When you have high cholesterol, the bad kind – LDL cholesterol, your health is truly at risk. High cholesterol can easily lead to heart disease, liver failure, kidney failure, or stroke. If your doctor has determined that your high cholesterol is a health risk then you need to change your diet immediately. Changing your diet is one of the only ways you can directly impact your cholesterol. Below are five foods that you can include in your diet to help with cholesterol.
1.Oats
Oats are one of the best things you can eat for your cholesterol. A bowl of oatmeal a day served warm from a casserole can be even better than an apple a day as far as keeping the doctor away. The soluble fiber in oatmeal helps to prevent the buildup of cholesterol and will help you overall reduce your cholesterol by lowering your intake over time. This only works if you don’t add a lot of sugar to your oatmeal though.
2.Barley and other whole grains
Barley and other whole grains are also great sources of soluble fiber which help to reduce the amount of cholesterol you’re putting in your body. Not only does soluble fiber help to reduce how much cholesterol is going into your body, it also lowers how much cholesterol your body absorbs.
3.Beans
Beans are another great source of soluble fiber. They are also great for protein and generally hard to break down, making them a high energy but slowly metabolized food. So, you can eat less overall while still gaining a lot of energy.
4. Eggplant
Eggplant is another good source of soluble fiber and protein, making it very similar to beans.
5. Nuts
Eating nuts can help lower your LDL cholesterol and are similar to beans in the sense that they are a high energy food that takes a while to digest.
