Foods that help Cholesterol!

[Davylp25]

Howdy...

Well if you read my post from 2 weeks ago about my mi madre trying a green smoothie and lovin it, Im happy to report she has had one at least everday or every couple days. Wahoo! Proud of her.

I was just wondering, what foods can she add to a smoothie to help with Cholesterol? I know that garlic is a big helper, but again, mom has only added green smoothies, she isnt doing her own salad dressings at this time, or tons of other raw foods, one step at a time.... so I dunno if garlic in a smoothie will work. Yuck! lol. I also know fiber helps, so Flax Seeds are added. Anything else added to a green smoothie? Powders?

[RawBecky]

Well, I'm not sure about specific foods to add, but what about foods to remove from her diet?

[Davylp25]

Yeah, Im working on the education part. But if my mom goes in soon to the Dr and gets her cholest checked and its lower, it will inspire her to make more changes.

She isnt half as bad as some, but Im working on it.
LOL

[Rawkinlocs]

Davyl, I'm no expert, but I think the best thing that will help lower mom's cholesterol is to eliminate the offending foods. But I also understand she is taking baby steps here... but if she's eating a lot of (cooked) fat and oils, then maybe try getting her to cut back on some of that. Also, if garlic will help her in that area, then maybe adding more to her foods or perhaps garlic capsules (?) But in all truth and honesty, she could eat all the garlic and whatever other foods in the world, but as long as she is still consuming the foods that caused the cholesterol levels to go up in the first place, she may not show much improvement.

[Davylp25]

Yeah I understand.

So what foods in general, raise cholesterol? Im lost, since I dont eat them, and when I did, I didnt know the effects.??

I will go search online as well.

Thanks!

[Rawkinlocs]

For some it's considered to be genetics or if someone has diabetes or is borderline diabetic. Dietary-wise, too much saturated fat (the kind found in high-fat meats and dairy products) and cholesterol can cause your body to make more cholesterol, raising your blood cholesterol levels. You can lower your cholesterol level by cutting down on animal fat and other fats and eating foods rich in starch and fiber, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Exercise (or simply moving the body some kind of way in an active sorta way may help too in addition to diet change.

[Davylp25]

Hey,

Thanks. Yeah I do believe hers in genetic as well. She does exercise. But when she eats out, she doesnt eat well, chicken ceasars, chicken salads... She doesnt drink, or smoke. She eats fruits, etc but not as much as she should.

I still think if she added more things, even if she still ate a few things bad it would help lower a little tiny bit. Which I think would inspire her for more changes...

[Rastadawta]

Hi. Just wanted to add that Cholestrol in normal in our bodies. Our cells uses Plant cholestrol (steriods) in order for longevity of the cellular membrane. yet the main cholestrol that people have is only from Animal sources. Quick note. Peace

[Davylp25]

Yeah... Trying to help her lower the bad and raise the good Cholest.

[dreamrawalwz]

2 things. What about just raising her raw percentage. Just any raw food. Maybe naturally she will start to want more raw or just won't have room to fit the other foods in. I know this is a raw vegan site and I hope no one jumps all over me with this one. You're mom is not vegan. Does she have any intention of ever being vegetarian or vegan? At my HFS we sell Carlson's fish oil and A LOT of people buy it to lower cholesterol and have had great success, including one of our employees. She's lowered her bad cholesterol about 100 points in just a few short months and has remained stable. I am vegan and don't advocate animal products, BUT if someone isn't wanting to go vegan then I suggest what i've heard works.

[Davylp25]

* Dream, HOW DAAAAAAAAAAAAAREEEEEEEEE YOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUA POST ABOUT FISH OIL, I CANT BELIEVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU *

JUMP JUMP JUMP, YOUR MY NEW TRAMPOLINE, IM GOING TO JUMP ALL OVER YOOOUUUUUUU!!!!!

:D :D :D :D

Just kidding my friend. That's actually a great idea. Is that the good brand? Will it make the smoothie taste fishy if she adds tablespoon?

[misslinda]

Perhaps you can continue encouraging high fiber foods such as fruits and smoothies which definately aid in removing waste from the body.

Excess mucous and plauqe build up thru out the body is said to cause cholesterol issues so the smoothies and healtheir diet,exerices and healty mind will be beneficial.

As an aid, cayenne pepper enhance blood flow. I dont' think there is one answer without taking all the other things into consideration.

Best wishes to your mother.

;)

[dreamrawalwz]

* Dream, HOW DAAAAAAAAAAAAAREEEEEEEEE YOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUA POST ABOUT FISH OIL, I CANT BELIEVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU *

JUMP JUMP JUMP, YOUR MY NEW TRAMPOLINE, IM GOING TO JUMP ALL OVER YOOOUUUUUUU!!!!!

:D :D :D :D

Just kidding my friend. That's actually a great idea. Is that the good brand? Will it make the smoothie taste fishy if she adds tablespoon?

Haha don't hate me. Yes, Carlson is an excellent brand, though kind of pricey, but apparently very worth it. There is a lemon flavor that people say just taste like lemons....no fishy taste at all.

