We often hear that high cholesterol causes heart disease, so we naturally try to lower cholesterol. Unfortunately, most low cholesterol diets aren’t always very appealing. They usually cut out cholesterol containing foods, like eggs and cheese, and leave us with a pretty boring and tasteless selection of foods. But luckily, you can lower cholesterol naturally with foods that are both delicious and full of healthy fats.
Doctor of natural medicine and clinical nutritionist, Joshua Axe, says high cholesterol levels and heart disease are connected, but it’s not as simple as we’ve been led to believe.
The human body produces cholesterol in the liver, and it’s something we need in order to survive.
So, it’s not that cholesterol is “bad”. The problem is cholesterol is dangerous when there’s inflammation in the body.
When there’s too much inflammation in the body, the arteries get stiff and hard. Plus, cholesterol starts to build up in the arteries, thanks to inflammation.
Therefore, since inflammation is thought to be the root cause of the problem, Axe suggests a diet high in anti-inflammatory foods to help lower inflammation. This in turn, can help to prevent the build up of cholesterol in the arteries.
Here are nine foods to consider to lower cholesterol naturally:
- Dark leafy greens, like spinach and kale, along with cabbage, broccoli, beets and artichokes
- Nuts, including almonds and walnuts
- Chia seeds and flaxseeds
- Olive oil
- Avocados
- Fatty fish, like salmon
- Gluten-free grains, including quinoa, buckwheat and amaranth
- Green tea
- Beans, including black beans, chickpeas, kidney beans and mung beans
