Low Cholesterol Diet - Foods To Eat And Foods To Avoid

Low Cholesterol Diet - Foods To Eat And Foods To Avoid

A high level of cholesterol spells out a high risk for diseases which is definitely not a good thing. While a high cholesterol level will cause hardening and narrowing of the arteries and lead to coronary heart diseases, stroke and heart attack, a low cholesterol level will increase the risk of certain types of cancer.

Keeping a low cholesterol level is considered the best thing to do, but knowing that it has its own side effects; it is advisable to talk to your doctor before taking any action. In this article, I have carefully selected some foods that will increase your cholesterol levels and others that will help reduce it depending on what cholesterol level you are aiming at.

Top Foods That Will Reduce One's Cholesterol

OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS AND FISH
Omega-3 fatty acids are heart friendly and will reduce one's blood pressure and lower the risk of developing blood clots. Fish oil or omega-3 fatty acids will reduce the risk of sudden death for those who already had heart attacks. Fishes should be baked or grilled, and while omega-3 fatty acid supplements will help, they will not provide you with other natural benefits of fish, like selenium. For adequate supply of omega-3 fatty acids, the following foods should feature in low cholesterol diets.

Lake trout
Flax seed
Canola oil
Mackerel
Herring
Salmon
Halibut
Sardines

Nuts
Nuts are great foods when it comes to reducing cholesterol levels, nuts like pine nuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, pecans, peanuts and other types of nuts are rich in poly unsaturated fats and according to the food and drug administration, eating about a handful of nuts everyday will reduce your risk of heart disease. Make sure nuts eaten for the purpose of reducing cholesterol levels is not coated with sugar.

GARLIC
This is a part of the allium family of plants and a natural anti-inflammatory. Plus it is excellent for the cardiovascular system.

ONIONS
Whether it is leeks, red onions, shallots, or chives, they are excellent and will quell inflammation and heal hardened arteries. They contain a high amount of quercetin, an essential flavonoid that reduces cholesterol levels drastically.

Other foods that will help lower cholesterol levels include any of the following, vegetables, fresh fruits (not processed fruit juice), whole wheat pastas, whole grain bread, olive oil, legumes, fat-free dairy products and eggs.

FOODS THAT WILL INCREASE CHOLESTEROL

Almonds- almonds contain substances that help prevent "bad" cholesterol also known as LDL from being oxidized. If oxidation takes place, it will damage the lining of blood tissues and increase the risk for cardiovascular diseases.

Beans- Studies have shown how powerful beans can be to promote a healthy heart. It also goes further to show that beans will reduce your chance of having a heart disease by eighty-two per cent.

Avocados- the monounsaturated fats in avocados have been found to raise "good" cholesterol levels also called HDLs, especially in people suffering from mildly elevated cholesterol. Avocados also contain beta-sitosterol, a plant sterol which provides a healthy alternative for humans.

Other foods that can boost your cholesterol include barley, lentils, blueberries and oats.