6 Best Cholesterol-Lowering Foods

If you are suffering from high cholesterol level because of your existing diet, then there are ways by which you can reduce it. Simple changes like snacking on nuts, sprinkling a small amount of olive oil on your salad, and gulping down a little chocolate daily can help. By consuming cholesterol-lowering foods as a part of your regular diet, you can manage the condition easily. This is because such strategies will assist you in decreasing cravings for foods that are rich in cholesterol. By maintaining cholesterol level, the risk of stroke and heart attack also reduces gradually.

Some popular cholesterol-lowering foods are as follows:

Oats
If you are searching for various effective ways to reduce your cholesterol level naturally, then one of the best possible procedures is by changing the morning meal. If you consume two servings of oats consuming calorie-rich foods like sandwiches, deep- fried omelets, etc., then you will be able to lower 5.3% of bad cholesterol in just forty- two days. This is because oats contain a particular substance called beta-glucan which is efficient in absorbing LDL (bad cholesterol). If you find it boring to eat cholesterol-lowering foods like oats daily, then you can try different recipes of oats to make it interesting.

Fatty fish and salmon
A natural and amazing health wonder is Omega- 3 fats. It is effective in treating dementia, heart disease as well as various other diseases. Besides these benefits, another beneficial feature of such fats is to lower cholesterol level. According to Loma Linda University’s research, reducing saturated fats with the help of Omega- 3 fats found in fatty fish and salmon might increase good cholesterol up to 4%.

Nuts
If you are in search of snacks which can satiate your hunger and also reduce the level of cholesterol simultaneously, then you can opt for nuts. A study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It stated that if an individual consumed 1.5 oz of walnuts continuously for a month and six days per week, then it reduced the total cholesterol level by 5.4% as well as LDL cholesterol by 9.3%.

Apart from whole walnuts, two other useful options in decreasing cholesterol from your body are cashews and almonds. Nuts prove to be healthy for a person’s heart, but they contain high- calories too. So, it is better to practice consuming a controlled amount of nuts such as 1.5 oz which means equal to one and a half shot glass. Thus, if you are willing to consider nuts as cholesterol-lowering foods, then you must use a shot glass for measuring the specific portion which is perfect for your health. It will be a wise decision to consult a physician in such cases as he or she is the best person to suggest the amount needed by your body.

Avocado
A fantastic source of monosaturated fat that is healthy for the heart and is helpful in raising HDL or good cholesterol levels as well as decreasing LDL levels is avocado. This particular food contains beta-sitosterol which is an effective fat that is plant-based. It assists in lowering the cholesterol amount, which is absorbed by your daily food. Thus, the excellent combination of monosaturated fat along with beta-sitosterol proves avocado to be an outstanding cholesterol buster.

As avocado is rich in calorie, so the best strategy for consuming this veggie is by removing some other fatty food from your diet. An avocado (whole) contains thirty grams fat and three hundred calories. Again, the best idea is to take the advice of your doctor rather than determining the amount required for lowering cholesterol on your own.

Spinach
Among numerous cholesterol-lowering foods, one of the healthiest and common green food is spinach. It consists of huge amount of lutein which is the yellow pigment present in deep green leafy vegetables as well as in egg yolks. According to researchers, if a person consumes half a cup of food rich in lutein then it will protect him or her against heart attack as it assists the walls of arteries to remove cholesterol invaders.

Tea
You might be astonished to see the name of this beverage on the list of cholesterol-lowering foods. In the hot or iced state, tea provides lots of anti-oxidant compounds. Such compounds also help in reducing the level of cholesterol as well as blood pressure. Both black and green tea possesses high levels of anti-oxidants so you can enjoy a minimum of one cup tea daily.

If by chance you are already consuming the above- mentioned cholesterol-lowering foods, then you need to continue it for maintaining your good health. If not, then it will be a wise decision to add some of these food items to your daily diet. Stay healthy and happy forever as well as help others to do the same!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

  • Things to Consider Before Buying Patio Furniture
    This is the time to begin looking for great patio furniture offers. Sometimes, you have a great deal on a patio set that comes with seat cushions, while there are times you may not get the cushions at all. That shouldn’t stop you from going for the set you really want. Online stores like Amazon, Target, Home Depot and others have a wide range of patio furniture with or without seat cushions.
    When you go through the available options, you will notice that these sites offer seat cushions along with the patio furniture in a variety of dimensions, fabric and color options. So, whatever your patio furniture needs, you can get the perfect seat cushions that will fit perfectly and enhance the comfort of the furniture.

    Where can you find patio furniture?

