidants, which can be found in the berry’s skin.
It’s worth mentioning that dried cranberries maintain the same level of fibre, vitamins and minerals, but have a slightly lower level of antioxidants compared to fresh berries.
Cranberries have been recognised for their significant benefits for heart health and cholesterol levels. WebMD has explained that the fruit can help reduce pressure and cholesterol, with some studies suggesting that regularly drinking low-calorie cranberry juice can increase HDL (good) cholesterol and decrease LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, reports Surrey Live.
The health experts at BBC Good Food also highlighted that the juice could potentially lower risk factors associated with heart disease. The fruit is said to influence the reduction of homocysteine, a compound recognised for harming the lining of blood vessels.
In 2022, research published in Food and Function discovered that daily intake of 100g of fresh cranberries over one month enhanced cardiovascular function in men. The participants who ate cranberries experienced a notable improvement in flow-mediated dilation (FMD), which indicates better heart and blood vessel function.
According to Kings College London, FMD is regarded as a ‘sensitive biomarker’ of cardiovascular disease risk and assesses how blood vessels expand when blood flow rises. It proposed that adding cranberries to a balanced diet might help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease by enhancing blood vessel function.
Dr Christian Heiss, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Surrey and co-author of the research, stated: “Our findings provide solid evidence that cranberries can significantly affect vascular health even in people with low cardiovascular risk. This study further indicates that specific metabolites present in blood after cranberry consumption are related to the beneficial effects.”
So when Christmas Day arrives and you’re piling up your plate, think about adding a spoonful of cranberry sauce.
