"Melons have many health benefits," said lead investigator Sibu Saha. "Our ultimate goal is to identify bioactive compounds that would improve human health."

The research team experimented on mice that had high levels of cholesterol that resulted from a poor diet. While one group of rodents drank water for eight weeks, the other had watermelon juice. By the end of the study, the latter group had healthier measurements for low-density lipoprotein, which is often referred to as "bad" cholesterol. The blood vessels of these mice also appeared to be in better shape upon physical inspection.

Previously, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had stated that watermelons contain high levels of the antioxidant lycopene, which may help boost heart health and proper cell function. Tomatoes are thought to be another good source of lycopene, but research suggests that watermelons can contain 40 percent more of the compound than tomatoes, according to the USDA.

Other nutrients found in the fruit include vitamins A, B6, C and thiamin, the USDA said.

The investigators found that aside from the high fiber content of apples, the fruits’ pectin and polyphenols enhance fat metabolism and slow down the production of molecules that may contribute to inflammation in the body.
Over the course of one year, two groups of postmenopausal women ate either one serving of apples or prunes daily.

After six months of this regimen, the study’s findings showed that the participants who consumed apples had 23 percent better balanced levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Women in this group also showed decreased amounts of C-reactive protein, which has been associated with inflammation in the body.

"I never expected apple consumption to [balance] cholesterol to this extent, while [promoting positive effects on] HDL cholesterol, by about 4 percent," said lead researcher Bahram Arjmandi, Ph.D.

The scientists also noted that women who ate the delicious fruits lost an average of more than 3 pounds (lbs).

However, some people who want to promote good ear and digestive health may not need to look any further than their kitchen cabinets for a remedy.

A recent article published by the Kansas City Community News reported that while garlic has been known for its ability to balance blood pressure and cholesterol levels, it may also be a useful treatment for earaches.

The newspaper explained that to take advantage of the beneficial effects of garlic for earaches, individuals can squeeze a drop of garlic oil into the affected ear before they go to bed.

Fennel seed may promote good digestive health by promoting the breakdown of food higher up in the digestive tract. The news provider said that this process may help people avoid feelings of bloating and gas since less food will be digested in the large intestine.

According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, as many as 70 million Americans are affected by poor digestive health.

However, a recent study published in the journal Cell Metabolism found that a substance called ursolic acid, which is highly concentrated in apple peels, may promote muscle growth, slow atrophy and balance blood sugar, triglyceride and cholesterol levels which, if left unaddressed, may contribute to chronic health issues.

The researchers explained that they tested the compound on mice and discovered that it not only increased the laboratory rodent's muscle mass, but also decreased their body fat and treated signs of metabolic disorders.

"It did this by helping two hormones that build muscle – insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin. Because ursolic acid increased muscle, it reduced muscle atrophy. Surprisingly, it had some other beneficial effects in mice. For example, it reduced body fat, and lowered blood glucose and cholesterol," said lead researcher Christopher Adams.

The study results showed that one component of HDL, the protein apolipoprotein (A-I), holds most of the cholesterol's anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative powers.

The cage-shaped particles circulate through the blood in a twisting motion, which allows them to adjust to high or low fat content. Since A-I covers the entire surface of HDL molecules, they are protected from bonding with other proteins.

According to Harvard's School of Public Health, individuals who want to monitor their cholesterol should focus more on the variety of fats that they are incorporating into their diets, rather than the amounts of cholesterol found on the nutritional labels of food.

Fats that are believed to decrease a person's risk of cardiovascular disease include monounsaturated or polyunsaturated varieties, which may be substituted in place of unhealthy trans or saturated fats, the source suggests.

The researchers said that these common false beliefs may contribute to the prevalence of high blood pressure and heart disease among Americans.

The study's findings showed that 66 percent of respondents agree with the statement that red wine promotes good heart health, but 30 percent indicated that they did not know that AHA recommends that men do not drink more than two four-ounce alcoholic beverages per day or no more than one daily for women.

Likewise, a total of 61 percent of participants answered that they believe sea salt has less sodium than the table variety. However, the AHA explained that both of these products contain 40 percent sodium.

The findings stem from the Program on Surgical Control of the Hyperlipidemias (POSCH) randomized controlled trial that began in 1975. Researchers evaluated 838 heart attack survivors between the ages of 38 and 60. Half were assigned to treatment with diet instruction only, and half received diet instruction plus partial ileal bypass surgery—or a bypass of the distal small intestine—where cholesterol is absorbed.

Twenty five years later, researchers found the group who had the surgery increased their life expectancy by about one year.

"The POSCH trial was the first randomized controlled trial to show the life-sustaining benefits of cholesterol lowering and it is the only trial with 25 years of follow-up," said the study’s lead author, Henry Buchwald, M.D., Ph.D.

Researchers say that reducing high LDL cholesterol has been proven to result in fewer heart attacks, fewer deaths, less incidence of peripheral artery disease—and less heart disease.

Eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise are often considered key to keeping cholesterol in check. Among the herbs and nutritional supplements believed to help lower cholesterol are fish oil, flaxseed, garlic, blond psyllium, guggulipid extract, green tea extract and beta sitosterol.

Cancer biologist Phillipe G. Frank and his colleagues, who published their paper in the American Journal of Pathology, examined the role of a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet in the onset of breast cancer in laboratory mice. They found that animals who were fed a typical Western diet appeared to be predisposed to developing mammary tumors, and that the disease progressed more quickly.

Previous studies have suggested that dietary fat and cholesterol play integral roles in the development of a number of tumor types.

"In a neighborhood, if you want to build more houses, you need more bricks. In tumors, cholesterol provides the bricks that are the foundation for further growth, and this cholesterol comes from the blood," Frank explained. "Cholesterol does indeed seem to be an important factor in the regulation of tumor formation."

He added that these findings may provide many new avenues for prevention, screening and treatment of breast cancer.

BreastCancer.org reports that the disease is estimated to affect one out of every seven women during their lifetime.

According to CBS medical correspondent Jennifer Ashton, it is important to keep in mind that not all cholesterol is bad.

"There are two numbers you need to know. You want your LDL or bad cholesterol below 100," she explained, quoted by the news source. "And your HDL or good cholesterol [should be] over 60."

A study conducted among 1,130 Americans over the age of 65 found that those with an HDL over 65 had a 60 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

"We have to remember that 75 percent of cholesterol comes from our body, 25 percent of it comes from our food intake," Ashton said, according to the news provider. "Exercise can boost your HDL. And eating a diet low in high carbohydrates also can raise [levels of good cholesterol]."

The Alzheimer's Association reports that more than 5 million Americans are currently affected by the neurodegenerative disease, and those of African-American and Hispanic descent generally have a greater risk. 

After assessing mice test subjects with diabetes, researchers determined that there is an important relationship between the cognitive processes and the appropriate amount of cholesterol. The mice were found to stop developing cholesterol in the brain, which can lead to a decline in mental health that can be responsible for problems with appetite, behavior, motor control and memory.

"Since cholesterol is required by neurons to form synapses [connections] with other cells, this decrease in cholesterol could affect how nerves function for appetite regulation, behavior, memory and even pain and motor activity… Thus, this has broad implications for people with diabetes," said C. Roland Kahn, the study's lead author, the news source reports.

While higher levels of cholesterol may be required for diabetics, individuals concerned about their heart health may want to keep theirs low. The Times of India recommends that those who are looking to lower cholesterol levels should eat soy protein, barley, oats and drink green tea.