    The chaise lounge chair cushion mattresses from top brands are available at Amazon in the range of $30 to $60. You can find great outdoor pillows, recliner seats, bistro set seat cushions in a variety of colors and patterns that can complement your patio furniture.
    Target has a wide selection of seat cushions for patio furniture like seat and back cushions, chaise lounge cushions, deep cushions, ottomans and poufs, loveseat cushions, bench cushions, and others. There is a special section on the Target website for great cushions which you may find for about $30.
    At Home Depot, products with “Cushion Guard” fabrics have a three-year warranty and those with “Sunbrella” fabrics have a 5-year warranty. Here, the products from the Martha Stewart line are also available. Great outdoor loveseat cushions also sell in the high-end range between $200 to $400. A wide range of outdoor sofa cushions is also available. Hampton Bay outdoor cushions are also up for grabs. There are so many options in terms of style, colors, and patterns of the seat cushions for your patio furniture that you will be spoilt for choices when browsing online.

    What to consider before buying patio furniture?

    When selecting seat cushions for your patio furniture, consider the type of fabric you would want. Keep in mind the area you will be placing your patio furniture. If it gets a lot of sunlight or it is near the garden, or surrounded by a lot of plants in the balcony, the fabric is likely to get affected in a number of ways.
    You cannot minimize the natural course of wearing out because of these exposures. But you can avoid these issues by selecting the right kind of fabric which can enhance the durability of your seat cushions of the patio furniture.
    Different types of outdoor fabrics suitable for patio furniture seat cushions are all-weather fabrics, water repellent or waterproof fabrics, marine-grade fabrics, weather-resistant fabrics, etc. The patio set is likely to bear light showers, moisture, dust, and heat. These conditions are ideal for the growth of mildew, mold or dust mites. Water-resistant fabrics offer protection against these.
    Some fabrics also come with a protective shield that makes it easier to wipe off any kind of stains or spills immediately. Look out for seat cushions with these qualities to make the most of your patio furniture. Some good seat cushions use polyester fiber filling that offers plush and comfortable seating.
    Other considerations while selecting seat cushions is the design and colors which should also complement the patio furniture. Bold and vibrant colors add a great feel to the set, but these colors also tend to fade out faster with continued exposure to the sun.
    Large designs tend to look attractive, but spots from stains or spills are more likely to be noticed on such designs than even plain seat cushions. Intricate seat cushion designs tend to cover stains much better.
    Comfort is an important factor but long-term maintenance is also equally essential. Some cushions tend to last longer because of some special properties. Cushions with fade-resistant features, UV coating, stain and water-resistant fabric are easy to maintain over a long period of time. They are also durable and stand tough against different weather conditions. Get the best patio furniture seat cushions and add comfort to your patio.
  • Top 4 small pickup trucks

    Pickup trucks are an extremely popular vehicle choice on the road, irrespective of their size. Pickup trucks can provide just enough punch and are extremely useful.

    Now, to help you find the best small pickup truck, we have come up with a list of the four-most incredible compact-sized trucks. 

    2020 Honda Ridgeline

    The Honda Ridgeline was redesigned three years ago and is considered a unique entrant in the list of small pickup trucks. Moreover, it has a bunch of not-so-common features, like the tailgate, which you can either swing open like a regular car door or in a usual fold-down way. What’s astonishing about the Ridgeline is its underfloor storage compartment that increases the cargo capacity of the vehicle. The 3.5L engine comes only with V6 power. Its nine-speed automatic transmission is certainly an improvement from the six-speed transmission available with the earlier models.

    Features

    • Power moonroof
    • 10-way adjustable driver seat
    • Exquisite interior
    • Heated front seats

    2020 Ford Ranger
    After the last model that came out in 2011, Ford took an 8-year sabbatical. However, in 2019, it came back with a revolutionary design packed with the latest tech developments. With the availability of 3 trim levels, Lariat, XLT, and XL, there is certainly a Ford Ranger for everyone’s requirement. Featuring a 2.3L turbocharged engine, it has an outstanding horsepower (hp) of 270. The presence of ten-speed automatic transmission paves the way for a smooth shifting experience.

    Features

    • Great infotainment system with a touchscreen display of 4.2-inches with SYNC® voice-recognition feature
    • Comfortable cloth upholstery
    • Spacious under-seat storage

    Toyota Tacoma

    At number three in our list of the best small pickup trucks is classy Toyota Tacoma. For anyone who needs a compact truck that can transport their loved ones to a new vista, blaze new arenas, or carry around your gear to the campsites, the Tacoma is a great alternative. Powered by a V6, 3.5-liter engine, the truck can tow around 6,800 lbs. The safety sense driver suite is a standard feature of the Tacomas after 2018. Additional features like adaptive cruise control, automatic braking, forward collision warning, and pedestrian detection are found in the newer models.

