Thursday 24 January 2013

The Foods For Low Cholesterol

Some foods are known to raise cholesterol . Some are known to lower cholesterol . Replace the bad foods with the good foods . It's like killing two birds with one stone . Most of us know unhealthy food when we see it . But it's not so obvious which foods are really good , especially when it comes to reducing cholesterol .
So here's the list of the top 10 foods to lower cholesterol . Most lists like this are very similar , which means they're probably accurate as well .
Dark Chocolate
This is a good choice because it tastes great and helps lower your cholesterol . How does dark chocolate do this ? It contains flavonols which contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties . Use chocolate that contains at least 70% cocoa .
Olive Oil
Another food that contains unsaturated fat which , as mentioned above , helps reduce bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol . You can use olive oil as a replacement for butter when frying foods . It tastes good too !
Almonds and Walnuts and Pistachios
These nuts contain unsaturated fat which is the good kind of fat . Unsaturated fat helps lower bad ( LDL ) cholesterol and raise good ( HDL ) cholesterol . It also makes LDL less likely to oxidize which is a process that harms the arteries . Numerous studies report a reduction in cholesterol with the consumption of these nuts .
Oatmeal
Another great tasting food especially if you add some blueberries or other favorite fruit . I have a small bowl of oatmeal almost every morning , topped with blueberries , brown sugar , and skim milk . Oatmeal is a fantastic source of soluble fiber which helps prevent cholesterol from being absorbed into the bloodstream .
Avocado
Avocado's are high in unsaturated fat . But , according to the Canadian Medical Association Journal , Dec . 14 , 2010 the monounsaturated fats in avocados help lower serum lipids , including LDL cholesterol . I have heard people say that they dramatically lowered their cholesterol level by eating an avocado every week , over a period of less than one year . I'm talking like 20 to 30 percent lower . This must be a powerfully nutritious food .
We've used avocado in recipes such as lasagna and soup . And of course Guacamole is made up mostly of Avocado .
Blueberries
I've already mentioned blueberries . Why are blueberries so nutritious ? They are high in vitamin C and dietary fiber . They also contain antioxidants called polyphenols . Blueberries contain pterostilbene which is believed to lower cholesterol . Another super healthy food that tastes great !
Tomatoes
Tomatoes contain lycopene which may help lower cholesterol . Lycopene inhibits the bad cholesterol ( LDL ) and breaks it down making it less harmful . Tomato sauce or fresh tomatoes will provide the Lycopene benefit !
Garlic
Another food that tastes good and is very healthy . Use it with salads , soups , and sandwiches . It's most healthy in it's raw form
Flaxseed or flaxseed oil
You can buy flax seed ground or as whole seeds . It can be used in baking or for sprinkling on top of salads and other foods . We've used it to make banana bread and it tastes great !
Spinach
Spinach is full of fiber and lutein which can reduce bad ( LDL ) cholesterol . Lutein may also help prevent heart disease because it contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties .
Every one of these foods is nutritious and may help lower cholesterol . Now that you know what these foods are you have to take action and consume these foods in place of bad foods . Make it your routine to use these foods and you'll very likely see the benefit from it.

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