A-peel-ing news for a healthy heart
By WLR Dietitian
According to research published in May it's not only the
flesh but also the peel of grapefruit that might have
heart health benefits, this time in terms of
lowering
cholesterol.
A study in the Journal of Agricultural and
Food Chemistry has shown that plant compounds found in the
peels of tangerines and oranges, lower LDL or 'bad'
cholesterol in hamsters fed a high-cholesterol diet.
Meanwhile, another compound called naringenin found in
grapefruit peel also had a cholesterol lowering effect,
although it was weaker.
All these plant compounds act as
antioxidants and belong to a group of plant chemicals
called flavonoids, typically found in tea and red wine.
The researchers suggest citrus peel may work by reducing
the secretion of
cholesterol from the liver. But before
you go crazy with your zester, bear in mind you'd need to
eat the zest of about 25 oranges or 75 grapefruits a day
to see a benefit!
Further Information
H.E.A.R.T. - The Cholesterol Charity
HEART UK supports all those at risk of inherited high
cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.
www.heartuk.org.uk |
