15 Cholesterol Lowering Foods You Should Consume

There are several foods that can lower your cholesterol level. Cholesterol level in the blood depends on what you eat and how your body makes cholesterol in the liver. Having too much cholesterol in the blood is not a disease, but it can lead to hardening and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis) in the cardiovascular system.

Cholesterol is one of body fat (lipid) which is essential for the activity of cell membranes, make hormones, vitamins and bile acids. Cholesterol also helps in the transmission of nerve impulses. There are two kinds of cholesterol: the bad is called low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and good is called high-density lipoprotein (HDL). LDL can contribute to heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases. HDL removes excess LDL in your blood and bring it to the liver for disposal.

15 Cholesterol Lowering Foods

1. Nuts

Walnuts, almonds and other nuts can reduce blood cholesterol. Research has shown that eating a few walnuts every day can lower your cholesterol by 27 percent. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), consuming about a handful (42.5 grams) of almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachio nuts and walnuts, may reduce the risk of heart disease. The content of Omega-3 fats and antioxidants in nuts work to rehabilitate the arterial damage caused by saturated fats.

2. Green tea

Research in Japan found that theanine in green tea beneficial to increase good cholesterol and prevent the formation of bad cholesterol. You should drink at least four cups of sugar-free green tea each day to get the benefits.

3. Tomatoes

Drinking two glasses of tomato juice a day lowered bad cholesterol from your body significantly.

4. Red grapes

Red grapes increase good cholesterol. It is recommended to drink two glasses of grape juice every day.

5. Blueberry

Blueberries contain a large number of substances that fight bad cholesterol. Compounds in blueberries (pterostilbene) can help lower cholesterol as effectively as commercial drugs with less side effects.

6. Plum

Such as blueberries, plums have a huge amount of material that lowers cholesterol.

7. Soy products

Soy products such as soy milk, tofu and tempeh not only reduces your cholesterol, but also rich in protein.

8. Garlic

Garlic has a positive effect on your bad cholesterol while maintaining good cholesterol. Many clinical trials have looked at the role and benefits of garlic on cardiovascular disease, primarily by lowering total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. American Dietetic Association recommends that the health benefits of garlic, we should consume 600-900 mg (about 1 clove fresh) per day.

9. Olive oil

Olive oil can reduce bad cholesterol from your body. Researchers at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain) found that a diet enriched in olive oil help lower bad cholesterol (LDL).

10. Coconut oil

Research Dr. Mary Enig MS of Nutritional Sciences and other research mentions that natural coconut oil (non-hydrogenated) increase the good cholesterol (HDL).

11. Avocado

Unsaturated fat in avocados is the kind of healthy because it can increase your HDL cholesterol levels.

12. Flaxseed oil

Flaxseed oil can lower blood pressure in men with high cholesterol. In the three-month study on 59 middle-aged men, those who ate flaxseed oil supplement daily blood pressure decreased significantly.

13. Fish and fish oil

A study from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology found that people with type 2 diabetes who consumed high doses of fish oil over nine weeks lowered the concentration of cholesterol in their body.

14. Pomegranate

A study by the National Academy of Sciences (USA) showed that pomegranate juice reduces cholesterol plaque buildup and increases the production of nitric oxide, which helps reduce arterial plaque.

15. Yogurt with probiotic

Several studies have shown that the probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus reuteri actually help lower cholesterol. They work by preventing the reabsorption of cholesterol back into the blood stream.

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Writen by: Fame Nikita - Friday, March 8, 2013