High density lipoprotein is one of most beneficial forms of cholesterol; it is basically a carrier of the compound itself, but it transports it into the right direction i.e. into the liver where it gets converted into bile and ultimately goes out of the body. Presence of HDL helps to eliminate dangerous LDL cholesterol, which causes a big number of health related problems such as heart strokes, heart attacks, clogging of arteries and many more. Presence of a good amount of HDL cholesterol helps to avoid the bad effects of LDL.
When LDL gets oxidized it gets trapped in between the walls of arteries and leads to formation of plaque. When the plaque is set free from the walls it reaches the heart and can cause heart attacks or heart strokes, while HDL sends LDL to the liver where it is synthesized for creation of hormones. Scientific experiments have shown that cranberry juice leads to reduction of heart problems by increasing HDL cholesterol levels, avoiding oxidation of LDL’s due to its ant oxidizing properties and metabolizing of cholesterol.
One of the most famous institutes that have conducted research on cranberries found that it leads to increase in HDL levels. Total of nineteen subjects were chosen for the research, ten of them were given a glass of cranberry juice by 27% volume and sweetened artificially. Rests of the nine subjects were given all natural cranberry juice. All the subjects were given one glass each day in the first month, two in the 2nd and three in the 3rd. At the end of the month it was found that there was a big increase in good or HDL cholesterol levels. Increase in HDL means that the heart is saved from dangerous heart diseases. Just three glasses of cranberry juice a day leads to a ten percent increase in the HDL levels, and forty percent decrease in chances of a heart attack.
Another great benefit of cranberry juice is that it works as an antioxidant. When LDL is oxidized it leads to dangerous problems, as cranberry juice is an antioxidant it doesn’t let the LDL’s oxidize. If LDL cholesterol gets oxidized it accumulates plaque into the blood streams, which is later on transported into the heart. If the plaque reaches heart muscles, it blocks supply of nutrients and oxygen to it, thus killing it. So, overall cranberry juice has a large number of health benefits.
