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As a kid I distinctly remember my dad being on special diets that would naturally lower cholesterol and maintain his overall health. My dad was never overweight, but always leans and fit due to his black-belt status. However, “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure” was always paramount in his life. Coming from a very health conscious family background where we each religiously follow “eat well, sleep well, and exercise well”, I still try my best to implement most of these trademarks in my adult life. It has paid off. Of course we all know that the first step to keeping cholesterol in check is to have a properly planned diet and exercise routine; however, if you've got the right food plan then half the job is already done and there's not much need to stress it spending over-time hours with the gym instructor. Cholesterol Lowering Ingredients Managing your diet does not need to mean turning a blind eye to your favourite dish or depriving your Sundays of sundaes. It simply means that you need to find the correct eating strategy. Know what needs to be eaten when, and which foods will benefit you in which ways. Once you know which foods will help you to lower your Cholesterol, then you will have a better idea of how to plan your diet as well. I won’t state here every health food on the list in regards to lowering Cholesterol, but here are a few of what I've seen work wonders. Go Nuts! Take a lesson from the squirrels and snack on nuts—big time! Nuts like almonds, pistachios, and walnuts have high amounts of unsaturated fat, also known as “good” fat, that help to drastically lower cholesterol levels. Looking at the wide selection of dried fruits and nuts, I too have a hard time deciding on what is best for my diet. A good rule of thumb here is to check out the amount of unsaturated fats in each kind. (Usually this information will be present on the packet). Try also to get nuts that are as natural and organic as possible. Once it's been salted and preserved, there's not much left that it will do for your body. Olive Oil! This tip was a fad of my mom, who faithfully drizzled this rich and healing substance all over her salads three times a day. She always told me, “There is a difference between the bad and the good, even when it comes to oil.” I guess she was right. Because a recent study by the Baylor College of Medicine discovered that a person whose diet is rich in the right kind of monounsaturated fat will be able to reduce cholesterol much more than those whose diet is not. Yep, olive oil goes under the category of monounsaturated fats that helps to lower cholesterol, high insulin levels, and overweight conditions just as much as a low fat diet can. Oatmeal on the Menu! Back to those health tips from my dad, who saw to it that there was always a healthy portion of oatmeal on the menu for breakfast. I used to think that it was just a personal obsession of not wanting to cope with French Toast for breakfast, but recently I discovered that oats as a power food has qualities that can hardly be matched when it comes to its cholesterol-lowering benefits. Oats are a wealth of all the right nutrients because they contain a soluble fibre called beta glucan. Those who eat oatmeal every day for breakfast have been able to drop their LDL 12-24 percent. Not a bad result just from eating a cup and a half of oats everyday! On an important note, to get the most out of your cereal bowl, don't use instant, just-add-water oats, but opt for the old-fashioned, rolled ones instead. There are other foods to be had, but stay tuned for the rest of the list in my next blog. :) Also, if you do have a problem with your cholesterol and are looking for cholesterol reducing supplements. Ask your doctor or health care expert for advice. They will help you find out which cholesterol reducing supplements will be best for you. And, maybe, chances are that you can lower your cholesterol simply by natural means. Yay!
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