杏仁能促進趕走壞膽固醇
Researchers at Pennsylvania State University recently confirmed the anti-cholesterol benefits of almonds. Regular intake of a handful of almonds increased levels of mature HDL or "good cholesterol" particles, which are associated with cardiovascular health, by 19 percent.
賓夕法尼亞州立大學的研究人員最近證實了杏仁有抵抗膽固醇的益處。定期攝入少量杏仁能使成熟的高密度脂蛋白（HDL）或“好膽固醇”顆粒提高19%，HDL與心血管健康有關。
According to a study published on Friday, August 11 in the Journal of Nutrition, almonds may not only increase blood levels of HDL (good cholesterol), but also boost the transport of bad blood cholesterol to the liver.
上週五《營養學雜誌》上發表的一篇研究表明：杏仁不僅能增加高密度脂蛋白（好膽固醇）的血液水平，而且還能促進壞膽固醇運輸到肝臟。
Previous studies have already shown that the small oleaginous fruit -- which is not a true nut -- has the capacity to reduce blood levels of LDL (bad cholesterol), which is associated with increased cardiovascular risk.
先前的研究已經表明：小的含油果實——不是真正的堅果——能夠降低低密度脂蛋白（壞膽固醇）的血液水平，壞膽固醇會增加患心血管疾病的風險。
Over a period of six weeks, researchers at Pennsylvania State University monitored two groups of patients with high levels of bad cholesterol. The first group of patients consumed 43 grams of almonds per day, whereas the members of the second group were given a banana muffin.
六週內，賓夕法尼亞州立大學的研究人員觀察了兩組患者，他們的壞膽固醇水平都很高。第一組患者每天都攝入43克杏仁，而第二組患者則攝入香蕉鬆餅。
At the end of each study period, the researchers measured the levels and functioning of HDL cholesterol in each participant, and compared these results with blood counts established at the outset of the experiment.
每次研究階段的末期，研究人員都會檢測每位患者的高密度脂蛋白膽固醇水平和功能，並將其與實驗開始時的血液計數進行對比。
"HDL is very small when it gets released into circulation,” study author Dr Kris-Etherton said. “It's like a garbage bag that slowly gets bigger and more spherical as it gathers cholesterol from cells and tissues before depositing them in the liver to be broken down.” On this journey, HDL particles grow bigger until they become mature.
“進入血液循環時，高密度脂蛋白非常小，”研究作者克里斯•埃瑟頓博士說道。“高密度脂蛋白在肝臟分解細胞和組織之前，從它們中聚集膽固醇，其過程就像慢慢變大變圓的垃圾袋一樣，”在這一過程中，高密度脂蛋白顆粒在成熟之前會越長越大。
The study highlighted a 19 percent increase in mature HDL particles in members of the group taking almonds. At the same time, participants whose weight was within normal ranges found their bodies' ability to transport excess cholesterol to the liver improved by 6.4 percent.
研究強調：攝入杏仁的患者組增加了19%的成熟高密度脂蛋白顆粒。同時，對於體重正常的受試者，他們將多餘膽固醇運輸到肝臟的能力提升了6.4%。
Rich in magnesium (anti-spasmodic) and potassium (anti-fluid retention), almonds are a healthy and filling snack rich in fiber and protein. A handful of ten almonds has approximately 100 calories. The results of this study have been published in the Journal of Nutrition.
杏仁富含鎂元素（抗痙攣）和鉀元素（消水腫），是一種纖維素和蛋白質含量都很高的健康零食。十個杏仁只含有100卡左右，該研究得出的結果已發表在《營養學雜誌》上。
