Mediterranean diet good for cholesterol

People with a mediterranean food pattern have more good cholesterol in their blood. This is the result of a research done by Marieke Bos at the University of Wageningen

Olive oil, grain products, nuts, fish and a glass of red wine every day are typical characteristics of the mediterranean diet. It was already known that mediterranean eaters have lower LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) levels. Now is has also been discovered that the mediterranean diet also leads to higher HDL cholesterol levels (good cholesterol).

During the research a lot of the saturated fats in the diet from products like butter, are replaced by unsaturated fats, like in olive oil. The bad cholesterol went down and the good cholesterol went up. This combination reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Cholesterol is an important building block for the body, but too much cholesterol is dangerous. Surplus cholesterol can lead to constricted blood vessels. The good cholesterol transports the excess of cholesterol to the liver. The liver puts the cholesterol in the intestines where it can leave the body.

Popularity: 23% [?]

---

Related Posts:

The good side of cholesterol
Big neck could indicate heart problems
Low carb diet is the most effective
Light soft drinks can cause metabolic syndrome too
Tips for keeping your heart healthy
Trans fats are bad for the prostate
Replace saturated fat with unsaturated