Keeping things in check
HEART disease is the No.1 killer among Malaysians. One of the major risk factors for coronary heart disease is high blood cholesterol levels.
Cholesterol is a fatty substance that circulates in the bloodstream. It is produced naturally in the body and may also come from the food that we eat such as eggs, meat and dairy foods. There are two types of cholesterol – LDL cholesterol (bad) and HDL cholesterol (good).
Elevated levels of LDLcholesterol in the blood can cause the formation of plaque and clogging of arteries, making them less flexible.
This condition is known as atherosclerosis, which may put you at risk of coronary heart diseases and stroke. On the other hand, HDL cholesterol helps prevent atherosclerosis by flushing out excessive LDL cholesterol to the liver for disposal.
Weight, genes and age are important factors that determine cholesterol levels. Other factors such as living a sedentary lifestyle, stress, smoking and regular alcohol consumption can also elevate cholesterol levels.
Maintaining a healthy cholesterol level is essential in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that the average intake of fat should not be more than 30% of the total daily calories.
Fat intake should consist of balanced fat, which provides nutrients that are essential to sustaining a healthy life. A balanced fat intake should contain approximately 30% saturated fat, 33% polyunsaturated fat (containing essential fatty acids) and 37% monounsaturated fat.
Among all fats, rice bran oil (RBO) has the most balanced fatty-acid profile that is closest to meeting AHA recommendations.
The health benefits of RBO are largely attributed to the presence of gamma oryzanol, the most notable feature of RBO that is not found in any other edible vegetable oils.
Gamma oryzanol is a potent antioxidant that has been shown to selectively reduce bad LDL cholesterol while improving good HDL cholesterol in the blood.
It is known as the world’s healthiest edible oil due to the high proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids (40%-50%) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (29%-42%), which are potentially useful in the maintenance of healthy cholesterol profiles.
RBO is naturally rich in vitamin E – a mix spectrum of tocopherol and tocotrienol. Both types are potent antioxidants that can protect the body from the harmful effects of free radicals.
Tocotrienols have been shown to reduce triglycerides, strengthen the arterial wall and support blood flow through the arteries.
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