Nuts and oats lower cholesterol
Eating a diet rich in nuts, oats and soy products can help people to lower their cholesterol levels, according to research from the University of Toronto.The team discovered that eating a diet which contained food that had cholesterol lowering properties was more effective than following a low-fat eating plan.
People involved in the trial who ate a low-fat diet, rich in fruit and vegetables, experienced a three per cent decrease in bad cholesterol levels.
Those who ate a diet which included nuts, oats, lentils and soy products for a period of six months had a drop of more than 13 per cent in LDL cholesterol.
It was estimated that if people followed this diet for a prolonged period, they would experience an 11 per cent reduction in the risk of developing heart disease.
The NHS states that eating an unhealthy diet and smoking are risk factors for elevated LDL cholesterol levels, although these are things which can be altered by changing lifestyle.