[Davylp25]

hehe Thanks dreamz and Linda... I will ask her to check it out at the local Natural store...

Thanks for the tips!

[RawVegan4Health]

Here is a list I came up with when looking at foods to lower my cholesterol. I gathered all of this info from scouring the internet, particularly info from the USDA and NIH. I gathered all of this info when going vegetarian and vega, prior to going raw. Once I went raw I focused in on those items I could find in a raw form and used those, eliminating those that required cooking or difficult to find or use in raw form. I got my cholesterol down in just 2 months. My triglycerides were the main problem. I took them from 385 to 92 in two months. My LDL went from 160 to 23.

I added a * next to the ones I used extensively in my diet during that two month period. If they were foods I stopped eating after going raw, I placed a X after it.

Raise HDL
Olive Oil***

Soluble Fiber Foods (Lower LDL and possibly clean up ateriosclerosis sp?)
Oatmeal * X
Oat Bran
Peas
Beans * X
Brussel Sprouts
Apples *
Pears *
Citrus Fruits *
Carrots *
Psyllium
Barley
Prunes

Omega-3 Fatty Acids (lower triglycerides)
Walnuts *
Almonds *
Peanuts * X
Hazelnuts * X
Pecans *
Pistacios * X
Flaxseed (have to grind them or chew them up) *
Canola Oil * X
Soybean Oil * X

Others that claim to lower cholesterol, but little evidence supporting these claims
Millet
Soy products * X

[Davylp25]

Wow thanks...

So did you consume a lot of the below foods, how much of them did you consume?

So if you were to add some in a Green smoothie say, What would u add and how much?

[leeleelocs]

I used red yeast rice to lower my chlo. It went from 220 to 165 in one month, also with dietary changes of going vegan. This is a very strong suppliment. The HFS lady said she would not take it unless you are over 300 but I did since my doctor wanted to start me on a pill. As long as I stay raw vegan it stays down with out the red yeast rice. I was only on this red yeast rice one month. This pill works on the liver.

[spicyfull]

Pineapple is an excellent Food for Lowering Cholestrol. It is a Fruit that most everyone Loves. You can make Smoothies, Ice Cream and what is more Enjoyable than a Sweet Pineapple, dripping juice everywhere as you suck it down.........

[RawVegan4Health]

Since going raw, my diet has consisdted of primarily fruit for breakfast, preferably as a smoothie so I can add in a tbsp of flax seed or maybe some nuts. I add a little water if necessary. My fruit smoothies always contain at least one apple, banana and pear, and the rest is variable. At lunch I go with a green smoothie pretty much every time. I use a wide variety of greens and alternate from day to day, or jsut use a huge variety in the smoothie each day and don;t bother with the rotation. For greens I use spinach, cole slaw mix, baby spring mix, parsley, collard greens, swiss chard, kale, bok choy, and any others that look good. I sometimes also add in some carrots, celery and/or cucumber. To every fruit smoothie I add 3 fruit with at least one or two being an apple or pear every time. I also add in some flax seed or hemp seed powder (another good source of Omega-3) and/or maybe a few nuts. The nuts add a nice dimension to the smoothies, but they really need a thorough blending. I have no problem with my Blend-Tec blender handling the nuts. For dinner I might have another green smoothie if I don't have much time, or I will prepare something. If I prepare something, I make the focus vegetables and nuts or seeds. For example crudites with a nut/seed based dip, or raw taco wraps using lettuce leaves, walnut taco meat, guacamole and salsa.

Hope this helps. Basically I tried to get at least ONE of the items on the list into every meal, if not have it play a starring role in the meal. The thing to watch out for is the nuts/seeds as they can pack a lot of calories, but you shouldn't leave them out of your diet because of that. I have been steadily losing weight since starting my dietary changes to reduce cholesterol, and at my last weigh-in I had lost 45 pounds in just over 3 months. So the nuts/seeds and avocados are not THAT BAD, at least for me. Some people say they get fat just looking at nuts or avocados.

[sigtau66]

Blueberries have been shown in tests to help lower cholestorol as well as if not better than any statin drug available from a doctor. And also without any bad side effects.

[puffysmom]

Anything with Niacin in it. My sister told me this as her doctor told her to try it. U can take all large doses of it without dire consequences. My son started and he is feeling much better and not only that but has lost weight. My son takes the unflushable kind. I had never heard of this and wondered why all doctors did not recommend it.

My sister started with a small dose like 2 tablets daily and each day kept taking more until she finally started getting the flush. Once u start that u can stop raising the amount u take and stay there or just take one less. A aspirin taken about half an hour before the niacin will keep the flush away.
From what i have read one should always be under a doctors care while taking niacin but it is a good alternative. Have her talk to her doctor on this one. Just let him know that she is trying to find alternaive ways of lowering it without all those high priced drugs. If she has a good doctor he will help her.
If u can eat enough of it u can get from beets, sunflower seeds and peanuts. There r also a lot of meat products that u get niacin from but we r not doing meat and I know i dont care for liver and all those other nasty foods that have niacin.

[Davylp25]

WOW thanks everyone. Thans especially rawvegan4 health very good info.