山楂
Cactus/Cactus Fruit
山楂是一种美丽的灌木植物，拥有九百多个品种，开花期是四月到六月，长久以来，其强健心脏的功效都备受赞赏。
Hawthorn is a beautiful shrub. There are more than 900 different species of hawthorn shrubs, which traditionally bloom from April to June. The hawthorn plant is highly beneficial to the heart.
山楂的花和浆果在中药里被广泛运用，治疗如心跳不正常、高血压、胸部疼痛、动脉硬化以及心脏衰竭等。山楂的浆果亦能治疗失眠、神经过敏、消化不良、胃胀气等疾病。山楂也能缓解水肿、肾脏疾病及喉咙疼痛等症状。
Traditional medicine widely uses the flowers and berries of the hawthorn plant to treat irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, chest pain, hardening of the arteries, and heart failure. Its berries are used to treat insomnia, nervousness, indigestion, and gas. They can also alleviate abdominal distention, kidney problems, and sore throat.
山楂富含的植物营养素包括儿茶素、山楂酸、金丝桃甙、异荭草苷、异牧荆苷和皂苷，使它成为具有多种滋养心血管系统功效的草本植物。
Hawthorn's variety of phytochemicals-catechins, crataegus acid, hyperoside, isoorientin, isovitexin, and saponins-make it an herb that nourishes the cardiovascular system in many ways.
降低胆固醇指数
Keeps Cholesterol in Check
胆固醇会在人体内自然产生，是形成细胞膜及荷尔蒙的成分。然而，血液里过量的胆固醇将导致胆固醇黏附在动脉壁上，进而阻碍血液流动。
Cholesterol occurs naturally in the body as a building block for cell membranes and hormones. However, too much cholesterol in the blood can cause it to stick to the walls of arteries, obstructing blood flow.
肝脏负责调节血液里的胆固醇水平，山楂有助于提高肝脏转换低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL，会导致动脉阻塞）为高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL，可清除动脉阻塞）的速度。
The liver regulates cholesterol levels in blood. Hawthorn can increase the rate at which the liver converts low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (bad, artery-clogging cholesterol) into high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (good, artery-clearing cholesterol).
科学家们比较了山楂复合物以及辛伐他汀（一种被认为可以降低整体胆固醇的药物），发现山楂复合物能减少“坏”胆固醇，而辛伐他汀却不能。科学家们总结，山楂复合物可用于治疗高血脂症和预防动脉硬化。
Scientists compared a compound containing hawthorn with simvastatin, a drug that is supposed to lower overall cholesterol. They found that while the hawthorn compound reduced LDL cholesterol, simvastatin did not. Scientists also concluded that the hawthorn compound can be used for treating hyperlipidemia (high blood lipid levels) and preventing atherosclerosis.
对抗动脉硬化
Protects Against Atherosclerosis
山楂的抗氧化剂包括一种存在于葡萄中的强效抗氧化剂原花青素（OPC）。山楂的抗氧化功能有助于预防细胞受损，以及预防因积在血管内的胆固醇所造成的斑块（也就是可能致命的动脉硬化）。斑块的形成会阻碍心脏接收含氧的血液，进而导致心绞痛（胸部疼痛）和心脏病。一旦斑块在动脉形成，便会阻挡血液供应到大脑而导致中风。
Antioxidants in hawthorn include oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs), the strong antioxidants found in grapes. Hawthorn's antioxidant properties help to protect against cell damage and the formation of plaques due to cholesterol accumulated in blood vessels, otherwise known as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis has fatal consequences. Plaque buildup in vessels prevents the heart from receiving oxygen-rich blood, resulting in angina (chest pain) and heart attacks, while plaque buildup in arteries that supply blood to the brain may result in stroke.
