Foods that can help lower your cholesterol

As this is National Cholesterol Month, I thought you’d be interested in the following.

SOYA Being naturally low in saturated fat, soya foods can help lower cholesterol. Special proteins in soya also appear to influence how the body regulates cholesterol.

NUTS All nuts are rich in vegetable protein, fibre, heart healthy unsaturated fats, vitamin E, magnesium, potassium, natural plant sterols and a host of beneficial plant nutrients.

OATS AND BARLEY Both oats and barley are rich in soluble fibre called beta glucan. Once eaten, beta glucan forms a gel which helps bind cholesterol in the intestines and prevent it from being absorbed.

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES All are low in saturated fat so eating more helps to keep saturated fat intake low. They’re also a source of cholesterol-lowering soluble fibres. FOODS RICH IN UNSATURATED FATS Keeping our daily saturated fat intake below 20g (women) and 30g (men) is vital for cholesterol lowering. But it’s equally important to replace this saturated fat with modest amounts of unsaturated fats such as those found in olive, sunflower, corn, rapeseed and other vegetable, nut and seed oils.

Other foods rich in unsaturated fats include vegetable spreads, avocado, oily fish and nuts.