Are there any superfoods that can help lower cholesterol?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am a 45-year-old male who has been struggling with high cholesterol levels for the past two years. How can dietary fiber and diet help reduce my cholesterol levels? Are there any superfoods that can help lower cholesterol? I would like to know more about nutrition, diet, and dietary fiber in relation to cholesterol management.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

Yes, consuming high carbohydrates leads to high sugar levels in the blood, which leads to a faster deposition of fats in the body, and it leads to obesity which triggers metabolic disorders like high cholesterol. So it is not only fatty food but excess carbohydrate can also lead to high cholesterol.

First, you need to check your body mass index, which will let you understand your obesity stage. For a customized diet plan you need more details like height, weight, age, medical issues, and so on, but I can help you with some quick tips. A few things you need to avoid are:

1. Sodas and sweet drinks like aerated drinks, and tetra-pack fruit juices are to be avoided in the diet.

2. Refined carbohydrates like white bread, pasta, and rice are low in fiber and they are high in glycemic index. This combination can result in high blood sugar levels.

3. Fruit-flavored yogurts are usually low in fat but high in sugar.

4. Breakfast cereals like cornflakes, sugar coated muesli, and sugar-coated wheat flakes.

5. Honey, maple syrup, jaggery, sugar, and more.

6. Packaged snacks are typically highly processed foods made from refined flour.

Cholesterol-reducing fruits are very effective in melting the cholesterol deposited in the arteries. Some of these fruits include:

1. Grapes- According to the studies of NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information), grapes have the power to reduce cholesterol. Grapes are full of fiber and are also rich in protein, iron, copper, folate, and vitamins C, A, K, and B. Regular consumption of grapes helps to lower cholesterol levels naturally. Grapes are also helpful in controlling weight. Eating citrus fruits can prove beneficial in removing heart-related diseases. If you want, you can reduce cholesterol by eating fruits like lemons and oranges along with grapes.

2. Strawberry- Strawberry is a better fruit to reduce cholesterol. It is a good source of antioxidants, which help in controlling cholesterol levels. Apart from this, it is a storehouse of vitamins and it is very low in calories. You can have strawberries for breakfast every morning.

3. Apple- Apple is such a fruit, which can reduce not only cholesterol but also other dirty substances deposited in the body. All heart patients should include apples in their diet as they help in reducing cholesterol levels naturally. The presence of fiber pectin in apples helps in reducing cholesterol.

Medically reviewed byiCliniq medical review team

Published At June 17, 2024
Reviewed AtJuly 2, 2024

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