For a person being diagnosed with high cholesterol, taking medications such as statins or changing one’s diet is likely to be the next steps to managing the condition. The liver makes cholesterol. You can also get it from certain foods that contain it but not as much as from foods that contain saturated and trans fats. These types of fat cause the liver to produce extra cholesterol and makes it dangerous to the health. There are foods, and supplements derived from foods, that can help lower a person’s cholesterol. What are they?
Psyllium is a type of fibre commonly used as a gentle, bulk-forming laxative Being a soluble fibre, psyllium is able to pass through the digestive system without being completely broken down or absorbed.
Instead, it absorbs water and becomes a vicious compound that benefits constipation, diarrhoea, blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol and weight loss.
Psyllium is used as a dietary supplement and is usually found in the form of husk, granules, capsules or powder.
It can also be obtained through fortified breakfast cereals and baked goods.
Due to psyllium’s resistance to digestion, the supplement allows proper regulation of high cholesterol, triglycerides and blood sugar levels.
Psyllium can be found in various forms and has many health benefits.
Psyllium also helps relieve constipation and works by increasing stool size due to its bulk-forming laxative.
Initially, it works by binding to partially digested food that’s passing from the stomach into the small intestine.
It then helps with the absorption of water, which increases the size and moisture of stools.
The end product is bigger and more easily passable stools.
This aids in weight loss which in turn helps lower cholesterol.
In one study, 47 healthy participants experienced a 6 percent reduction in LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol after taking 6g of psyllium each day for six weeks.
For anyone with high cholesterol, taking supplements is highly recommended to help lower levels.
It’s also advised to pay attention to the saturated and trans fats on food labels, as well as added sugars.
It’s recommended that no more than 10 percent of daily calories should come from either saturated fats or added sugars.
It is also recommended to replace butter with extra virgin olive oil when cooking, to buy lean cuts of meat and to snack on nuts and seeds instead of french fries or processed snack foods.
Speak to your GP and about the best method to help lower cholesterol levels.
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