Foods That Lower Cholesterol, Vegetables

When you are trying to lower your cholesterol there are many natural ways that will help you to succeed. Since they do not contain any cholesterol, a diet high in vegetables is one way to accomplish this goal.

All vegetables are effective in lowering your cholesterol, but some are better than others. Green vegetables seem to offer the best cholesterol lowering qualities. It's suggested that adults have about 5 servings of vegetables daily.

This article will concentrate on three of the best vegetables you can eat to help lower your cholesterol; watercress, Brussels sprouts, and artichokes.

One of my favorite treats to have as a child was watercress sandwiches. All I would put on it would be butter and lots of watercress. Watercress is a nice, light tasting vegetable that goes well with anything.

Watercress is a perennial plant that is native from Europe to Central Asia. It is one of the oldest known cultivated vegetables and it grows best in water high in alkaline.

Watercress is one of the main ingredients in the V8 drink. The vegetable is high in iron, calcium and folic acid. It contains vitamins A, C, B¹, E and B⁶; it also has high levels of potassium and manganese.

Recipes:

Watercress.com has lots of great recipes. 

One of the most maligned vegetables is the Brussels sprout. It, along with broccoli, usually makes peoples list as the vegetable they hate most. However, Brussels sprouts can be very tasty and they do help to lower your cholesterol.

The Brussels sprout is known to have been cultivated as far back as Ancient Rome. They were also widely known in what is now Belgium in the 13th century, thus the name Brussels sprouts.

Brussels sprouts contain vitamin's K, C, E, B² and B¹. They also contain high levels of manganese, folate acids, and omega fatty acids, as well as many other minerals.

Recipes:

Nutty Brussels sprouts

I had an embarrassing moment in a restaurant when I was in my twenties. I had ordered artichoke and had no idea how to eat it. My dining companion was as embarrassed as I was and the waiter had to show me how to eat it. Needless to say, I never ordered artichoke in a restaurant again. I have had them since and absolutely love artichoke hearts.

If you don't know how to eat an artichoke, you peel off the "leaves" or "spears" and eat the pulpy ends. You can also eat the heart of the artichoke.

The artichoke belongs to the thistle family and is native to the Mediterranean.It is high in cynarin which increases bile production in the live. An increase in bile gets toxins and any bad cholesterol out of your body quicker. The artichoke also is high in vitamins A and C, calcium, iron, potassium and manganese.

Recipes:

Artichoke dip recipe.

Disclaimer:

Please be aware that the advice in this article should in no way replace that of a licensed physician and that nothing is necessarily guaranteed to lower cholesterol. Consult your doctor if you think you might have high cholesterol.