Foods That Lower Bad Cholesterol

To find the right balance of food is always a trial and error.

Keep on experimenting, reading and researching.

To live a better quality of living is a never ending quest and adventure.

Fiber

Fiber in the diet may be of benefit to health.

There is some evidence that fiber lowers LDL cholesterol but does not lower HDL cholesterol.

Nevertheless, plant-based food diets in society and between nutritionist circles are linked to health and longevity, as well as contributing to lowering cholesterol, weight loss, and in some cases, stress reduction.

Soyfood

The dramatic increase in soyfood sales is largely credited to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of soy as an official cholesterol-lowering food, along with other heart and health benefits.

From 1992 to 2003, sales have experienced a 15% compound annual growth rate, increasing from $300 million to $3.9 billion over 11 years, as new soyfood categories have been introduced, soyfoods have been repositioned in the market place, thanks to a better emphasis on marketing nutrition.

In 1995, the New England Journal of Medicine (Vol. 333, No. 5) published a meta-analysis financed by DuPont Protein Technologies International (PTI), which produces and markets soy through The Solae Company.

The meta-analysis concluded that soy protein is correlated with significant decreases in serum cholesterol, LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides.

However, HDL(good cholesterol) did not increase by a significant amount. Soy phytoestrogens (isoflavones: genistein and daidzein) adsorbed onto the soy protein were suggested as the agent reducing serum cholesterol levels.

On the basis of this research PTI filed a petition with FDA in 1998 for a health claim that soy protein may reduce cholesterol and the risk of heart disease.

The FDA granted the following health claim for soy: “25 grams of soy protein a day, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.”

One serving, (1 cup or 240 mL) of soy milk, for instance, contains 6 or 7 grams of soy protein.