Best Tips Foods To Help Lower Cholesterol Naturally

 For some people, it is a diet far above the ground in red meats, whole milk and cheeses that elevate their cholesterol levels.  For others, it is a substance of heredity that their body produces too much cholesterol.  Regardless of the reason, an important cholesterol level is one health concern that should not be ignored. 

While cholesterol, a type of fat in your blood, is desirable by your cells, having too much of it can be a cause of concern.  When there is too much cholesterol in your blood, it starts to build up in your arteries, and causes a blockage for blood flow.  This blockage can then go in front to blood clots and inflammation, leading to heart attacks and strokes. 

Related: Best plant protein sources for athletes and active people

When it comes to cholesterol it is significant to recognize that there are two types: LDL and HDL.  The LDL cholesterol has been coined “bad” cholesterol, as it is the kind that has been found to increase the risks of heart disease, heart attacks and strokes.  The HDL cholesterol has been nickname the “good” cholesterol as it has been shown to lower risks of heart disease, compassion attacks and strokes. 

Being diagnosed with high cholesterol can be scary, but the good news is that there are many ways to reduce cholesterol levels.  While some doctors propose medications, there are still other alternatives to bring those numbers down. 

For many people being overweight can amplify cholesterol, therefore embarking on a weight loss plan can help to reduce these numbers.  Additionally, exercise has been found to increase the HDL or “good” cholesterol, to reduce your risk factors for heart disease.  It is also important to be familiar with family history, as cholesterol and heart disease is often hereditary. Being familiar with this early on can help one to be better prepared about ways to reduce their risk factors. 

Eating too much saturated fat and cholesterol itself can result in an elevated cholesterol.  Making dietary changes can dramatically decrease these levels.   Some of these foods help provide soluble fiber to the body, which binds to cholesterol particles and flushes them out, in the meantime, other foods actually block the body from absorbing cholesterol. And yet others surround polyunsaturated fat, which work to directly junior your LDL’s.

So what dietary changes can one make to decrease their cholesterol?  The good news is that there are many food options that are not only delicious, but can help to reduce cholesterol levels at the same time.  Take a look at some foods below and see how to work them into your diet:

Bran or Whole Grains - Adding high-fiber, fiber or whole grain cereals and breads will help to lower cholesterol. These foods will increase the soluble fiber in the diet, helping to lower the risks of heart disease.

Oats - Hot oatmeal, overnight cold oatmeal or using oats in baking are all great ways to add anywhere from 2-5 grams of soluble fiber to your diet.

Fish - adding together fish to your diet will provide omega-3s which have been shown to be defensive of your heart. Salmon, albacore tuna and herring all provide great sources of the omega-3s.

Nuts - This protein rich food not only holds your hunger longer than most other foods, it also helps to reduce your bad cholesterol.  While it is high in fat, keep in mind it is the healthy fat that helps to protect your body.  Choose from varieties like almonds, peanuts, cashews and walnuts, to name a few.

Vegetable Oils - put back butter or shortening with vegetable oils like canola or safflower oils when cooking.

Soy - Increasing this plant base protein, which can be found in the form of tofu, edamame or soy milk, has been shown to lower your LDL's.

Beans - These are the perfect addition to any diet as part of a salad, into a soup, a side dish or anyway you might imagine.  Loaded with soluble fiber, they are great for weight control, along with their ability to lower cholesterol. We love slow cooked beans, but if you don't, there are many easy ways to sneak them into your meals. You can even make "meatballs" out of beans to trick physically into eating them: Black Bean vegan Meatballs with Tzatziki Sauce

Red Wine - Many red wines are made with a variety of higher fiber red grapes, which have been shown to significantly lower cholesterol levels.  Of course consumption should be in moderation.

Avocados - adding together an avocado to your diet is a great way to add a nourishing source of monounsaturated fats and nutrients that have been shown to lower LDL levels. Check out this mouth-watering guacamole recipe.

Tea - Drinking black tea has been found to reduce cholesterol by as much as 10% in as little as 3-4 weeks.

Just sense about it, with the addition of some healthy not to talk about tasty new foods you will be well on your way to reducing your cholesterol in no time at all!