Food That Helps In Maintaining Good Levels Of Cholesterol

Some rights reserved by jurvetsonCholesterol is a killer; any doctor worth his or her salt will tell you that. Just as a refresher, let us delve into the significance of high cholesterol in your blood stream a little bit. High cholesterol in the blood stream is also known as ‘lipid disorder’. It is a grave medical condition that can lead to several adverse disorders in the human body.

An excess of fatty substances in your bloodstream is the primary cause of high cholesterol concentration. There are basically two types of cholesterols in your blood stream: LDL or Low Density Lipoprotein and HDL or High Density Lipoprotein. High LDL levels, combined with low HDL levels can cause conditions like high blood pressure, heart diseases and even stroke.

The best way to maintain the levels of cholesterol in your blood is to exercise properly and watch what you are eating. For that, you need to buy ingredients for your food that help your case. This article enumerates a few gourmet ingredients for the food in your diet that will enable you to maintain your cholesterol levels.

Psyllium

This is an herbal supplement that is derived from a plantago plant. Besides supplying you with fibre and maintain the regularity in your bowel movement, this herb would help in regulating your cholesterol levels. Studies show that continuous usage of this herb can reduce overall cholesterol levels by 5% and LDL levels by 7%.

Oat Bran And Oatmeal

These are top choices in a low cholesterol menu due to their high content of fibre. Many experts say that fibre can decrease the absorption rate of cholesterol. In fact, ingesting 5 to 10 grams of soluble fibre in a day will allow you to decrease the LDL and overall cholesterol levels in your blood stream. To add to the fibre content of your oatmeal, you can also add fruits like banana to it. Cereal made from oat bran has a similar benefit.

Fenugreek

This is an exotic herb that is often used as seasonings for dishes like curry. It has a host of positive effects on the body as a supplement. It is rich in anti-oxidants that contribute in controlling cholesterol levels significantly. It reduces LDL levels, triglyceride levels and overall cholesterol levels in the blood stream, while augmenting HDL ("good" cholesterol) levels.

Olive Oil

This ingredient often used in Mediterranean food might apparently seem like an odd choice for a cholesterol controlling ingredient, but, many experts say that not every type of fatty supplement (like edible oils), have identical effects on cholesterol levels in the blood stream. In fact, saturated fats have a tendency to aggravate cholesterol levels in the blood; while unsaturated fats like olive oils, can actually reduce LDL while increasing HDL in the blood. Therefore it is a healthier option to use olive oil instead of other highly saturated sources of fat in your cooking.

It might be difficult for you to find some of these items in your local store or the green-grocer, so it might be a good idea for you to look for these healthy ingredients for your food online.

Lily is associated with Good Food Network, which specializes in traditional French food. The company is known for supplying good quality ready Mediterranean food and gourmet ingredients at affordable prices.

Comments

[James Dugan]

I love the olive oil tip. Great just to have on the deck for dipping while you enjoy a drink and sunset. What better thing could you do for your heart? Thanks for the tips.