7 foods that cut cholesterol, heart attack risk naturally!

Zee Media Bureau/Shruti Saxena

New Delhi: As per a World Health Organisation (WHO) report, cardiovascular diseases would be the largest cause of death and disability in India by 2020. So, lowering cholesterol is one of the most imperative things to do to promote overall heart health.

Bad lifestyle and less physical activity is one of the major reasons as to why cholesterol levels tend to go high.

Here are a few superfoods you should include in your diet to lower cholesterol naturally:

-Olives: Olives are a rich source of monounsaturated fatty acids and hence help reduce risk of heart disease by lowering blood pressure and LDL cholesterol.

-White tea: Drinking 2-3 cups of white tea a day helps in thinning of blood and thus keeps your heart in good health. t also contains polyphenols that helps in dissolution of triglycerides which are deposited in our body therby reducing cholesterol levels.

-Garlic: Studies have shown that Garlic reduces cholesterol and also helps maintain blood pressure.

-Oats: Eating a bowl of oatmeal can actually go a long way in reducing lipoproteins level also known as bad cholesterol as it contains soluble fibre.

-Nuts: According to nutritionists, nuts block cholesterol absorption in the blood and also reduce the amount of triglyceride, thereby lowering the risk of heart diseases. They contain ample amount of proteins, fibre, vitamins and monounsaturated fats that constitutes a well-balanced low cholesterol diet.

-Olive Oil: Olive oil contains cholesterol-lowering agents and antioxidants that help lower bad cholesterol while keeping the good cholesterol unaffected.

-Soybeans: Soybeans are an inexpensive and nutritionally complete food in itself. Studies suggest that soybeans contain isoflavones that help in lowering of cholesterol to about 10%.