December 6, 2002 – A Small Study1 researchers from the University of Toronto and St. Michael’s Hospital show that a vegetarian diet can reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) levels by 29%, a percentage equivalent to that obtained by taking cholesterol-lowering drugs .
According to the authors, this is the first study to examine the combined effects of several foods known to lower bad cholesterol levels. As part of this study, David Jenkins, principal researcher and nutrition specialist, measured the cholesterol level of 13 people who followed a diet including vegetables (broccoli, carrots, red peppers, etc.) for seven days. , grains and cereals (oats, barley and psyllium), soy products (tofu, soy sausages, soy beverage), fruits and almonds.
The presence of almonds in this diet could partly explain this excellent result. Professor Jenkins has, in fact, observed last September, as part of another study2, that the daily consumption of a good handful of almonds also lowered significantly (12%) the level of bad cholesterol in the blood. The combination of “good fats”, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated, contained in the almond could be the reason, according to Professor Jenkins.
Stéphane Gagné – PasseportSanté.net
Based on University of Toronto press releases, December 1, 2002 and September 10, 2002.
1. The study was published in the December 2002 issue of the journal Metabolism.
2. Jenkins DJ, Kendall CW, Marchie A, Parker TL, Connelly PW, Qian W, Haight JS, Faulkner D, Vidgen E, Lapsley KG, Spiller GA. Dose response of almonds on coronary heart disease risk factors: blood lipids, oxidized low-density lipoproteins, lipoprotein (a), homocysteine, and pulmonary nitric oxide: a randomized, controlled, crossover trial.Circulation 2002 Sep 10; 106 (11): 1327-32. [consulté le 4 décembre 2002].
