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A new research on periodic fasting has identified a biological process in the body that converts bad cholesterol in fat cells to energy, thus combating diabetes risk factors. Researchers at the Intermountain Heart Institute at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah, noticed that after 10 to 12 hours of time fasting, the body starts scavenging for other sources of energy throughout the body to sustain itself. The body pulls LDL (bad) cholesterol from the fat cells and uses it as energy.
'Fasting has the potential to become an important diabetes intervention,' Benjamin Horne, PhD, director of cardiovascular and genetic epidemiology at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute and lead researcher on the study, said. 'Though we've studied fasting and it's health benefits for years, we didn't know why fasting could provide the health benefits we observed related to the risk of diabetes,' he said. Prediabetes means the amount of glucose, also called sugar, in the blood is higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes. Prior research done by Dr. Horne and his team in 2011 focused on healthy people during one day of fasting and showed that routine, water-only fasting was associated with lower glucose levels and weight loss. 'When we studied the effects of fasting in apparently healthy people, cholesterol levels increased during the one-time 24-hour fast,' Dr. Horne said. (Read: 8 natural cholesterol busters)
'The changes that were most interesting or unexpected were all related to metabolic health and diabetes risk. Together with our prior studies that showed decades of routine fasting was associated with a lower risk of diabetes and coronary artery disease, this led us to think that fasting is most impactful for reducing the risk of diabetes and related metabolic problems,' he added. The study will be presented at the 2014 American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions in San Francisco. (Read: Top 7 foods that can help bring down cholesterol (Gallery))
How to reduce cholesterol with natural foods?
A high level of LDL or 'bad' cholesterol is well-recognized as a risk factor for heart disease; if you want to keep a heart attack or a stroke at bay, you need to pay attention to lowering it. Along with this, you also ought to do what you can to increase your store of HDL or 'good' cholesterol. Here are some foods that have been a part of Indian cuisine for ages, and are now being found to have valuable cholesterol-reducing action.
Fenugreek or Methi
Fenugreek seeds are a rich source of constituents known as steroidal saponins that help to reduce the body's absorption of cholesterol coming in through the fat-rich foods we eat. Besides, researchers also speculate that these saponins may have a role to play in reducing the body's production of cholesterol. This, along with the fibre present in the fenugreek seed coat makes methi a valuable weapon in the fight against high levels of cholesterol andtriglycerides. Here are 15 health benefits of methi. Read more about how methi can help you get better skin and hair
Health.India.com tip:Place methi seeds in a skillet and dry roast using medium heat for about two minutes, with constant stirring. Allow the seeds to cool and then powder; add one teaspoon of this powder to hot or cold water and take once or twice in a day. You could also sprinkle a little of this powder at the end of cooking vegetables in gravy if you do not mind the slight bitter taste it gives.
Flaxseed or Alsi
Also called linseed, flaxseed is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids that have a protective action on heart health. Like fenugreek, these seeds also contain a lot of fiber and this binds with cholesterol, preventing its absorption. The regular use of flaxseed is said to prevent the arteries from hardening due to the deposition of cholesterol; it also helps reduce the risk of coronary artery disease and hypertension. Flaxseeds also have the effect of increasing the concentrations of apolipoprotein A1 which goes to form HDL cholesterol. Read more why flaxeseeds are good for your health.
Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.
Health.India.com tip: Grind flaxseeds and add the powder into your food towards the end of the cooking process. Although it will not be damaged by heat, the fiber present in the flaxseeds can absorb liquid and cause a thickening of the gravy if added early in the cooking process. Sprinkle a little flaxseed powder over breakfast cereals, cooked vegetables, or mix in with your chutney powder.
Garlic
Garlic has long been used in Indian kitchens to pep up spicy dishes; our ancestors appear to have known a lot about its medicinal value. Research now shows that garlic reduces LDL cholesterol, prevents a rise of blood pressure and also avoids the deposition of plaque on the walls of arteries, reducing chances of heart attack and stroke. Garlic contains sulphurous compounds that act as antioxidants and also help with expansion of the blood vessels, keeping blood pressure at a normal level. Here are 15 health benefits of garlic. Also readhow you can keep your blood sugar in control naturally with garlic.
Health.India.com tip: Consume a few cloves of raw garlic every day or crush and add it into your curries and gravies if you cannot bear the raw garlic taste. For maximum benefit, crush or chop garlic and leave it for 5 minutes to activate the beneficial compound called allicin after this, even adding tamarind or lemon juice will not destroy the garlic's action. Avoid microwaving or boiling entire garlic cloves because this can destroy the activity of the vital constituents. Read more about Natural foods to reduce cholesterol
With inputs from ANI
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