Healthy Heart Food Facts By the age of 35+ 50% of us have high cholesterol. To of the most important things to eat are beta-glucan (a soluble fibre) and common fibre from plants.
Oats contain beta glucan which soaks up cholesterol to help maintain a healthy heart. Although beta-glucan is needed to soak up cholesterol, you do need a small amount for your hormones and the insulation of nerve fibres (like the plasticy layer around wires). Oat beta-glucan is being sold as a nutritional supplement, in both liquid and capsule forms. Various claims have been made about beta-glucan boosting the immune system and maintaining healthy hair and skin.
Here are two types of cholesterol:
Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) - Clogs up arteries and the bloodstream and in extreme cases can affect the brain.
High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) - Takes LDL to the liver, where it isn't destroyed, but gets broken down so can be used without clogging up the arteries and bloodstream.
HDL can be found naturally in avocado and many other low fat greens.
Fibre is made up of indigestible parts of plants, which pass almost unchanged through the digestive system. Fibre can have the following benefits:
Keeping the digestive system healthy.
Stabilising glucose and cholesterol levels.
Helping to reduce cancer, diabetes and coronary heart disease.
