Foods That Lower Cholesterol
Too much cholesterol is bad for the body, even though the body could not survive without it. Like most things within the body, there is a fine balance between just right and bad. Cholesterol is produced naturally in the liver and most of the body’s needs are fulfilled by this cholesterol. The excess cholesterol however comes from the foods we eat. Too much of certain foods, particularly animal products like fatty meat and dairy items, increases our cholesterol levels. If we over eat these foods we can get high cholesterol levels that can lead to numerous health problems. This article will discuss the foods we should eat to lower cholesterol.
Fats contribute to the amount of bad cholesterol in our body however they are often a common part of our diets. Butter, margarine or oil/lard for cooking are often the first ingredient that you put in a pan. If you use these products to cook then try to use monounsaturated fats. These fats include things like olive oil, nuts, avocados and canola oil.
Many margarine products and some yogurts are marketed as having plant sterols in them that will lower cholesterol. It has been proved that plant sterols reduce the amount of bad cholesterol or LDL cholesterol that is absorbed through the intestine and this lower the cholesterol reading. These products are generally more expensive than their non plant sterol counterparts but they have been proved to lower cholestrol.
Whole grains are believed to be good for the body. They do not lower your cholesterol level per se but by eating more of these types of products as opposed to products high in saturated fats your cholesterol level will lower. Whole grain foods are products that use unrefined or processed grain. They can be found in cereals, brown rice, oatmeal and most whole meal products.
Fresh fruit and vegetables are another source of foods that will improve the overall health of your body. By eating more of these types of products your cholesterol will reduce. The American Heart Association recommends 5 pieces of fresh fruit or vegetables per day.
For people that can’t resist creamy products or any form of dairy product, try to go for low fat versions of these types of foods. Most people drink milk or have it on their cereal, try a low fat alternative.
If you could take one guideline away with you when it comes to lowering your cholesterol and foods that can help it would be to avoid processed foods. Processed foods generally have trans and polyunsaturated fats which increase LDL cholesterol in our body. Fresh food is best.