Short Answer: Sourdough bread is good for high cholesterol. Because it has whole grains and prebiotics and they can lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol.
High cholesterol is a condition that affects your blood.
In high cholesterol, your body has too much of a fatty substance called cholesterol in your blood.
This can lead to various health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease.
One of the key factors in managing high cholesterol is diet.
What you consume can affect your blood 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, beans, and fruits, and avoid saturated fat-rich foods like butter, cheese, and fatty meats.
Now, sourdough bread is a type of bread made with a fermented dough that contains natural yeast and bacteria.
People usually eat sourdough bread as a breakfast or snack, or use it to make sandwiches or toast.
Sourdough bread is good for high cholesterol because it contains whole grains and prebiotics.
Whole grains are rich in fiber, which can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol.
Prebiotics are substances that feed the beneficial bacteria in your gut, which can also help lower cholesterol and inflammation.
One slice of sourdough bread can give you about 3 grams of fiber (12% of your daily needs) and 1 gram of prebiotics (4% of your daily needs).
Fiber can positively affect high cholesterol by binding to cholesterol in your digestive system and preventing it from being absorbed into your bloodstream.
Prebiotics can positively affect high cholesterol by enhancing the production of short-chain fatty acids, which can inhibit cholesterol synthesis in the liver.
Furthermore, sourdough bread is a low-glycemic food and low-glycemic foods are good for high cholesterol.
Because, they do not cause spikes in blood sugar and insulin, which can contribute to cholesterol buildup in the arteries.
You can eat two to three slices of sourdough bread per day safely.
More than that can cause excess calories and weight gain, which can worsen your high cholesterol.
Also, you shouldn’t eat sourdough bread if you have celiac disease or gluten intolerance to prevent digestive issues and inflammation.
Because sourdough bread still contains gluten, even though it is partially broken down by the fermentation process.
You can buy fresh sourdough bread in your local bakery or market, or order it from online.
Always choose sourdough bread that is made with whole grain flour and has a tangy flavor and chewy texture.
Because these indicate that the bread has undergone a long fermentation and has more health benefits.
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.