CITRUS BERGAMOT: A POWERFUL CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING COMPOUND
Use of Citrus Bergamot for Cholesterol Management: -
Citrus Bergamot is a plant native to southern Italy. Due to its therapeutic properties, it has been a part of Italy’s traditional medicine. Apart from the use of citrus bergamot for cholesterol management, it also finds its use as a natural statin and general nutrition. However, there are various caveats associated with bergamot as a natural statin alternative, which we will discuss in detail later in this blog.
Citrus Bergamot Benefits for Heart Health: -
Bergamot is a citrus fruit, mostly popular for its flavoring Earl Grey tea. It contains specific compounds that could positively impact the health of your heart. Recent studies have revealed the ability of bergamot to help maintain healthy cholesterol levels and enhance the overall function of the cardiovascular system. Let's take a look at five important bergamot benefits for heart health.Cholesterol Management : -
Bergamot is a source of flavonoids, which could aid in lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol and increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels. These compounds, including melitidin and brutieridin, function like statins by blocking the enzyme that is responsible for the production of cholesterol within the liver. A regular intake of bergamot extracts has demonstrated promising results in reducing lipid levels and lowering the risk of developing heart disease.Triglyceride Reduction: -
The presence of high levels of triglycerides is linked to a higher risk of developing heart disease. Bergamot has proven its ability to reduce the amount of triglycerides in blood. This is due to its unique blend of flavonoids and naringin which can help regulate metabolic fats and lower levels of triglycerides inside the liver, which contributes to improved overall cardiovascular health.Blood Sugar Regulation: -
A healthy level of blood sugar is essential for good heart health as high blood sugar levels can cause damage to the blood vessels, and raise risk for developing heart disease. Bergamot has been shown to be effective to improve insulin sensitivity, as well as aiding in regulating your blood sugar levels. This can be especially useful for people who are susceptible to being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes which is strongly linked to heart disease.Antioxidant Properties: -
Bergamot is high in antioxidants that have a crucial role to play in protecting the blood vessels and the heart from oxidative stress. These antioxidants, such as flavonoids and vitamin C assist in neutralizing harmful free radicals which can harm cell membranes and lead to the development of cardiovascular illnesses. By reducing the oxidative, it can aid in maintaining the flexibility and health in blood vessels.Blood Pressure Support: -
Certain studies indicate that bergamot might play a beneficial role in control of blood pressure. Flavonoids from it can help improve the function of the endothelial system, which can lead to better circulation and possibly lower blood pressure. Although more research is required in this field, the preliminary results suggest that bergamot is beneficial to your healthy heart, particularly for people who are concerned about hypertension.
Understand Cholesterol and its Importance: -
Cholesterol is a substance that is present in every cell of a human body. It plays its role in building cells and producing hormones and vitamin D. Apart from taking cholesterol through foods, the lungs in our body also produce cholesterol. It is a crucial substance for the proper function of many bodily processes. However, excessive cholesterol levels can block our arteries and pose the risk of several heart diseases. There are two kinds of cholesterol. First one is low density lipoprotein(LDL) and the second one is high density lipoprotein(HDL). LLD is considered bad cholesterol and HDL is termed good cholesterol.
Effect of Bergamot on Lipid Profile in Humans: -
The use of bergamot polyphenols for lipid profile improvement has garnered increasing scientific scrutiny. The reason behind it is its potential as a natural lipid-lowering agent. Dyslipidemia, or abnormal blood lipid levels, is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), yet statins often do not achieve their promised reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Furthermore, up to 60% of patients experiencing intolerance or side effects from statins; thus creating the need for alternative treatments. Hence, bergamot as a natural statin alternative seems an excellent option.
The Results of Studies Conducted on Use of Bergamot for Cholesterol Management: -
A recent comprehensive review on the effects of bergamot on human lipid profiles provided promising findings. This analysis, comprising 12 studies, found that supplementation with bergamot led to significant decreases in total cholesterol, LDL-C and triglycerides; reductions varied depending on each case - total cholesterol by 12.3%-31.33%, LDL-C by 7.6%-40.8% and triglycerides 11.5% to 39.5% were all seen. Additionally, eight trials reported an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C).
Despite the positive findings, the review highlighted the heterogeneity in study designs and the variable scientific quality of the included studies. Therefore, while bergamot shows great promise as a nutraceutical for managing dyslipidemia, especially in patients with statin intolerance, further high-quality research is needed to confirm these benefits and establish standardized guidelines for its use.
Which compounds are found in Bergamot?
Bergamot is a unique source of glycosides and flavonoids like neoeriocitrin and naringin. It also contains rutin and many others that help in lowering the lipid levels. These compounds possess a range of positive properties, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic effects. Particularly, flavonoids such Naringin and Neo Eriocitrin have been found to block LDL oxidation as well as improve atherosclerosis by regulating enzymatic activity and reducing monocyte activation and growth.
Furthermore, bergamot juice is rich in 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl neohesperidoside of hesperetin (brutieridine) and naringenin (melitidine), which have the ability to inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, the enzyme targeted by statins to reduce cholesterol synthesis. This suggests that bergamot could offer a synergistic effect when used in combination with statins, enhancing the overall lipid-lowering efficacy.
Conclusion: -
In a nutshell, it is possible to conclude that the use of citrus bergamot for cholesterol reduction is the best natural method. It is an intriguing natural substance to control cholesterol and support the health of your heart. The unique polyphenols it contains have a positive impact on lipid profiles, and are the possibility of a substitute or an addition to the traditional statins. The use of citrus bergamot extract for high cholesterol has shown positive effects. It has reduced LDL and triglycerides as well as raising HDL levels.