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5 Healthy Snacks for High Cholesterol
High cholesterol is one of the consequences of an over-stimulated way of living that excludes all kinds of healthy habits. And that certainly covers snacking. If you are suffering from high cholesterol, and are looking for some guilt-free snacks to peck at, look no further. Here are five healthy snack ideas for you.
Vegetables
A good source of essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and micronutrients, an assortment of colorful vegetables is indispensable in a healthy diet plan. So have more carrots, fresh string beans, peas, eggplants, and potatoes with their skin. Aim to have at least four servings of vegetables every day.
In a heated wok, saute some colorful veggies along with shallots and a few garlic pods in olive oil. After a few minutes, switch off the flame, add salt and freshly crushed black pepper, and garnish with lightly roasted sesame seeds for an added crunch. Enjoy a healthy, guilt-free snack anytime, without having to worry about your high cholesterol.
Fruits
Low-fat fruits like grapes, strawberries, apples, and citrus varieties are ideal snacks for lowering cholesterol. There is nothing more healthy and satisfying for between-meal snacks than a bowl of fresh fruits without any added salt or sugar fruits. Aim to have a minimum of 3 cups of fruit per day.
Overnight Oats
Unrefined oats and barley have quite powerful effects in lowering bad cholesterol. Nutrition provided by these two whole grains reduces your body’s absorption of saturated fat from the intestines.
You can start your day with a nutritious bowl of oats for breakfast. Just add a little almond milk, slivered almonds and walnuts, some fresh blueberries and strawberries, a pinch of cinnamon powder, and a spoonful of flax seeds to the oats. Cover and allow this to soak overnight.
Salmon Discs
Simple and yet filling, this salmon bite is a snack you can put together in a snap. Wild-caught salmon that is smoked is tastier for this dish.
Top up slices of cucumbers with a small piece of smoked salmon and a dollop of plain, unsweetened yogurt. Add capers and some fresh dill over this, and voila your mid-meal snack is ready.
Fish like salmon contain Omega-3 fatty acids and peptides that naturally reduce blood pressure, inflammation, and risk of heart disease. The quercetin glycosides, bio-active compounds found in dill reduces triglycerides.
Roasted Lentils
Cook some lentils just in just enough water and make sure they do not become mushy. Then spread them out on a paper towel to remove the excess moisture.
In a separate bowl mix paprika powder, crushed black pepper, sea salt, and some garlic powder. After the lentils dry up, add them to this bowl, drizzle a little olive oil, and gently mix all these ingredients.
Pre-heat your oven at 350 degrees, line up a baking sheet, spread the lentils over this, and roast well for approximately 30 minutes or until it becomes crunchy. Remember to remove and stir the lentils regularly when it is in the oven. Enjoy this guilt-free snack without the fear of your high cholesterol.