山楂含有酚类化合物，其中包括了金丝桃甙、异槲皮甙、表儿茶素、绿原酸、槲皮素、芸香苷以及原儿茶酸。山楂酚类化合物能预防 LDL 和其中的 α-生育酚的氧化作用，帮助预防动脉硬化。
Phenolic compounds in hawthorn show an ability to prevent oxidation of LDL and alpha-tocopherol in LDL. These abilities contribute to atherosclerosis prevention. The phenolic compounds include hyperoside, isoquercitrin, epicatechin, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, rutin, and protocatechuic acid.
维持顺畅血流
Maintains Smooth Blood Flow
心脏透过心血管系统内的一个血管网把血液输送到身体各个部位，为身体提供氧气和所需的营养。山楂丰富的类黄酮有助于强健血管胶原蛋白的结构、预防斑块的形成以及促进血液的流动。另一方面，山楂酸有助于血管扩张。
The heart pumps blood that delivers oxygen and essential nutrients to all parts of the body via a network of blood vessels in the cardiovascular system. Hawthorn is rich in flavonoids that help strengthen the structure of collagen in blood vessels, preventing plaque buildup in them and improving blood flow. Crataegus acid may contribute to hawthorn's ability to widen blood vessels.
山楂也含有原花青素，能放松血管肌肉，预防突发性血管收缩与血流中断。突发性血管收缩与血流中断是因心脏承受心理或生理压力所引起的，此时心脏需要更多的血液和氧气来防止血管收缩。
Hawthorn also contains proanthocyanidins that relax smooth muscles in blood vessels to prevent them from suddenly contracting and shutting off blood flow. Such sudden contractions can result from emotional and physical stress on the heart. The heart requires more blood and oxygen in times of stress, so preventing these contractions is crucial.
山楂的原花青素和花青素也有助于维护微血管的健康。虽然微血管薄而脆弱，但对于组织内的氧气与二氧化碳的交换却是必不可少的。
Proanthocyanidins and anthocyanidins in hawthorn also help to maintain healthy capillaries. Capillaries are thin and fragile, but they are necessary for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in tissues.
调节血压
Regulates Blood Pressure
血压是指血液在动脉流动时，对动脉壁产生的单位面积侧压力。血压在一定的程度上受动脉的大小所影响，健康的血压能将罹患心脏衰竭、中风、肾衰竭和其他健康问题的风险降到最小。山楂不仅能以扩张血管来降低血压、它也有助于降低血管紧张素 II（一种透过收缩血管而提升血压的荷尔蒙）的产生。
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force applied to artery walls as the heart pumps. It is determined partly by the size of arteries. Healthy blood pressure minimizes risk of heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, and other health problems. Hawthorn can help to decrease blood pressure by dilating blood vessels. It may also reduce production of angiotensin II, a hormone that raises blood pressure by constricting blood vessels.
在一项研究中发现，山楂萃取物有助于接受药物治疗的 2-型糖尿病患者。受试者在 16 周內每日服食 1,200 毫克的山楂萃取物或安慰剂，结果证明服食山楂萃取的参与者，其血压低于服用安慰剂的参与者。
One study found that hawthorn extract helped type 2 diabetes patients on medication. Participants took 1,200 mg of hawthorn extract or placebo daily for 16 weeks. Those who took hawthorn had lower blood pressure than those taking the placebo.
滋养心脏
Nourishes the Heart
山楂能滋养心脏，提高心脏的运作能力。研究也证实，山楂能有效地改善心脏功能。山楂的成分能与心脏的酶类相互作用，进而改善心脏的泵送（输送）功能，增强心脏肌肉的泵送力以及消除心律不正常的症状。它能降低磷酸二酯酶的活性，提高环腺苷酸的含量。环腺苷酸（AMP）犹如体内的细胞通信员，使钙能更容易进入细胞，从而能够增加心肌层的活性及血管的扩张。血管的扩张促使更多含氧血液进入心脏，进而预防心脏缺氧。心脏缺氧会因胸部压力和紧绷感而引起疼痛与不适。
Hawthorn nourishes the heart, helping it to be more efficient. Studies conclude that hawthorn can significantly improve heart function. Substances in hawthorn interact with enzymes in the heart to improve its pumping action, increase the pumping force of the heart muscle, and eliminate abnormal heart rates. It decreases the activity of a group of enzymes called phosphodiesterases, raising the level of cyclic AMP (a cell messenger), which makes it easier for calcium to enter cells. This increases the activity of the myocardium, the middle layer of the walls of the heart, and dilation of blood vessels. Dilating blood vessels means more oxygen-rich blood can get to the heart. This helps prevent oxygen deprivation in the heart, which would result in pain from chest pressure and tightness.
