As you progress in life, you may encounter various health challenges that you may need to manage, including high cholesterol levels. If you live in a top-quality residential community, your meals are made with only the freshest ingredients to ensure your health – but would little snacks here and there drastically impact your numbers? Well, we’re here to tell you that the answer is no; in fact, regular healthy snacks help to maintain your blood sugar and cholesterol levels all day long. Here are just a few low cholesterol snacks that you can try today!
Nuts
Research has found that nuts can slightly lower cholesterol levels in your body, making them a great snack to combat high cholesterol. With the wide variety of nuts available, from almonds to peanuts, you’ll be sure to find a nut snack that you’ll keep coming back to for more every day! The recommended serving of nuts is 1/4 cup per day to ensure heart health, and you can achieve this by consuming your nuts in various forms. From trail mix to good old peanut butter or simply snacking on your favorite nuts as they are, the possibilities are endless!
Fruits
A classic grab-and-go snack, fruits are a great way to satisfy hunger pangs while managing high cholesterol thanks to their high amounts of potassium, fiber, and pectin. For best health results, you should aim to consume at least 3 to 4 servings of fruit a day, or 1 1/2 to 2 cups. As always, you can mix and match your preferred method of fruit snack consumption, from bright and zesty fruit salads to refreshing fruit juices.
Vegetables
To lower LDL cholesterol, why not reach for some fresh vegetables instead of greasy junk food? Vegetables are packed full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, making them a healthy snack for any occasion. To consume the recommended amount of 3 to 5 servings of vegetables ( 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 cups) daily, supplement your regular mealtime vegetables with quick snacks like carrots and hummus dip. What’s more, pre-preparing vegetables ahead of time will make them that much easier to snack on!
Oatmeal
A bowl of oatmeal daily will do wonders to improve your cholesterol levels. This is thanks to the soluble fiber in oatmeal, which research has found to “soak up” cholesterol so it can be transported through your body without being absorbed. No matter whether you prefer to consume oatmeal as part of a hearty and balanced breakfast or as a snack in the form of trail mix or granola, your body will be thanking you!
Popcorn
No, we don’t mean the kind you get at the cinema loaded full of butter and salt – if you want to lower your cholesterol, why not whip up a batch of air-popped homemade popcorn with olive oil and natural seasonings like herbs and parmesan cheese? When prepared healthily and consumed in moderation, popcorn is a whole grain that is an excellent source of fiber to help lower cholesterol levels.
With the right combination of a healthy diet and snack regimen, regular exercise, and consistent effort, you’ll be able to improve or maintain your cholesterol levels and lead a healthier, longer, and more fulfilling life. So, what are you waiting for? Try some of these low cholesterol snacks today!
