Reduces Bad Cholesterol Levels
Cholesterol is a substance that the liver produces and is an essential chemical that keeps the body functioning properly. Although unfavorably depicted as an unhealthy substance, there are two types of cholesterol – good and bad. Good cholesterol is high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and people must maintain a level of 50 mg/dl to be considered healthy. Meanwhile, the bad cholesterol type is known as the low-density lipoprotein (LDL), one of the culprits associated with plaque buildup in the arteries, increasing the body’s chances of heart attack and stroke.
Several studies have shown that wheatgrass can decrease bad cholesterol levels and triglycerides, which is another substance that increases a person’s risk of cardiac diseases. In addition, researchers have found that the antioxidants in wheatgrass can potentially decrease plaque buildup.
Among the antioxidants in wheatgrass are vitamins B3 and B5. Wheatgrass also contains special plant molecules known as phytostanols and phytosterols which have a similar structure as cholesterol. These molecules act in the digestive tract and help lower cholesterol absorption by displacing cholesterol in the bloodstream.
