List of Foods That Helps to Lower Cholesterol

The risk of having a heart attack or stroke is dictated by how much cholesterol you consume. If you are overweight and have high cholesterol, you have greater chances of developing heart illnesses. This is the reason why you should eat food with less cholesterol, exercise regularly and have cholesterol levels checked every now and then.

You should know that cholesterol can either be good or bad. Having cholesterol in your system is normal as your bloodstream and cells have it. Without cholesterol, your body will not be able to produce the hormones and cell membranes that you need. However, when cholesterol in your body is more than what the body needs, it begins to block the arteries that may lead to heart attacks and strokes.

Because you want your cholesterol to be at a normal level, you should refrain from eating foods that contribute to the increase of cholesterol in your body. If you have high cholesterol, then you must seek list of foods that help to lower cholesterol to put your cholesterol level back to normal. Foods that lower your cholesterol are the following:

1. Fish. Research has proven that foods rich in omega-3 such as fish can help lower cholesterol, blood pressure and the risk of developing heart attack. Seafood rich in omega-3 are tuna, salmon, mackerel, and trout. Not only does omega-3 help decrease the risk of heart attacks, it also fights off cancer and helps develop good eyesight.
2. Lean Red Meat. People often regard red meat as unhealthy food because of high fat and cholesterol content. However, if you remove the fat, you will have food with low levels of cholesterol. Lean meat has zinc, iron and protein that are helpful to your heart.
3. Fruits and Vegetables. Everyone already knows that fruits and vegetables give your body vitamins and minerals. Furthermore, there are certain fruits and vegetables that help lower your cholesterol. Apricots, apples, oranges, cabbage, potatoes are a few.
4. Nuts. Nuts are also a great source of omega-3 fatty acids that help lower the risk of heart disease. Walnuts, pecans, and almonds are examples of these nuts.