Tomatoes Increase High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the main causes of death around the world and have been recognized in various studies, forums and publications. Low level of High Density Lipoproteins Cholesterol (HDL-C) is among the top most risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs risk factors).  National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) has defined the low levels of HDL-C  as <40 mg/dL for men and <50 mg/dL for women.

Reasons for Low level of High Density Lipoproteins Cholesterol (HDL-C) :

• Smoking
• Sedentary Life Style
• Insulin Resistance as in diabetic patients
• High Triglycerides level
• Saturated Fats Intake

How can we increase level of High Density Lipoproteins Cholesterol (HDL-C) ?

Well, this is the question that everyone wants to be answered. But the answers needs to well documented and supported so that one can get benefited from these. Apart from few medications available in the market level of High Density Lipoproteins Cholesterol (HDL-C) can be increased by changing lifestyle , however, this doesn’t mean an alternative of HDL-C increasing medicines . This will help you increase you HDL-C level to a certain level and these are not corrective measures for your low level of High Density Lipoproteins Cholesterol (HDL-C). Following life style modifications may reflect a rise in HDL-C level in your blood:

•  Weight Reduction
•  Increase in Physical Activity
•  Smoking Cessation
•  Increase in Fish Consumption
• Intake of fruits high in antioxidants

These strategies may seem to be too difficult to implement but their results quite visible within few weeks.  Studies have revealed that increasing intake of vegetables especially in raw form can help in increasing HDL-C level and thus reducing the risk of CVDs (Cardio-Vascular-Diseases). The higher intake of vegetable in daily diets is certainly one of the measures to prevent CVDs by increasing HDL-C level.  In a recent study it has been documented that eating raw tomatoes on daily basis can help you increase HDL-C level. Tomatoes are rich source of caretenoids especially lycopene. Lycopene has shown remarkable impact on reducing CVDs in various studies conducted in different countries with variable demographics. However, price of lycopene supplements are quite high and may not be affordable for prophylaxis measures in growing countries. So eating raw tomatoes is a better, healthy and economical choice.

As per this study “Effect of tomato consumption on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level: a randomized, single-blinded, controlled clinical trial” published in Dove Press Journal in July 2013 indicates benefits of eating tomatoes in daily diets.

The study was conducted on 50 individuals with an average age of 42 (both men and women). The study concluded that there was 30% relative risk reduction of CVDs in the trial group.  The benefits were related to direct increase in the level of HDL-C . The trial group depicted an average increase of 8mg/dl in the level of HDL-C with seven servings of raw tomatoes in daily diets. Thus revealing the fact that increase in HDL-C with tomatoes in diet. It is documented that tomato rich diet can reduce the thickness of intima layer of arteries and thus responsible for its cardiac benefits as well in addition to its effect of reducing  low-density lipoprotein cholesterol  LDL-C.

In another study the findings were encouraging where it has been documented that daily consumption of 300gm of raw tomatoes can elevate levels of HDL-C by 15.2% (Blum et.al. , Clin Invest Med. 2006). Thus tomatoes can be a delicious alternative and intervention to increase High Density Lipoproteins Cholesterol (HDL-C). The study will help all those who have sedentary live , overweight , lower access to expensive lycopenes or medications etc.