An expert has revealed that a common breakfast food could not only help you feel energised in the morning but could also lower your cholesterol. This cheap yet tasty meal is packed with a specific type of fibre that can help rid the body of “bad” cholesterol.
Having high cholesterol means you have an excess of a fatty substance known as cholesterol in the blood. Over time this can build up in the blood vessels, hardening the arteries and causing blockages.
This is dangerous as it can significantly increase your chances of a life-threatening emergency such as a stroke or heart attack.
With this in mind, an expert explained more about a popular food that could improve your cholesterol levels.
Cheryl Lythgoe, society matron at Benenden Health, said: “Every cell in your body needs cholesterol, it plays vital roles in how your body works, especially for your brain, nerves and skin.
“There are two types of cholesterol the body needs, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, often called ‘bad cholesterol’ and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the ‘good’ type.
“However, too much LDL cholesterol in your blood can lead to serious health issues such as heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes.” She therefore recommended adding oats to your diet.
Cheryl continued: “A balanced diet is key to maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, and porridge is a fantastic breakfast option for this. A 60g serving of porridge (roughly four tablespoons) provides the recommended daily amount of beta-glucan to reduce ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol.
“Beta-glucan is a type of fibre that forms a gel in the gut, reducing the amount of cholesterol absorbed into the body and helping to lower overall cholesterol levels.” Her advice is backed by multiple studies, including one published in The Journal of Nutrition in 2021.
This research found that people who consumed a drink containing oat beta-glucan saw a drop in their bad cholesterol levels and cardiovascular risk. Study authors concluded: “Consuming a beverage containing 1g high-molecular weight oat beta-glucan three times daily for four weeks significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by ∼6% and cardiovascular disease risk by ∼8% in healthy adults with LDL cholesterol between 3 and 5 mmol/L.”
On top of the cholesterol-lowering benefits of oats, Cheryl noted that they can help provide a steady source of energy and keep you feeling full for longer. She added: “What’s more, oats slowly release glucose into the bloodstream, providing a gradual energy release through the morning.
“Meaning your energy levels won’t spike and crash, leaving you feeling fuller for longer. For an even tastier breakfast, try naturally sweetening your porridge with chopped apples, strawberries, prunes or plums, which are a healthy alternative to treacle or sugar.
“These fruits also give the extra benefit of lowering your cholesterol while providing essential vitamins and minerals.” If you are concerned about your cholesterol levels, you should speak to your GP.
At the time of reporting, you can buy a 1kg bag of porridge oats from Tesco for 99p, which equates to around 6p for a 60g serving.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
