| Close to 107 million U.S. adults have cholesterol levels | | | | similar to resveratrol, the antioxidant found in grapes |
| of 200 mg/dL or higher, a level that the American | | | | and red wine). This compound has effectively |
| Heart Association says increases the risk of heart | | | | lowered cholesterol levels in animal studies. 5. Salmon |
| disease and stroke. At least 12 million of these people | | | | This fish is a particularly good source of omega-3 |
| are taking statin drugs to lower their cholesterol | | | | fatty acids, which are known to lower LDL |
| levels, but there are more natural options out there. | | | | cholesterol while raising the good (HDL) kind. 6. Garlic |
| According to the American Heart Association, "You | | | | Numerous studies have demonstrated that eating |
| can reduce cholesterol in your blood by eating | | | | garlic regularly reduces LDL cholesterol and raises HDL |
| healthful foods, losing weight if you need to and | | | | levels. 7. Avocado Avocados are rich in oleic acid, a |
| exercising." What follows is a listing of the most | | | | monounsaturated fat known to help lower |
| potent foods to add to your diet if you want to | | | | cholesterol. In fact, one study found that people with |
| fight high cholesterol and drive your levels down using | | | | moderately high cholesterol levels who ate a diet high |
| your diet as a primary tool. 1. Shitake Mushrooms The | | | | in avocados for one week had significant drops in |
| active component in shitake | | | | total and LDL cholesterol levels, and an 11 percent |
| mushrooms--eritadenine--has been found to lower | | | | increase in the good HDL cholesterol. 8. Black Beans |
| cholesterol levels in animal studies. The more | | | | Black beans and other legumes are high in dietary |
| eritadenine the animals received, the more their | | | | fiber, which is an excellent cholesterol fighter. 9. |
| cholesterol levels dropped. 2. Walnuts A study in the | | | | Apples Rich in both pectin and fiber, along with |
| April 2004 issue of Circulation found that when | | | | powerful antioxidants, including quercetin, catechin, |
| walnuts were substituted for about one-third of the | | | | phloridzin and chlorogenic acid, apples help lower bad |
| calories supplied by olives and other monounsaturated | | | | cholesterol while raising the good kind. 10. Dark Green, |
| fats in the Mediterranean diet, total cholesterol and | | | | Leafy Vegetables According to the National Heart, |
| LDL (bad) cholesterol were reduced. Walnuts contain | | | | Lung and Blood Institute's Family Heart Study, |
| the beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, which are known | | | | participants who ate four or more servings of fruits |
| to be excellent for the heart. 3. Uncooked Soy A | | | | and vegetables a day had significantly lower levels of |
| new study found that eating two servings of soy | | | | LDL cholesterol than those who ate fewer servings. |
| protein a day can lower cholesterol by up to 9 | | | | Among the most powerful veggies are the dark |
| percent--but it must be uncooked to have benefit. | | | | green, leafy variety, such as spinach, kale, collard |
| "Soy protein increases the activity of low-density | | | | greens and Swiss chard. This article was provided by |
| lipoprotein receptors primarily on the liver that clears | | | | the world's #1 most popular and trusted holistic living |
| it from the body. Eating soy protein increases the | | | | e-newsletter -- FREE to you right now at The old |
| activity of these enzymes that break down the | | | | way of thinking: "holistic living" pertains only to |
| cholesterol," said study author James Anderson, a | | | | personal health. The new way of thinking: "holistic |
| scientist at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. | | | | living" means prevention of the negative and |
| Good soy sources would be edamame or soy nuts. | | | | adherence to the positive in all SIX practical areas of |
| "Soy-fortified muffins, cereals or nutritional bars in | | | | life: relationships, finances, career, home environment, |
| which the soy protein was baked at high | | | | safety and health. With the e-newsletter, you will get |
| temperatures do not provide the benefit," Anderson | | | | holistic wisdom from the world's top experts in all six |
| said. 4. Blueberries Researchers with the U.S. | | | | of these areas -- completely FREE with a simple |
| Department of Agriculture have identified an | | | | sign-up (and a guaranteed no-spam policy! |
| antioxidant in blueberries called pterostilbene (it's | | | | |