Table of Contents
Your body needs a certain amount of cholesterol for various reasons such as production of hormones, storing nutrients, producing cell membranes and more. However, too much cholesterol circulating in the blood stream is harmful for the health. The excess cholesterol collects in the blood vessels and slows down blood circulation, which is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease. Yet to prevent abnormal increase in the cholesterol level in the blood and inhibit cholesterol buildup in the arteries, your body needs a type of cholesterol known as high-density lipoprotein or HDL cholesterol. Adding foods that help in improving the HDL cholesterol level helps in reducing the risk of coronary artery diseases.
Here Is A List Of Foods That Are Considered The Best Sources Of Hdl Cholesterol
Egg
In the past, eggs had earned a bad reputation as a cholesterol boosting food. However, recent studies have shown that egg indeed helps in increasing the cholesterol level in the blood, but the cholesterol is HDL cholesterol or the good cholesterol. Studies have shown that the total cholesterol and the LDL cholesterol level in the blood do not change by eating eggs daily. But there is significant improvement in HDL level by consuming eggs daily. In a Thai study researchers found that eating eggs increased HDL level by almost 48%.
Fish Oil
Oily fish is another excellent source of HDL cholesterol. Research has shown that fish oil works better than the statin drugs in increasing the concentration of HDL cholesterol in the blood. According to studies, people who eat plenty of fatty fish have higher levels of HDL cholesterol.
Red Wine
Drinking red wine in moderation can help in increasing the HDL cholesterol level in the blood. Alcohol in red wine is believed to be primarily responsible for its HDL boosting effect. Compared with other alcoholic drinks, red wine is considered beneficial because of its high antioxidant content that prevents degradation of the bad cholesterol.
Peanut
According to a study carried out by researchers in Turkey, adding peanuts to the daily diet causes significant improvement in the HDL cholesterol level. Peanuts are loaded with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats that help in boosting the HDL level in the blood.
Cocoa
Drinking cocoa daily helps in increasing the concentration of HDL cholesterol in the blood. The HDL cholesterol boosting effect of cocoa is primarily attributed to an active component in cocoa called theobromine. Furthermore, the antioxidant polyphenols in cocoa helps in preventing oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which leads to formation of plague in the coronary arteries.
