The sticky and fatty substance found in blood is known as cholesterol. Cholesterol is categorized into two types: HDL as good and LDL as bad cholesterol. To maintain your overall health, it is vital to keep LDL levels under control. One way of doing this is by taking appropriate lifestyle measures. The article talks below talks about important eating tips for high cholesterol patients. This includes avoiding sugary, fatty, salty meals and snacks.

Food tips for high cholesterol patients
Altering poor food habits can help lower your cholesterol. This, in turn, reduces your risk of heart diseases and other illnesses. It is vital to increase your intake of healthier fats and oils such as olive or canola oil, nuts, seeds, fish, and avocado. Just doing that isn’t enough; you must also replace the foods which contain saturated fats and trans-fats and include items that contain polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats.

1. Eat foods rich in soluble fiber
Regular consumption of food that is rich in soluble fiber lowers cholesterol. Such foods prevent the re-absorption of bile in your gut, which leads to the excretion of bile in the feces. Soluble fiber is largely present in the foods such as beans, legumes, whole grains, flax, apples, and citrus. Regular inclusion of soluble fiber in your diet helps in the reduction of bad and total cholesterol by five to ten percent.

2. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables
It is a very important factor when discussing high cholesterol and foods. If you consume at least four servings of fruits and vegetables each day, it reduces the bad cholesterol level by at least six percent. Since fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants, they prevent bad cholesterol from oxidizing and forming plaques in your arteries. Together, a low level of cholesterol in your body and a higher antioxidant level reduces your risk of heart disease.

3. Cook your meal with herbs and spices
Herbs and spices are great for your overall health and wellbeing. They are the nutritional powerhouses of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Regular consumption of natural spices, especially garlic, turmeric, and ginger, helps in lowering the cholesterol level. Besides, herbs and spices contain antioxidants that prevent LDL cholesterol from oxidizing, reducing the formation of plaques within your arteries. Some of the spices which are rich in antioxidants are dried oregano, sage, mint, thyme, clove, allspice, and cinnamon. Further, fresh herbs, including oregano again, plus marjoram, dill, and cilantro, offer a great number of antioxidants to your body.

Knowing the correlation between high cholesterol and foods will help you make better choices when it comes to meals. This will not only ensure better health, it will also keep you feeling fitter than usual.