Foods to Eat to Lower Your Cholesterol

Lowering your cholesterol can be difficult because you do not always know what you should and should not eat. You may think you're eating the right thing, but it may contain hidden cholesterol in the form of palm or coconut oils. However, there are foods that you can eat that will lower your cholesterol.

Are you one of the people that cringe whenever someone suggests that they eat tofu? The goods news is that tofu recipes have significantly improved since the 1970's. Soy is one of the foods that have man health benefits, including the ability to lower cholesterol. You do not need to just eat tofu. Excellent sources of soy include textured vegetable proteins, soy milk, and soy cheese.

Garlic is another food that can help lower elevated cholesterol levels. If you love Italian food, this is very easy for you. Fresh garlic can be added to almost all types of cuisine. It is especially easy to add to soups, stews, and vegetables. If you do not like that taste of garlic, you can take a garlic supplement. These supplements are widely available in pharmacies and grocery stores.

Many meats are very high in saturated fats. For that reason, many doctors and nutritionists are recommending that their patients eat more vegetarian meals per week. This is becoming a very popular trend. As a result, there are more and more delicious vegetarian recipes available. Be aware, however, that you should avoid meals that include fried vegetables including tempura and the traditional preparation for eggplant parmesan.

We've all seen those commercials that encourage people to eat oatmeal because it lowers cholesterol. This is true. Increasing the amount of soluble fiber in your diet will significantly lower your cholesterol levels. Good sources of soluble fiber include oats, barley, flaxseed, sweet potatoes, apples, and carrots. If you do not care for these foods, you can also add fiber powder to your daily coffee or tea. This is a "painless" way to add more soluble fiber to your diet.

Drinking apple juice every day can also help to lower elevated cholesterol levels. Apple juice contains a high level of phenols. These phenols prevent the oxidation of LDL, meaning that the LDL will not be able to attach to the blood vessels. Instead, they will pass through the excretory system.

Changing you diet can be difficult, but the added benefits to your health will be well worth any sacrifice you make. You can even ask your doctor to refer you to a nutritionist in order to incorporate more healthy changes to your diet.