A consultant cardiologist has shared the one supermarket food to add to your diet to help support a healthy cholesterol level
Doctor measuring a patient’s blood pressure(Image: Getty)
A medical expert has identified a single food item that could be key to reducing cholesterol levels. Keeping to a well-rounded and nutritious diet is essential for overall wellbeing, and refining your eating patterns is crucial for anyone looking to bring down their cholesterol.
Dr Oliver Guttmann, a consultant cardiologist at The Wellington Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare UK, has shared dietary guidance, highlighting one readily available supermarket staple that proves especially beneficial.
The NHS cautions that cutting down on fatty foods, particularly those laden with saturated fat, is necessary for lowering cholesterol. Dr Guttmann recommends: “Focus on eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins,” and “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.”
Yet, there’s one particular food that stands out as especially powerful in tackling cholesterol – avocados.
The British Heart Foundation notes: “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,” reports the Express.
“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.”
Consider spreading avocado on toast or incorporating it into sandwiches, fajitas, or burritos. “Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in your blood that is essential for building cells and producing certain hormones,” Dr Guttmann explains.
There are two primary forms of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).
Guttmann notes: “LDL is often called ‘bad’ cholesterol because high levels can lead to plaque build-up in arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease,” adding: “HDL, on the other hand, is known as ‘good’ cholesterol because it helps remove LDL from the bloodstream.”
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