Only Two Days, This Eating Pattern Is Claimed to Be Effective in Reducing Bad Cholesterol

JAKARTA - A simple two-day eating pattern is said to be able to lower bad cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels by 10 percent. This finding opens up new opportunities for natural ways to control cholesterol other than with drugs.

High cholesterol occurs when the level of fat in the blood is too much. If left unchecked, this condition can make blood vessels narrow and harden, thereby increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Therefore, keeping cholesterol levels normal is very important for heart health.

The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, found that a low-calorie oatmeal-based diet for two days can have a significant impact on cholesterol levels.

In the study, participants only ate oatmeal cooked with water three times a day. They can add a little fruit or vegetables, but the total calorie intake is limited to about half of the usual daily requirement. During those two days, participants consumed about 300 grams of oatmeal per day.

The results showed that participants' LDL levels dropped by an average of 10 percent, and this effect lasted up to six weeks after the diet was completed. The study's author, Marie-Christine Simon from the Institute of Nutritional and Food Science, University of Bonn, explained that these results were quite meaningful.

"The very dangerous LDL cholesterol rate dropped by 10 percent. That is a considerable decrease, although it cannot be completely equated with the effects of modern drugs," he said, quoted from the Mirror.co.uk page.

Not only cholesterol improved, participants also experienced an average weight loss of two kilograms and a slight decrease in blood pressure.

Interestingly, this effect was not found in another group that simply added oats to the daily menu without reducing calories. In a separate experiment, participants who replaced one meal per day with oat-based foods for six weeks showed no significant change in cholesterol levels.

This means that the greatest benefits arise when oatmeal is consumed in a short-term low-calorie diet pattern, not just as an addition to regular food.

According to Prof. Simon, this short-term oat-based diet has the potential to be a periodic strategy to maintain metabolic health.

"Short-term oat-based diets conducted regularly can be an easy way for the body to keep cholesterol levels within normal limits and help prevent diabetes," he explained.

However, he emphasized that further research is still needed to find out whether repeating this diet every few weeks can provide long-term preventive effects.

The benefits of oats for cholesterol have actually been known for a long time. The content of soluble fiber in oatmeal helps reduce the absorption of cholesterol into the bloodstream. Experts from the Mayo Clinic also confirmed this.

"Oatmeal contains soluble fiber that can lower LDL levels, which is 'bad' cholesterol," they wrote in a heart health guide.

With these latest research results, oatmeal is not only a healthy breakfast menu, but also has the potential to be part of a short-term diet strategy to help lower cholesterol naturally.