So many people have high cholesterol and triglycerides and are either on very strict diets or take medicine prescribed by their doctor.
There are some foodstuffs that help lower cholesterol, so why not give them a try to help things along?
A healthy diet and a daily walk never did anyone any harm. On the contrary, they help tremendously.
They make you feel better and more energetic, lose a bit of weight, lower bad cholesterol.
- Tomatoes! They contain lycopene and you should include tomato products every day. Apparently all you need is 25 milligrams of lycopene daily, which is a half a cup serving. Lycopene is fat –soluble and is most prominent in tomatoes. However it is best absorbed by the body if the tomatoes are cooked. The best sources are concentrated tomato products, such as ketchup, tomato paste and tomato sauce. Pink grapefruits, watermelon, papaya and pink guava are also rich in lycopene.
- If you want to eat something rich and creamy, dip into the jar with the peanut butter.
- Eat a plant-sterol-enriched spread. Plant sterols and stanols are very powerful chemicals found in fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains and legumes.
- Almonds are rich in unsaturated fats that help lower unhealthy LDL while raising healthy HDL. However, be careful how many almonds you eat because they are high in calories and you only need about 2 ounces (62 grams) per day.
- Olive oil is a superstar. It is rich in antioxidants and monounsaturated fats that help lower bad cholesterol and increase good HDL. You only need two tablespoonfuls a day to reap the benefits.
- Steaming some vegetables may help improve their ability to lower bad cholesterol. Asparagus, beets, okra, carrots, eggplant, green beans and cauliflower are the best.
- Oatmeal is the best source of soluble fiber that prevents the absorption of cholesterol into the bloodstream. Try to consume five to 10 grams of soluble fiber per day. If you add a chopped up apple to a bowl of oatmeal, you will get an extra 3 grams of fiber.
- Pinto Beans are chockfull with soluble fibers that help you lower your cholesterol. Use them in chili, soups etc.
- Blueberries are another super food. They help keep your articles clear of LDL. They help the liver function properly and eliminate the cholesterol. You can eat blueberries fresh or frozen. They have the same benefits.
- Avocados are full of monounsaturated fats that help keep the bad cholesterols down together with triglycerides. You can use an avocado chopped up in a salad, sliced in a sandwich, mashed into guacamole, or you can just spread a little on crackers and sprinkle a pinch of salt.
- Last but not least, you can have some dark chocolate. Apparently darj chocolate is amazing, and full of flavonoids which are antioxidants that help lower cholesterol. Furthermore, it has the same type of monounsaturated fat that is found in olive oil. You only need a little bite every day, no more than one ounce dark chocolate a day. Make sure that the chocolate is 70% cocoa, because all the good stuff is in the cocoa.
Let’s all have a Happy and Healthy New Year!