To stay healthy, it is very important to monitor your cholesterol levels. If it is essential for the proper functioning of the organism, when it is present in excess, it can become dangerous for health. You should know that we can also distinguish two types of cholesterol: HDL (“good cholesterol”) which protects the heart, and LDL (“bad cholesterol”) which, in too large quantities, promotes deposits in the arteries, in addition to increasing risk of cardiovascular disease.
The food on which to bet to reduce bad cholesterol
One of the best ways to regulate cholesterol is to pay attention to your diet. A balanced diet rich in fibers, fruits, vegetables and vegetable proteins can indeed make all the difference. As reported Yahoo Newsamong the foods most recommended by specialists, there are some that stands out particularly. This one is none other than soy. “Soy is known to reduce triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol”explains the cardiologist, Dr Jayne Morganfrom the Piedmont Healthcare Corporation to Atlanta.
A study relayed by The Journal of Nutrition and quoted by Surrey Live confirms these beneficial effects. Carried out by researchers in Canada and the United States, it reveals that“Significant consumption of soy protein in the diet can reduce LDL levels from 3 % to 4 % in adults”.
How to integrate more soybeans into your diet?
The Heart UK charitable association specifies that “The soy and the foods that come from it are rich in protein, vitamins and minerals, and poor in saturated fats”. By replacing foods rich in saturated fats such as meat, whole dairy products or crisps with tofu, soybean drinks or plant yogurts, we therefore act positively on its cholesterol levels and therefore on the health of the heart.
However, some experts call for caution. Victoria Taylordietician at the British Heart Foundation, underlines that “When the evidence was examined by the European Food Safety Authority, this effect was not constantly observed”. If soybeans remain a major ally in a healthy diet, other studies are necessary to confirm its systematic effects on cholesterol.
