The importance of maintaining low cholesterol levels is a topic that has been discussed repeatedly in medical circles. We know that having high levels of triglycerides and LDL (bad cholesterol) and low levels of HDL (good cholesterol) increases the risk for coronary artery disease, yet many people may not be aware of this fact.
High cholesterol occurs when cholesterol accumulates on the lining of your arterial wall, which then develops into fatty streaks. As this continues to build, it results in injury to the lining. Once this occurs, your body will try to heal the lining, which causes the healing cells to also begin accumulating on the arterial wall.
As this trend continues — with the accumulation of fatty streaks, cholesterol, and healing cells on the arterial walls — plaque begins to occur. This causes the arteries to harden, which results in smaller arteries. This, in turn, makes it difficult for blood to pass through them. This can lead to clots, which can then become enlarged, thus causing further obstruction of blood flow to the heart.
When these clots break free, they start to travel throughout the artery and can get stuck. This is the cause of a heart attack. Now, while you cannot control genetics or age, you can reduce your risk of this happening by making certain lifestyle changes.
There are two kinds of cholesterol — good and bad. The bad cholesterol is known as low-density lipoprotein (LDL), while the good kind is known as high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Keep in mind that the more LDL cholesterol you have in your system the more at risk you are of experiencing a heart attack.
Eating a well-balanced diet and getting regular exercise will help to lower your cholesterol levels. But, there are a few foods — such as oats — that can help you even further.
I don’t know about you, but a warm bowl of oatmeal on a cold winter morning makes for the perfect breakfast. Well, it turns out that it’s more than just a yummy food!
Oatmeal can lower your LDL levels without compromising your HDL levels. In fact, oat bran will do the same thing. The reason for this might be found in the soluble fiber, which is thought to stick to cholesterol, thereby inhibiting its absorption. Studies have shown time and time again that oatmeal is beneficial and, as a result, it now bears the heart- healthy logo.
The beta-glucan in soluble fiber is the part that is beneficial for lowering your cholesterol levels and improving your heart health. Oats offer the best form of beta-glucan, but you can also obtain it in barley and rice as well.
Five to 10 grams of soluble fiber per day is recommended. Combined with insoluble fiber, you should be obtaining 20 to 35 grams of fiber per day. Three grams of fiber per day derived from eating oats is beneficial to your heart.
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Tags: Cholesterol, Heart Attack
