New studies have shown that certain foods alone can help to lower cholesterol. Replacing certain things within your diet can drastically help to lower the ‘bad’ cholesterol in the blood.
Cholesterol is made of low density lipoproteins and high density lipoproteins. Low density, or LDL are a bad cholesterol that need to be looked after. High density, or HDL are good cholesterol and are necessary.
The most recent study, as published by the American Medical Association, shows that adding oat bran and non-GMO soy products can lower the LDL cholesterol. By eating a breakfast of oat bran, soy milk as opposed to dairy, and swapping out soy burgers for beef cholesterol levels dropped by leaps and bounds after 6 months. The study group averaged about a 20-30 point loss in their bad cholesterol levels. The control group, which ate a low fat vegetarian diet, only saw a drop of a few points in their LDL levels.
Of the 350 people involved in the study, all participants had been diagnosed with high cholesterol but were not on a cholesterol lowering medication when the study took place. Each participant was given an hour for a counseling session in the beginning and a thirty minute session at the end for follow up. These results were based on what they could do at home.
By making a few changes to your current diet with the help of a dietitian, you can also take control of your life.
