Cholesterol Lowering Foods

The focus of a healthy diet has moved away from negative image of telling you which foods are bad. Instead the focus is now turning onto foods that are good for you. It is E-Gyms aim to help you to understanding which components in natural foods help lower cholesterol, such as soluble fiber, soy protein and plant sterols.

This should make your diet more heart-healthy.

Natural foods
Natural foods fight cholesterol in a number of ways. Although dietary supplements are available for many of these natural substances, they are generally not as effective as the real thing. Consider increasing your intake of foods containing the following cholesterol-lowering components:

Soluble fiber
Apples and lentils are both rich in soluble fiber, which regulates your body's production and elimination of cholesterol. Other good sources of soluble fiber include dried beans, peas, barley, citrus fruits, carrots and oats.

Soy
It has been observed that people whose diet contains soy have significantly lower levels of heart disease. To benefit from soy protein you would require 25 grams per day. Good sources of soy protein include soy milk, tofu, and textured soy protein, a main ingredient in many meat substitutes.

Fish
In general, the more fish people eat, the less coronary artery disease they have Fish contain high concentrations of a unique type of fat, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. In addition to lowering blood fats (triglycerides), studies suggest that omega-3 make the blood more slippery and less likely to clot.

Plant sterols
Foods containing naturally occurring sterol compounds found in certain plants and vegetable oils also may improve cholesterol levels. Plant sterols are known to specifically block cholesterol from being absorbed by the intestine.