Jakarta –
Eggplant is a popular dish in Indonesia, because it can be prepared with various side dishes. Apparently, eggplant also has benefits for lowering cholesterol.
The habit of consuming foods that contain high levels of saturated fat can cause bad cholesterol levels to rise. The trigger can be caused by consuming red meat, dairy products, processed meat, and others.
High bad cholesterol (HDL) is usually treated by taking medication. It can also be done naturally, namely improving a healthier diet.
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Reporting from the Mirror (11/12), one of the healthy foods that can reduce bad cholesterol levels is eggplant. This was stated by several experts.
As stated by Heart UK, eggplant is one of the foods listed as having benefits for treating high cholesterol. This is because eggplant contains fiber.
 benefits of consuming eggplant Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto/ |
“The fiber content in eggplant prevents some cholesterol from being absorbed from the intestines into the bloodstream,” said Heart UK.
A study published in the journal of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology concluded that eggplant can reduce cholesterol levels in 4 weeks. This study looked at the effects of consuming eggplant on blood lipids in rabbits with high cholesterol.
This research shows how rabbits were given food rich in cholesterol and coconut oil containing saturated fat, this process lasted for 4 weeks. In the final week, they were also fed 10 milliliters of eggplant juice every day.
As a result, the researchers found that the group of rabbits that consumed this juice experienced a significant reduction in plasma and ‘bad’ cholesterol. “In rabbits with hypercholesterolemia, eggplant juice significantly reduced body weight, plasma cholesterol levels, aortic cholesterol levels and MDA concentrations,” said the researchers.
According to WebMD, eggplant is known to be rich in fiber and antioxidants. In 100 grams of eggplant, it contains 25 kcal, 1 gram of protein, 0.2 grams of fat, 6 grams of carbohydrates and 3 grams of fiber. Eggplant is also rich in vitamins and minerals.
(yms/odi)
