How Does Bone Broth Affect Cholesterol?
Besides being widely blamed for high cholesterol, saturated fats are also known as the cardiac killer and are hence feared due to their role in human health. High cholesterol is a scary word that sends the old and young alike into a fit of fear and panic when they are informed that they have “high” cholesterol levels.
Bone broth has been touted as an important dietary supplement largely because it offers numerous benefits for people with various health conditions. Bone broth is in essence a stock where bones are slow-cooked for a long time in order to concentrate nutrients like amino acids and collagen.
Understanding Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a waxy substance suspended in the blood. Although cholesterol is usually made by the liver, it is also found in various foods. Total cholesterol blood value includes three main parts:
- High-density lipoprotein, HDL (“Good” cholesterol)
- Low-density lipoprotein, LDL (“Bad” cholesterol)
- Triglycerides: Fat digested from the food we eat that is released into the bloodstream and is either stored as fat or used to produce energy. Triglycerides come from high sugar foods, dietary fat, too many calories or too much alcohol.
A build-up of too much low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the arteries results in the formation of plaque which blocks blood flow. Plaque can cause stroke, heart disease, and peripheral vascular disease.
High-density lipoprotein helps reduce extra cholesterol in the blood vessels hence reversing or preventing problems by dilating your blood vessels.
You can raise your “good” HDL cholesterol and lower your “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides by making changes to your diet and getting regular exercise.
Bone Broth and Chondroitin Sulfate
Chondroitin sulfate is an important glycosaminoglycan that is usually found within the joints of animals. It is often used in combination with glucosamine to support joint comfort and health. Studies show that bone broth is rich in chondroitin sulfate which is essential for healthy cholesterol levels as well as healthy inflammation response, cardiovascular health, skin health, and bone health.
Despite its numerous health benefits, it is essential to understand that bone broth is a concentrated food product, and consuming it in large amounts might not be good for you. However, consuming it in small, sensible amounts is unlikely to have any negative effects on cholesterol levels. Moreover, it’s important to choose soups that contain foods that help lower cholesterol while avoiding ingredients that increase cholesterol.
The bottom line – Can Collagen Lower Cholesterol?
An increase in total cholesterol from healthy foods such as bone broth tends to raise your high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and you’re also likely to have a lower level of oxidized LDL particles. This creates a healthy and protective combination of a high HDL and less oxidized LDL.
Therefore, the total cholesterol level is usually less reliable. The most important thing is to understand that your triglycerides are reducing and HDL is going up.
The lifestyle you lead is far more deleterious or protective than what your blood test results may show. Health is more accurately represented by your lifestyle habits and daily activities.
Therefore, bone broth supplements are an excellent addition to a plant-based diet with balanced proportions of healthy, high-quality animal proteins and fats.
