Once you reach a certain age, the word “cholesterol” seems to become part of your regular vocabulary. Your doctor asks you about it, you hear about more and more medications to deal with it, and you might even lose some sleep thinking about how you’ll keep your cholesterol levels in check. As we get older it’s definitely something we need to keep a close eye on. There medications that can help you to lower you cholesterol which you can ask your doctor about, but if you’re looking for a natural path to improving your cholesterol, have a look at some of the foods that can help.
Avocado
Avocados have become something of a food trend in recent years and for good reason. Not only are they extremely versatile in how they can be used, but they also have a number of health benefits. Related to cholesterol, they’re full of monounsaturated fats that aid in decreasing bad LDL (bad) cholesterol while boosting healthy HDL (good) cholesterol. It’s a great addition to foods like salads and sandwiches, or you can enjoy a snack of guacamole.
Oats
Oatmeal is not only a quick and easy breakfast meal, but it’s also a quick and easy or improving your cholesterol. Fibre is a big factor in keeping you cholesterol at a healthy level and oatmeal is a fantastic source of fibre. Having a bowl of oatmeal or a oat-based cereal, mixed with a high fibre fruit like strawberries, is a great way to start your day on a healthy note.
Salmon
It’s really such a stroke of luck in this world that fatty fish like salmon is so good for your health while also happening to be delicious at the same time. Having salmon or another fish high in Omega-3s a few times a week for dinner is a great way to avoid eating high cholesterol meat while also lowering your bad cholesterol properties thanks to the benefits of the Omega-3 fats. Regular fish dinners for a clean bill of health? Not a bad trade.
Green Tea
Most of us need a little caffeine pick me up in the mornings, but by now we also know that tea is a healthy substitute for coffee for your morning pick-me-up. To take things one healthy step further, green tea is an extremely beneficial choice. While there are many health perks to this beverage, the green tea is also able to lower your bad cholesterol without affecting your good cholesterol.
Beans
Another fantastic source of fibre are beans. They are rich with soluble fibre in particular which is the essential fibre in improving your cholesterol. They are a great side to any meal, a great addition to any stir fry and come in many different choices, all of which have the same health benefits. As an added bonus, beans take a while to digest which leads you feeling full for longer, cutting down on unnecessary snacking.