You Can Eat Deliciously! And Still Keep Your Heart Healthy!
Has anyone ever said, “you need to watch your cholesterol?” Probably. Maybe it was during a physical, or after having fried foods and a doctor mentioned it casually. Whenever we hear “cholesterol”, it usually conjures up feelings of guilt, confusion, and sometimes sadness.
What if we said that there is a list of foods that reduce cholesterol naturally and we believe they are not only delicious, but also very filling, and easy to incorporate into our daily consumption? So, let’s see how some of these cholesterol-friendly power foods will change the way you eat, and maybe, how you feel?
Get to know Cholesterol (and why it even matters)
This is Rina. Rina is a thirty five year old marketing director. But after finding fleeting borderline high-cholesterol numbers at a routine medical test, she knew it was time for a “lifestyle tune-up.” With a strong desire to avoid medication, Rina’s physician suggested starting with a food first approach. This was Rina’s discovery of foods that reduce cholesterol naturally.
The truth is, all cholesterol is not bad. In fact, your body needs cholesterol! However, when your levels get too high especially the part that is called LDL or bad cholesterol – this can build fatty plaque in your arteries and increase your risk of heart disease. So what is the solution? Let food be thy medicine.
The Top Power Foods for Lowering Cholesterol
Rina didn’t exactly clean out her pantry, but she certainly didn’t stop at it being an upgrade project in her house. Here is what was put in and what would be great to put in your house too:
- Oats/Barley: Two humble grains that offer a nasty punch soluble fiber. Consider it like the sponge nature offers! It will help wipe out excess cholesterol you are eating (and might be slightly troublesome)
- Nuts (particularly almonds and walnuts): She decided to move her chips out and put nut mix in a jar. A handful of nuts everyday gives you good fats, plenty of flavor and a lot of benefits for heart health.
- Fatty Fish: So she turned her weekly meals into grilled salmon or sardine salads. Taking time to add more fish, especially omega-3 fish, certainly makes a health difference in lowering triglycerides and providing benefits to heart health.
- Fruits (like apples, berries, and citrus): She put a bowl of fresh fruits on her table-tasty and filling fiber and full of antioxidants that help with reducing inflammation and are great at supporting higher healthy cholesterol levels.
- Leafy greens (spinach and kale): Whether thrown in a quick lunch-time salad or blended into smoothies, they became her favorite for an easy low-calorie nutrient hit.
- Legumes (lentils, beans, chickpeas): Cheap, filling, and endlessly handy. Lentil soups and chickpea bowls with clean protein provide that extra pizzazz, minus the saturated fat.
And what really happened is that Rina never really felt like she was dieting. Foods that put cholesterol in check never stole the joy away from her meals. Instead, they were a joy to cook with: bold, colorful, and hearty. They helped her weave a heart-healthy life that she really enjoyed living.
Little Changes, Large Gains
In just three months, Rina started to really notice a difference; a decrease in cholesterol, increased energy and five kilos of weight loss! All this from simple, consistent, food choices lower cholesterol levels naturally and constructing a diet she loved!
These changes may seem small, but their influence on your long-term health is great! Remember your heart does not want perfection; it needs care!
Parting Thoughts:
Your kitchen has more power than any prescription bottle. If you incorporate foods that naturally lower cholesterol to your routine, through following the best weight loss diet plan, not only are you protecting your heart, but you’re creating a life that is energized, flavor packed, and full of life.
So what power food will you place on your plate first today?