"The UK has one of the highest average cholesterol
levels in the world, making it a serious health
threat - especially for women [1]. For every 1%
increase in serum cholesterol level, there is
a 2% - 3% increase in risk of cardiovascular disease
[2]. Dietary fibre helps to reduce that risk by
interfering with the absorption of cholesterol
from the gut. Importantly, it doesn’t just
reduce absorption of the pre-formed cholesterol
present in the food we eat; it also reduces the
re-absorption of cholesterol made in our liver,
which is squirted into the bowel along with bile
fluid. This can make a huge difference to our
overall cholesterol balance. The form of soluble
fibre found in the cell wall of barley grains
(barley beta-glucans) is particularly effective.
As well as reducing absorption of cholesterol,
it is processed in the large intestines to form
substances (short chain fatty-acids) that have
a direct effect on the liver to reduce the amount
of cholesterol we make [3]. Daily consumption
of 3g barley beta-glucans can lower both total
and LDL-cholesterol by between 5% and 9% [4,5].
This may not seem like much, but it can translate
into a 10% to 27% reduction in our risk of coronary
heart disease."
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