Cholesterol is a complex topic. Whereas you need a certain amount of cholesterol for normal body functions, too much is not good for you.
If a doctor tells you that you have high cholesterol, that means that your LDL cholesterol ((“bad” cholesterol)) levels are too high, and now you must work on lowering them. Although things such as decreasing your stress, quitting smoking, and exercising regularly can all help considerably, don’t neglect to eat healthier food because this also is equally important.
But it’s not just the food you eat; the combinations of food too can help you with specific health complications like lowering bad cholesterol. It is so because this not only allows having a multitude of nutrients in one bite, but also, certain combinations are ideal for specific conditions. For instance, combining oatmeal made with almond milk as a breakfast can help reduce cholesterol levels.
Read here to learn more about how this breakfast combination can help lower cholesterol levels and boost your heart health.
Best Breakfast Combination For Lowering Cholesterol & Heart Health
Oatmeal has been found to help manage weight, improve gut health, and decrease cholesterol levels. That explains why it is claimed to be one of the healthiest breakfast options.
One bowl of oatmeal will ensure you get roughly five grams of dietary fiber. Oatmeal, in particular, has soluble fiber, which can cut back cholesterol absorption into your bloodstream, and 5 to 10 grams of soluble fiber a day can lower your LDL cholesterol.
Studies Support Oatmeal Can Lower Bad Cholesterol Levels
A study published in Nutrients reported that the intake of soluble fiber not only improves heart health by decreasing blood cholesterol levels but is also helpful in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease overall.
Besides its fiber content, one more reason why oatmeal is such a healthy breakfast option is that we can also add various other nutrient-dense, healthy ingredients to our bowl. For instance, nut products such as almond milk or almond butter are good choices.
Nuts such as almonds can help reduce LDL cholesterol. In addition, almond milk contains healthy fats, fiber, magnesium, and other essential vitamins. Therefore, adding almond milk or almond butter to your oatmeal and throwing in fruits like sliced apples, raspberries, or strawberries will give you an additional fiber boost for a healthy, nutritious breakfast.
One review published in The Journal of Nutrition reported that regular intake of almonds and almond oil had been shown to help reduce “bad” cholesterol and increase “good” cholesterol.
If you’re searching for a nutritious, heart-healthy breakfast packed with healthy fats, vitamins, and soluble fiber, having a bowl of oatmeal with almond milk or almond butter, plus some delicious fruit, is the ideal option for you.
About Author: Renu Bakshi, AKA Fitness Buffhq, is ISSA Certified Elite Trainer. He passed Personal Fitness Trainer Course, Nutrition Health Coach course & Specialist Exercise Therapy course from ISSA, USA obtaining + 97% marks. He shares his experience and knowledge about nutrition and effective workouts to get you in the best shape of your life, no matter how old you may be. The author says: “For me, age is just a number!”