Cholesterol Lowering Foods - Heart Disease Prevention

Little by little larger numbers of people suffer from heart disease as a consequence of high cholesterol levels. There are many factors that enable the accumulation of cholesterol inside the organism, but the major cause is considered to be unhealthy diet. Unhealthy diet and bad eating habits can considerably increase blood cholesterol levels. That’s why cholesterol lowering foods should be part of a cholesterol lowering diet.nnCholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in your bloodstream and every cell in your body. First off, it is important to note that cholesterol is normal. We all must have some cholesterol within our bodies. Without out it, your body would be unable to produce cell membranes and various hormones. But here is where it gets complicated. When your body has too much cholesterol, this waxy substance starts to form blockages in the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.nnCholesterol lowering food in combination with a healthy fit lifestyle has been proven over and over again to be one of the most effective ways of lowering cholesterol naturally.nnCholesterol lowering food should be included in everyone's diet but especially in a diet to lower cholesterol if your cholesterol is already high. Failure to include cholesterol lowering food in your diet can lead to heart attack and stroke.nnNuts such as almonds and walnuts that have a high amount of monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fat, also help lowering cholesterol. Researchers have found that nuts not only lower the total and LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol significantly, but also help maintain a desirable level of HDL (or “good”) cholesterol.nnGarlic is a popular cholesterol-lowering herb that contains allin and allicin. It has antispasmodic properties that help facilitate proper digestion and absorption. Because of its quick and effective actions on the gastrointestinal tract, excess cholesterol won't be easily stored as fat since garlic tries to let the body eliminate it instead.nnOatmeal is a good source of carbohydrates and soluble fiber. Soluble fiber helps reduce low-density lipoprotein or LDL which is also called bad cholesterol. Soluble fiber acts to hinder excess absorption of cholesterol in the intestines. With its gel-like qualities, bile works with dietary cholesterol to be properly excreted by the body.nnFlaxseednnFlaxseed provides alpha-linolenic acid a poly-unsaturated fat which has been shown to lower cholesterol while providing needed soluble fiber. nnOlive OilnnOlive oil is one of the mono-saturated fats and studies have shown that it lowers blood cholesterol. Extra virgin olive oil is suggested to be better than other varieties. nnWhile foods containing soy protein are no longer considered cholesterol lowering foods, they can still be part of a healthy diet. Soy protein will not harm your health, and substituting soy protein, such as tofu, tempeh, edamame, soy nuts, soy milk, soy burgers, soy cheese, and soy flour for animal protein, continues to be a wise food choice because of its high content of polyunsaturated fats, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and low content of saturated fat.