    Features

    • Entry possible without a key
    • Satellite radio
    • Auto-dimming mirror in the rearview
    • Stylish upholstery

    GMC Canyon

    For those seeking a comfortable and smooth ride, without compromising on the towing capacity (7700 lbs) and the interior, should opt for GMC Canyon. In the 2017 to 2020 models, there are three engine options available for this truck, and the base variant has a 4-cylinder engine of 2.5 L with 200 hp. The other two engine options are 3.6-liter V6 with 308 hp and 2.8-liter turbodiesel with 181 hp.

    Features

    • Ventilated and heated seats
    • Wireless charging
    • HD rearview camera
    • Superb infotainment system
    • Auto climate control

    With small trucks, you get great hauling and towing options and off-road capabilities that you might need from a compact truck. Furthermore, the smaller sized trucks are easy to navigate in narrow streets, and parking them is rarely a problem.

  • Make your home and garden layouts better with these tips
    Creating better homes and gardens is not a difficult task. All you need is a sound knowledge of homemaking tips and some knowledge of gardening. For creating a better garden, you need to begin by preparing some good compost for the garden. Once this has been accomplished successfully, rest assured you will able to have a better home and garden layout. Your home will look amazing and every visitor will swoon over flower blossoms. Basic lessons on gardening The outlook for better home and gardens lie in their layout. You can start by preparing compost for the garden. There are two distinct kinds of compost, cold and hot. Cold composting is the traditional way of preparing compost in which all decomposable trash and other waste are collected in a bin or pot and allowed to decompose. This will generally happen in a year's time. Hot composting, however, is a fast process and the compost gets prepared in one to three months through this method. Nitrogen, carbon, air, and water are needed for hot composting and the combination of these will feed the microorganisms, thus helping you come up with compost which can then be used for tending to the plants which you have in the garden. Get some good plants for the garden, keeping the soil health of the area in mind. It is always better to plant some native species as these react in a better manner in comparison to foreign plants. Making better homes and gardens will be possible only when you pay equal attention to decorating the garden and home. While using compost prepared at home for the plants will add a new life to your home garden, the interiors of the home also need to be worked out so that you can boast of a good home. Decoration tips for your home Better homes are built with innovation. You need to pay attention to multiple details when it comes to making better homes and gardens. For creating a beautiful home, you need to pay attention to certain aspects, such as creating good space for your furniture. You should always resist the temptation of overcrowding a room. Do not get a lot of furniture for your home else it will spoil the essence of your home. You can get some high backed chairs and a nice wooden table for the dining area along with a matching mat for the floor. Keep the look of your home simple and elegant. When you pay attention to these aspects, the beauty of your home increases manifold.
  • Advantages of MetroPCS prepaid cell phone plans
    By opening a MetroPCS account, you can get access to the nationwide network, 4G LTE data speeds, and plenty of affordable plans. On MetroPCS, new phones with exciting features are available. Additionally, MetroPCS doesn’t require customer contracts, and thus customers are allowed to change their plan at any time without any fines. MetroPCS cell phones have a major market share in the cell phone market of the country. 4G LTE data speeds enable customers to browse internet and stream media at a faster rate that is admired by most of the customers. Their affordable ranges of prepaid plans within $30 to $60 per month offer an array of benefits to the customers. Their $30 prepaid plan is available on select devices and offers unlimited talk time and texts up to the first GB of data usage. The $60 plan has several benefits such as unlimited nationwide long distance calls, voicemail packages, unlimited texting, unlimited talk time, directory assistance and 4G LTE data speeds. Another most significant benefit of MetroPCS is its compatibility with a number of cell phone brands such as Alcatel, Samsung, LG, Microsoft, etc. Metro PCS offers a return policy allowing customers to return any product for a service refund or any other device. This policy is restricted to new account activations and returns that are made for non-warrantee reasons. Thus, the company offers user-friendly plans and policies that are affordable to almost all the prepaid customers. Prepaid plans allow us to buy minutes, texts, and data up front by funding an account. As you use the service, the subsequent amount would be deducted from your account. You can load the card whenever you need it. However, you must remember that unused service within a stipulated time phase may be lost in most of the cases. So, while choosing the plan, you should be aware of estimated use of service so that you can make the most of the prepaid account and would not face any loss as the service is not used within the stipulated period. Thus, MetroPCS cell phones' plans are best suited for low, optimum, and high users of services.
  • 3 Best Dog Food Brands For Pregnant Dogs

    Dogs are a blessing and definitely man’s best friend. Female dogs are generally more affectionate, motherly and caring as compared to the naughty male dogs that are testosterone-fueled and are active all day. When your female dog is impregnated, she will be calmer and will choose not to be active much and be by herself most of the time. There are days when she might get fussy and not eat the regular dog food and meals that she usually ate before her pregnancy. Similar to female humans, female dogs also have a change in their smells, tastes, and hormones which make them fussy eaters during the entire pregnancy. Nutrition is of utmost importance during this phase and it is crucial to feed your dog healthy food instead of the regular dog food as the puppies inside her will be feeding off of this nutrition.

