This cholesterol-lowering drink is healthy and delicious

You may have heard about healthy foods that can help lower cholesterol levels in the body. However, have you ever heard of cholesterol-lowering drinks? There are several types of drinks that can help you reduce cholesterol levels that are too high in the blood. Anything, huh?

Various choices of cholesterol-lowering drinks

In addition to taking cholesterol medications, cholesterol-lowering supplements, and cholesterol-lowering foods in the blood, several types of drinks below can actually help you reduce cholesterol levels:

1. Apple juice

Fruits and vegetables do have high fiber content, so they are good for consumption to reduce high cholesterol levels in the blood. Then, what if the fruit has been turned into a drink like apple juice?

Apple juice contains fiber and polyphenols that can improve heart health, including lowering cholesterol. Not surprisingly, apple juice is considered a cholesterol-lowering drink.

The polyphenols in cholesterol-lowering drinks can prevent the build-up of bad cholesterol (LDL) in the arteries. The reason is, this buildup can trigger several health problems such as heart attacks or strokes.

Even so, you need to know that after consuming apple juice, cholesterol levels in the blood may only drop in a small amount. This means that your cholesterol levels may still be above normal limits. Therefore, consuming this cholesterol-lowering drink cannot replace cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Therefore, this drink should be consumed as a companion to the use of drugs so that it helps accelerate the reduction of cholesterol levels in the body.

2. Pomegranate juice

Source: LiveStrong

Compared to apple juice, this drink may be heard less often. In fact, pomegranate juice has good benefits as a cholesterol-lowering drink. Why? The reason is, this drink contains antioxidants such as those found in apples, polyphenols.

However, the levels of polyphenols and other antioxidants present in this fruit are higher than other types of fruit. In fact, the antioxidant content found in this fruit is three times more than the antioxidants found in green tea.

Meanwhile, antioxidants are known to provide protection for the health of the heart, including lowering levels of LDL or bad cholesterol in the blood. However, make sure that you are consuming pomegranate juice which is healthy and does not have added sugar.

Better yet, if you can make this cholesterol-lowering drink yourself. Moreover, packaged drinks, nowadays, often have added sugar which can reduce the benefits of these drinks.

3. Orange juice

The next juice that is considered to reduce cholesterol levels if consumed regularly is orange juice. This drink also has a very high antioxidant content, especially flavonoids, carotenoids and ascorbic acid.

If this drink is consumed regularly, orange juice can help you reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels in the blood. In fact, by regularly consuming this drink, the content of vitamin C and folic acid in the body can also increase.

Even so, to experience the benefits, you must regularly consume at least 750 milliliters (ml) of orange juice every day for more than 12 months or a year.

4. Avocado juice

As with previous fruit juices, avocado juice may be the right choice if you want to consume it as a cholesterol-lowering drink. Avocado itself is a good source of unsaturated fats, especially for those of you who are obese or overweight.

This fruit is thought to improve heart health by reducing LDL cholesterol levels in the blood in obese people. But remember, if you want to make avocado juice, don't add sugar or other sweeteners.

Also avoid adding chocolate liquid milk which is often seen in avocado juice. The reason is, adding various types of sweeteners is tantamount to increasing blood sugar levels in the body which is also not good for your health.

5. Green tea

Green tea is apparently one of the few drinks that are considered to be cholesterol-lowering. As with the drinks previously mentioned, green tea also contains catechins, active polyphenols that can help protect the heart by lowering cholesterol levels in the blood.

In fact, a study published in the Nutrition Journal has stated that consuming green tea can reduce levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and total cholesterol in the blood.

This also applies to both normal weight and obese people. Not only that, by regularly consuming these cholesterol-lowering drinks, you can also reduce your risk of experiencing heart health problems that occur due to high cholesterol levels.

6. Sour turmeric

If you prefer a more traditional drink, you can consume tamarind turmeric to lower cholesterol levels. The curcumin content in turmeric is believed to reduce bad cholesterol levels and total cholesterol in the blood.

This was revealed by a study published in the Nutrition Journal in 2017 which stated that cholesterol levels in people who consumed curcumin tended to decrease compared to those who did not consume it at all.

7. Soy milk

Drinks that can be consumed if you want to lower cholesterol are soy milk. Yes, soy or foods and drinks made from soy have the potential to reduce high cholesterol in the blood. By regularly consuming 1/2 cup of soy milk every day, LDL cholesterol in the blood can drop by 5-6 percent.

Although useful, you should avoid excessive cholesterol-lowering drinks. If you have a special health condition or are taking medication, you should first consult with your doctor before consuming this drink.