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6 Best Cholesterol-Lowering Foods

6 Best Cholesterol-Lowering Foods

If you are suffering from high cholesterol level because of your existing diet, then there are ways by which you can reduce it. Simple changes like snacking on nuts, sprinkling a small amount of olive oil on your salad, and gulping down a little chocolate daily can help. By consuming cholesterol-lowering foods as a part of your regular diet, you can manage the condition easily. This is because such strategies will assist you in decreasing cravings for foods that are rich in cholesterol. By maintaining cholesterol level, the risk of stroke and heart attack also reduces gradually.

Some popular cholesterol-lowering foods are as follows:

Oats
If you are searching for various effective ways to reduce your cholesterol level naturally, then one of the best possible procedures is by changing the morning meal. If you consume two servings of oats consuming calorie-rich foods like sandwiches, deep- fried omelets, etc., then you will be able to lower 5.3% of bad cholesterol in just forty- two days. This is because oats contain a particular substance called beta-glucan which is efficient in absorbing LDL (bad cholesterol). If you find it boring to eat cholesterol-lowering foods like oats daily, then you can try different recipes of oats to make it interesting.

Fatty fish and salmon
A natural and amazing health wonder is Omega- 3 fats. It is effective in treating dementia, heart disease as well as various other diseases. Besides these benefits, another beneficial feature of such fats is to lower cholesterol level. According to Loma Linda University’s research, reducing saturated fats with the help of Omega- 3 fats found in fatty fish and salmon might increase good cholesterol up to 4%.

Nuts
If you are in search of snacks which can satiate your hunger and also reduce the level of cholesterol simultaneously, then you can opt for nuts. A study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It stated that if an individual consumed 1.5 oz of walnuts continuously for a month and six days per week, then it reduced the total cholesterol level by 5.4% as well as LDL cholesterol by 9.3%.

Apart from whole walnuts, two other useful options in decreasing cholesterol from your body are cashews and almonds. Nuts prove to be healthy for a person’s heart, but they contain high- calories too. So, it is better to practice consuming a controlled amount of nuts such as 1.5 oz which means equal to one and a half shot glass. Thus, if you are willing to consider nuts as cholesterol-lowering foods, then you must use a shot glass for measuring the specific portion which is perfect for your health. It will be a wise decision to consult a physician in such cases as he or she is the best person to suggest the amount needed by your body.

Avocado
A fantastic source of monosaturated fat that is healthy for the heart and is helpful in raising HDL or good cholesterol levels as well as decreasing LDL levels is avocado. This particular food contains beta-sitosterol which is an effective fat that is plant-based. It assists in lowering the cholesterol amount, which is absorbed by your daily food. Thus, the excellent combination of monosaturated fat along with beta-sitosterol proves avocado to be an outstanding cholesterol buster.

As avocado is rich in calorie, so the best strategy for consuming this veggie is by removing some other fatty food from your diet. An avocado (whole) contains thirty grams fat and three hundred calories. Again, the best idea is to take the advice of your doctor rather than determining the amount required for lowering cholesterol on your own.

Spinach
Among numerous cholesterol-lowering foods, one of the healthiest and common green food is spinach. It consists of huge amount of lutein which is the yellow pigment present in deep green leafy vegetables as well as in egg yolks. According to researchers, if a person consumes half a cup of food rich in lutein then it will protect him or her against heart attack as it assists the walls of arteries to remove cholesterol invaders.

Tea
You might be astonished to see the name of this beverage on the list of cholesterol-lowering foods. In the hot or iced state, tea provides lots of anti-oxidant compounds. Such compounds also help in reducing the level of cholesterol as well as blood pressure. Both black and green tea possesses high levels of anti-oxidants so you can enjoy a minimum of one cup tea daily.

Changing your diet and including the foods mentioned above is a great way to reduce cholesterol, but it can be a slow process. For faster results, doctors may prescribe medications along with a healthy diet for patients with extremely high cholesterol levels. There are two popular medicines that can help in this regard — Livalo and Repatha. Since they could be slightly expensive, using discount coupons can be beneficial. Here’s some information on Livalo discount prescription coupons and Repatha prescription coupons.

Livalo
It is a “statin” drug that reduces triglycerides and bad cholesterol by increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol. Livalo discount prescription coupons are available across many pharmacy websites. Livalo also has its own Savings Program, which helps individuals save on out-of-pocket expenses. All one needs to do is get a Livalo Savings Card and present it to the pharmacist along with a Livalo prescription. The card saves on co-pay balances that exceed $18 (up to $75) on a 30-day supply and $54 (up to $225) on a 90-day supply. However, this Livalo prescription coupon offer is only for patients who use retail or mail-order pharmacies and have commercial or private insurance. Individuals without insurance will have to pay cash to avail the Livalo prescription coupon offer. This drug reduces the risk of heart conditions and is also used to treat inherited high cholesterol in children of at least eight years.

Repatha®
Repatha®, like Livalo, is also a “statin” drug that helps in lowering cholesterol. It is prescribed alone or with a combination of other drugs and a heart-healthy diet to effectively reduce the risk of heart diseases. This drug is a member of the PCSK9 inhibitor class, which also helps manage Heterozygous Familial. Similar to Livalo, Repatha® prescription coupons are also available in several pharmacies. Repatha’s official website also has offers that help individuals reduce out-of-pocket expenses. If one has commercial insurance like PPO, HMO, or COBRA, or Medicare Part D coverage, the cost of Repatha® reduces to $50 per month, depending on the type of insurance. Opting for the Repatha® Copay Card can help reduce costs to as low as $5 per month. Repatha® prescription coupon benefits cannot exceed $5,500 annually. It is important to note that the Repatha® prescription coupon will not work for those enrolled in any government-funded program like Medicare, Retiree Drug Subsidy Program, Medigap, etc, or for uninsured patients.

One must also keep in mind that prescription coupons and discount cards may seem like they can save substantial expenses, but they come with a lot of terms and conditions. It’s always advisable to review the prescription coupon carefully before opting for one. One also needs to be careful about certain medications that can have side effects. Ibrutinib is a prescription medicine sold under the brand name IMBRUVICA®. It is prescribed for people suffering from B-cell cancers since it helps inhibit B-cell proliferation. A common side effect of ibrutinib is atrial fibrillation, in which the person suffers from a quivering or irregular rhythm in their heartbeat. Other side effects include bleeding (hemorrhage), nausea, and diarrhea. Excessive bleeding may also lead to bruises, dark or bloody stools, etc.

NEXLETOL
NEXLETOL is an FDA-approved prescription option that helps lower LDL cholesterol. It is usually used in combination with other bad cholesterol-lowering statins and lifestyle changes. Its dosage will be determined by the health care professional depending on the patient’s current condition. The new NEXLETOL is a treatment option for people with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and some cardiac concerns. It can interact with other treatments or foods and thus, detailed data should be provided to the doctor while consulting.