Grow Your This Cholesterol Crusher in Your Kitchen
By
Natalie Moore
Posted December 17, 2016
Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
If you have high cholesterol, then you already know you should be eating more leafy greens.
And with good reason. These tasty veggies are chock-full of heart healthy vitamins, minerals and fiber.
But let’s face it — they can be tough, bitter and easily dismissed from your dinner plate.
Fortunately, you can get all of the heart benefits of leafy greens in a tender, tasty and convenient new way.
And believe it or not, you can grow it year-round — no matter where you live.
This leafy-green miracle is microgreens. These are the tiny, tender, immature versions of lettuces, cabbages and herbs that require only a week or two of growth before they’re ready to hit your plate.
Microgreens have been hot on the foodie scene for a bit, but according to a new study, they also have a place in a heart-healthy diet.
For this study, researchers divided 60 obese mice into groups by different diets — some on a low-fat diet or high-fat diet and with or without additional mature red cabbage or red cabbage microgreens.
At the end of the study, the scientists found that both the microgreens and mature cabbage lowered levels of liver cholesterol and reduced weight gain.
However, the research found that the microgreens contained more cholesterol-lowering compound than the mature cabbage and lowered dangerous LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the mice. This finding is significant since elevated LDL cholesterol levels can lead to heart issues like heart attack and stroke.
To grow your own microgreens, all you need is an old plastic prepackaged-salad container, soil, seeds, water and a sunny spot in your home.
Simply add 2–3 inches of potting soil to the bottom of the container, gently plant organic green mix seeds, water and set in a sunny windowsill. You’ll have fresh, cholesterol-fighting microgreens in three– seven days.
Live well,
Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily
Ed. Note: Please send your feedback: nmoore@lfb.org – and click here to like us on Facebook.
Sources
[1] Red cabbage microgreens lower ‘bad’ cholesterol in animal study
Written By Natalie Moore
Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.
View More Free Articles
Why Your Muscles Are Your Brain's Best Defense
Forget expensive brain scans and head-scratching cognitive tests that make you feel like you’re back in school. Japanese researchers have stumbled onto something that could change how we screen for memory problems—and it’s so simple, you’ll wonder why nobody thought of it sooner. A quick, painless measurement you can get during a routine checkup might...
Four Carbs that Could Add YEARS to Your Life
You’ve likely been avoiding carbs like the plague. Health gurus, fitness influencers, and diet books have convinced you that carbs are the enemy—that they spike your blood sugar, pack on pounds, and fast-track you to diabetes. So you’ve eliminated bread, sworn off pasta, and feel guilty just touching a piece of fruit. But what if...
Upgrade from Bananas and Apples to These Powerhouse Fruits
I’m often asked which fruits are the best. So, let’s talk about it. I’ll cut right to the chase: berries win this contest hands down. If you’re limiting your options to apples and bananas, you’re missing out on a universe of superior antioxidant power. Those everyday fruits are like bringing a knife to a gunfight...
The REAL Reason Americans are Getting “Fatter”
You’ve heard it a thousand times: “Americans are getting fatter because we’re lazy.” We sit at desks all day. We binge-watch Netflix instead of hitting the gym. We’ve traded physical labor for sedentary lifestyles. It’s a tidy explanation for why obesity has skyrocketed in developed countries. There’s just one problem—it’s completely wrong… A groundbreaking Duke...
Mailbag: Room Won't Stop Spinning? Do THIS First
“I’m dealing with vertigo issues, lightheadedness, and dizziness. As recently as this last Saturday I had multiple occurrences throughout the day. Is there anything I can do for this? I’m 69 and in good health. I work out 4 to 5 times a week.” —Spinning Hi Spinning, When patients approach me with similar complaints, I...
Hidden Number Secretly Sabotages Male Performance
Guys (and gals that love them), we should talk. You know how we’ve always been told that bedroom troubles are just part of getting older—that we just need to live with them? Well, it turns out that’s not true. Scientists recently wrapped up a six-year study that followed over 100 healthy men, and the findings...
Shocking Study Links Kids' Snacks to Dangerous Early Puberty
Kids are growing up in a world vastly different from the one we knew. Back in our day, if a child wanted something sweet, it was a piece of candy or a homemade cookie. Today’s kids are surrounded by products filled with artificial sweeteners that didn’t even exist when we were raising our own children....
Outdated Vitamin Guidelines Put Your Brain at Risk
If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think twice about vitamin B12—until your doctor mentions it during a routine blood test. But new research published in the Annals of Neurology suggests we need to pay closer attention to this crucial nutrient—especially as we age. Turns out, current guidelines for this essential nutrient might be...
The TRUTH About Supplement "Liver Dangers" REVEALED
There’s been a lot of buzz lately about liver damage from supplements—so, let’s talk about it. Reports of supplement-induced liver injuries have some folks wondering, “Could my natural remedy actually be harming me?” But before you toss all your supplements in the trash, let’s separate fact from fear—and talk about how to use supplements safely....
The 10,000 Steps LIE That's Ruining Your Health
I’ll be honest—I’m a little sick of the 10,000-steps theory. You know, the one that insists you need to take at least that many steps daily to stay healthy? You won’t believe where that claim originally came from. The 10,000-steps theory wasn’t handed down from the fitness gods on stone tablets. It originated from a...