Weight Loss Foods: Reduce Your Cholesterol Levels and Lose Weight With Capsicum
Heart disease is the Western World’s biggest killer, and it is high cholesterol (high levels of LDL Cholesterol (bad cholesterol)), that is the primary cause. High levels of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) that circulate in the blood can develop into plaque, which leads to clogged arteries.
This occurs when LDL Cholesterol that circulates in the blood, develops into plaque. The body also requires HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol), which carries the LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) to the liver to be flushed out of the body. However, when LDL cholesterol levels are high, HDL levels are low, this results in a build up of LDL cholesterol in the body, and therefore the risk of blocked arteries.
Weight gain is also a world wide epidemic, and combined with high cholesterol levels in your blood, you are a time bomb just waiting to go off, at risk from serious and fatal illness.
For centuries, the humble chilli has been used as a health tonic in many countries, in addition to its common use in food across the globe. However, it is only now, that the Capsicum, also known as the red pepper or chilli is really coming to the fore for its healthcare benefits. It is a great solution to lowering your cholesterol, whilst also being highly beneficial for weight loss.
Until very recently we were unable to take this superfood in a supplement form, due to it aggravating the digestive tract. However, due to a recent technology launch, we are now able to take a concentrated form of this incredible weight loss food in tablet form.
So How Can Chilli Lower My Cholesterol and Weight At The Same Time?
The capsicum, when taken in high doses, acts by considerably speeding up the metabolism and burning fat before it is able to be absorbed by the body and stored as fat. It also helps to suppress the appetite, making you much less likely to overeat, snack or binge throughout the day. Calories that are eaten during a meal and not used immediately, are converted to triglycerides and transported to fat cells to be stored. The Capsaicin stops the fat being absorbed, by raising the metabolic rate which means the fat is better mobilised around the body. The higher your metabolic rate is the more fat you will lose.
The chilli also increases blood circulation, so more oxygen and nutrients are carried through the body at a faster and more efficient rate. This promotes a healthier body and ensures ongoing weight loss.
The Capsicum contains vitamin C and vitamin A, which contain beta-carotenoids, which are both powerful anti-oxidants. These antioxidants eliminate free radicals and other toxins from our bodies and clear the metabolic pathways, therefore helping our body to run more efficiently. The supply of nutrients to the tissues is also increased. If free radicals are left unchecked in the body, a build up of harmful chemicals and toxins can incur, dramatically increasing our chances of serious illness and disease. The antioxidants in the Capsicum wipe out free radicals that can also increase cholesterol levels, which can also go on to cause heart disease.
The capsicum also contains vitamin B6 and folic acid. Vitamin B reduces high homocysteine level, which has been shown to cause damage to blood vessels and is associated with a greatly increased risk of heart attack and stroke. It also converts homocysteine into other molecules which is beneficial to lower cholesterol levels.
Capsaicin, the compound in the chilli that is responsible for its heat, also helps to reduce bad cholesterol and triglyceride (the chemical form in which most fat exists in food as well as in the body) levels. When Capsaicin is ingested, the typical increase in liver and blood serum cholesterol levels are significantly reduced.
Capsicum has also been found to help regulate blood pressure, encourage better blood circulation, and reduce common respiratory illness such as asthma, the common cold, sinusitis and bronchitis, as it also dilates the airways of the lungs.
