foods to lower cholesterol

[DizzyHoneyBee]

I've just found out that (like 99%) of my family, I have high cholesterol. I've yet to see the GP as no appointments are available. There doesn't seem to be much on google about foods to lower cholesterol naturally other than almonds, apples and citrus fruit.
If any of you know of any perhaps you'd be able to let me know? I was thinking red foods for some reason - red grapes, blueberries (OK, not red) and stuff like watercress.

thanks

[MadeleineMorrow]

Just read your message about high cholesterol. I have reduced mine in 90 days with brisk walking 30 minutes, five days a week and adjusting my eating. I am about to set up a new blog which is like a diary of those 90 days plus a recipe (and photo) for every day. Apologies if this reads like a plug for my work - really not especially as the blog not up yet - but it will give you a lot of info about all sorts of issues relating to cholesterol that I did not know before I was in your position. Let me know if you would find this useful and I will send you the link as soon as I have set it up (Soon).
In the meantime, one of the most important foods to add in to your diet is oats. You should ideally eat oats every day as it is like a broom that sweeps out your arteries. I get my oats in for breakfast. Other very important food group is pulses - so make sure you eat lentils, chickpeas and so on although not daily or you will be very flatulent. You are right about almonds - a handful a day is really good. Also eat red apples, pears, red grapes.
Generally cut out as much saturated fat as you can - ie animal fats in meat and dairy (switch to no-fat dairy products and skimmed milk).
Depending on how high your level is you can drink one Benecol drink a day while you are reducing your cholesterol.
When you see your GP ask for a printout of your figures as it is not only the overall level that counts but the ratio between HDL and LDL.
Good luck

[Rollmops]

Porridge. The old fashioned kind, not the rubbish quick-cook slop.
Simple bowl of porridge a day will sort your cholesterol problem out in a month. Do not, obviously, drench it in butter or similar.
Recommended by dean department of Medicine of an ancient university, MD and PhD.
I'll listen to him .

[ppeatfruit]

In Liz Earle's book on Vital Oils she talks about olive oil and linseed oil as being amazingly efficient at bringing down cholesterol.

[ClareMarriott]

Yes, porridge, porridge and more porridge !!

[DizzyHoneyBee]

Thanks....I love the stuff thank goodness :)

[digerd]

An aquaintance of mine told me he gave up his statins and ate loads ( did not say how many) OLIVES every evening after work, and next blood test showed his cholesterol was back to normal. I tried that too but with statins and in 3 months it reduced from 6.5 to 4.3. Previously on the same dosage of Statins only - no olives-, it took 12 months to get down from 6.9 -3.5. I took a year off statins at 3.5. So, I think olives worked for me too. If you can eat loads every evening.
I ate the ones stuffed with jalapeno.

[DizzyHoneyBee]

Oh, useful tip, thanks. Such a shame that they make me feel sick though! Maybe it'll work for somebody else.

[CogitOCrapNotMoreSprouts]

Aren't olives usually stored in salty brine? Wouldn't your BP go up as your cholesterol came down?

[BigStickBIWI]

Hmm. fromthehealthyheart, you have joined MN today, and in all of your posts you are posting your website. This isn't allowed by MNHQ unless you pay a fee, I believe.

[FredFredGeorge]

Most cholesterol in the body is produced by the body, cholesterol intake can't make major changed to it, although as noted one of the fibres in oats does reduce it.

Improving your fitness will do the most to lower your levels though. So get fit!

[fromthehealthyheart]

Hi BigStickBIWI - Sorry to have trodden on toes. Am on a steep learning curve clearly. Apologies.