Cholesterol Questions: 11 Popular FAQs

1. What is the best drink to lower cholesterol?

Green tea has been shown to reduce cholesterol in the body. For an extra advantage to lower cholesterol restrict the added sugar, diet sweeteners and add ginger to your green tea.

Popular Drinks to Lower Cholesterol:

Green tea

Unsweetened Citrous fruit drink (grape juice, orange juice)

Unsweetened Tart Cherry juice

Unsweetened Cranberry Juice

2. What foods should you avoid if you have high cholesterol?

High-fat red meats like beef and pork contain saturated fats which can raise cholesterol and promote weight gain. Avoiding butter and milk products may also help to lower cholesterol intake.

Most Common High Cholesterol Foods to Avoid:

Processed meats (bacon, hot dog, burger)

Processed grains (cereals)

Baked goods (muffin, cookies, cake)

Chips (corn and potato chips)

3. What reduces cholesterol quickly?

The fastest way to reduce cholesterol is to make the switch to a predominantly plant-based diet and add spices like garlic/turmeric to many of your meals. Finish off your meals with a warm green tea with ginger.

Top Tip: If completely making the switch is difficult you can slowly move towards a plant-based approach by eating plant-based for 2-3 days a week. This will still make a positive impact on your overall health.

4. How can I lower my cholesterol in 30 days?

Basing your diet around fresh produce and whole grains will help to drastically lower your cholesterol. You can take additional measures like limiting fat intake, salt intake and staying hydrated.

3 Steps for 30 Days:

Remove all snack food and substitute for fresh fruit or raw vegetables to increase daily fiber intake and lower cholesterol Substitute processed meats for legumes. This will provide you with adequate protein without the added daily cholesterol Drink tart cherry juice or a citrus fruit juice with every meal – make sure it is unsweetened and do not add additional diet sweeteners.

Author Notes: Can find a tasty juice that you like? Try grabbing frozen berry blends from the store and add hemp seeds or flax seed into the blender. Blend smooth and enjoy!

5. What are some low cholesterol diet breakfast options?

Oats, barley, bananas and any kind of fruit can serve as breakfast options. Try to avoid processed cereals and processed meats – sticking to fresh wholesome ingredients will always be best. Check out the Overnight Buckwheat & Blueberry Breakfast bowl in our recipe section.

6. What is HDL vs LDL?

High density lipoprotein or “good cholesterol” helps to flush cholesterol through the body. Low density lipoprotein or “bad cholesterol” builds up in the arteries which can cause a blockage, and, if not treated, heart disease.

7. How do foods Lower Cholesterol?

Foods help to lower cholesterol through active components like beta-glucan (a soluble fiber found in grains and fruit) and by promoting more HDL circulation in the blood – which helps to clean the arteries.

Remember… About 80% of the cholesterol in your body is created by the body. The remaining 20% consumed through your diet will ensure that your body is producing the correct amount of HDL which can clear LDL from the blood.

Cholesterol needs to move through the bloodstream – it is essential for creating vitamin d and repairing arterial walls. To do this it packages itself with fat – this is where the problem can occur.

A high-fat diet influences elevated LDL. Conversely, a low-fat diet can help to allow the body access to its regular system of clearing LDL from the blood – even if it’s being transported with fat.

8. What foods should I avoid for lowering cholesterol?

Processed meats, processed grains, processed baked goods, and oils or fats high in saturated fat or trans fat. If you want to lower your cholesterol you should take a low-fat approach with foods rich in fiber in phytonutrients.

Specific foods to avoid include:

Potato chips

Corn chips

Bacon

Sausage

Ham

Canned fish

Processed cereals

9. Can low-fat help to lower cholesterol?

Yes, low-fat diet plans like the mediterranian diet or a plant-based diet have significant impacts on lowering cholesterol. A low-fat approach to lowering cholesterol will be the most effective.

10. What low cholesterol diet plan will help to lose weight?

Ensure your plate follows a simple recipe of ½ fruits and vegetables, ¼ grains and legumes and ¼ nuts/seeds. This will help to balance your meals, promote weight loss and decrease cholesterol.

11. How Can I Make Meats Have Less Cholesterol?

It is important to understand that although most meat products will have high cholesterol they will also come with a vast array of nutrients like b-vitamins, zinc, magnesium and protein.

It is always recommended to avoid processed meats and instead consume grass-fed beef, free-range chicken and wild-caught fish.

Consume your meat with cruciferous vegetables and they contain many protective elements like phytonutrients, fiber and micronutrients like vitamin k and vitamin c.