Some foods in our daily lives have excellent health benefits and disease prevention effects. Experts point out that some foods are natural "lipid-lowering agents," helping to lower blood lipids and blood pressure, and promoting health and disease prevention. Today, we'll introduce some of these foods.
1. Hawthorn: Promotes cholesterol excretion
Hawthorn is a natural lipid-lowering agent, mainly containing hawthorn acid, citric acid, fat-decomposing acids, vitamin C, flavonoids, carbohydrates, and other components. It has the health benefits of dilating blood vessels, improving microcirculation, lowering blood pressure, and promoting cholesterol excretion, thereby reducing blood lipids. However, hawthorn is an acidic food and should not be eaten on an empty stomach or in excessive amounts; it is best consumed after meals.
II. Mung beans: Prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease
Mung beans are a refreshing summer food, known for their health benefits, including lowering blood lipids, protecting the heart, and preventing coronary heart disease. Animal experiments have shown that mung beans can effectively lower serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein, and significantly reduce coronary atherosclerosis. Clinical practice has also demonstrated that moderate daily consumption of mung beans by patients with hyperlipidemia has a significant cholesterol-lowering effect.
3. Shiitake mushrooms: Lower blood lipids and blood pressure
Experts explain that shiitake mushrooms have health benefits such as aiding digestion, reducing fat, and lowering blood pressure. The fiber they contain promotes gastrointestinal motility, prevents constipation, and reduces the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines. Shiitake mushrooms also contain nucleic acid substances such as lentinan, which can promote cholesterol breakdown. Regular consumption of shiitake mushrooms can lower total cholesterol and triglycerides.
IV. Sweet potatoes: Prevention of atherosclerosis
Experts say that moderate consumption of sweet potatoes can prevent lipid deposition in the cardiovascular system, prevent atherosclerosis, reduce subcutaneous fat, and avoid excessive obesity. However, Phoenix Chinese Medicine reminds us that excessive sweet potato intake can increase total calorie consumption, which is actually detrimental to lowering blood lipids.
5. Cucumber: Clears heat, quenches thirst, and promotes urination.
Cucumbers are crisp and delicious, and have health benefits such as clearing heat, quenching thirst, and promoting urination. The fiber they contain helps the intestines eliminate food waste, thus reducing cholesterol absorption. Cucumbers also contain a substance called malonic acid, which can inhibit the conversion of carbohydrates into fat in the body, thus having health benefits such as weight loss and regulating lipid metabolism.
6. Eggplant: Improves capillary elasticity
Eggplant contains various vitamins, especially purple eggplant, which is rich in vitamin P, which can enhance cell adhesion and improve microvascular elasticity. Medical research shows that eggplant can lower cholesterol and prevent vascular damage caused by hyperlipidemia, and can be used as an adjunct treatment for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, arteriosclerosis, and other conditions.
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