Honey and cholesterol
Does honey help combat high cholesterol? Is there a relationship between "honey and cholesterol"? Which honey to choose when struggling with cholesterol? We invite you to read this post, where we will try to provide some reliable information regarding this intriguing topic 😊
Table of contents:
- What is cholesterol?
- Honey lowers bad cholesterol.
- Which honey to lower cholesterol?
- Natural honey as an alternative sweetener effect.
1. What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the blood. If too much cholesterol builds up in the blood, it can clog arteries and potentially lead to a heart attack and stroke.
High cholesterol is caused by a diet rich in fatty foods, being overweight or obese, smoking, and insufficient exercise. It can also be caused by genetic predispositions or a family history of high cholesterol. Therefore, it is not always a consequence of an unhealthy lifestyle - active people with a healthy weight can still have high cholesterol, and it is important that we all know how to maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
But not all cholesterol is bad. When doctors talk about "high cholesterol", they mean a form of cholesterol called LDL or low-density lipoprotein, often also referred to as bad cholesterol.
2. Honey lowers bad cholesterol.
Science is emerging that suggests consuming high-quality, active medicinal honey helps lower bad LDL cholesterol, and thus also lowers total cholesterol levels, but may also increase good HDL cholesterol levels.
It is believed that powerful antioxidants called flavonoids, naturally present in active medicinal honey, are responsible for these heart health benefits. Chemical processes occur in the body all the time. One of these processes is LDL oxidation, which means that chemical reactions cause LDL molecules to lose electrons and become unstable.
Oxidised LDL forms plaques that clog arteries more easily. Research has shown that the flavonoids in honey prevent LDL oxidation. Therefore, eating honey can help reduce the harmful effects of high LDL levels, leading to a healthier life. It is therefore worth using honey instead of sugar – especially the real kind. We encourage you to choose our honey – years of tradition combined with experience have taught us to offer the best quality products from the hive – all available in our online shop here. Other bee products will also be helpful- we are mainly referring to flower pollen.
3. Which honey to lower cholesterol?
Unfortunately, there are no studies that clearly point to the use of specific types of honey for harmful cholesterol. Too high a level of the LDL fraction (low density lipoproteins) – often called "bad cholesterol" – can contribute to the occurrence of, among others, heart attack or stroke. Therefore, to lower bad cholesterol, we especially recommend honeys that support the heart or the circulatory system. These include, among others, buckwheat honeys, rapeseed honeys and honeydew honeys.
4. Natural honey as a sweetener.
It may seem obvious that choosing a healthier diet and lifestyle helps lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. Choosing a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, avoiding too much salt and saturated fats, and regular activity are steps recommended by doctors and health professionals.
But there are also studies showing that choosing honey instead of normal refined sugar can help lower LDL levels, especially in women, without a negative impact on weight gain.
Natural honey can also be a great sweetener, and perfectly replace white sugar, contributing to the improvement of our health. Regular use of our honeys can turn out to be a really good idea if you usually use sugar in your tea. Switching to herbal teas is ideal - brew the tea as usual and leave it to cool to drinking temperature before adding a teaspoon of our honey. (Adding our honey to boiling hot water will destroy the naturally occurring enzymes and medicinal properties. Please remember that the temperature should not exceed 42°C) All honeys from Skarby Roztocza are unpasteurised to reach you as nature intended.
Why not try adding active honey to your diet to enjoy potential heart health benefits. Our honeys help in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and taste wonderful. We invite you to purchase our honeys through our online shop- we will deliver the package right to your door 😊
Bibliography/ Sources:
http://www.sztuka.e-biotechnologia.pl/Artykuly/Apiterapia-czyli-miod-na-zdrowie/
http://www.czytelniamedyczna.pl/2617,dziaanie-miodu-na-serce-i-ukad-krzenia.html
