Top Foods That Lower Cholesterol Naturally

Learn about top 4 foods that help you lower cholesterol naturally  

Following unhealthy eating habits have become a common practice in this fast paced world. When you follow this habit for a prolonged period, cholesterol levels in your body will increase and such a situation makes you highly vulnerable to unwanted health complications like heart attack and stroke as well.  How to get rid of high cholesterol levels? You can find different types of medications available in the market that promise to offer excellent results but over-reliance on these cholesterol-lowering drugs can invite unwanted side effects. That is exactly where the importance of top foods that lower cholesterol naturally comes in.

Here are the top foods that you should eat to reduce your cholesterol levels:

Beans and other legumes

Beans, peanuts, peas and lentils maintain your heart health in the best possible manner. These soluble fiber sources also keep blood sugar levels under control immediately after a meal and various research studies have clearly shown that 3/4 cup beans a day lower total cholesterol, LDL-Cholesterol and triglycerides effectively. Since these types of foods are a good source of healthy carbohydrates, insulin-resistant or diabetic patients can take them without worrying about their health condition. It is always advisable to choose pinto, kidney or black beans because they meet about 1/3 of your daily fiber requirements and beans or other legumes can be consumed as sprouts, salads, baked falafel or hummus.

Barley and Oats

Barley and oats can be described as one of the most nourishing cereals that lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in your body and the soluble fiber known as beta-glucan present in these foods reduces cholesterol levels from 4% to 10% based on the quantity you consume daily. You can replace wheat with barley in your daily dishes and pearl barley can be used to make delicious soups as well. If you include two servings of oats in your breakfast, you can reduce your cholesterol levels by 5% to 6% within a short period of six weeks and most research studies have clearly shown that regular consumption of oatmeal traps cholesterol-rich bile acids in the intestine and eliminates them with utmost efficiency. 

Soy

Soy can be described as an extremely fiber-rich food and it is really low in saturated fat as well. Most importantly, it is cholesterol-free and this plat-based protein source can easily replace fat-rich animal sources like dairy and meat. When you add soy to your diet daily by replacing high saturated foods, you can reduce your LDL cholesterol by 8% to 10% and most popular soy food options include Nutella, nuggets, tofu, unflavored soy milk and soy nuts as well.  

Walnuts, almonds and other types of nuts

It is a well-known fact that walnuts, almonds and other tree nuts contain highly beneficial mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids and they lower your cholesterol levels naturally in the best possible manner. If you can eat a handful (about 42 grams) of nuts daily, you do not need to worry about heart disease and high blood pressure as well. It is always advisable to make sure that you do not eat nuts coated with salt or sugar and a good option to consume nuts is to add almonds or walnuts to your salad instead of croutons, cheese or meat. 

It can be said without an iota of doubt that all these foods help you lower dangerous cholesterol naturally and you do not have to worry about any unwanted side effects normally associated with cholesterol-lowering medications. Another remarkable aspect is that they offer excellent benefits like improved heart health, reduced blood pressure, optimal blood sugar levels and smooth digestion and, quite naturally, the quality of your life improves in a significant manner.