What dietary factors are important in lowering high cholesterol?
Eat less saturated fat and cholesterol by reducing or eliminating the amounts of animal products in the diet. Increase the consumption of fiber-rich plant foods (fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, and raw nuts and seeds). See also ATHEROSCLEROSIS. When attempting to lower cholesterol through diet it is important to eat a variety of cholesterol-lowering vegetables including celery, beets, eggplant, garlic and onion, peppers and root vegetables. In addition, dandelion root and Jerusalem artichoke contains the fiber inulin which improves production of antioxidant enzymes while decreasing total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and raising concentrations of beneficial HDL cholesterol. Diets rich in legumes, including peanuts, are being used to lower cholesterol levels and soy protein has been shown in some studies to be able to lower total cholesterol levels by 30% and to lower LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, levels by as much as 35-40%. Nuts and seeds, particularly almonds and walnuts, ar
