Sri Lankan Foods to Fight Cholesterol

Do you know that your diet has a huge impact on cholesterol ?

The reverse is true, too — changing what foods you eat can lower your cholesterol in bloodstream. Doing this requires a two-pronged strategy: Add foods that lower LDL, the harmful cholesterol-carrying particle that contributes to artery-clogging atherosclerosis. At the same time, cut back on foods that boost LDL. Without that step, you are engaging in a holding action instead of a steady — and tasty — victory.

If you’re already eating plenty of the following foods that lower cholesterol naturally, keep up the good work! But if your idea of eating well is to opt for the “buttered popcorn” instead of the “extra buttered popcorn,” consider adding these healthy choices to your diet.

1. Oats

If you want to decrease your cholesterol level, why not change your breakfast to a Oat meal?witching up your breakfast to contain two servings of oats can lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol by 5.3% in only 6 weeks. The key to this cholesterol buster is beta-glucan, a substance in oats that absorbs LDL, which your body then excretes.

You can buy them easily in supermarkets or in local shops at a cheap price.

2. Salmon & fatty fish

Now it’s the best time to replace meat with fish. Eating fish two or three times a week can lower LDL in two ways: by replacing meat, which has LDL-boosting saturated fats, and by delivering LDL-lowering omega-3 fats. Omega-3s reduce triglycerides in the bloodstream and also protect the heart by helping prevent the onset of abnormal heart rhythms. omega-3 fats are readily found in salmon, sardines, and herring.

3. Tea

Tea – the most common drink among Sri Lankan folks, has huge impact on defense against high LDL cholesterol levels. Black tea has been shown to reduce blood lipids by up to 10% in only 3 weeks. These findings were concluded in a larger study of how tea may also help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Also tea has become well known for its cancer-fighting antioxidants.

4. Beans

Beans—they really are good for your heart. Researchers found that adding ½ cup of beans to soup lowers total cholesterol, including LDL, by up to 8%. The key to this heart-healthy food is its abundance of fiber, which has been shown to slow the rate and amount of absorption of cholesterol in certain foods.

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Bean curry is famous in Sri Lanka  also you should try soft boiled bean seeds. Yummy!!!

5. Spinach

This popular green food contains lots of lutein, the sunshine-yellow pigment found in dark green leafy vegetables and egg yolks. Lutein already has a reputation for guarding against age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness. Now research suggests that just ½ cup of a lutein-rich food daily also guards against heart attacks by helping artery walls “shrug off” cholesterol invaders that cause clogging. Look for bags of baby spinach leaves that you can use for salads or pop in the microwave for a quick side dish. Eating salads is more effective than taking spinach curry.

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6. Olive oil

Good news: This common cooking ingredient can help your health. Olive oil is full of heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), which lower LDL cholesterol—and have the welcome side effect of trimming belly fat. Use it to make your own salad dressings, marinate chicken and fish, or roast vegetables.

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7. Garlic

Aside from adding zing to almost any dish, garlic makes the list of foods that lower cholesterol; it’s also been found to prevent blood clots, reduce blood pressure, and protect against infections. Now research finds that it helps stop artery-clogging plaque at its earliest stage by keeping cholesterol particles from sticking to artery walls. Try for 2 to 4 fresh cloves a day.

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8. Avocado

Avocados are a great source of heart-healthy MUFAs, which may actually help raise HDL cholesterol while lowering LDL. And, more than any other fruit, this delectable food packs cholesterol-smashing beta-sitosterol, a beneficial plant-based fat that reduces the amount of cholesterol absorbed from food. Since avocados are a bit high in calories and fat (300 calories and 30 g of fat per avocado), use them in moderation.