People with high cholesterol are usually prescribed statins or advised to lose weight. Others are also advised to reduce the amount of salt in the diet and stop drinking and smoking.
However, just adding certain types of food to the diet can help reduce cholesterol.
Pomegranates have always been prized for their flavour have recently been branded as a superfood. However, the fruit could bring benefits to people looking to reduce cholesterol.
Shona Wilkinson, nutritionist at SuperfoodUK.com, said: “Pomegranates are often recommended for helping with cardiovascular disease especially with its potential to reduce cholesterol levels.”
“Pomegranates are thought to work in a variety of ways including - reducing oxidative stress, supporting the synthesis and activity of nitric oxide, inhibiting the oxidation of potentially harmful LDL - low-density lipoprotein also known as the bad cholesterol.
“Pomegranates contain specific antioxidants known as polyphenols.
“They are thought to contain more polyphenols than many other fruits. It is the polyphenols that help with the cardiovascular system as mentioned above.”
Shona said: “You can buy pomegranates and add them to salads, stews, soups etc or you can drink the juice. If you buy pomegranate juice, check the ingredients.
“Some pomegranate juices have loads of sugar added which is obviously detrimental to health.”
The nutritionist also recommended people add fibre to their diet to help reduce cholesterol.
“Soluble fibre is probably best known for its cholesterol lowering effect, when eaten as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol.
"Soluble fibre found in beans, oats, flaxseed and oat bran may help lower total blood cholesterol levels by lowering low-density lipoprotein, or bad cholesterol levels. Studies also have shown that high-fibre foods may have other heart-health benefits, such as reducing blood pressure and inflammation.
“Soluble fibre is made up of sticky substances like pectin, forming a gel-like substance when mixed with liquid.
"The gel binds with cholesterol and bile acids in the small intestine and eliminates them from the body.
"Bile acids are made from the cholesterol that is stored in our blood; this means that more of your body’s cholesterol is used up in replenishing the bile acids.”
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