How does the soluble fiber content in dried plums help manage LDL cholesterol levels?
It binds with bile acids, prompting the body to pull cholesterol from the blood.
The soluble fiber component present in prunes contributes positively to lipid profiles by intervening in the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids, which are synthesized from cholesterol in the liver. When soluble fiber is consumed, it dissolves in the digestive tract, forming a viscous substance that chemically binds to these bile acids. Since the bound bile acids cannot be reabsorbed by the body and are instead excreted in feces, the liver is signaled to compensate for this loss. To replenish its supply of bile acids, the liver must draw upon its existing reservoir, necessitating that it pulls cholesterol directly out of the circulating bloodstream, thereby helping to effectively lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, commonly known as 'bad' cholesterol.
