Why Both HDL and LDL Should Not Be Too High or Too Low
Proper control of cholesterol concentration in your body will help you reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, improve the overall health and vigor of your body, and make you look slimmer and more physically appealing. Proper control of cholesterol means that you have to maintain appropriate cholesterol level in your body. This is important because cholesterol level that is either too low or too high is considered dangerous. Low level of HDL or good cholesterol is considered dangerous because with low level of HDL, your body’s effort to fight against atherosclerosis will be weaker. However, even unusually low level of LDL or bad cholesterol will also lead to problems, such as depression and anxiety. The same latent danger may also become apparent if either HDL or LDL level is too high. High HDL level (60 mg/dL or above) is good; however, if the HDL level is unusually too high, this good cholesterol may turn bad and become atherogenic. Both HDL and LDL level has to be kept at normal level if you expect perfect cardiovascular health.
Green Smoothies as Effective Meals to Keep Cholesterol at Proper Level
Green smoothies contain enough HDL to help your body control the amount of LDL inside its blood vessels and fight against atherosclerotic heart diseases. Smoothie is made from such basic ingredients as fruits, milk, yogurt, and ice cream. The right fruits for your smoothies are ones that are rich in antioxidant.
Why does antioxidant matter? The LDL that flows through your blood vessels may be trapped within your artery walls. If the trapped LDL is exposed to free radicals, constricting plaque will be formed on those walls. Antioxidant, which inhibits the destructive effect of free radicals’ oxidation, prevents that plaque from being formed and allows your body to normally excrete the trapped LDL.
Fruits that Are Rich in Antioxidant
There are several fruits that are known to be rich in antioxidant. You should make those fruits the main ingredients of your smoothies. Some of the most recommended fruits for your smoothie recipes are avocado, blueberries, carrot, grapefruit, grape, onion, soybean, acai berry, apple, lemon, banana, raspberry, papaya, orange, pomegranate, and tomatoes.
Additional Ingredients for Your Smoothies
Besides using those fruits, you can also add additional ingredients that can enhance your smoothie’s effectiveness to help your body control cholesterol and improve your smoothie’s taste. Among those additional ingredients are listed as follows.
Vegetables
Greens like spinach, cabbage, kale, collard, and chard are rich in antioxidant. You can add them to your smoothie recipes to enhance its effectiveness.
Milk and yogurt
Non-fat vanilla yogurt, skim milk, and unsweetened almond milk will make your smoothie smoother and healthier.
Ingredients that improve taste
If you don’t like the bland taste of your smoothie, consider adding sweeteners like stevia, raw honey or xylitol. They will improve its taste without causing harm to your body.
Additional ingredients
You can also add dark cocoa powder, almond butter, hemp protein powder, chia seeds, coconut water, whey protein, and non-dairy protein powder to your smoothies.
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