Foods That Lower Cholesterol Will Help Keep You Healthy

High blood cholesterol is not good for a person's health and requires keeping cholesterol at manageable levels. Simple and common sense tells us that foods that lower cholesterol are those that do not contain high amounts of saturated fat. Fruits and vegetables are very good for lowering cholesterol and so too are cholesterol-free foods that a person can eat in any quantities. A notable food that lowers cholesterol is extra virgin olive oil that helps to increase HDL cholesterol which is a good cholesterol, and also helps to clean the arteries as also prevents plaque from building up. The overall result of this food is lower cholesterol levels, and along with vegetables, will probably be the best bet as well as a natural food to lower cholesterol.

Eating high fiber food items such as green leafy vegetables as well as green salads should form an essential part of a daily menu as these are foods that lower cholesterol. One should also eat whole wheat bread rather than refined flour bread, and whole grams and pulses should be preferred to polish ones. It is also recommended to eat oat cereals, whole grain cereals, pecan nuts, walnuts, olives and soy nuts as also dried or canned beans, peas and lentils.

Meal Planning

A typical breakfast should comprise foods that lower cholesterol and should include oat cereal or a cereal containing flaxseed or psyllium or whole grain cereals that contain folic acid, vitamins E and B6. For snacks, one may choose fruits like currants, grapes, strawberries, citrus fruits as well as apples. Animal fats should be avoided, and instead consuming small quantities of nuts like pecan and walnuts will also help lower cholesterol. At lunch, foods that lower cholesterol include eating legume dishes, dried beans, peas as well as lentils in tasty and hearty soups. Stews and salads with soluble fiber folic acid, phytochemicals, vitamins A, C and E as well as carotenoid and isoflavonoids along with corn and all types of vegetables are also recommended.

Soybean is popular and there are many varieties of soy products to consume, and with many recipes containing soybean, one should not experience any difficulty in cooking up a meal with this food that lowers cholesterol. It also recommended including whole wheat bread in the diet as well as lean meats and chickens that have vitamin B6 and B12. Fish such as salmon, tuna, trout and swordfish and using canola and olive oils as also margarine should also be used in small quantities.