Heart Health Begins in Your BELLY!?
Yesterday, I revealed that eating plenty of polyphenol-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and spices is a surprising way to support your gut health.
Of course, probiotics themselves are a critical part of the gut health puzzle.
Today, I’ll focus on a few specific probiotics.
But NOT because of how they impact your gut but because of the impressive ways they can benefit your heart health instead.
Researchers recently took a closer look at three probiotic strains with a track record of heart benefits. They included Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L.plantarum) strains KAPB 011, KAPB 012, and KAPB 013.
For the study, overweight (but otherwise healthy) volunteers took this combination of probiotics for four weeks.
Predictably, the probiotic improved the composition of their gut microbiomes.
But incredibly, it ALSO led to reductions in overall cholesterol levels.
Even more significantly, it reduced levels of small LDL, which are tied to an increased risk of plaque formation.
But the benefits didn’t end there. These powerful probiotics reduce the susceptibility of cholesterol to oxidation. This is critical because oxidized cholesterol is a hallmark of developing plaque in the arteries.
Plus, the beneficial bacteria slashed markers of unhealthy cholesterol and reduced overall total cholesterol levels.
In other words, this trio of bacteria can reduce cholesterol levels in people suffering from hypercholesterolemia.
There are plenty of reasons to care for your gut health beyond keeping you “regular.”
The fact that probiotics help regulate cholesterol levels and support cardiometabolic health confirms that the well-being of your gut is a critical area of your health you can’t afford to overlook.
P.S. This FAT could be the secret to HEALTHY cholesterol?
SOURCE:
Padro T, et al., Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains KABP011, KABP012 and KABP013 modulate bile acids and cholesterol metabolism in humans. Cardiovasc Res. 2024 Mar 25:cvae061. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvae061. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38525555
