A cholesterol lowering diet is become very important to people in this day and age. With heart disease being one of the leading causes of death, heart health has become of utmost importance. There are certain foods to avoid and certain foods to embrace to help lower your cholesterol. Eating healthy, whole, natural foods will help to lower your cholesterol. With the proper diet and exercise, cholesterol can be lowered and you can lessen your risk of heart disease.

Foods to Eat in a Cholesterol Lowering Diet

• Oatmeal and oat contain soluble fiber which can help absorb cholesterol in the blood.
• Walnuts and almonds contain essential fatty acids and contain monounsaturated fats that reduce LDL cholesterol levels.
• Olive oil contains monounsaturated fats and vitamin E which aids in heart health. It can even prevent inflammation in the blood vessels and can prevent blood clots.
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids are found in a variety of foods. Coldwater fish contain omega-3 fatty acids (salmon or tuna). It can help with the circulation of the blood and it may lower triglycerides. If you don’t like fish, use fish oil tablets to get these fatty acids.

Foods to Avoid in a Cholesterol Lowering Diet

There are foods that will clog your arteries. Processed foods contain many preservatives and have been know to contain trans-fats.

• Breads that have been made from refined and processed flour or store bought white bread. We lose essential vitamins because we have stripped the fiber out of these foods. Substitute with whole grains.
• Cookies, cakes, and other sugar-laden treats can be loaded with trans-fats. Sugar can also mess with the insulin levels in the body.
• The Mediterranean Diet has become popular because of its heart healthy practices and diets. It can help lower your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
• The diet consists of varieties of foods such as chicken, fish, nuts, olive oil, vegetables, fruit, whole grains, dairy, and moderate wine consumption.

This is considered to be a cholesterol lowering diet. The benefits of changing your dietary habits to lower your cholesterol can lead to a longer and fuller life.

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