Fight the war on high LDL cholesterol levels with these natural foods. Knock down your cholesterol levels naturally. These powerful foods in conjunction with a healthy diet can easily help you win the war against high LDL cholesterol. High HDL cholesterol levels is good, since HDL helps to bring down LDL levels.
*Oats
Highly advertised on television as a powerful cholesterol-lowering agent, the oat is probably the most well-known of these foods. The oats have a deep history in Scotland, where it is the main staple of the Scottish diet. When the Scots settled in Vermont, they brought oats with them. This made Vermont the state that eats the most oats.
The property of oat that helps in the fight against cholesterol is its soluble fiber. Soluble fiber makes it harder for LDL cholesterol to be absorbed into the blood stream while food is digesting in your intestines. Thus there is less bad LDL cholesterol that makes it into the bloodstream and therefore less to stick to and harden inside the walls of your arteries.
Oats are found in a wide variety of foods. Oatmeal is the most associated product with oats. If you don’t like oatmeal, many companies are now incorporating oats into cereals, pasta, and bread. We suggest the cereals but not the pasta. Don’t be afraid to add this powerful food to your arsenal.
*Garlic
This little bulb has been around and used for centuries. The bulb was nailed to doors and hung around necks to ward off vampires and other evil spirits. Some believe that eating the bulb can increase desire or the body’s chi. Garlic is also used heavily in Mediterranean and Chinese cooking, which is probably why you don’t hear much about Chinese vampires, lol.
Of course, the most talked about property of garlic is its cholesterol-lowering properties. Garlic is a natural antioxidant. It is believed that it helps prevent the LDLs from building up on the artery walls. Adding garlic as part of a healthy diet can help you control cholesterol levels as well as help you fight the common cold.
Garlic is most often used in cooking, adding flavor to many different foods. The strong flavor and smell of garlic often prevents people from eating it raw. One of the favorite ways to take garlic is in pill form but ensure that the pill format has allicen as this is thought to be the active ingredient and some steam distilled garlic pills apparently dont have it.
*Onions
Garlic is usually associated with its close cousin, the onion. The two naturally go together. Historically, onions were probably more popular than garlic. As a side note, the onion used to be an easy and acceptable form of payment for historic renters. Personally, i would prefer a gold coin, but who am I to critique my elders.
The chromium and B6 vitamins found in the onion are thought to be the cholesterol fighters in this popular food. They are linked to improving cholesterol levels and helping in the fight against heart disease. The onion is also known to help lower the risk of cancer.
Fortunately, there are only two ways to eat an onion, raw or cooked. With such a wide variety of onions available, it should be relatively easy to find a variety that suits your taste buds. If you don’t like the sharp taste of stronger onions, try one of the sweet varieties or use it as seasoning in your food.
*Virgin Olive Oil
Olive oil is another very strong toolin the war against high cholesterol. Produce mainly in Greece, Homer once stated that olive oil was liquid gold. The highly valued oil holds a high place for use in religious ceremonies. Perhaps its most unusual use was a mouthwash for bad breath.
Olive oil contains good fat or monounsaturated fat. These fats assist in your efforts to lower your cholesterol. Switching your high bad fats with these good fats is a simple way to keep those bad fats out of your system.
Olive oil can be found in any supermarket as cooking oil. Many Companies are adding this cholesterol-lowering oil to salad dressings and using it in the fabrication of mayonnaise. The pill version of olive oil is available to take as well.
*Primrose Oil
The primrose is a plant found only in North and South America. The alluring yellow flowers open at night instead of during the day. It was once known as Kings cureall, due to its variety of unsubstantiated healing properties.
Primrose oil contains a high amount of essential fatty acids. These fatty acids contribute to lowering your cholesterol levels. Along with this, primrose oil can help treat eczema and even help relieve PMS symptoms.
Primrose oil is available as a supplement. Usually found in pill form, it can be bought in many grocery stores. If you are on existing medication or have a known heart or cardio related ailment, it is wise to consult your doctor before taking any type of supplement. If your doctor disapproves of any kind of supplement, consider alternate medical advice and see a certified naturopath.
The fight against high cholesterol is a constant battle. These powerful foods are merely aids to help you drop those numbers. When used in conjunction with a healthy diet, these foods can help you win the battle with high ldl cholesterol.
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