Blackcurrant Reduces High Cholesterol Levels

Today lack of fiber in daily diet is indicted for many ailments like constipation. Hectic life style has upset the traditional way of cooking. People are resorting to eating ready made food and junk food. Such food contains a lot of toxic substances used as preservatives and flavors. These foods have hardly any fiber components.

The much maligned cholesterol is a very important constituent in the metabolism of the body. Cholesterol is produced by the liver to fulfill the various requirements of the body. Cholesterol is an important constituent of hormones and the bile. The bile is also produced by the liver and its basic function is to emulsify the fats and lipids. Cholesterol is also a very important part of the cell wall. The body is able to manufacture the required cholesterol. When the extra cholesterol from the food enters the body it is deposited under the skin and cholesterol flows with blood through the blood vessel. This cholesterol starts depositing in the inner linings of the arteries and subsequently the lumen of the arteries are narrowed which leads to hypertension and many cardiac disorders.

The higher is the cholesterol levels in the blood the greater is the chances of getting a heart attack. The normal levels of blood cholesterol in the blood for an adult male are 200 mg/dl. Any thing above the recommended levels is considered as high cholesterol levels. A level of 240 mg/dl is considered as dangerous. Cholesterol is further subdivided into LDL or bad cholesterol; and HDL or good cholesterol. Lower levels of HDL in the blood are also bad.

It is estimated that by 45 years 90% of humans are obese and have a negative lipid profile. Medicines for obesity and cholesterol are few and have terrible side effects. Side effects have forced the decrease in prescriptions of statin drugs. Hence increasingly Dieticians are looking closely at Home remedies and herbal method of cholesterol control.

Fruits have been very effective in lowering high cholesterol levels. Blackcurrant is a fruit which is grown widely in North Europe and Asia. The fruit is dark purple in color and rich in Vitamin C. Studies have also shown concentrated blackcurrant to be an effective Monoamine Oxidase inhibitor. Blackcurrant seed oil is a rich source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a very rare essential fatty acid. Thus Blackcurrant helps to reduce High Cholesterol levels and the same time prevent damage to the arterial linings by free radicals. Damaged arterial walls are also the initiator for formation of plaques in the arteries. This leads to a condition called arteriosclerosis.

I am a Stanley and have keen interest in digging out lesser known home remedies and herbal remedies for various ailments.