Short Answer: Oatmeal is good for high cholesterol. Because it has beta-glucan and other nutrients and antioxidants that can lower LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol.
High cholesterol is a condition that affects your blood vessels and heart.
In high cholesterol, your body has too much of a waxy substance called cholesterol in your blood.
This can lead to various health problems, such as atherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke.
One of the key factors in managing high cholesterol is diet.
What you consume can affect your cholesterol levels, which can impact your high cholesterol symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage high cholesterol, you should consume fiber-rich foods like oats, fruits, and vegetables, and avoid saturated fat and trans fat-rich foods like red meat, butter, and pastries.
Now, oatmeal is a preparation of oats that have been de-husked, steamed, and flattened, or a coarse flour of hulled oat grains that have either been milled, rolled, or steel-cut.
People usually eat oatmeal for breakfast as porridge, which is made by boiling oats in water or milk.
Oatmeal is good for high cholesterol because it contains beta-glucan, a type of soluble fiber that can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and increase HDL (good) cholesterol.
Oatmeal may also benefit people with different types of high cholesterol, such as familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetic condition that increases LDL cholesterol.
One cup of cooked oatmeal can give you about 4 grams of fiber, which is 16% of your daily needs.
Beta-glucan can bind to cholesterol in your digestive system and prevent it from being absorbed into your bloodstream.
It can also stimulate the liver to produce more bile acids, which help remove excess cholesterol from your body.
Furthermore, oatmeal is a whole grain and whole grains are good for high cholesterol.
Because, they contain other nutrients and antioxidants that can protect your blood vessels and reduce inflammation.
You can eat one to two cups of oatmeal per day safely.
More than that can cause bloating, gas, or diarrhea.
You can also add some fruits, nuts, or seeds to your oatmeal to increase the flavor and nutritional value.
Also, you shouldn’t eat oatmeal if you have celiac disease or gluten intolerance to prevent allergic reactions.
Because, some oats may be contaminated with gluten during processing.
You can buy fresh oats in your local market or can order them from online.
Always choose organic, whole, and unprocessed oats.
Because, they have more nutrients and less additives than instant or flavored oats.
You can store them in an airtight container in a cool and dry place for up to a year.
Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management and essential medical care is key to managing high cholesterol effectively.
I always recommend my high cholesterol patients to follow a high cholesterol-friendly diet to improve their overall well-being, and enjoy a longer and healthier life.