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This article was first published 13 years ago

23 foods to lower cholesterol

Last updated on: June 21, 2011 20:05 IST


Gud2eat.com

Cholesterol is one of this generation's greatest health threats. While the causes for high cholesterol are many, there are simple ways to beat this.

One of them is by eating right.

In the slides to follow you will see that the solution to cholesterol lies right in your kitchen.

1. Monosaturated fats helps lower cholesterol

Avocados, Peanut butter, Hazelnuts, Almonds and Pecans contain heart-healthy MUFA, which helps lower Cholesterol levels. Olive and Peanut oils are also rich in monounsaturates. Note all are high in fat calories.

23 foods to lower cholesterol


2. Fatty Fish (Omega-3) helps lower Cholesterol

Fatty fish like Salmon, Tuna, Halibut are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids that has many heart protective properties and also helps improve your blood cholesterol profile.. Just be sure to bake or grill the fish, not fry it.

23 foods to lower cholesterol


3. Nuts help lower Cholesterol

Nuts contain plant sterols and monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which lower the LDL (bad) cholesterol. Nuts (Almonds, Walnuts, Pistachio, Pecans) are rich in heart healthy - fiber, Vitamin E and Selenium.

23 foods to lower cholesterol


4. Grains and Oats help lower Cholesterol

Soluble fiber found in oats and oat bran, barley, brown rice, helps lower Cholesterol. Soluble fiber binds to bile acids and cholesterol an helps their excretion. Beans, apples, carrots also contain soluble fiber.

23 foods to lower cholesterol


5. Beans and lentils help lower cholesterol

Beans, lentils and peas are good source of soluble fibre which helps lower cholesterol levels. Beans and pulses are high in fibre, high in protein and low in fat. Beans also contain lecithin, a nutrient that lowers cholesterol.

23 foods to lower cholesterol


6. Fibre in fruits help lower cholesterol

Apples, Pears, Oranges and Grapefruit contain soluble fibre, which helps lower cholesterol. Include other soluble fibre rich foods such as psyllium, barley, apples, pears, kidney beans...

23 foods to lower cholesterol


7. Antioxidants prevents cholesterol damage

Fruits like Blueberries, Cranberries and Grapes, protect LDL (bad) Cholesterol from being damaged. Only damaged Cholesterol forms sticky plaques that may lead to development of Atherosclerosis and increase risk of heart disease.

23 foods to lower cholesterol


8. Plant sterols help lower cholesterol

Foods that are fortified with plant sterols and stanols, substances naturally found in many plant foods, unds help block the absorption of cholesterol into the bloodstream. Foods such as orange juice and yogurt drinks are often fortified with sterols and stanols.

23 foods to lower cholesterol


9. Walnuts help lower cholesterol

Walnuts contain monounsaturated fats that helps reduce total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. Omega-3 fats and antioxidants in Walnuts work to reverse the arterial damage caused by saturated fats.

23 foods to lower cholesterol


10. Blueberries help lower cholesterol

Blueberries contain antioxidant Pterostilbene that effectively hels lower Cholesterol levels. Blueberries are also rich in soluble fibre and other powerful heart healthy vitamins.

23 foods to lower cholesterol


11. Salmon helps lower cholesterol

Salmon or fatty fish is a good source of protein and omega 3 fatty acids - which has been shown to lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol. Omega 3 fatty acids are noted for its triglyceride-lowering power.

23 foods to lower cholesterol


12. Garlic helps lower cholesterol

Many studies have demonstrated that eating garlic regularly reduces LDL (bad) cholesterol and raises HDL (good) level as it conains active substance called Allicin.

23 foods to lower cholesterol


13. Avocado helps lower cholesterol

Avocados are rich in oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat that helps lower cholesterol.

23 foods to lower cholesterol


14. Black beans help lower cholesterol

Black beans are high in dietary fibre, which binds with Cholesterol and helps excrete it from the body thus lowering Colesterol levels.

23 foods to lower cholesterol


15. Apples help lower cholesterol

Apple is rich in Pectin (fibre), powerful antioxidants like quercetin, catechin, phloridzin and chlorogenic acid that help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and help increase HDL (good) levels.

23 foods to lower cholesterol


16. Green, leafy vegetables help lower cholesterols

According to many studies individuals who 4 or more servings of fruits and vegetables have lower LDL cholesterol levels than those who ate fewer servings. Eat dark green, leafy of veeguies like Spinach, Collard greens and Swiss chard.

23 foods to lower cholesterol


17. Raw carrots help lower cholesterol

Raw carrots are rich in a fibre called pectin that helps lower cholesterol.  Other fruits that contain pectin, including apples, citrus fruits, strawberries, raspberries, black berries...

23 foods to lower cholesterol


18. Sesame seeds helps lower cholesterol

Sesame seeds are rich in phytosterols that help reduce LDL (bad) Cholesterol levels significantly. Other foods that contain phytosterols include celery, lettuce, asparagus, spinach, tomatoes, ginger, squash and strawberries.

23 foods to lower cholesterol


19. Pistachios help lower cholesterol

Pistachios significantly lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.

23 foods to lower cholesterol


20. Cranberries help lower cholesterol

Antioxidants in Cranberries help slow down LDL cholesterol oxidation, and help raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels.

23 foods to lower cholesterol


21. Pomegranate juice and cholesterol damage

Antioxidants in Pomegranate help reduces cholesterol plaque buildup and increases nitric oxide production that reduces arterial plaque.

23 foods to lower cholesterol


22. Shitake mushrooms helps lower cholesterol

The active component in shitake mushrooms in eritadenine helps lower cholesterol levels. Shitake mushrooms also contains lentinan, which not only lowers cholesterol, but has anti-cancer properties and helps boost the immune system

23 foods to lower cholesterol


23. Prunes help lower cholesterol

Prunes are a wonderful source of antioxidants and fibre, which is known to reduce LDL cholesterol.