Common fruit 'cuts dangerous cholesterol and makes your heart stronger'
If you are worried about your heart health, there are certain foods that can help make it stronger, as well as lowering cholesterol levels. Your body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells, but too much of it increases the risk of heart disease which is why consuming enough fruit is important as they can work to lower too much cholesterol.
Elevated cholesterol levels pose a risk for heart disease or stroke since it can accumulate in the arteries, potentially disrupting blood flow. Fruit is packed with nutrients such as fibre, vitamins and antioxidants which all work together to support a healthy cardiovascular system and it's the soluble fibre that that helps reduce cholesterol levels.
Here are some of the best fruits to help your heart... Vitamin C rich fruits such as oranges, apples, grapefruits and lemons contain a soluble fibre called pectin. There have been studies to show that pectin works to decrease the levels of "bad" cholesterol in the body, and the combination of flavonoids in oranges and grapefruits helps both arterial flexibility, and inflammation reduction.
Avocados are also a great fruit to reduce cholesterol - containing a huge amount of monounsaturated fats, also known as 'healthy' fats. These healthy fats mean avocados are a great food source for improving heart health and eating them daily can significantly improve levels especially for those who are overweight.
Another cholesterol busting fruit are bananas due to the soluble fibre, as well as plant sterols. Plant sterols might help reduce cholesterol levels by limiting the amount of cholesterol that is able to enter the body and are substances that are similar to cholesterol but are made in plants. Bananas are full of fibre which helps to aid and suppirt the digestive system and weight management too.
Despite it not being a fruit, oats are also a great food source for maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. They are packed with a special kind of soluble fibre known as beta glucans, which have been highlighted as essential for cardiac wellbeing by Inside Tracker.
This soluble fibre transforms into a gel-like substance within the gut when consumed, aiding in the prevention of cholesterol absorption into the body.
Barley also functions similarly, yet oats and oatmeal are remarkably simple to incorporate into your daily meals, from the summer through to the winter months.
From overnight oats (soaked in cold milk) with added fruit, to porridge during chillier months, you'll be able to incorporate this soluble fibre into most everyday diets - and even some healthier flapjack recipes will count, reports Surrey Live.
Oats can be sourced from supermarkets or health food stores with ease, available as whole, medium rolled or in oatmeal form - each offering different textures for various recipes, though all are beneficial for your wellbeing.
Oats are rich in fibre, and consuming adequate amounts of fibre offers numerous health advantages, according to studies. Besides potentially reducing your risk of heart disease, getting sufficient fibre is also associated with a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes.
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