A new study by the University of Bonn found that moderate oatmeal consumption, even for just two days, was associated with significant decreases in patient cholesterol levels. The trial studied patients with metabolic syndrome (i.e., those diagnosed with excess body weight, high blood pressure or hyperlipidemia), who were asked to consume primarily oatmeal over the course of two days. The participants only consumed around half of their daily normal calories, and were compared against a control group that was placed on a similar calorie-limited diet but not restricted to oatmeal.
Although both groups saw immediate benefits, the group with oatmeal only diets saw significant benefits with nearly a 10% drop in LDL cholesterol. LDL is typically referred to as the “bad” type of cholesterol, as excess LDL can lead to plaque formation and significant cardiovascular complications. In fact, LDL, along with triglycerides, are often tracked as among the main markers to determine an individual’s cardiovascular health. This is contrast with HDL, which is known as “good” cholesterol.
The advent of modern medications has made the management of high cholesterol much easier than just a few decades ago. For example, statins are known to be one of the most efficacious treatments to lower LDL and have shown remarkable impact in reducing the risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Alongside targeted therapies that have been developed for other cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., diabetes, etc.), there are numerous options for patient to pursue medication guided prevention of poor outcomes.
However, in addition to medical management, diet and exercise play a significant role in cardiovascular risk. In fact, research indicates that a healthy diet in addition to frequent exercise can promote significant risk reductions for rates of heart attacks. Well balanced diets entail the inclusion of multiple food groups in every meal, in addition to moderation in quantity. Moderate exercise 3-5 times a week has also indicated significant benefits.
Foods like oatmeal, whole grain cereals, high protein supplements and other heart healthy products have become incredibly popular in the last decade given increased conversations and awareness surrounding ideal dietary practices. Oatmeal specifically touts many benefits, including being a valuable source of numerous vitamins, antioxidants and fiber; moreover, studies indicate that the biochemical composition of the grain can help improve the gut microbiome in addition to reducing blood glucose levels as well. Furthermore, given its high fiber content, oatmeal creates a sense of satiety, meaning that individuals will feel full for longer.
Nevertheless, there is no “one-size-fits-all” recipe for perfect health; rather, individuals must ultimately pursue diets and lifestyle changes that they can maintain consistently over a long period of time, rather than “fad” diets and rapid success attempts. Fortunately, with new and evolving therapies focused on these areas, an incredible amount of research funding being poured into cardiovascular risk prevention, and growing education around these topics starting at a young age, there has been significant progress across the globe in improving health outcomes and decreasing mortality rates.
