A healthy body requires an active lifestyle and a nutritious diet. If a person makes poor choices when it comes to their diet then it can have adverse consequences on their health which can lead to severe illnesses. As people grow older, they need to make sure that they are eating right and working out in order to stay fit. One of the biggest health challenges that a person faces with growing age is not being able to control their cholesterol levels.
The following are four foods that can help lower a person's cholesterol levels:
Oatmeal
Oats contain soluble fibre which has the ability to reduce "bad" cholesterol in a person's body.
Having a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast is a good way to start one's day. It also keeps a person feeling full for a long period of time. What soluble fibre actually does is that it reduces the absorption of cholesterol in the bloodstream. Other healthy sources of soluble fibre are foods such as kidney beans, apples, barley and prunes.
Nuts
According to a number of studies and research, eating almonds, walnuts, and other nuts is also good for the human heart. Nuts are rich in vegetable protein, fibre, magnesium and unsaturated fats which can improve blood cholesterol. One thing to keep in mind while munching on some nuts is that they should be unsalted.
Fruits and vegetables
Most fruits and vegetables have low contents of saturated fat which mean that if we eat more of them they will help us to keep our saturated fat intake low.
A variety of fruits and vegetables are good sources of cholesterol-lowering soluble fibers. These foods include sweet potato, aubergine, and broccoli. A number of fruits such as apples, strawberry, grapes and citrus fruits are rich in pectin which is a type of soluble fiber that helps to lower low-density lipoprotein.
Another vegetable to add to one's diet regularly is avocado.
This is a very good source of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and according to a research, eating an avocado daily can help improve LDL levels in overweight or obese people. However, they are high in calories so should be consumed modestly.
Soy and Soya products
Soy has naturally low levels of saturated fats which in turn helps reduce Cholesterol Level.
Soybeans and food products that are manufactured from them, for example, tofu and soy milk are good for a healthy body and if a person consumes 25 grams of soy protein in a single day, it can, in turn, lower their LDL by 5 percent to 6 percent.
