Have you come across someone who, however much he or she eats, never seems to gain a kilo? They will eat all the junk food in the world but it will never show on the weighing scale. This does not mean that kind of person is at no risk of suffering from high cholesterol conditions such as coronary heart disease, heart attack or stroke. High cholesterol intake may not show up in your body weight but it certainly can show up in your blood system.
The body needs healthy/good levels of cholesterol for functions such as maintaining cell membrane and building vitamin D. When the cholesterol is higher than the body needs, it is deposited in the arteries making it harder for blood to flow through them. This can also lead to dangerous blood clots and inflammation that can cause heart attacks and strokes.
Contrary to what many people believe, this condition affects all body types although it is more common among obese people and it can also be a genetic condition. That said, there are a few home remedies that can help you keep an eye on your cholesterol levels:
Cut down on artificial fats
The reason why fats, especially animal fats, are dangerous is because they are addictive. The more you eat them the more your body demands and even if you are not complaining about body weight, you are doing your blood arteries an injustice. If you spent the holiday season eating meat, now is the time to cut down.
Find some soluble fibres
Aside from wheat, no food is more fibre-rich than beans. Soluble fibre helps bind cholesterol in the intestines, preventing their re-absorption into the body and subsequently into the arteries. Soluble fibre is also found in oats, brown rice, peas, apples, carrots and most other fruits and vegetables.
Add green fats to your diet
Boost your diet with green fats, also known as monounsaturated fats. These are mostly found in plants. Avocado which is high in calories is the best source of green fat which the body can never have enough of. Other types of green fats include groundnuts, peanut butter, pumpkin seeds, olive oil, sunflower oil and fish.
A glass of red wine a day
Although alcohol consumption can increase the risks of high cholesterol, red wine when taken in moderation helps neutralise the body’s cholesterol levels. This is so because of its polyphenol antioxidant content that reduces the levels of bad cholesterol whilst raising the levels of the good cholesterol. A glass of wine or two a day is worth a while. Other healthy drinks include green tea, lemon juice, grape juice, yoghurt and ginger tea.
Exercise, exercise, exercise
Exercising also helps the body get rid of the excess cholesterol in the system while providing lots of other health benefits as well.
