9 Dietary Practices That Helps Lower Cholesterol Naturally:
- Eliminate Trans Fats:
The consumption of trans fats lowers your HDL (good) cholesterol levels and raises your LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in the blood. This increases your susceptibility to developing heart diseases and stroke. So, it is wise to eliminate trans fat from your diet plan for high cholesterol(Title: High Cholesterol Diet Plan). Make it a habit to check the labels of food products for trans fats in their column of ingredients, and avoid going for foods containing trans fats.
- Increase Your Intake of Fibre:
The consumption of foods containing soluble fibre can help minimize the absorption of cholesterol in your bloodstream. So, it helps lower LDL cholesterol levels in your blood naturally. Oatmeal, beans, apples, prunes, and pears are some nutritious foods containing soluble fibre. Also, a good intake of fibre makes you feel full for longer and prevents you from overeating. Note that eating a lot of fibre at once can make you suffer from bloating and abdominal cramps. So, when you increase your fibre intake, raise it slowly and not at once.
- Include Olive Oil in Your Diet:
Olive oil contains good fats which are beneficial for your heart health. Replacing butter in your diet with olive oil can help lower cholesterol levels (LDL cholesterol) markedly. You can go for extra-virgin olive oil. This oil is less processed and comprises great levels of antioxidants, which help keep various diseases at bay.
- Opt for Omega-3 Fatty Acid Food Sources:
Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids don’t impact LDL cholesterol but offer you heart-healthy benefits. They help lower blood pressure and promote good cardiovascular health. So, choose to replace red meat with fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids. This helps minimize your intake of saturated fats, which are abundant in red meat. So, you enjoy good heart health. Opt for sardines, salmon, and tuna. Avoid eating fish high in mercury such as swordfish, shark, and king mackerel. Also, you can add flaxseeds and walnuts to your diet plan to reduce cholesterol.
- Have Whey Protein:
Dairy products are rich in whey protein, which offers you several health benefits. Medical studies have revealed that the intake of supplements of whey protein helps reduce LDL cholesterol and blood pressure. This is beneficial for your cardiovascular health. So, choose to have whey protein in your diet.
- Munch on Nuts:
Crunchy nuts not only help make you feel full for longer but also reduce LDL cholesterol in your blood. They contain fibre which prevents the absorption of cholesterol in your bloodstream. So, snack on nuts such as almonds, walnuts, cashews, pistachios, and more. Just take care that you don’t overeat them, as they are high in calories.
- Spice Up Your Meals:
Garlic, coriander, ginger, curcumin-rich turmeric, black pepper, and cinnamon not just flavour your culinary delights but also help lower your LDL cholesterol naturally. Medical research reveals that the intake of merely a half to one clove of garlic daily helps reduce your bad cholesterol by approximately 10%. So, spice up your daily meals with these healthy spices. Also, adding seasoning to your high cholesterol diet plan(Title: High Cholesterol Diet Plan) helps manage your appetite and aids in weight loss benefits.
- Avoid or Restrict Intake of Alcohol:
Heavy drinking of alcohol can raise your LDL cholesterol in the blood. It also increases your triglycerides levels significantly. These unhealthy changes in your body can increase your risk of serious health issues, such as hypertension, strokes, and heart failure. So, when following a diet plan to reduce cholesterol, limit or avoid alcohol consumption.
- Quit Smoking:
Smoking is anyway injurious to your health. Smoking may increase your bad cholesterol and reduce your good cholesterol levels. This can be harmful to your overall health. So, curb smoking. Quitting smoking helps improve your HDL (good) cholesterol levels, blood circulation, blood pressure, heart rate, and lung function greatly. Also, it reduces your risk of developing heart diseases. So, if you have the habit of smoking, get rid of it.