Two Super Foods For Lower Cholesterol and Better Health

This is #5 in a series of articles on how you can successfully manage and reduce your cholesterol. Watch out for the next secret.

So to the "Super Foods" -

1) THE AVOCADO - Here indeed is a misunderstood fruit! It has in the past received a bad press due to its high fat content and oiliness. However, the fat it contains is monounsaturated fat, OK with regard to cholesterol, plus it contains lots of oleic acid. This is the same cholesterol-busting ingredient found in olive oil and canola oil and can actively reduce your LDL cholesterol.

There has been scientific research carried out which verifies the efficacy of the avocado in the reduction of LDL: One of the earliest studies tested 15 women who alternated between following a low-fat, high carbohydrate diet and a diet with an enriched avocado content containing between a half and one and a half avocado's each day.

In just three weeks a reduction in the cholesterol levels of the women eating the avocados was measured! The average levels were reduced by approximately 8%, whereas the women on the low fat diet experienced only a 4.9% reduction. A great score for just changing one item in your overall diet.

Furthermore, the ratio of total cholesterol over the healthy HDL cholesterol actually rose for the women on the low-fat diet, while it fell by almost 15% for those eating the avocados!

As a further bonus it is also delicious! So, add some of this wonder food to your diet, but just remember that fat is still fat and that in respect to your waistline you should not over-indulge this treat.

2) GRAPESEEDS - As grapes have been a known as a great health food since time immemorial, it is perhaps no wonder that grape seed extract can effectively lower cholesterol. Wine in particular enjoys the limelight due to its abundance of antioxidants.

The real magic however, starts with the grape seed. They contain chemicals known as oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes which are up among the most powerful antioxidants known. So, not only do you benefit from their cholesterol reducing abilities, but also from a great many other healthy attributes.

Scientific research has shown that taking grape seed extract along with a natural substance chromium show a significant reduction in LDL. In one specific study 40 with high measured cholesterol levels were split into three groups who blind tested three supplements. For two months, one group were given grape seed extract alone, another grape seed with chromium and the third a placebo. It was the seed plus chromium group that showed the greatest cholesterol level reduction.

Used wisely, these are indeed superfoods.

This is the fifth in a series of articles on lowering cholesterol naturally by Alan Christopher. To find out more go to the next article: The Lower Cholesterol Secret #6 - ezinearticles.com/?More-Super-Foods-For-Lower-Cholesterol-and-Better-Health&id=6139838 More Super-Foods

Alan Christopher has years of experience in nutrition and how to lower cholesterol with food. Visit the website page lowercholesterolfood.com/foods-for-lower-cholesterol more foods for lower cholesterol - at LowerCholesterolFood.com where you will find stacks of useful information together with a FREE 10 part mini-course.