Coronary artery disease, heart attack and stroke are diseases that mostly develop over time. They have also been said to come about as a result of different factors, with poor lifestyle choices being one of them. To avert or prevent the onset of heart diseases, one can consider taking in cholesterol healthy foods.
Incorporating such a diet in one lifestyle simply works by lowering LDL or bad cholesterol. These compounds accumulate in the body when one consumes high quantities of processed foods, junk products, trans fats and sugars among others.
Bad cholesterol is deposited in blood vessels which lead to a condition known as atherosclerosis which is responsible for the development of heart diseases and stroke. Such problems can be greatly reduced by eating healthily and eliminating foods that cause high levels of LDL in the body.
Taking your oatmeal, oat bran and other high fiber foods is a good way of reducing LDL. It also leads to an increase of good cholesterol which is beneficial to the body and the over all health of the circulatory system. Soluble fiber in such foods works by reducing the absorption of low density lipoprotein or LDL into your bloodstream.
Other foods that contain high amounts of soluble fiber include beans, apples, peas, prunes and barley. Plan to substitute your pastries, white bread, donuts and cakes with such foods. Most processed foods such as biscuits and cakes are made using high quantities of trans fats which only increase LDL levels in the body.
Food sources rich in omega fatty acids are considered to be among the best when it comes to raising HDL in the body. Include white meat such as fatty fish in your diet as it is has high levels of omega fatty acids.
Eating at least two or three servings of mackerel, herring, lake trout, salmon, halibut, sardine or tuna in a week can help to increase good cholesterol in the body over time.
The advantage of omega fatty acids in diet is that the compounds help to reduce blood pressure as well as the risk of developing blood clots.
Other cholesterol healthy foods can be found in the nut family. They are also a rich source of poly unsaturated fatty acids which help to increase HDL in the body. Useful compounds found in these foods help to keep blood vessels healthy and they also reduce the risk of heart disease. Eating walnuts, almonds, cashew and ground nuts from time to time is beneficial to your health.