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Cholesterol is a waxy substance and is present throughout the body. It's not a "bad" thing unless you have too much of it; your body needs cholesterol to make cells and vitamins, and other hormones. Too much cholesterol can be a problem. Cholesterol comes from two sources. Your liver makes all the cholesterol your body needs. The other source of cholesterol in the body is food from animals. Foods that come from animals such as meat, poultry and dairy contain dietary cholesterol. Those same foods can also be high in saturated fats and/or trans fats. Too much of these fats also can raise cholesterol levels in your body. As a result for some people, the extra cholesterol can mean the difference from a normal cholesterol level to an unhealthy level of cholesterol.
Cholesterol In India
Recent studies have suggested that high cholesterol is present in 25–30% of urban and 15–20% rural population in India. Cholesterol can be a challenging condition to manage, however adapting to healthy lifestyle choices goes a long way. Kiran Kukreja, a Nutritionist based in Delhi , suggests five drinks that can effectively help you maintain and lower your cholesterol levels:
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5 Drinks To Lower Cholesterol
Green Tea
Green tea is rich in catechins and other antioxidant compounds, which appear to reduce LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol levels. Researchers in 2020 examined Green tea's beneficial antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) effects in human, animal and in vitro models. In human models, researchers noted a relationship between high consumption of green tea and low LDL cholesterol levels. In animal models, EGCG lowered concentrations of certain enzymes, and reduced LDL cholesterol levels.
Soy drinks
Soy contains low levels of saturated fat. If you replace some saturated fats with soy products, it may help reduce or manage cholesterol levels. Heart UK recommends 2 to 3 portions of soy-based foods and drinks per day. One portion is 250 mL (milliliters) of soy milk. It may be difficult for people to know how much soy protein is in soy drinks, so they should check the nutrition facts label.
Pomegranate Juice
You may have seen pomegranate juice in the grocery store. The tart, flavor-packed juice is so much more than a tasty drink. Research suggests that the antioxidant content may even help to stop plaque in arteries from building, and it might reduce plaque that is already there.
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Oat drinks
Oats contain beta-glucans, which form a gel-like substance in the gut and interact with bile salts, and these soluble fibers may prevent cholesterol absorption and help lower cholesterol level.
Tomato juice
Tomatoes are high in lycopene, which may enhance lipid levels and decrease LDL cholesterol. Research indicates that when tomatoes are processed into juice, the bioavailability of the lycopene content increases. Bioavailability indicates the quantity of a substance that is absorbed into the body. Tomato juice also contains cholesterol reducing fiber, and niacin.
Conclusion
Although cholesterol is an essential substance in our body, too much of it can be tricky and compromise your health to a serious extent. However, with active lifestyle changes, exercise and a good diet, it is manageable and can be lowered as well..