    Here are some of the best dog food brands that you need to get your hands on immediately for your pregnant dog –

    Pedigree Petfoods
    Pedigree Petfoods have been in the dog food industry for decades and are one of the most trustworthy and best dog food brands that are easily available across the world. The brand has now created a food pack for ‘Mother and Pup’ which is from their premium dog food range. This range has added nutrients, proteins, calcium, vitamins etc. that are needed for the proper development of the puppies in the womb as well as for the mother so that she doesn’t get weak while providing for the puppies. It also helps is producing superior quality milk for the puppies once conceived. The best part about this is that it can be given to the puppies once they are 3 weeks old. This dog food is perfect for them as it helps them with necessary nutrients for their health.

    Hill’s Puppy Foods
    This is another brand which is highly recommended for pregnant pets or nursing dogs. Since pregnant or nursing dogs require more fat, energy, and protein-rich food, the Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Foods are the best options for your furry pal. The idea of feeding the puppy foods to your pregnant dog is basically to provide her extra calcium, proteins, and energy which growing puppies require. As she consumes this food, the puppies in the womb also feed on these which in turn makes the transition to solid foods from the mother’s milk fairly easy. There are a lot of different options in this such as wet canned food which is slightly savory, ‘Ideal Balance’ meal which contains brown rice and chicken, and other different dry food options that you can pick from. This brand is considered as one of the top 5 best dog food brands in the country and is easily available at grocery stores, online as well as at Vet clinics or pet stores.

    Purina Pro Plan
    Purina is yet another well known best dog food brand that is recommended by vets throughout the world. Purina specializes in different types of dog foods depending on the breeds, size of the dogs as well the kind of nutrition that you are looking to provide to your pregnant dog and the puppies. The brand recommends feeding puppy food mixed with the regular adult dog food of the brand as the puppy food is packed with nutrients, calcium, and vitamins as compared to adult food. This best dog food helps the pregnant dog receive more energy to be active as well as the it helps her for lactation. Once the puppies are conceived, the transition from mother’s milk to puppy food is fairly easy as they have been accustomed to the taste by now.

    Apart from this, make sure the your pregnant dog likes the dog food that is given to her. During pregnancy, they can be quite fussy and cranky about the food that is served.

  • Excessive sweating – Causes and simple methods to deal with it
    Many people can have body odor due to sweating. Sweat is a fluid secreted from the sweat glands of the body, which contains a peculiar odor. However, some reasons can make the odor very foul. The main causes of excessive sweating are the several bacteria that are present in the body. These germs can break down sweat and make its composition acidic. People who sweat excessively can have pungent body odor. In order to get rid of the problem of body odor, one needs to control profuse sweating. This, it involves controlling the main causes of excessive sweating. Here are some of the simple methods that will help a person deal with excessive sweating.
    • Eat a suitable diet Eat foods devoid of onion and garlic and with minimum spices and oil. Avoid processed and sugar-rich foods. These foods stimulate the sweat glands and are one of the main causes of excessive sweating.
    • Drink plenty of water The body should be hydrated at all times. On hot summer days, drink cold beverages instead of hot ones. Hot beverages increase body temperature and are one of the causes of excessive sweating. You can also add lemon juice to your water and drink it a few times a day to keep your body feeling fresh.
    • Use antiperspirants Instead of using deodorants to mask off the pungent smell, you should use antiperspirants that prevent sweating. Antiperspirants also provide relief with their soothing smell.
    • Use of antibacterial soap These inhibit the growth of bacteria and thus cause less sweating. This, in turn, leads to less body odor.
    • Right clothes Cotton fabrics should be used rather the synthetic ones. Cotton and other natural fibers allow free flow of air and results in less sweating.
    • Cut down stimulants Avoid caffeine, nicotine as well as alcohol as they raise body temperature and cause more sweating than normal.
    You can follow these simple steps to remove your body odor. If the bad body smell persists, it is time to see a doctor to seek medical treatment.