A recent scientific study from Japan has found that ferulic acid, a plant-based compound found in coffee and rice, may significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks.
اضافة اعلان
Researchers at the Faculty of Pharmacy at Tohoku University discovered that ferulic acid prevents arterial contractions, which are a major cause of heart attacks, chest pain, and other serious cardiovascular conditions.
How Ferulic Acid Protects the Heart
The study, published in the Journal of Pharmacological Sciences, involved experiments on pig heart vessels, which closely resemble human blood vessels. The findings revealed that ferulic acid reduces vascular contractions caused by internal chemical stimuli.
Researchers identified two main mechanisms through which ferulic acid provides its heart-protective effects:
Blocking Calcium Entry: It prevents calcium from entering muscle cells, a key step that typically triggers arterial contraction.
Inhibiting Myosin: It blocks the action of myosin, a protein that plays a crucial role in muscle contraction, further aiding in vascular relaxation.
More Effective than Common Medications?
Surprisingly, the study found that ferulic acid was more effective in relaxing blood vessels than diltiazem, a commonly prescribed medication used to dilate arteries and manage blood pressure and chest pain.
Natural Sources of Ferulic Acid
Ferulic acid is naturally present in:
Coffee
Brown rice
Whole grains
Bran
Certain vegetables and fruits
Conclusion
This discovery adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the heart-health benefits of a balanced diet rich in plant-based compounds. While more clinical trials on humans are needed, the findings suggest that incorporating foods like coffee and rice in moderation could offer natural cardiovascular protection, especially when combined with a healthy lifestyle.
