Foods For Cutting Cholesterol

25 May, 2009 No Comment

Cholesterol is identified as an alcohol that is present in the membranes of mammals. It is transmitted to the blood plasma and is a constituent of blood, animal fat, bile and nerve tissues. In moderate amount cholesterol is necessary for maintaining the health of the body but when it exceeds its limit, it can be extremely hazardous for the overall health of the individual and can result in a condition known as hypercholesterolemia.

The main causes for an increase in cholesterol are obesity, intake of a diet that comprises of saturated fats and cholesterol, thyroid disorder, hormonal imbalance, cigarette smoking and excessive intake of anabolic substances such as beta blockers and steroids.

Foods that lower cholesterol:

Get rid of bad fats: If you are looking to decrease the level of cholesterol in the body, you must adhere to a low fat diet. This can be done by replacing bad fats such as saturated and trans fats with good fats also known as unsaturated fats. Kick out red meat and eggs from your diet and replace it with low fat chicken or fish. Also stick to consuming low fat milk and cheese.

You must also discard all types of roasted, deep fried, grilled and broiled foods from your diet and go in for consuming raw or slightly steamed foods.

Fresh juicy fruits and vegetables help lower the level of cholesterol and should be your major dietary constituent.

Scientific research has revealed that garlic and onions are great for decreasing high cholesterol. You can include them in your diet in the form of salads or add them to each meal for best results. You can also chew 2-3 raw cloves of garlic every morning to treat hypercholesterolemia.

Nuts: Consuming nuts such as walnuts and almonds can be quite helpful in battling hypercholesterolemia.

Walnuts are considered to be extremely helpful in enabling you to lower cholesterol. This is because these nuts are rich sources of polyunsaturated fat which is known to decrese the level of cholesterol.

Almonds are rich in monosaturated fats that are also great for declining high levels of cholesterol.

Oils: Olive oil is also a great remedy for dealing with this condition. It should be used in salads or as a cooking medium to keep you in good health.

Sunflower seeds abound in linoleic acid that is a cholesterol fighting agent. Using sunflower oil instead of other vegetable oils or refined oils can help normalize the level of cholesterol.

Flaxseed oil is also beneficial for those suffering from hypercholesterolemia as it possesses omega3 fatty acids that can lower the level of bad cholesterol.

Herbs: Lemon grass is an excellent herbal remedy for combating high cholesterol. It can be used along with salad, as tea or in soups for treating this condition. Another herb known as Arjuna is also used for treating this condition. It is known to dissolve the cholesterol that accumulates in the arteries.