Foods That Are Beneficial In Lowering Blood Cholesterol Levels

Cholesterol is one of body fat (lipid) that is essential for the activity of cell membranes, making hormones, vitamins and bile acids. Cholesterol also helps in the transmission of nerve impulses. Levels of cholesterol in the blood depends on what you eat and how the body makes cholesterol in the liver. Having too much cholesterol in the blood is not a disease, but can lead to hardening and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis) in the cardiovascular system.

Here are some foods that are beneficial in lowering blood cholesterol levels:

• Nuts.

Walnuts, almonds and other nuts may reduce blood cholesterol. Research has shown that eating a few walnuts every day can lower your cholesterol by 27 percent. Almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts, can reduce the risk of heart disease. Omega-3 fat content and antioxidants in nuts work to rehabilitate the arterial damage caused by saturated fats.

• Green tea.

Study in Japan found that theanine in green tea beneficial to increase the good cholesterol and prevents the formation of bad cholesterol. You should drink at least four cups of sugar-free green tea every day to get the benefits.

• Tomatoes.

 Drinking two glasses of tomato juice a day lowered bad cholesterol from your body significantly.

• Fruit wines.

Red grapes increase good cholesterol. It is recommended to drink two glasses of grapefruit juice every day.

• Blueberry.

Blueberries contain a large number of substances that fight bad cholesterol. Compounds in blueberries (pterostilbene) may help lower cholesterol as effectively as commercial drugs with fewer side effects.

• Soy products.

such as soy milk, tofu and tempeh are not only reduce your cholesterol, but also rich in protein.

• Garlic.

Garlic has a positive effect on your bad cholesterol while maintaining good cholesterol. Many clinical trials have looked at the role and benefits of garlic on cardiovascular disease, mainly by lowering total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. American Dietetic Association recommends that the health benefits of garlic, we should consume 600-900 mg (approximately 1 clove fresh) per day.

• Olive oil.

Olive oil can reduce the bad cholesterol from your body. Researchers at the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (Spain) found that olive oil enriched diet helps lower bad cholesterol (LDL).

• Coconut Oil.

One study mentioned that coconut oil is a natural (non-hydrogenated) increase good cholesterol (HDL).

• Avocado.

Unsaturated fat in avocados is the kind of healthy because it can increase your HDL cholesterol levels.

• Fish and fish oil.

A study from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology found that people with type 2 diabetes who consumed high doses of fish oil over nine weeks lowered the concentration of cholesterol in their bodies.

• Yogurt.

Several studies have shown that the probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus reuteri actually help lower cholesterol. They work by preventing the reabsorption of cholesterol back into the bloodstream.