• High cholesterol can lead to a host of health problems
  • Cardiovascular problems and stroke can result from high cholesterol
  • One berry effectively lowers bad cholesterol levels

When there is lots of fatty substance, also known as cholesterol, in the blood, high cholesterol ensues. Oftentimes, high cholesterol is the result of having a poor diet, being overweight, and leading an almost sedentary life. This can be lowered, however, by implementing simple lifestyle changes.

Quitting smoking, exercising more, consuming less fatty foods, and cutting down your alcohol consumption are some of the ways to reduce cholesterol levels. Another way is by consuming a certain fruit that has been proven to lower cholesterol.

Berry That Lower Cholesterol Levels

According to many studies, consuming hawthorn berries can help in reducing cholesterol levels. Hawthorn berries are small fruits that grow on trees that belong to the Crataegus genus family.

hawthorn berries lower cholesterol
hawthorn berries lower cholesterol manfredrichter - Pixabay

Studies show they are loaded with nutrition and have even been used as a remedy to a series of health issues like high blood pressure and digestive problems. Their extracts have also been proven to help a lot in reducing blood fat levels.

There are two types of fat in the blood. These are triglycerides and cholesterol. Normal levels of these fat types have always been regarded as healthy as they play a vital role in hormone production.

An imbalance in the levels of blood fat, particularly having high triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol levels, leads to atherosclerosis. This is a disease that involves the build-up of plaque within the arteries. If plaque continues to build up, it could lead to a blockage in the blood vessel, causing a stroke or a heart attack.

Hawthorn Studies

In one study, two varied doses of hawthorn extract were given to mice. At the end of the study, researchers found that the mice which received hawthorn extracts were shown to have 28% to 47% lower live triglyceride levels. They also have been found to have lower levels of total and LDL cholesterol compared to the group of mice that did not receive any extract.

In another study also involving mice, researchers fed them with a high-cholesterol diet and at the same time, gave one group simvastatin, a cholesterol-lowering drug, and hawthorn extracts to another group. Researchers found that both groups showed their total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were lowered. In the case of the group that received the extract, their LDL cholesterol was also lowered.