Snacking is something that everyone does every day. We snack for all kinds of reasons whether it is to get energy or because we are bored at work. The average person consumes more than 600 calories from snacking each day. It is important to choose healthy snacks so you avoid adding inches to your waistline.
Snacking can also be a big contributor to your cholesterol level. Choosing the right healthy snack can actually lower your LDL or “bad” cholesterol. Choosing the wrong snacks can cause your bad cholesterol levels to increase.
Skip the chips or other vending machine processed snacks which are “bad” for you. Try these healthy snacks that will help you lower your LDL level:
Apples are full of anti-oxidants. Eating 2 per day can help slow down the oxidation of LDL cholesterol and help prevent the build up of plaque. Be sure to bring apples to work to snack on and they go great with some organic peanut butter!
Grapefruit contains liminoids which are phytochemicals that destroy LDL. If you take statin meds, you may not be able to eat grapefruit so be careful.
Nuts and Seeds are also cholesterol busters! Seeds like pumpkin, flaxseeds and sunflower seeds are filling and healthy. Almonds, cashews, walnuts and pistachios can lower your bad cholesterol. Just be sure not to eat too many nuts as they are high in calories so 1/4 cup per day is adequate.
Oat Bran is full of water soluble fiber and is also great for lowering cholesterol levels. Enjoy a bowl of oat cereal for breakfast or for an afternoon snack!