The 11 Best Meals to Cook If You Have High Cholesterol
We all have a complicated relationship with cholesterol. On one hand, you need certain levels of cholesterol to stay healthy and for your body to perform basic functions. On the other hand, too much of it can greatly increase your chances of heart disease and cardiovascular issues.
This is due to the fact that high cholesterol can increase the fatty deposits in your blood vessels, which can in turn increase your risk of having clogged arteries.
Thankfully, there are foods you can eat and lifestyle changes you can make in order to help lower your cholesterol and maintain healthy levels throughout your daily life.
If you have high cholesterol, you'll want to limit your consumption of certain foods including red meat, alcohol, fast food, and other processed items. To help lower your cholesterol levels, it's helpful to incorporate more foods like fatty fish, whole grains, beans, oats, nuts, apples, strawberries, avocados, olive oil, and tofu.
If you're looking for some creative ways of including more of these cholesterol-lowering foods like these into your diet, we've got you covered! Here are some of our best recipes to try if you have high cholesterol. And for more healthy eating tips, make sure to check out 17 Foods That Lower Cholesterol.
Oatmeal Pancakes with Cinnamon Apples
As mentioned above, oats are a helpful food when it comes to lowering and maintaining cholesterol levels. In fact, a study from Nutrition Reviews confirmed that regular oat consumption is associated with lower LDL cholesterol levels.
Apples are also a great fiber-heavy fruit, and the pectin from apple skin has been known to help lower cholesterol as well.
Get our recipe for Oatmeal Pancakes.
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Mediterranean Breakfast Burrata Platter
This breakfast platter is full of ingredients like whole grain bread, seeds, butternut squash, and microgreens, all of which can help your cholesterol levels.
Get our recipe for Mediterranean Breakfast Platter.
Grilled Salmon with Chickpeas
Salmon is full of omega-3 fatty acids, which are extremely beneficial in helping to keep your heart healthy. Chickpeas also contain fiber, which can help you maintain healthy cholesterol levels and proper digestion.
Get our recipe for Grilled Salmon with Chermoula Chickpeas.
Asian-Inspired Tuna Burger with Wasabi Mayo
Tuna is another great fatty fish with plenty of omega-3 fatty acids. And while omega-3s don't directly impact your cholesterol levels, they help keep your heart healthy and can be a great replacement for red meat, which is known to be harmful to those with high cholesterol.
Get our recipe for Tuna Burger with Wasabi Mayo.
Mediterranean Tofu Scramble
Tofu is another delicious, affordable replacement for red meat in your diet. This scramble is easy to make and gives you plenty of options for adding your favorite ingredients to the mix.
Get our recipe for Tofu Scramble.
Avocado-Berry Smoothie
While this recipe only calls for blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries, it's best to throw in some strawberries as well. Strawberries contain small amounts of pectin, which can help you manage your cholesterol levels.
Not only that, but according to the Journal of the American Heart Association, avocados have been known to help lower cholesterol levels in those with obesity or those who are overweight.
Get our recipe for Avocado-Berry Smoothie.
Black Bean and Sweet Potato Tacos
These black bean tacos are delicious and easy to make, and they're entirely vegetarian-friendly. Black beans are a great source of soluble fiber, which can help your body manage how much cholesterol it absorbs in its bloodstream.
Get our recipe for Black Bean and Sweet Potato Tacos.
Healthy Oatmeal with Peanut Butter and Banana
This yummy oatmeal recipe will give you helpful amounts of fiber, as well as a boost of protein from the peanut butter. To keep this oatmeal as healthy as possible, try opting for natural peanut butter without any added sugar.
While a little bit of added sugar here and there is okay, it's important to monitor your levels if you're watching your cholesterol. Too much added sugar can increase triglycerides, a type of blood fat that impacts your cholesterol as well.
Get our recipe for Peanut Butter Oatmeal.
Sheet Pan Vegan Sausage and Vegetable Recipe
Everyone loves a good sausage recipe. However, sausage can be harmful to those watching their cholesterol. That's why this vegan sausage and vegetable sheet pan recipe is perfect. Not only is it easy to make, but it's so delicious that you won't even miss the meat.
Get our recipe for Sheet Pan Vegan Sausage and Veggies.
Hazelnut, Fig, and Almond Toast
Whole grain toast can be a great addition to your diet if you're wanting to lower your cholesterol, and why should you have to ditch the chocolate just because you're trying to eat healthier? This recipe also includes almonds, which according to Nutrition Reviews can help lower LDL cholesterol.
Get our recipe for Hazlenut Almond Toast.
Blackened Fish Sandwich with Avocado and Cabbage
This recipe incorporates fish and avocado, both of which are helpful for your cholesterol and heart health. You can make this recipe one step better toward managing your cholesterol is using a whole grain bun if possible.
Get our recipe for Blackened Fish Sandwich.
