Advantages of Foods that Lower Cholesterol
By: JB Anthony.
It can do you a lot of good to know the foods that lower cholesterol. For one, you will know which foods to avoid and which foods you should stock up on. Health should be a primary concern, so you should be careful of the food you eat, since they affect you. With the rise of more processed food full of unsaturated fat, it is no wonder that more people have high cholesterol levels. This could lead to health problems.
One step to lowering cholesterol level is to make sure you are avoiding foods that have high cholesterol content. The following are three examples of foods that can help you in your quest to lower cholesterol levels.
- Almonds, Walnuts, and More
Walnuts and almonds are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids that keep the blood vessels elastic and healthy. Eating them for a period of four weeks will greatly improve your health. Instead of cheese or meat that are full of unsaturated fat in your salads, use nuts instead. However, since nuts are rich in calories, you have to be careful not to go overboard.
- Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce blood pressure and lower the risk of blood clots. People who are suffering from heart attacks can also find that omega-3 fatty acids or fish oil can reduce the risk of sudden death.
The most ideal is to have at least two servings of fish a week. You can eat baked or grilled albacore tuna, herring, lake trout, mackerel, salmon, and sardines.
Omega-3 fatty acids can also be found in canola oil, flaxseed, soybean oil, and walnuts, too.
- Oat Bran and Oatmeal
Oatmeal and oat bran have high soluble fiber content that can reduce low density lipoprotein (LDL), a bad kind of cholesterol. Soluble fiber reduces the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines and binds bile and dietary cholesterol for the body to excrete later.
Besides oats, soluble fiber can also be found in apples, barley, Brussels sprouts, kidney beans, pears, prunes, and psyllium.
Foods that lower cholesterol are good for you, but you do not have to take too much of them, lest you develop other ailments. While some of them do reduce the levels of cholesterol in your body, they can also increase the fat, like nuts and other types of oil.
Consult a doctor first before undergoing a different diet. Medical opinion is always important, if ever anything goes wrong or if your new diet won't work on you.
Make sure that you body can handle the change in your new diet. Do not starve yourself and do not deprive yourself of most foods just because they contain a few fats. Moderation is key.
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