How to Reduce homo-cysteine in blood?

How to Reduce homo-cysteine in blood?

Homocysteine, an amino acid which is produced as a by-product during the digestion of protein, rivals elevated blood cholesterol as a major risk factor for heart disease. “In fact an elevated homocysteine contributes to about 10% of deaths due to cardiovascular disease,” says Vinod Sharma, head of cardiology services, National Heart Institute, New Delhi. “Cardiovascular disease risk grows as homocysteine increases as high levels damage the blood vessels and promote blood clotting,” he adds. 

 

Homocysteine needs vitamin B (particularly folate) and C for its recycling. So a well-balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables—excellent sources of vitamin B6, folic acid and vitamin C—is important to keep its levels in control.

 

Food fixes(remedies) 

Spinach

“Eating more leafy green vegetables can help lower your homocysteine level by increasing the amount of folate you get in your diet. And spinach is a very good vegetarian source of folate (other sources include breakfast cereals, fortified grain products, lentils), so it helps bring down levels of homocysteine,” says Ishi Khosla, clinical nutritionist and founder of Theweightmonitor.com. 

 

Quick recipe: Mix blanched spinach, orange sections, olive oil and lime juice. Or add fresh chopped spinach as a layer to your omelette. Try adding boiled spinach to rice—it tastes fabulous.

 

Orange

“Antioxidant vitamin C in oranges protects the artery walls and the folic acid carries artery-clogging homocysteine out of your system,” adds Khosla.

Quick recipe: Whip up a smoothie by combining 1 peeled orange, 1 cup low-fat yogurt or milk, ice cubes and a splash of vanilla in a blender.