What is the best fruit to lower cholesterol

Having high cholesterol can be a scary thing. Although your body needs certain levels of cholesterol for optimum functioning, too much of it can lead to clogged arteries and a higher risk of heart disease.

Thankfully, you can help maintain healthy cholesterol levels by adopting a healthy diet. However, it may be overwhelming to decide which foods you need to eat in order to keep your numbers at bay.

There are many different types of food that can help your cholesterol numbers, and according to research, apples contain an ingredient that has been known to have cholesterol-lowering properties.

Continue reading to learn about why apples are one of the best fruits you can eat to lower your cholesterol, and for more healthy eating tips, check out Best Breakfast Habits to Lower Cholesterol.

Apples are the best fruit to lower cholesterol.

What is the best fruit to lower cholesterol

According to Harvard Health, there are many different foods that can help you lower your cholesterol in their own unique ways. For example, oats can help because of their high fiber content, while certain fish can aid in lowering cholesterol because of their omega-3 levels.

So what is it about apples specifically that makes them the best cholesterol-lowering fruit? Apples are one of the fruits with the highest amount of fiber, and they contain a specific type of soluble fiber called pectin.

According to Mayo Clinic, soluble fiber can help lower your LDL (low-density lipoprotein) levels by reducing how much cholesterol is absorbed into your bloodstream.

And a study published in the European Journal of Nutrition found that not only does pectin fiber help reduce cholesterol, but that the pectin found in apples was some of the best for cholesterol-lowering from fruit sources.

Avocados are the runner-up fruit

What is the best fruit to lower cholesterol

avocado brown paper bag

Another fruit that may help lower cholesterol, which some may not even realize is a fruit, is avocado! This fruit is a reliable source of healthy fat, and according to Harvard Health, healthy fats can replace unhealthier ones, which in turn can help reduce cholesterol levels.

Fruits and vegetables can help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers. They contain vitamins, minerals and plant chemicals which help you to stay healthy, and most contain little or no fat and are low in calories, so they can help you to stay a healthy weight. And, if you are eating more fruit and veg, chances are you're eating less of the other more energy-packed foods.

Fruit and vegetables are also high in fibre, and some types of fibre can help to lower your cholesterol. It blocks some cholesterol from being absorbed from the intestines into the blood stream. Pulses such as beans, peas and lentils are particularly high in this kind of fibre. Sweet potato, aubergine, okra (ladies’ fingers), broccoli, apples, strawberries and prunes are also good options.

Poor food choices can raise levels of bad cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in your blood. Eating fatty food, consuming alcohol, and leading a sedentary lifestyle can be a deadly combination for high cholesterol levels that could lead to obesity and further increase your chances of heart attack or stroke. Not all cholesterol is bad and there is a need for good cholesterol or high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in our body for important functions. Liver makes all the cholesterol your body demands naturally. Red meat, processed meat, fried foods are high on bad cholesterol while ghee, eggs, cheese must be added to diet for getting good cholesterol. (Also read: High cholesterol: Watch out for these warning signs that appear on skin)

Apart from that there are many fruits that can help control levels of bad cholesterol in the body considering they are rich in dietary fibre.

"Several fruits are good to balance the high cholesterol levels of the body. Fruits high in soluble fibre prevent one from heart diseases such as heart stroke, artery blockage, heart attack, and other heart problems," says Sonia Bakshi, Nutritionist and Founder DtF.

The nutritionist suggests 6 fruits to managed cholesterol levels.

1. Apple

Apple is considered as one of the best fruits when it comes to lowering cholesterol. Apples are rich in soluble fibre which keeps our heart healthy. Additionally, apples contain polyphenols which can help lower our cholesterol levels.

2. Banana

The fiber and potassium in bananas can reduce the level of cholesterol and blood pressure. Banana is especially known as a good source of soluble fibre which will gives one a healthy body and good immune system.

3. Grapes

Grapes get into the bloodstream and carry all the bad cholesterol into the liver where it gets processed.

4. Berries

Blackberry and strawberries have shown results in lowering cholesterol levels in the body. They prevent LDL cholesterol from becoming oxidized, which is believed to be a major risk factor for heart disease.

5. Pineapple

Pineapple is a good source of vitamins, minerals, and nutrition. Bromelain which is present in pineapple breaks down cholesterol deposits in arteries, which support healthy blood flow and reduces our risk of heart disease.

6. Avocados

They are rich in oleic acid, which helps with bad cholesterol in blood flow. Avocados can be consumed in salads, sandwiches, toast, smoothies, and many other ways.

What is the best fruit for high cholesterol?

7. Apples, grapes, strawberries, citrus fruits. These fruits are rich in pectin, a type of soluble fiber that lowers LDL.

What is the number one food to lower cholesterol?

Oatmeal, oat bran and high-fiber foods Oatmeal contains soluble fiber, which reduces your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol. Soluble fiber is also found in such foods as kidney beans, Brussels sprouts, apples and pears.

What is the best drink to lower cholesterol?

Drinks that can lower cholesterol.
Green tea. Green tea is not nearly as processed as other types of tea, which allows it to hold onto its natural medicinal properties that have been utilized for centuries. ... .
Pomegranate juice. ... .
Soy milk. ... .
Plant-based smoothies. ... .
Red wine..

Do bananas reduce cholesterol?

The fiber and potassium in bananas can reduce the level of cholesterol and blood pressure. Banana is especially known as a good source of soluble fibre which will gives one a healthy body and good immune system.