Food That Can Help Lower Your Cholesterol

If you’ve got high cholesterol, you probably have a long list of things you can’t eat – no more red meat, no more bacon, no more frying all your favorite foods in butter.  Instead of a laundry list of things you CAN’T eat, you’re probably better of focusing on this great list of delicious food that has just been bumped to the top of your to-eat list.

Nuts are at the top of any high cholesterol diet plan.  Nuts contain everything you need to bring those cholesterol levels back to normal.  Almonds and walnuts are especially jam-packed with polyunsaturated fatty acid, which is great for your blood vessels.  Don’t go nuts on the nuts, though – they’re high on calories, which can give you other problems.  One-third a cup of nuts a day alone can bring your LDL cholesterol levels down by more than 10%.

Soluble fiber comes next for a great cholesterol reducing tool.  Soluble fiber absorbs cholesterol in your intestines before it enters your bloodstream.  The best source of soluble fiber comes from oatmeal, but there are plenty of other options out there as well.  Try prunes, pears and apples for a quick fix, or try to have kidney beans, lima beans, or Brussels sprouts once a day.  If you can eat 10 grams of soluble fiber a day, you’ll decrease your LDL levels by about 5%.

Remember all the hype about Omega-3?  It’s time to act on that.  Omega-3 is a fatty acid that’s proven to fight bad cholesterol and high blood pressure.  Focus on fish that are especially high in Omega-3, and you’ll be set to go – Salmon, sardines, albacore tuna and mackerel are all great fish that are packed with this amazing cholesterol fighting acid.  Try having at least three servings of fish a week, but if you hate fish, or if you’re starting to get sick of it, substitute one fish meal a week with a hearty serving of walnuts, flaxseed, or soybean oil mixed into one of your other dishes.  These foods are also a great source of Omega-3, and shouldn’t be ignored.