Cholesterol Lowering Foods More Powerful Than Drugs?

This is an interesting article on the effects of cholesterol lowering foods vs. maintenance medicines.  It would definitely be cheaper if you can just eat nuts instead of buying Crestor or Lipitor right?  Read on:

A new study indicates that eating cholesterol lowering foods, such as soy and nuts, may be one of the most effective ways to lower levels of LDL, or bad cholesterol. This is big news in the fight against heart disease, the number one cause of death in the United States. High cholesterol levels, or more specifically high LDL levels, are a major risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease.

Normally, patients have relied on a diet that is low in saturated fat and medications to lower cholesterol. While minimizing the red meat and heavy cream remains a good practice for supporting heart health, simply adding certain foods to your diet may be one of the best remedies for high cholesterol, not drugs.

Details of the Study

According to the Los Angeles Times, a study released by the Journal of the American Medical Association discovered that eating certain foods may be more effective than taking statin drugs, such as Lipitor and Crestor. These medications are prescribed to patients with high levels of LDL cholesterol. 345 participants with high cholesterol took part in the six-month long Toronto-based study. Those who followed an intensive diet of cholesterol lowering foods experienced the best results, with LDL levels dropping by more than 13 percent.

Doctors aren't recommending that anyone stop taking their medications just yet. Statins and other lipid-regulating drugs were prescribed more than any other type of medication in the United States last year. Eating effective foods while also following a low-fat, high-fiber diet however is certainly not a bad idea. Maybe with these foods patients will be able to improve their cholesterol levels enough so that the drugs are no longer necessary.

What Are the Best Cholesterol Lowering Foods?

So what are the best foods to eat to help reduce those LDL levels? Soy products are high on the list — what a great reason to try switching to soy milk and substituting tofu for that hamburger or steak two or three times a week. Nuts and seeds, which are high in healthy unsaturated fatty acids, as well as fiber, are also good choices. Legumes, vegetables, and whole grains such as oatmeal and barley also can help to lower cholesterol.


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