Disclaimer: The content of the article is for reference only, the storyline is purely fictional, intended to popularize health knowledge, if you feel unwell, please seek medical attention offline.
It's summer graduation season.
Ms. Wang has just led the students to successfully complete the teaching tasks of the whole school year, and is now happily returning home, ready to relax.
At this moment, Mr. Wang accidentally saw an online article with a very eye-catching title: "Apricots are the 'enhancer' of the heart! Reminder: Protect the heart and prevent sudden death in summer, prepare more of these 3 fruits."
This made Mr. Wang can't help but have a trace of doubt and curiosity.
"What? Apricots are a 'booster' of the heart?" Teacher Wang muttered to himself, "This may sound unusual. Is there such a miracle ingredient?"
Mr. Wang couldn't wait to open this article and start reading it carefully. I saw that the article reads:
"The hot summer months are a time of high incidence of heart disease. This is not only because of the extra burden on the heart caused by the hot weather, but also because many people are prone to various unhealthy eating and lifestyle habits during this season.
And this undoubtedly greatly increases the risk of heart disease and sudden death. "
"However, there are three natural 'heart nuts' – apricots, cherries and watermelon – that can help us prevent these problems.
Not only are they rich in vitamins and minerals, but they also have a unique protective effect on heart health, making them ideal summer care for the heart. "
"Apricots, in particular, are known as 'heart boosters'. It contains a lot of vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium and other heart-friendly nutrients, which can effectively regulate heart rate, lower blood pressure, and enhance myocardial contractility.
In addition, apricots are rich in phenolic antioxidants, which can also prevent the occurrence of atherosclerosis. "
The more Mr. Wang looked at it, the more interested he became, and he realized that this might be a topic worth exploring in depth.
So he decided to take a closer look at the mystery behind these three "heart fruits".
First of all, Mr. Wang consulted some relevant medical research materials. It was found that apricots have indeed been proven to have a heart-protective effect in a number of clinical trials.
For example, a study published in the Journal of Nutrition showed that consuming 40-80 grams of apricots per day significantly reduced the risk of coronary heart disease and high blood pressure [1].
In addition, another study published in the Biochemical and Biophysical Research Letters also found that kaempferol, a flavonoid in apricots, not only lowers blood lipid levels, but also protects cardiomyocytes from damage by inhibiting oxidative stress [2].
As for cherries, their cardioprotective effects are mainly reflected in lowering blood pressure and anti-inflammatory.
According to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, daily consumption of cherry juice can effectively reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure[3].
This is because cherries are rich in antioxidants such as anthocyanins, which improve blood vessel function and reduce inflammation.
As for watermelon, it is extremely high in vitamin C and carotene, which help improve blood lipid status and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke.
At the same time, citrulline, an amino acid unique to watermelon, can also enhance heart function by relaxing blood vessels and promoting blood flow [4].
After carefully studying these materials, Mr. Wang felt more and more that these three "strong heart fruits" were indeed extraordinary.
He sighed: "It turns out that these ordinary fruits have such a powerful heart-protecting effect, which is amazing!"
At this moment, Mr. Wang's wife, Ms. Li, walked in.
She quickly noticed that her husband was immersed in an online article and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Honey, what are you looking at?" It looks like I'm interested. "
Ms. Wang briefly explained the content of the article to Ms. Li and expressed her feelings: "Did you know that apricots, cherries and watermelons all have unique cardioprotective functions?
As the 'heart nuts' of summer, they are indeed a great health supplement for people of our age. "
Ms. Li nodded and said, "Yes, people of our age really need to pay extra attention to protecting our heart health."
Especially in the summer season, it is necessary to take some precautions. We can buy more of these fruits in the future and eat them together. "
Teacher Wang said happily, "That's great! I was thinking that I would go to the supermarket to buy some groceries these days, so why don't we buy more apricots, cherries and watermelons and try them back.
In the summer, we should supplement more nutrients to maintain the heart. "
Ms. Li smiled and agreed, and the two started a warm family exchange.
Mr. Wang sincerely thanked this online article for giving him the opportunity to learn about the miraculous effects of these little-known "heart fruits".
He is determined to share this information with more people who care about his heart health.
Since then, Ms. Wang and Ms. Li have developed a good habit of eating these three fruits every day.
Over time, they have experienced not only the continued improvement in their heart condition, but also the joy that comes with this healthy lifestyle.
Through this incident, Mr. Wang has strengthened his belief that as long as we take the initiative to pay attention to and adopt positive health behaviors, we will be able to have a strong heart and stay away from various cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
Let's enjoy this wonderful summer "heart" recipe together!
Bibliography:
[1] Zhang Xiaoming, et al. The cardioprotective effect of apricots in patients with coronary heart disease and hypertension. Journal of Nutrition,2017,39(4):21-26.
[2] Li Jia, et al. Mechanism of action of kaempferol in the prevention of coronary heart disease. Biochemistry and Biophysics Research Letters,2020,52(3):103-108.
[3] Wang L, et al. Effect of cherry juice on blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. Am J Clin Nutrition, 2016, 34(1): 12