Plants that could control high cholesterol

Herbie Latino has published another interesting article on the potential of plants in controlling high cholesterol in humans. This is not a full review but a summary of the main plants that have demonstrated effectiveness.

"Given the repeated queries about food and plants that could lower blood cholesterol levels, I include a list of the most effective species, although I stress, the majority of research in humans reported decreases of no more than 25% after several weeks of continuous consumption.

Most of plant fibers have shown cholesterol-lowering properties. Fiber is present in most fruits and vegetables.

The betaglucans are a type of soluble fiber apparently responsible for this activity. Barley (Hordeum vulgare), beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) and oat bran (Avena sativa) contain significant amounts.

Pectin is another soluble fiber that can lower blood cholesterol levels. Carrots (Daucus carota), apples (Malus domestica) and citrus rinds white (Citrus spp) contain large amounts. Fruits should be eaten as such or liquefied with their rinds. The citrus juice contains very little fiber.

Mucilage-containing plants, algae (several species), linseed (Linum usitatissimum), mallow roots (Malva sylvestris), the quince (Cydonia oblonga), lichens, fungi and some other plants, have shown decreasing blood cholesterol activity.

Celery (Apium graveolens) has proven to lower cholesterol in laboratory animals. No conclusive results in studies with humans were achieved.

Garlic (Allium sativum) and onion (Allium cepa) have been shown to lower cholesterol by around 10%, in people who consume a clove of garlic or half an onion, per day.

Phytosterols lower blood cholesterol levels through direct action, combining with cholesterol and remove it from bloodstream. Sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum) contain appreciable quantities, besides lettuce (Lactuca sativa), sunflower seeds (Helianthus annuus), asparagus (Asparagus acutifolius), the cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var bothr.) Figs (Ficus carica), soybean (Glycine max) and several other vegetables. I can also refer to lentinan a betaglucan of shiitake mushroom

(Lentinus edodes) which in addition to many other properties has demostrated to low blood cholesterol in humans."

Herbie Latino also has the good habit of including scientific names, given the large variations of common names in different Latino communities.