According to Dipti Mothay, diet plays an important role in lowering your cholesterol. Fruits and vegetables are full of cholesterol-lowering antioxidants that will help keep you healthy. A diet that is heavy on fruits, vegetables, beans, and nuts is good for the body in ways beyond lowering cholesterol.
Fruits and Vegetables that help lower cholesterol levels are as follows:
– Blueberries contain more antioxidants than any other food. These antioxidants help lower cholesterol.
– Grapefruit is rich in glutathione, an antioxidant to neutralize free radicals.
– Carrots is rich in beta-carotene that makes it colorful, but not only that, it’s also a powerful antioxidant.
– Grapes has quercetin, present in black grapes prevents “bad” cholesterol (LDL) from clogging your arteries.
– Soy beans are rich in B vitamins, iron and calcium, soy contains antioxidants that reduce “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and increase good (HDL). Eating soybeans and foods made from them, like tofu and soy milk, was once touted as a powerful way to lower cholesterol.
– Tomatoes are one of the best sources of lycopene, which fights against the accumulation of cholesterol on the artery walls. Its levels are highest in cooked tomatoes.
– Apple, strawberry and citrus fruits are rich in pectin, a type of soluble fiber that lowers LDL.
– Avocados are a potent source of nutrients as well as monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). According to a recent study, adding an avocado a day to a heart-healthy diet can help improve LDL levels in people who are overweight or obese.
– Cabbage is rich in powerful antioxidants, which helps in lowering cholesterol.
– Beans are especially rich in soluble fiber. They also take a while for the body to digest, meaning you feel full for longer after a meal. That’s one reason beans are a useful food for those trying to lose weight.
