Foods That Reduce LDL Cholesterol in Your Body

There are basically two different types of lipoproteins that carry cholesterol in your body. They are high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and also low-density lipoproteins (LDL). Generally, HDL is also known as good cholesterol as it transports cholesterol from your whole body to your liver where the cholesterol is removed. On the other hand, LDL is usually labeled as bad cholesterol as high levels can clot the arteries.

1. Oat Bran and Oatmeal
- Oatmeal is high in soluble fiber, which is effective in reducing the bad cholesterol levels. This type of dietary fiber can also be found abundantly in foods like barley, prunes, pears and apples. Soluble fiber helps block cholesterol absorption into your blood. According to studies, by taking 5 to 10 grams of soluble fiber daily is sufficient to lower your LDL cholesterol and the total cholesterol in whole. One and a half cups of oatmeal give you 6 grams of food fiber.

2. Fish
- Fish is a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids, especially halibut, herring, lake trout mackerel, salmon and tuna. Therefore, it is an excellent food to help decrease your cholesterol levels and promote a healthy heart. In order to control your blood pressure and protect yourself from clots in the bloodstream, fish with good amount of Omega-3 fatty acids is a wonderful choice. For people with heart disease, Omega-3 fatty acids protect them against sudden death due to heart attack. Furthermore, these fatty acids are also capable of increasing HDL cholesterol or good cholesterol in your body.

3. Nuts
- Nuts like almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, pecans and walnuts are brilliant in reducing triglycerides. There are some incredible compounds in them that are transformed into Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) -- two types of Omega-3 fatty acids -- in your body. According to Food and Drug Administration (FDA), intake of 1 1/2 ounces of various nuts every day helps reduce the risk of developing heart disease.

4. Blueberries
- Blueberries contain a compound known as Pterostilbene, which is a natural remedy to cut down LDL cholesterol levels with no unwanted side effects. Anthocyanins, an antioxidant found substantially in blueberries, are also effective in lowering LDL cholesterol and balance up your overall cholesterol levels.

5. Green Tea
- Scientific studies have found that green tea help lower overall cholesterol and LDL in particular. As reported by Reuters in November 2011, a study in the United States that has over a thousand participants has shown that green tea helps lower bad cholesterol readings, when drunk as beverage or taken in a capsule. However, scientists have found no evidence that green tea helps increase HDL cholesterol or reduce triglycerides. — with Anlyn Quelitano, Ashutosh Batish, Himanshu Lall and 12 others.