Reverse Heart Disease: 7 Foods That Lower Cholesterol And Prevent Heart Attacks Naturally

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Frequently, too much LDL is the result of a diet rich in saturated fats (usually from animal foods such as beef, butter, lard, and whole-milk dairy products) and trans fats (found in processed and fast foods). Eliminating these foods from your diet is a good first step in improving your LDL.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women and men in the United States. We all know a healthy diet can help reduce your risk, especially when coupled with regular exercise and maintaining a reasonable weight. But what really are the best foods to include on your weekly menu to keep your heart healthy and strong?

7 Foods That Lower Cholesterol & Prevent Heart Attacks

Garlic

Garlic has long been known as a cholesterol-lowering food, and it’s as simple as adding more garlic to your cooking. The allicin in garlic is what does the trick, and there’s some debate over which form of garlic contains the most allicin, fresh raw garlic, cooked garlic, garlic powder, or a garlic supplement. This is one food that likely won’t lower your cholesterol much all by itself, but can be effective when paired with other foods on this list on a cholesterol conscious diet.

If bumping up your garlic intake doesn’t sound appealing to you, either because of the taste or the bad breath it’s known to cause, you may be interested in taking a garlic supplement for similar benefits.

Kidney Beans/Chickpeas

Like many legumes, kidney beans are a low-fat, high-soluble fiber protein source. These vitamin-rich beans also have a low glycemic index and are cholesterol-free. Add them to salads and chili, as they truly are almost a perfect health food. Both the canned and dried beans are equally high in fiber, but canned varieties are likely to have a higher salt content, so stick with dried varieties for maximum heart benefits.

Recommended serving size: Kidney beans, dry, 1/4 cup: 133 calories Kidney beans, canned, heaping 1/3 cup, drained: 100 calories Chickpeas, dry, 1/4 cup: 160 calories Chickpeas, canned, heaping 1/3 cup, drained: 160 calories.

Walnuts

Women who are looking for an easy way to get omega-3s on the go can grab a small handful of walnuts for an afternoon snack. “Although they are high in fat, most of it is polyunsaturated fat, which is considered a ‘good fat’ and, thus, they are fine to eat in moderation,” says Rachel Brandeis, a registered dietitian in Atlanta, Georgia, and spokesperson for American Dietetic Association. Add some to your green salad, or give chicken salad a nutrition boost by adding ground walnuts.

Recommended serving size: Shelled, scant 1/2 cup: 344 calories.

Barley

Whole-grain barley is rich in soluble fiber and insoluble fiber, which is good for combating constipation. A decent protein source, barley also contains a good supply of iron and minerals. Beware when choosing which barley to buy. So-called “pearl barely” lacks the outer husk, and thus, most of the nutrients are removed. Look for whole-grain barley cereals, or substitute whole-grain barley for rice and pasta side dishes once a week.

Recommended serving size: Dry, 1/4 cup: 151 calories.

Spinach

Spinach is one of those healthy foods that just makes everything in the body better, including your cholesterol levels. Start eating more spinach, and all else being equal, you’ll start to see your cholesterol numbers drop. It’s the lutein in spinach that gives it its cholesterol-lowering effect.

Other foods high in lutein include kale, swiss chard, and turnip greens. These leafy greens are also known for their high vitamin and mineral content, making them great choices for a healthy diet, and to aid in weight loss if necessary. If you’re worried about your cholesterol it’s doubly important to keep fit and lose extra weight to reduce the chance of a heart attack and other diseases linked to being overweight.

Avocados

Avocados are thankfully making a big comeback after being vilified during the low-fat diet boom. The oleic acid they contain has a direct effect on cholesterol levels, and much of the fat in an avocado is made up of oleic acid. This is what helps raise levels of HDL cholesterol, the good cholesterol, while lowering total cholesterol numbers.

It’s easy to start eating more avocados, as they can serve as an edible garnish to just about any meal. They also contain fiber, an important factor in keeping the digestive clean, and also helpful in regulating cholesterol levels. There’s also more potassium in an avocado than in a banana, so you’re getting an important mineral that will help you thrive.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes receive all of their health headlines thanks to the lycopene they contain. The lycopene they contain is believed to be why tomatoes are consistently linked with heart health. Lowering LDL cholesterol as well as triglycerides is why tomatoes end up on many heart-healthy diet programs.

Cooking your tomatoes helps to unlock even more lycopene, but that shouldn’t stop you from eating fresh tomatoes as well. Tomato sauces, chilis, soups, salads, and smoothies are all great items to consider adding tomatoes to. Going with organically grown tomatoes is highly recommended. Cherry tomatoes made the Dirty Dozen list of foods by the Environmental Working Group for their high levels of toxins.

Sources:

http://www.everydayhealth.com

http://www.prevention.com

http://life.gaiam.com

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Prof. Hesin
I am herbalist and write on variety of topics from nutrition to natural health, herbal medicine, nutritional supplementation, mind/body medicine and i enjoys the challenge of providing my family with healthy food options that fit with their busy lifestyle.