Here are some good general suggestions for lowering cholesterol:
Eat a fiber rich breakfast such as oatmeal, whole grain muffins, fruit Read cereal box nutrition labels to choose one with 5 grams or more of fiber per serving. Oat bran and rice bran are the most effective.
Switch to whole grains. Choose whole grain breads, crackers, bagels, muffins, waffles, pancakes.
Eat legumes (beans) at least three times a week. Try bean soup, cold bean salad, hummus sandwiches, black bean dip, toasted soy beans as snacks. Soy protein is especially effective, so be sure to include plenty. Even soymilk, tofu and textured soy protein are good.
Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. One at breakfast, one veggie (e.g. carrot sticks, tomato slices) and one fruit (e.g. orange sections, apple) at lunch, and one salad and one cooked vegetable at dinner … that makes an easy five!
Choose whole fruit, skin included, instead of juice. Juice is the fruit with all the fiber removed.
Eat garlic. Cooked or raw garlic both contain compounds that help lower your liver’s production of cholesterol.
Other good foods include raw onion, salmon, olive oil, almonds, walnuts, avocados (the latter five are all high in fat but most of it is monounsaturated fat which helps to improve cholesterol).
Eat plenty of foods that contain the natural antioxidants, vitamins C and E:
| Rich in Vitamin C |
Rich in Vitamin E |
| sweet red and green peppers |
cantaloupe |
sunflower seeds |
walnuts |
| strawberries |
papaya |
almonds |
peanuts |
| oranges |
grapefruit juice |
wheat germ |
soybeans |
| broccoli |
brussel sprouts |
wheat germ oil |
soybean oil |
- Studies show that a little bit of wine or beer helps cholesterol levels. Binge drinking is not effective, but light to moderate drinking through the week is.
These healthy tips were compiled by Sue Gilbert in a recent article on www.yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com. Most of us know we should eat as many servings of fresh, raw fruits and vegetables every day as we can. However, sometimes we just can’t, don’t or won’t do it. That’s why my family bridges the gap with a high quality whole food supplement every day. It gives us peace of mind to know that we are getting the nutrition we need to stay healthy each and every day.
Michele
Posted in Diet and Health.
Tagged with cholesterol, fruit, Health, juice plus, nutrition, oatmeal, whole fruit, whole grains.
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