High cholesterol: The 43p snack which can lower levels
This Morning's Dr Chris discusses the signs of high cholesterol
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You might have high cholesterol without even knowing it as it doesn’t cause many symptoms. But too much of this fatty substance can lead to your blood vessels getting blocked, making you prone to heart problems and stroke. Here’s one way to lower levels.
A diet rich in fatty foods is one of the key contributors to high cholesterol levels.
Having too much saturated fat can increase your levels of “bad” cholesterol, leading to various health problems.
But there is one thing able to flush out high levels of cholesterol out of your body – fibre.
One cheap food rich in fibre is apple, according to Heart UK.
Some types of fibre, for example, pectin can help lower cholesterol.
And pectin is a type of soluble fibre found in apples.
This type of fibre blocks some of the cholesterol from being absorbed from your intestines into your bloodstream.
According to the Mayo Clinic, aiming for at least five to 10 grams of soluble fibre daily should do the trick.
However, two apples a day could be better for lowering cholesterol, according to a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
This study’s findings suggest that having two apples daily could lower “bad cholesterol” levels.
The research looked at the introduction of Renetta Canada apples into normal diets, in particular.
The study explains this is due to apple’s polyphenol and fibre content.
Polyphenols are plant compounds linked to various health benefits.
These plant goodies are believed to protect against heart disease and even certain cancers when consumed regularly.
But the apple study only looked at 23 women and 17 men, so a larger-scale study might be necessary to further investigate apple’s effects on cholesterol.
Heart UK adds that it’s important to have at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day to ensure a varied diet.
How do I know if I have high cholesterol?
To find out your cholesterol levels, you have to get a blood test as that’s the only reliable way.
Your doctor might even prompt you to have one if they think your levels are high.
There are two ways of getting tested – having blood taken from the arm or a finger-prick test.
If the test proves your cholesterol is high, you might have to change your diet or start taking medicine to lower it.
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