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Fortunately, heart disease is a preventable condition and diet is a modifiable risk factor.

Many dietary items can help to stave off the risk by stymying the mechanisms that contribute to heart disease.

Acai berries, a Brazilian superfruit native to the Amazon region, has been shown to improve LDL cholesterol levels.

LDL cholesterol is a harmful substance that clogs up inside of your artery walls, cutting off the blood supply to the heart - the primary cause of heart disease.

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Animal studies have also suggested that acai could help improve cholesterol levels by decreasing total and LDL cholesterol.

While more research is needed, researchers postulatethat anthocyanins in acai could be responsible for their positive impact on cholesterol levels, since studies have linked this plant compound to improvements in HDL and LDL cholesterol.

HDL cholesterol is branded the "good" cholesterol because it counters the harmful effects of LDL cholesterol.

What's more, acai contains plant sterols, which prevent cholesterol from being absorbed by your body, research shows.

While certain items are essential, the most important dietary approach is to focus on heart-healthy food groups.

According to the NHS, a low-fat, high-fibre diet is recommended, which should include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables (five portions a day) and whole grains.

"You should limit the amount of salt you eat to no more than six grams (0.2oz) a day as too much salt will increase your blood pressure," warns the health body.

High blood pressure can raise your risk of heart disease by narrowing your blood vessels.

You should avoid food containing saturated fats, because these will increase the levels of bad cholesterol in your blood.

Foods high in saturated fat include:

Harvard Health explains: "Regular exercise also improves factors linked to cardiovascular health, resulting in lower blood pressure, healthier cholesterol levels, and better blood sugar regulation."

Here is the original post:
How to live longer: Acai smoothies may reduce your risk of the global killer heart disease - Express

This entry was posted on December 21, 2020 at 12:57 am and is filed under Longevity. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |