Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Celebrating Eid is incomplete if you don't eat special foods, such as opor, rendang meat, and curry. Who would have thought, even though they are delicious, these foods can cause high cholesterol in the body.
Cholesterol itself can actually be reduced in many ways, one of which is taking cholesterol medication. But apart from that, there are several ways to lower cholesterol levels without medication.
This method includes consuming herbs that have been proven for generations to lower blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
So what are they, here is the explanation summarized by CNBC Indonesia:
1. Soy Milk
Soy milk could be one of the best choices for those who are concerned about cholesterol. Because, one cup of soy milk contains 80 calories and only 2 grams of fat. Plant sources of soy milk can help reduce or manage cholesterol levels.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends consuming 25 grams of soy protein per day as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol to help reduce the risk of heart disease. In addition, it is better to consume soybeans in whole and minimally processed form with little or no added sugar, salt and fat.
2. Oat Milk
Oat milk contains oat beta-glucan which can help maintain normal cholesterol levels. A 2018 review found that oat drinks, such as oat milk, helped reduce cholesterol more consistently than semi-solid or solid oat products. A 250 ml glass of oat milk can provide 1 gram of beta-glucan.
Oat milk, if unsweetened, can be an excellent alternative for preventing or treating high cholesterol and also contains protein which is good for health.
3. Tomato Juice
Tomatoes are rich in the compound lycopene, which can increase lipid levels and reduce bad cholesterol levels. In addition, a study shows that processing tomatoes into juice can increase their lycopene content.
The study found that consuming 280 ml of tomato juice every day for two months succeeded in reducing blood cholesterol levels.
4. Berry Smoothies
Many berries are rich in antioxidants and fiber. The berries referred to here are strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and other types of berries. In particular, experts have discovered compounds called anthocyanins which are powerful antioxidants. These compounds can help lower cholesterol levels.
Make a smoothie by mixing two handfuls or about 80 grams of any berries. Mix the berries with 1/2 cup low-fat milk or yogurt and 1/2 cup cold water.
5. Dark Chocolate Drink
Drinks made from dark chocolate, aka dark chocolate, contain cocoa which is rich in antioxidants called flavonoids. This content can provide several health benefits, including increasing good cholesterol in the body.
A 2015 study found that consuming a 450 mg drink containing cocoa flavanols twice a day for 1 month reduced bad cholesterol levels while increasing good cholesterol levels.
However, it is important to note that chocolate that is good for the body does not contain a lot of sugar. Choose cocoa or dark chocolate which contains more than 75-80 percent cocoa to consume so you can feel the benefits.
6. Green Tea
Green tea contains catechins and other antioxidant compounds that help lower bad cholesterol. In a 2015 study, scientists gave mice drinking water infused with catechins and epigallocatechin gallate, another beneficial antioxidant in green tea.
After 56 days, scientists saw that bad cholesterol levels had been reduced by around 14.4% and 30.4% in two groups of mice fed a high-cholesterol diet. However, further research in humans is needed to investigate this further. Black tea may also have a positive impact on cholesterol, but to a lesser extent than green tea variants.
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