An expert has revealed the one food you should be adding to your diet to help reduce cholesterol. Maintaining a balanced and healthy diet is key to your health, and improving eating habits is vital for those needing to lower their cholesterol. Dr Oliver Guttmann, a consultant cardiologist at The Wellington Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare UK, explained what people should be eating, and one supermarket item can be particularly effective.
To lower cholesterol, people must eat less fatty food, especially foods high in saturated fat, the NHS warns. Dr Guttman said: “Focus on eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins,” advises Guttmann. “Reduce intake of saturated and trans fats, found in fatty meats, fried foods, and processed snacks. Opt for healthy fats like those in avocados, nuts, and olive oil.”
However, one item can be particularly effective to help lower cholesterol, and that’s avocados.
The British Heart Foundation says: “Avocados are full of vitamins, minerals and fibre, and high in healthy unsaturated fats, meaning they fit well into heart-healthy diets such as the Mediterranean and DASH diets.
“They also have a lovely creamy taste and texture that means they can feel indulgent, making them a good substitute for foods like cheese, butter and fatty meats that are high in unhealthy fats.”
You can try avocado on toast or add it to a sandwich, fajita, or burrito.
“Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in your blood that is essential for building cells and producing certain hormones,” explains Dr Guttmann.
The two main types of cholesterol are low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).
“LDL is often called ‘bad’ cholesterol because high levels can lead to plaque build-up in arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease,” explains Guttmann. “HDL, on the other hand, is known as ‘good’ cholesterol because it helps remove LDL from the bloodstream.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
