Some foods that lower cholesterol include items such as nuts, oatmeal, fish and olive oil. Soluble fiber is known to reduce low density lipoprotein or LDL. This is referred to as bad cholesterol. This type of fiber is found in many places such as apples, certain beans such as kidney beans, pears, prunes and barley.
Everyone knows that good nutrition is essential for healthy living but did you also know that there are actually foods that lower cholesterol levels effectively? Proper nutrition plays a vital role in cholesterol levels and as a result promotes overall heart health. By simply changing a few areas of their diet a person might be able to lower their cholesterol to healthy or at least acceptable levels without ever having to take bothersome prescription medications.
Most people don’t fully grasp the effects of what we eat. Everything that we put into our bodies has a direct impact on our health. Some specific areas this is seen include the heart and blood pressure. For example if you have high blood pressure it is recommended that you lower your salt intake to prevent unnecessary rises in your blood pressure. The same is true for your heart, if you have high or borderline cholesterol it is suggested that you take steps to reduce your cholesterol intake. This is especially important if heart problems are likely to become an issue in your particular case such as when family members such as parents or grandparents have had problems of the heart such as heart attack and congestive heart failure as in some cases these are considered to be factors that may increase an individual’s risk of developing these conditions.
Many health care professionals believe that this type of fiber reduces how much cholesterol your body absorbs. This in turn reduces not only your overall cholesterol levels but especially you bad cholesterol levels.
Another food that is thought to be beneficial in lowering cholesterol is nuts. Some nuts also have the ability to aid in keeping blood vessels healthy however nuts are very high in calories so they should only be used in small amounts. Some suggestions for nuts include replacing common ingredients of garden salads such as cheese or croutons with a handful of nuts instead.
Studies indicate that fish may also be helpful in lowering cholesterol specifically fatty fish due to its increased levels of omega 3 fatty acids. These acids have other benefits on the heart as well because they are also known to lower blood pressure as well as the potential risk of blood clots. This is especially beneficial for individuals who have suffered previous heart attacks and greatly reduces the risk of a repeat occurrence. The types of fish that are thought to have the highest content of omega 3 fatty acids include mackerel, sardines, herring, salmon and albacore tuna and health care professionals recommend that a minimum of two servings of these types of fish be included in a healthy diet.
By increasing the amount of foods that lower cholesterol that you include in your diet you may be able to effectively lower your cholesterol to a point that you will not need prescription medications to do this for you.
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