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Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels is crucial for heart health, and diet plays a significant role. To keep cholesterol low, it’s essential to avoid trans fats, saturated fats, and tropical oils. Instead, focusing on foods rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber, unsaturated fats, and polyphenol-rich foods is recommended.
Key Foods to Lower Cholesterol:
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Nuts:
- Recommend about 1/3 cup of unsalted nuts daily (e.g., walnuts, almonds, pistachios).
- They can lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure.
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Lentils:
- High in soluble fiber and essential nutrients (zinc, magnesium, potassium).
- Help bind cholesterol and bile acids, leading to increased excretion and lower LDL levels.
Incorporating nuts and lentils into your diet regularly can support heart health and help manage cholesterol levels.