Best foods to lower cholesterol

Here are the list of some best foods to lower cholesterol.  14 Foods that Lower Cholesterol

Heart-Healthy Snacks

Try these snacks, certified nutritionist, health risks of sugar before your stomach starts to growl and scratch! Put your brain to eat healthy foods every day. Fulfill the promise unfilled.

"The avocado is a heart healthy alternative, rich in folate, vitamin E, C and B6, potassium and soluble fiber," according to the American Dietetic Association. "It has heart-healthy unsaturated fats, and nutrients, reducing cholesterol, promoting the vision and possibly protect against cancer.

This smoothie recipe from Laurel On Health Food is great for the skin. 

Avocado Pineapple Smoothie
(Makes 2-3 Servings)

1 ripe avocado
1 cup fresh pineapple
1½ cups coconut water, unsweetened
½ cup 100% orange juice
6 ice cubes
1 tbsp. agave nectar (optional)

Scoop out the avocado flesh to the blender. Add remaining ingredients and mix until smooth.

Brooklyn Big Sandwich

This post was originally published as Brooklyn Bowl by Laurel on Health Food.

I went bowling with a bunch of friends last weekend at Brooklyn Bowl. My boyfriend and I showed up starving, so we went straight for the menu and ordered some food. I was pleasantly surprised at the menu selection, including lots of veggie options for me. I chose the “Veggie Buster” sandwich and found out that the name really holds up.

It was a HUGE sandwich with fresh mozzarella cheese and every roasted vegetable I could think of including arugula, tomatoes, olives, mushrooms, artichoke, onion, red pepper, and more. I only ate a little bit of the cheese, but gobbled up all the veggies. I don’t know if the picture does it justice, but it was so huge that I only ate half of the sandwich and the nice fresh greens salad served on the side. I took the rest home for leftovers. Everyone who walked by was like, “Daaaaang that is a big sandwich….looks good.”

What a nice surprise from a bowling alley! Brooklyn Bowl really is a huge step up from the rest. Our server took good care of us all night and even brought our bowling shoes over for us so we didn’t have to stand in line, haha.

Kombucha! improved digestion

This post was originally published as Kombucha! by Laurel on Health Food.

I was always kind of “eh” about kombucha tea, until I tried some great local brands here in NYC. Now I’m crazy for the stuff. Kombucha is a fermented tea that’s been praised for its health benefits for centuries including increased energy, improved digestion, and prevention/treatment of illnesses including common flu and cancer.

I started drinking more kombucha over the last month or two after I stocked up on a bunch of bottles at the NYC Veg Food Fest. This is my personal opinion, but I definitely feel like a get an energy boost after drinking it and I especially love how it eases my digestion.

A few my local favorites are Kombucha Brooklyn’s grape flavor (kombucha mixed with a little concord grape juice) and Bao Fresh Kombucha’s mango flavor. I’ve even been thinking of buying one of the brew kits from Kombucha Brooklyn to make my own ‘buch at home. Hmm.

What’s your thoughts on kombucha? You like it? Or think it’s gross? Never tried it?

 

Boost your immune system

This post was originally published as Boost Your Immunity by Laurel on Health Food.

Women’s Health Magazine reports that some food and drinks will boost your immune system and help you avoid getting sick.

• Chamomile tea – polyphenols in the tea increase antibacterial blood activity
• Steel-cut oats – packed with beta-glucans (fiber) that activate white blood cell activity
• Salad dressing w/healthy fats (ex. olive oil & balsamic vinegar) – fat is essential for the body to absorb cartenoids (the antioxidants that improve your immunity)
  Tip: Do not choose “fat free” dressings. Your body needs healthy fats to absorb the powerful antioxidants.
• Whey protein (ex. whey protein powder or yogurt) – contains an amino acid called cysteine which converts into an antioxidant (glutathione) to protect your cells against bacterial or viral infections
  Tip: Don’t drain the clear liquid at the top of your yogurt carton, just stir it back in. The liquid is pure whey protein!
• Tomato – lycopene acts as an antioxidant to protect white blood cells from free radical damage
• Butterbur - herbal supplement that helps fight allergies
• Gatorade – increases immune response during intense exercise
• Wine – ethanol, organic acids, and low pH in wine can stop E. coli, listeria, and salmonella before they make you sick
• Hot sauce – capsaicin, a compoind in chili peppers, may improve immunity by increasing your number of antibodies and helping to remove toxins from your system

Read the entire “Immunity Diet” article here. Women’s Health includes reputable studies to back up their choices of immunity-boosting food and drinks.

Heart-Healthy Lycopene

This post was originally published as Heart-Healthy Lycopene by Laurel on Health Food blog. 

Lycopene is the healthy phytonutrient that gives the bright red color to produce such as watermelon and tomatoes. Studies show that lycopene helps keep your blood vessels in their best shape, prevents cancer, and keeps your cholesterol at healthy levels. Here are some of the best food sources of lycopene:

• Watermelon
• Tomatoes (red, orange, and tomato products)
• Pink grapefruit
• Guava
• Papaya

Summer is the perfect time of year to boost your lycopene intake because most of these fruits are in season. Here are a few lycopene-rich recipes to get you started:
Tomato, Cucumber, Onion, and Avocado (TCOA) Salad (Laurel’s recipe)
Caprese Salad (Laurel’s recipe)
Watermelon & Feta Salad with Pine Nuts (ChefMD recipe)
Papaya Green Onion Salad (Bobby Flay recipe)

 

Here’s a few ideas for summer parties. Puree fresh or frozen guava, papaya, or watermelon and mix them with lime juice and a shot of rum or tequila for a healthy cocktail. You can also chop up these fruits into small pieces, add fresh cilantro, lime, and jalapeno for a delicious salsa to put on top of grilled fish or to serve with chips.

Sexy Valentine’s Day Cocktails

This post was originally published as Valentine’s Day Cocktails by Laurel on Health Food blog.

I was feeling romantic last Friday night and picked up some fresh juices, fruits, and liquor to whip up a couple sexy cocktails inspired by Valentine’s Day. Try one of these tasty creations for the 14th, or enjoy them any time you need a sweet treat.

Raspberry Champagne Kiss

5 or 6 frozen raspberries
1 shot Chambord (chilled)
Champagne (chilled)

Drop raspberries in the bottom of a champagne or martini glass. Pour Chambord on top of raspberries then fill up the rest of the glass with champagne. Serve immediately.

Tropical Coconut Dream

Cocktail:
1/2 banana
1/2 cup coconut water (chilled)
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk (chilled)
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 shots vodka (chilled)
1 tsp. agave nectar

For garnish:
Slice of lime
Coconut flakes
1 tsp. agave nectar

Put banana, coconut water, coconut milk, vanilla, vodka, and agave in a blender and process until smooth. To dress up the drink, drizzle agave on a plate and dip the rim of a martini glass in the agave, coating the entire rim. Spread coconut flakes out on a clean plate and dip the rim in the coconut so they stick to the agave. Pour the coconut cocktail in the martini glass and garnish with a slice of lime.