A groundbreaking study by Jiyun Liu, a doctoral student in chemistry at Linnaeus University, sheds light on the health benefits of a diet rich in Swedish lingonberries and brown beans, particularly for heart health and gut microbiota.
Jiyun Liu’s dissertation focused on exploring the positive health effects of berries and pulses, particularly their bioactive compounds like polyphenols and dietary fiber. The key discoveries include:
Rich in Bioactive Compounds: Swedish berries and pulses, specifically lingonberries and brown beans, are found to be excellent sources of polyphenols.
Reduced Atherosclerosis: Diets incorporating whole lingonberries and brown beans significantly lowered the levels of atherosclerotic plaques in mice.
Improved Gut Health: The same diet positively influenced the gut microbiota, indicating potential benefits for overall gut health.
Jiyun Liu developed analytical methods to identify and quantify bioactive compounds in berries and pulses, using mice as subjects.
The study involved feeding mice a high-fat diet supplemented with whole lingonberries, brown beans, and dietary fiber and polyphenol fractions derived from these foods.
The research demonstrated a notable reduction in atherosclerosis and positive changes in gut bacteria.
An interesting finding from the study is that the cooking process of pulses led to a decrease in polyphenol content, with these compounds leaching into the water during soaking and boiling.
This highlights the importance of cooking methods in preserving the nutritional value of plant-based foods.
While the study’s promising results stem from animal research, they underscore the potential health benefits of increasing plant-based foods in our diet, particularly those rich in bioactive compounds.
Jiyun Liu emphasizes the need for further human studies to confirm these findings.
Jiyun Liu’s research encourages a shift towards a more plant-based diet, highlighting the specific benefits of berries and pulses in reducing heart disease risk and improving gut health.
As we await further human studies, this research serves as a motivation to incorporate more plant-based foods into our daily diet for better health and well-being.
If you care about nutrition, please read studies about the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease, and vitamin D supplements strongly reduce cancer death.
For more information about nutrition, please see recent studies about plant nutrient that could help reduce high blood pressure, and these antioxidants could help reduce dementia risk.
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