When you’re trying to protect your heart health, following a low cholesterol diet is important. Here’re some easy ways to eat more foods your heart will love.
One of the top tips for a healthy heart, particularly as we age, is eating foods that are good for our heart and avoiding those that aren’t. There are three main food groups that are known to affect cholesterol levels. Following these simple diet strategies will help keep your ticker healthy.
Eat less saturated fat
Saturated fat can raise cholesterol levels so it’s best to avoid eating excessive amounts. Saturated fat is found in the visible fat in red meat, full fat dairy products and processed foods. Try eating more white meat, seafood, wholefoods and low-fat dairy instead.
Eat more food high in soluble fibre
Fibre helps to reduce cholesterol. Foods high in soluble fibre include whole grains (such as barley, brown rice, oat bran, quinoa, wheat bran and rye); legumes (try chickpeas, cannellini beans, kidney beans and lentils); nuts and seeds; fresh fruits and vegetables.
Get more Omega-3 fatty acids
These help thin the blood and reduce blood clots. Eat more oily fish (such as salmon, tuna, sardines and mackerel), LSA (a mix of ground linseed, sunflower seeds and almonds, which you can buy at health food stores and some supermarkets), chia seeds, linseeds, and all nuts but particularly walnuts.
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