Artichokes reverse the effects of a high-fat diet, concludes study

( Natural News ) One of the consequences of following a high-cholesterol diet is having elevated blood cholesterol levels. Fortunately, many natural remedies have hypolipidemic and antiatherogenic effects. One of these is artichokes ( Cynara scolymus ). A study published in Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia revealed that artichokes possess powerful lipid-lowering properties . The study, conducted by a team of researchers from Brazil, examined the hypolipidemic and antiatherogenic effects of an aqueous extract prepared from the leaves of artichokes in mice with high levels of cholesterol in the blood. To do this, the research team treated mice with high cholesterol levels with 150, 300, or 600 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of artichoke aqueous extract or four mg/kg of simvastatin, a drug used to lower lipid levels. A control group received water. These treatments were given once a day for 30 days. At the same time, the mice were fed with a hypercaloric diet throughout the study period. (Related: Artichokes contain a variety of natural antioxidants that reduce the symptoms of diabetes .) The results of the study showed that the serum levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol of mice treated with artichoke extracts had gone down significantly. Inflammation had also been considerably reduced. From this study, the research team concluded that artichoke extract possesses hypolipidemic and antiatherogenic effects. The researchers explained that these beneficial effects could be attributed to the presence of polar substances present in artichoke. The power of the elements : Discover Colloidal Silver Mouthwash with quality, natural ingredients like Sangre de Drago sap, black walnut hulls, menthol crystals and more. Zero artificial sweeteners, colors or alcohol. Learn more at the Health Ranger Store and help support this news site. Artichoke and its other health benefits of artichokes Artichoke, which is a thistle-like plant […]

Click here to view full article