A cardiologist has shared the one supermarket staple you should add to your diet that could help lower cholesterol and support heart health
A balanced diet can help improve overall health
A health expert has unveiled the one food you should be incorporating into your diet to help bring down your cholesterol levels.
Keeping a well-balanced and nutritious diet is crucial to your overall wellbeing, and overhauling eating habits is essential for those who need to get their cholesterol under control.
Dr Oliver Guttmann, a consultant cardiologist at The Wellington Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare UK, has shed light on what people ought to be eating, with one supermarket staple proving to be particularly powerful.
To tackle high cholesterol, people need to cut back on fatty foods, particularly those rich in saturated fat, according to the NHS. Dr Guttmann said: “Focus on eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins,” advises Guttmann.
High cholesterol is when you have too much of a fatty substance called cholesterol in your blood(Image: Getty)
“Reduce intake of saturated and trans fats, found in fatty meats, fried foods, and processed snacks. Opt for healthy fats like those in avocados, nuts, and olive oil.”
That one standout ingredient that can be especially beneficial in lowering cholesterol is the avocado, reports the Express.
The British Heart Foundation says: “Avocados are full of vitamins, minerals and fibre, and high in healthy unsaturated fats, meaning they fit well into heart-healthy diets such as the Mediterranean and DASH diets.
“They also have a lovely creamy taste and texture that means they can feel indulgent, making them a good substitute for foods like cheese, butter and fatty meats that are high in unhealthy fats.”
Avocado is an easy item to add into your breakfast or lunch(Image: Getty)
Whether slathered on toast, tucked into a sandwich, or thrown into a fajita or burrito, avocados are a simple and delicious addition to any meal. “Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in your blood that is essential for building cells and producing certain hormones,” explains Dr Guttmann.
There are two primary forms of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).
“LDL is often called ‘bad’ cholesterol because high levels can lead to plaque build-up in arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease,” explains Guttmann.
“HDL, on the other hand, is known as ‘good’ cholesterol because it helps remove LDL from the bloodstream.”
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