缓解心脏问题
Relieves Heart Conditions
心绞痛
Angina
心绞痛是指当心肌无法获得足够的含氧血液时所产生的胸部疼痛或不适。山楂浆果被证明能预防心绞痛。在一项德国的临床研究中，患有稳定型心绞痛的病患每天服食三次 60 毫克的山楂后，心脏的血流量增加了，心肌层也能更有效地运用氧气。
Angina is chest pain or discomfort that occurs when the heart muscle does not get enough oxygen-rich blood. Studies show that hawthorn berry preparations combat angina. In German clinical studies, patients with stable angina receiving 60 mg of hawthorn three times a day showed increased blood flow to the heart and more efficient use of oxygen by the myocardium.
心脏衰竭
Heart failure
心脏衰竭是由于心脏不能输送足够的血液到身体其他部位所引起的病症。科学家们发现，山楂不只能缓解心脏衰竭，还有助于改善心脏衰竭患者的运动能力。
Heart failure is a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to the rest of the body. Scientists discovered that hawthorn not only relieves heart failure, but can also improve the ability of patients with heart failure to exercise.
一项由 952 位病患参与的大型研究比较了心脏病药物、山楂补充剂，以及两者混合使用的效果。在服用山楂补充剂两年之后，受试者心悸、呼吸困难和疲劳等心脏衰竭的症状已明显减少，使用药物的数量也同样减少了。
A large study involving 952 patients compared heart medication with a standardized hawthorn supplement alone and in addition to medication. After two years of taking hawthorn, patients experienced a significant decrease in symptoms of heart failure-palpitations, breathing problems, and fatigue. They also took less medication.
当虚弱的心脏无法输送足够的血液时，将导致多余的液体累积在体内组织，从而出现水肿的症状。山楂能发挥温和利尿的功效，排除体内多余的水分。
Hawthorn can also provide relief from edema (swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in the body's tissues) that may be due to a weak heart that is unable to pump enough blood. Hawthorn does this by working as a mild diuretic, purging excess fluid.
抗癌
Fights Cancer
山楂含有大量的维生素 B 群及 C，有助于抵抗癌症。山楂中的类黄酮芸香苷，更能加速消灭白血病和伯基特淋巴瘤细胞。山楂还含有抑制血浆酶（一种会导致癌性肿瘤扩散的酶）活化的复合物。测试发现，山楂萃取物能抑制喉癌细胞的滋长。山楂的抗氧化剂能够温和长效地预防由于老化所造成的退化性疾病。除此之外，山楂也具有消除炎症的功效。
Hawthorn is rich in B vitamins and vitamin C, which may help protect against cancer. Studies show that rutin, a flavonoid in hawthorn, accelerates the death of leukemia and Burkitt lymphoma cells. Hawthorn also contains compounds that deactivate plasmin, an enzyme that causes cancerous tumors to spread. Laboratory tests found that hawthorn extract stopped the growth of larynx cancer cells. Thanks to its antioxidants, hawthorn has a gentle but long-term preventive effect against degenerative age-related diseases. It may also relieve inflammation.
资料来源：营养 免疫 长寿，免疫学家陈昭妃著
Source: Nutrition Immunity Longevity, Jau-Fei Chen, PhD, Immunologist