High cholesterol occurs when a person has too much fatty substance in their blood. Eventually, these deposits grow, making it difficult for enough blood to flow through the arteries.
Sometimes, these deposits can break suddenly and form a clot that can cause a heart attack or stroke.
High cholesterol can mainly be caused by eating too much fatty food, not exercising enough, being overweight, smoking or drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. It can also be inherited.
Doing all you can to keep your cholesterol levels in a healthy range is vital. One way you can do this is by drinking orange juice or Fuji apple juice, according to studies.
A diet that is rich in vegetables and fruits is believed to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, according to the NHS.
They are a good source of vitamins and minerals, including folate, vitamin C and potassium. They are also usually low in fat and calories, which is why they can help you maintain a healthy weight and keep your heart healthy.
Fruits are also high in fibre which is said to help with high cholesterol. It does this by blocking some cholesterol from being observed from the intestines into the blood stream.
Some studies have found that by drinking orange juice a person can lower their risk for heart disease including high blood pressure and high cholesterols.
The popular juice has also been found to help keep the heart healthy and strong.
Consumed in moderation, research has found that long-term orange juice consumption lowered levels of “bad” cholesterol and increased the levels of “good” cholesterol.
One study further explored this further and investigated 103 men aged 18 to 66 years of age and 26 women aged 18 to 65 years.
All participants were employees of an orange juice factory with daily access to free orange juice.
The results found that 41% of the individuals consumed two cups of orange juice per day for at least 12 months, while 59% of the volunteers were non-consumers of orange juice.
Researchers found that orange juice consumers had significantly lower cholesterol levels compared to the non-consumers.
The study concluded that orange juice is effective at helping to lower cholesterol levels and therefore reduce heart disease risk.
Fuji apple juice has a sweet flavour and are said to be a healthy drink to help combat a number of health conditions.
In another study, Fuji apple juice has been shown to have a high polyphenol content, which are packed with antioxidants, compared to other apple varieties.
One study on animals found that polyphenols found in Fuji apple juice may prevent heart and liver injury by lowering cholesterol levels.
Another test-tube study determined Fuji apple juice also helped with type 2 diabetes by improving insulin resistance.
"Being overweight or obese increases the risk of high cholesterol levels. So reaching or maintaining a healthy weight can help to reduce the risk of high cholesterol," says Lifesum’s leading nutritionist Signe Svanfeldt.
She added: "If you try to lower your energy intake, water should be the go-to beverage of choice.
"In order to lower your cholesterol levels, you should aim to eat an overall healthy diet with a low amount of foods rich in saturated fats (found in butter, cream, bacon), as they can raise the levels of the “bad” cholesterol and focus on eating lots for vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, lentils, lean protein (fish, tofu, poultry) as well as unsaturated healthy fats (nuts, seeds, avocado).
"In addition to a varied and balanced diet - regular physical activity can help reduce high cholesterol levels."
