Foods that Lower Cholesterol
Sunday, September 20th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
The foods that lower cholesterol form the foundation for heart disease prevention & treatment. Relying solely on prescription drugs is a dangerous strategy that could leave you at risk.
Eating the right foods is often the key step to reaching your target cholesterol level. I place foods that lower cholesterol into 3 categories: binders, inhibitors, and regulators.
Binders
Binders are foods that stop the intestinal absorption of cholesterol into your body. Soluble fiber and phytosterols form large clumps of cholesterol that can’t pass through the lining of your gut and enter your bloodstream:
1. Food Sources of Soluble Fiber
- Oat/Oat bran
- Dried beans and peas
- Nuts
- Barley
- Flax seed
- Fruits such as oranges and apples
- Vegetables such as carrots
- Psyllium husk
2. Foods Rich in Phytosterols
- Sesame seeds
- Corn
- Soybeans
- Unrefined vegetable oils
- Whole grains
- Legumes (alfalfa, peas, beans, lentils)
Inhibitors
Inhibitors are foods that prevent the liver from making cholesterol. Unlike statin prescription drugs, inhibitors come from natural food sources and aren’t dangerous:
1. Foods Rich in Monacolins
- Chinese Red Yeast Rice (mostly available in supplement form)
2. Foods Rich in Flavonoids
- Grapefruit
- Lemons/Limes
- Tangerines
- Pomegranate
- All berries
Regulators
Regulators are foods that lower cholesterol by maintaining the cholesterol cycle. Cholesterol normally cycles back and forth between the liver and the rest of the body. Vitamin C and the trace mineral copper help to keep the cycle going and prevent the build-up of cholesterol:
1. Foods Rich in Vitamin C
- Sweet red pepper
- Strawberries
- Oranges
- Brussels sprouts
- Broccoli
- Collard greens
- Grapefruit
- Cantaloupe
- Cabbage
- Tomato
2. Foods Rich in Copper
- Oysters
- Shellfish
- Whole grains
- Beans
- Potatoes
- Organ meats
Foods that lower cholesterol provide the foundation for heart disease prevention and treatment. If you can’t reach your target cholesterol level, you only have two choices: take more drugs or eat the right foods.
What are you going to do?
Life Extension publishes free information for managing cholesterol levels.
Dr. Michael A. Smith is an integrative medical doctor and health education specialist dedicated to the dissemination of innovative disease prevention and anti-aging strategies.
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/foods-that-lower-cholesterol-1247032.html
Possible Related Posts
No related posts