Cholesterol Lowering Foods

Eating right is essential to good health and longevity, but did you know that certain foods can actually help to reduce cholesterol levels in the body?  According to health and nutrition experts, eating the right foods can help lower blood cholesterol levels naturally.

So just what miracle foods will help you keep your cholesterol in check?  Nuts, beans, oats, veggies and fruits are all known to have a positive effect on cholesterol levels.  These foods can help prevent heart disease.

Oats contain a soluble fiber that is called beta-glucan.  This fiber helps to trap cholesterol and bind it in order to allow it to be eliminated through the digestive track.  Eating just three grams of this type of fiber every day is therefore said to enable you to lower your cholesterol levels by as much as ten percent. 

Nuts are another great option for lowering cholesterol.  Although these can be high in fat they are also high in fiber.  The fat in nuts is mostly unsaturated which means that cholesterol levels go lower.  Eating a quarter cup of these up to five times a week can help reduce your risk of heart disease by a full 25%!

Beans as well as soybeans, kidney beans and chickpeas are also rich in soluble fiber.  Again these foods can help to lower cholesterol levels through the process of eliminating unwanted cholesterol.

Finally, veggies and fruits are not only chalked full of essential vitamins and minerals but these also have a cholesterol lowering effect.  Eggplants, okra and pears are especially effective as these contain high levels of soluble fiber.  Blueberries, cranberries and grapes are high in antioxidants and are great metabolizers of cholesterol.  This means that the body further eliminates the bad cholesterol.

Eating oats, fruits, veggies, beans and nuts are not only part of a healthy diet plan, but are also important for lowering the body’s cholesterol levels.  High levels of bad cholesterol in the body can lead to heart disease and other problems, so be sure to add the above foods to your menu plan for optimum health.