5 Best Fruits to Help Lower Cholesterol, Say Dietitians — Eat This Not That

By Ghuman

Introduction

If you’re looking to lower your cholesterol levels, you may want to consider adding some of the best fruits to your diet. Dietitians recommend eating a variety of fruits to help reduce cholesterol levels. Fruits are packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber, which can help reduce cholesterol levels and improve overall health. Here are five of the best fruits to help lower cholesterol, according to dietitians. Eating these fruits can help you maintain a healthy cholesterol level and reduce your risk of heart disease.

5 Best Fruits to Help Lower Cholesterol, Say Dietitians

If you’re looking to lower your cholesterol, dietitians recommend adding certain fruits to your diet. Fruits are packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and they can help reduce cholesterol levels. Here are five of the best fruits to help lower cholesterol.

1. Apples

Apples are a great source of soluble fiber, which helps reduce cholesterol levels. Eating an apple a day can help reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol levels by up to 23%. Apples are also rich in antioxidants, which can help protect against heart disease.

2. Oranges

Oranges are a great source of vitamin C and fiber. Eating an orange a day can help reduce LDL cholesterol levels by up to 21%. Oranges are also rich in antioxidants, which can help protect against heart disease.

3. Pears

Pears are a great source of soluble fiber, which helps reduce cholesterol levels. Eating a pear a day can help reduce LDL cholesterol levels by up to 18%. Pears are also rich in antioxidants, which can help protect against heart disease.

4. Strawberries

Strawberries are a great source of vitamin C and fiber. Eating a cup of strawberries a day can help reduce LDL cholesterol levels by up to 16%. Strawberries are also rich in antioxidants, which can help protect against heart disease.

5. Blueberries

Blueberries are a great source of antioxidants, which can help reduce cholesterol levels. Eating a cup of blueberries a day can help reduce LDL cholesterol levels by up to 15%. Blueberries are also rich in antioxidants, which can help protect against heart disease.

Adding these five fruits to your diet can help lower your cholesterol levels and protect your heart health. Be sure to talk to your doctor or dietitian about the best way to incorporate these fruits into your diet.

There are a lot of factors that go into caring for your heart health. Maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, not smoking, limiting your alcohol consumption, and trying to lower your stress when you can are all helpful for your heart.

Having things like high blood pressure, diabetes, a habit of smoking, and high cholesterol can all put you at a higher risk for heart disease and other heart-related complications. While this can sound overwhelming, there are fortunately steps you can take to help reduce your risk. For example, you can work on lowering your cholesterol by talking to your doctor about changing up your diet and including healthier foods into your daily routine.

Learn more about how fruit can help you lower your cholesterol, and for more healthy eating tips make sure to check out The #1 Best Vegetable for Heart Disease.

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Not only are oranges delicious and good for your immunity, but they’re apparently great for your heart health, too.

“Oranges are a satisfying fruit that contain important nutrients for heart health without added sugars,” says medical board member Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN, author of The First Time Mom’s Pregnancy Cookbook and Fueling Male Fertility. “When looking at orange juice specifically, observational studies have shown associations between adults who consume orange juice and significantly lower total and LDL cholesterol levels, with males having a 23% reduced risk for having low HDL concentrations, compared to non-consumers. Starting the day with a serving of 100% orange juice can be one positive thing to do to support healthy cholesterol levels.”

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Watermelon is a refreshing way to start your summer season, and according to dietitians, it can be helpful in lowering cholesterol as well.

“Watermelon is a popular fruit that is a fantastic addition to a cholesterol-lowering diet,” says Manaker. “Watermelon naturally contains lycopene, a carotenoid that has been shown to scavenge free radicals, thereby possibly preventing elevated cholesterol levels. Sipping on watermelon juice can be a refreshing way to include a slew of important nutrients, including lycopene, into your day, especially if it replaces drinks with added sugars.”

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You either love prunes or hate them. But if you’re a prune-lover, you may be helping your heart health in more ways than one.

“According to recent data, just 50 grams of daily prunes (5 to 6) increased HDL (good cholesterol) in postmenopausal women significantly, as well as lowered inflammation and increased antioxidant activity,” says Manaker. “Adding prunes to smoothies, including them in savory chicken dishes, or just eating them plain are all ways to enjoy these good-for-you fruits.”

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An apple a day really can keep the doctor away, or at the very least it can provide you with some very helpful nutrients.

“Apples are particularly high in pectin, which is a soluble fiber that can bind to cholesterol in the digestive system, where it carries the cholesterol to the liver for elimination,” says Morgyn Clair, MS, RDN, author at Fit Healthy Momma.

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Berries are some of the best fruits to lower cholesterol because of their fiber content and helpful antioxidants.

“Berries contain a ton of antioxidants,” says Clair. “They help protect the ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol from oxidizing in the body and therefore protecting against its harmful effects.”