Reducing saturated fats – Saturated fats are found in fried and processed foods.If you do eat meat, try to stick to lean cuts with less fat (chuck, round or sirloin) or poultry (chicken and turkey). Eating less meat – Try meals that feature plant-based proteins, like beans, or “meaty” vegetables, like eggplant and mushrooms.The first step in lowering your cholesterol is reducing your dietary cholesterol. Foods that can help improve your cholesterol While it’s important to limit foods that can increase cholesterol, you can also help your heart health by incorporating ingredients that can actively lower your LDL cholesterol or raise levels of HDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol, on the other hand, can help carry LDL cholesterol away from the arteries and into the liver, which can break down the cholesterol and help reduce your risk for heart attack or stroke. “Atherosclerosis increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, and peripheral artery disease, and maintaining healthy levels of LDL-cholesterol is one of the best ways to reduce your risk over time,” says Dr. This buildup of plaque in the walls of arteries and blood vessels is called atherosclerosis and can eventually lead to narrowing of the blood vessel limiting blood flow, or the plaque can rupture, leading to a heart attack or stroke. When LDL cholesterol is elevated, it can enter the walls of the blood vessels and cause plaque buildup. Why do I need to keep my cholesterol in check? “Having too much LDL cholesterol in your blood can raise your risk for cardiovascular disease,” explains Dr. High-density lipoproteins, or HDL, are thought to be somewhat protective against heart disease-and indeed, higher levels of HDL cholesterol are associated with favorable outcomes for patients. Low-density lipoproteins, or LDL, contain mostly cholesterol and are the main cause of plaque buildup in our large arteries. Cholesterol can be made by your liver or can be absorbed from your diet (called dietary cholesterol), especially if it includes certain animal products, such as meat or dairy. What is cholesterol?Ĭholesterol is a waxy substance that is packaged into spherical molecules called lipoproteins along with other lipids like triglycerides. Read on to learn more about these cholesterol-lowering ingredients and delicious ways you can add them to your plate, both before, during and after the holidays. “These foods can be an important addition to a heart-healthy diet to help keep cholesterol in check.” There are certain foods that can help lower cholesterol,” says Dr. “A heart-healthy diet is the foundation for all of our patients to reduce their risk for cardiovascular diseases and events like stroke and heart attacks. There are certain foods that can help lower cholesterol. We called in an expert, Providence cardiologist Jason Bensch, M.D., to share some easy ways to help lower your cholesterol with the foods you eat.Ī heart-healthy diet is the foundation for all of our patients to reduce their risk for cardiovascular diseases and events like stroke and heart attacks. With so many healthy ingredients available, and so many delicious temptations during this part of the year, it can be hard to know what food to prioritize. It’s no secret: Exercise, healthy lifestyle choices and a well-balanced diet all play an essential role in your health, particularly in lowering your cholesterol. A Providence heart doctor shares some easy tips for updating what’s on your plate to benefit your cholesterol – before, during and after the holidays.A heart-healthy diet should also include less meat, fewer dairy fats and little to no saturated fat.A diet rich in healthy fats, antioxidants and soluble fiber can keep your cholesterol levels in check.

This article was refreshed on Novemto reflect recent research and information.

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