Finding the best food to lower cholesterol is really the healthiest and most effective thing that you can do to improve your blood lipid readings. Most individuals with high cholesterol are familiar with statin medication because that is typically what doctors first discuss. And yes, medication is effective but at what cost?

You see, the most effective types of cholesterol medication cause muscle damage in over 25% of individuals who try them. And in the long-term statin medication can cause kidney and liver damage.

On the other hand, foods to lower cholesterol have been shown to be just as effective, or more so when used consistently as part of a structured, lowering cholesterol diet plan. The South Beach diet or the Mediterranean diet are excellent examples of diets that contain high amounts of vegetables, nuts and whole grains that have been shown to be the best food to lower cholesterol.

I thoroughly enjoyed the South Beach diet myself because of the excellent recipes that are made available. Let's take a look at foods to lower cholesterol that are the most effective.

As you prepare meals that will lower your cholesterol look for foods such as brussels sprouts, spinach and broccoli. These foods contain the highest levels of plant sterols which are naturally occurring substances found in all plants. Sterols have been proven scientifically to reduce the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine.

All green leafy and orange vegetables are beneficial for improving cholesterol readings. So are fruits, nuts and grains. These are all high fiber foods which are essential if you are serious about reducing your cholesterol. Fiber works in the intestines to help eliminate cholesterol from the body before it has a chance to be absorbed.

This type of high fiber diet, when combined with reduced saturated fat consumption will have an amazing impact on your cholesterol levels. I recently read about one doctor who could not tolerate the side effects of statin medication himself. So, he turned to foods to lower cholesterol and found that the results were every bit as good as what he expected from statin medication. Why he did not begin with a natural approach to lowering his cholesterol is beyond me.

You can visit my website to learn more about the best food to lower cholesterol as well as finding information about diets and supplements that can have a powerful effect on your cardiovascular health.


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