Do You Know Them? 5 Heart-Healthy Foods That Lower Cholesterol
Low cholesterol foods should be a part of your daily eating plan. By not adding extra cholesterol to your body, you give your arteries a break.
Our bodies produce cholesterol, it is a fatty material known as a lipid. It is produced by the liver but can be over-produced by the overly fatty foods that we all-too-often eat. Cholesterol is actually essential for our bodies to perform properly. However, too much cholesterol is very bad for us and is a widespread cause of coronary attacks and can increase the danger of stroke.
That being said, what are the best 5 low cholesterol foods which you should be eating to maintain healthy cholesterol levels?
Fruits and Veggies
No one needs to be convinced of the heart-healthy, low fat low cholesterol properties of fruit and vegetables. Vegetables particularly (since they don’t have quite as much natural sugar as does fruit). It’s just important not to add butter, sugar or other fats to them. True, the dressings and sauces taste divine, but they’re what got you in trouble to begin with!
Grains for Fiber
Foods that are important for soluble fiber help to lower cholesterol and as a bonus, they are also low fat. What are these foods? Think of items like barley, oats, pulses and even fruits, like apples.
Add a Touch of Nuts
Ah, nuts — they taste so good! And seeds like sunflower and sesame are yummy as well. Nonetheless, be careful of salts and oils commonly added to the nuts and seeds! However, natural nuts and seeds are great. A great idea for using these is to toss a handful into your soups, stews, pasta sauces and salads. They give crunchy quality and are a wonderful way to get used to eating low cholesterol foods.
Fatty Fish are Good!
Don’t be concerned by ‘fatty’ fish. The fat in these kinds of fish is good for your heart. Cold-water fish such as salmon, trout and tuna are all fatty but they are great, as is most fish in general. Just be careful that any canned fish isn’t packed in oil, and doesn’t have added salt.
Meat is OK
Meat, contrary to common opinion, actually is not bad for you.. Low fat meat is fine. Did you know that lean pork without sans fat is as low in cholesterol as cottage cheese? You just don’t want to consume fatty pork bacon or ham.
If you are planning to enjoy some red meat, be sure to add a good-sized salad or steamed vegetables (without butter) to your meal. The salads and vegetables add fiber, and helps to negate some of the fat that remains in the red meat.
Keep Low Cholesterol Food Low in Cholesterol!
Now that you are more familiar with the kinds of foods you ought to be consuming, consider about how you prepare them. I’ve already mentioned a few “gotchas” such as sardines packed in oil or nuts covered with chocolate.
You only have one heart, and if you’re attempting to help it by consuming low cholesterol foods, be sure they stay that way! Get used to looking at labels, and ask what’s in the dressing (or better yet, avoid it).
Keep your body and heart protected with low cholesterol meals. It will thank you for it!
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