Recently I was searching for a free list of low cholesterol foods and to my surprise there didn't seem to be much straightforward information on this subject. So I thought maybe it might be time to conjure up a list of my own that others might be able to use in their cholesterol reduction plans.
First it is important to point out that foods high in saturated fats will not make it onto our list. So if you are expecting to find butter and full fat dairy products you should stop reading now.
O.K., so most of you are ready to give up your butter, full fat milk, ice cream, and cheese. Don't cry, I love them too! And if you do shed a tear or two that's alright, old habits die hard.
Our first baby step on our free list of low cholesterol foods is to find oils which we can implement that will not blow the roof off of our next cholesterol test. Our goal here is to first determine which oils to avoid and next determine which ones are the lowest in dreaded saturated fat. The ones that make it to hall of shame for healthy cholesterol are coconut oil (92% saturated fat) and palm oil (52%). So if your nightly meal consists of a coconut oil and palm oil meatloaf you know what you need to do! Now let's look at the oils that will make it to the top of our list. They are canola oil (7% saturated fat), safflower oil (9%), corn oil (13%), and olive oil (14%).
Now for the shocker, olive oil is going on our free list of cholesterol foods! You are rolling your eyes thinking the author may have had one too many cups of coffee, and maybe your right, but nevertheless olive oil is still going on the list.
The reason is olive oil contains a powerful mix of antioxidants that actually lower dangerous LDL (bad cholesterol) while leaving HDL (good cholesterol untouched). And get this, recent studies suggest that extra virgin olive oil (about 2 teaspoons a day) can have an even greater benefit. One of the advantages of olive oil is its diversity in cooking. You can sauté low fat vegetables in it, or mix it with vinegar for a very low fat salad dressing.
Our next selection is that delicious family favorite of oatmeal. But doesn't oatmeal taste like cardboard! And haven't we already excluded my beloved butter and full fat milk! The answer is yes and yes, but don't despair. Oatmeal contain soluble fiber which is considered by many to be the number one cholesterol busting food and thus landing oatmeal on our free list of low cholesterol foods. Now if oatmeal/cardboard is not your favorite take heart, soluble fiber is also found in prunes, barley, kidney beans, apples, and pears. Soluble fiber works by reducing the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines.
Third and our final entry into our free list of low cholesterol foods is the pomegranate. The pome what! Perhaps, you may not have heard of this fruit but it is one worth remembering. As a child I had one of these bushes in my backyard and found them to be quite delicious, not knowing that pomegranates are higher in beneficial polyphenols, the antioxidant compounds that lower cholesterol, than the current favorites of red wine, blueberry juice, cranberry juice, green tea, black tea, and orange juice.
What Next? I hope you have found this free list of happinesslifetime.com cholesterol lowering foods helpful but when you get right down to it lowering cholesterol, in most cases, is about changing old habits, adopting new healthier habits, and enlisting the help of convention medications such as statins or natural lowered-cholesterol.com cholesterol reducing remedies if needed. Put simply, this basically means finding ways to increase HDL (good cholesterol) and decreasing LDL (bad cholesterol levels) either through diet and/or supplementation.
Rob D. Hawkins is an enthusiastic advocate for the use of safe and effective high quality alternative health products and natural living, with over 10 years experience in the field. Learn more about natural remedies and natural health at purchaseremedies.com Purchase Remedies.com
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