More and more people are facing different types of health issues due to high cholesterol levels in their body. Maintaining the right cholesterol level is also very important for cardiovascular health. However, most people are not able to control their cholesterol levels due to unhealthy eating habits and an inactive lifestyle. Most of them are suffering from different health issues like plaque buildup in arteries, obesity, the risk of heart disease and stroke, and many other problems. The type of foods you intake plays a major role in the overall health and wellness of your body. It is always important to practice a balanced diet that can help you to manage ideal cholesterol levels.
What is Cholesterol and Why is it Important?
Cholesterol is a fatty and waxy substance produced in our body by the liver. Every cell in our body requires cholesterol to help form the cell membrane. It is also required to produce vitamin D and to create certain sex hormones. There are two types of cholesterol in our body: HDL (good) and LDL (bad) cholesterol. Although it is important, too much cholesterol can cause severe problems. Therefore, it is very important to take necessary precautions to maintain the ideal cholesterol levels.
Why Practice Good Eating Habits?
Bad eating habits and an inactive lifestyle can lead to different problems like obesity, high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, heart disease, etc. In fact, many experts think that elevated cholesterol level is also a silent killer. Just making a few nutritional changes in your diet pattern will help you to see amazing results within weeks. Indian cuisine with its rich flavors and diversity of ingredients, offers different types of foods and snacks that can help you to control cholesterol. This content will provide you with detailed information on some of the best foods and snacks you can include in your diet to control the cholesterol in your body.
Top Foods and Snacks to Control Cholesterol
Oats
Oats are considered an excellent source of soluble fiber particularly beta-glucan, which helps reduce the LDL cholesterol levels. The foods rich in soluble fiber form a gel-like substance in the intestines that binds cholesterol and prevents its absorption in the bloodstream. You can include oats in your breakfast in many ways. They can be simply consumed as oatmeal or used in many dishes, even in idlis and dosas.
In case, you do not like to have oats as it is, you can also enjoy different types of oats-based snacks available in the market today. Healthy Master offers different types of oats-based snacks like oats cookies, oats chips, oats khakhras, oats mathris, etc. You can easily choose the best you need and enjoy these snacks from the comfort of your home.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds are also considered as one of the best foods you can include in your high cholesterol control diet. Although they have good amounts of calories, they are rich in good cholesterol, which can benefit your body and overall health. They are rich in unsaturated fats, fiber as well as plant sterols. They can help the body in lowering cholesterol levels. Regular consumption of nuts like almonds and walnuts can significantly reduce the LDL cholesterol levels in the body. You can also include seeds like flax seeds in your diet routine through smoothies, salads, or parathas. They are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
You can buy some of the best and premium quality nuts and seeds from Healthy Master. Apart from plain nuts and seeds, you will also find different options like flavored and mixed combos. This will help you to enjoy the goodness of these amazing superfoods in one go.
Legumes
Legumes, including beans, lentils, and peas are also packed with soluble fiber and protein while being low in fat. Thus, they can effectively reduce cholesterol levels when incorporated into a good diet routine. When it comes to lentils, most of them are used in Indian cuisines. There are many dishes prepared using masoor dal, moong dal, toor dal, etc in Indian cuisine. Chickpeas are also used in dishes like chole, which aids in cholesterol management.
Fruits and Vegetables
A diet rich in fruits and vegetables will also provide all the essential nutrients and antioxidants that can help you lower cholesterol and support heart health. For instance, apples and berries are high in soluble fiber, which can reduce LDL cholesterol. On the other hand, leafy greens like spinach and fenugreek are rich in fiber and promote healthy cholesterol. You can cook these vegetables in various ways and include them in your diet. However, make sure you are not using too many masalas as it can spoil the goodness of these veggies.
If you are looking for some healthy snacks made with vegetables, you can choose Healthy Master. The brand specializes in offering snacks like beetroot chips, palak chips, millet chips, quinoa chips, and many other healthy snack offerings. They are completely healthy snacks that you can incorporate into your diet.
Whole Grains
Whole grains like brown rice, whole wheat, and millet are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They can be highly beneficial for your body and also to maintain cholesterol levels. For instance, replacing white rice with brown rice will increase the fiber intake and reduce the cholesterol levels. Using whole wheat for making chapatis, rotis, and bread can also improve your fiber intake.
Conclusion
It does not matter what your needs are, controlling cholesterol through diet is a sustainable and effective approach you can practice. The rich varieties and flavors of Indian cuisine give numerous options for the users to manage the cholesterol in a more natural way. By incorporating these superfoods into your diet, you can enjoy your daily meals more deliciously. All you have to do is practice a healthy diet with a healthy lifestyle. This will help you to maintain ideal cholesterol levels with overall well-being.