Low Cholesterol Foods for a Healthy Diet

Must Have List Of Foods That Help Lower Cholesterol

List Of Foods That Lower Cholesterol

Cholesterol is present in our bodies for one of two reasons; our liver produces cholesterol and we eat foods containing cholesterol.

High amounts of cholesterol, especially LDL cholesterol which is bad for us, can lead to many health complications and significantly increase your risk of heart disease.

While there are many foods that are high in LDL cholesterol, there are a lot, which can actually help to lower your LDL cholesterol levels and increase your HDL cholesterol ( good cholesterol) levels.

Here's a list of foods that help low cholesterol, which is a must for anyone who is trying to reduce their LDL levels and increase their HDL levels.

Apples

Everyone has heard of the saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away".

Well, apples are also very good for lowering your LDL cholesterol levels. 2 full apples, or 12 ounces of apple juice, if taken everyday, can reduce your risk of heart diseases by as much as 50%.

Garlic

Garlic helps to low LDL cholesterol levels and thins your blood naturally. This prevents clogging up of arteries and thus lowers your risk of heart diseases.

Onions

Eating just half a raw onion everyday can increase your HDL levels by 25% and lower your LDL as well.

Beans and Legumes

These contain soluble fiber which helps to increase your HDL cholesterol and reduce your LDL cholesterol. All kinds of beans and legumes such as pinto, kidney, black-eyed, lentils, pink beans, etc help low cholesterol and are good for your heart.

Unsaturated Fats

Contrary to the misconception that all kinds of fat are bad for you, unsaturated fats and omega 3 fatty acids can actually be good for your heart.

Monounsaturated fats

Olive oil, canola, peanut, and almond oil and polyunsaturated fats - corn oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, etc. - increase the HDL cholesterol and lower the LDL cholesterol and are thus good for your heart.

Other Cholesterol Lowering Foods

Oats, fenugreek, artichokes, turmeric, guggul, green tea, nuts, and black tea, are all known to help low cholesterol in your body.

Of course, diet is no substitute for a doctor's care when you are ill.

Diet and nutrition represent "the other side of the coin" and always inform your doctor whenever you make a dietary change, especially if you are on a pharmaceutical drug.

Copyright 2005 Dave Saunders is a certified nutritional educator, wellness coach, member of the American International Association of Nutritional Education (AIANE) and author.

He is also the host of a weekly, nation-wide telephone lecture on health and nutrition.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be taken as medical advice.