Table of contents:
- Why does someone have dyslipidemia?
- Eating oatmeal can help lower fat levels in the blood
- Why is that?
High levels of blood fats are almost always associated with high cholesterol and obesity. In fact, people who are thin and look fresh and fit can have high levels of fat in their blood. This condition is called dyslipidemia. Well, experts reveal that regularly eating oatmeal, aka oatmeal porridge, can reduce blood fat levels. Why is that?
Why does someone have dyslipidemia?
Before we talk about dyslipidemia, we must know the type of fat in our body, namely LDL (low-density lipoprotein or bad cholesterol), HDL (high-density lipoprotein or good cholesterol), triglycerides (the result of excess consumption of carbohydrates that are converted into fat), and total cholesterol (the accumulation of the three types of cholesterol).
Dyslipidemia is a fat metabolism disorder that occurs when the levels of fat in the bloodstream are too high or too low. The main types of fat disorders are an increase in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, and a decrease in HDL cholesterol levels. So, these three things must be fulfilled when someone is suffering from dyslipidemia, not just high cholesterol alone.
Dyslipidemia is caused by genetic factors and aging because as we get older the function of the organs will decrease and affect the process of cholesterol metabolism in the body. However, a diet high in saturated fat and sugar, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle are the most common risk factors for this condition.
High levels of fat in the blood have the risk of forming free radicals in the body, which are damaging and can trigger various diseases. Starting from arthritis, heart disease, atherosclerosis, stroke, hypertension, stomach ulcers, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, to cancer.
Eating oatmeal can help lower fat levels in the blood
In a study conducted by researchers in China, a group of participants who were asked to regularly consume 100 grams of oatmeal every day reported a dramatic reduction in total cholesterol, bad LDL cholesterol, and a dramatic reduction in waist circumference - especially in people with hypercholesterolemia.
Another study in Canada also concluded the same thing, that regularly eating oatmeal every day can reduce total cholesterol.
Why is that?
Oatmeal, especially those made from whole grains, is high in soluble fiber. Whole wheat oats are also enriched with β-glucan, protein, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamin B1 which function to produce energy. Eating oatmeal also provides a longer satiety effect, thanks to the combination of soluble fiber and β-glucan which is slow to digest in the small intestine.
In addition, the β-glucan content in whole grains helps the liver produce special bile that works to inhibit the absorption of LDL cholesterol, or "bad" cholesterol. The production of bile does not depend on the digestive process, but on how much fatty acid content is absorbed by the small intestine to be reused by the liver.
In the digestive system, beta glucan works to reduce the absorption of bile and cholesterol from food. As a result, less bile is reused by the liver. This then causes the levels of good HDL cholesterol to increase to bind to bad fat groups, such as LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. This effect is what ultimately causes total cholesterol levels in the blood to decrease.
Moreover, oatmeal also contains chemical lignans which can prevent the risk of cardiovascular disease, such as heart disease, stroke and heart attack.
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