People with high cholesterol should avoid carbs: 5 low-carb foods to add to your diet for better heart health  |  Photo Credit: iStock Images
- People who are looking to improve heart health are recommended to reduce their intake of saturated fats
- A new study has found that reducing your carb intake is equally important, especially if you have high cholesterol
- Here are 5 low-carb, high cholesterol foods you must include in your diet to reduce risk of heart health issues
New Delhi: Your heart is one of the most vital organs of the body, and also pretty sensitive. Taking care of your heart involves taking good care of what you eat, how much you exercise, your stress levels and its management, regular health checkups – to name a few. Apart from eating a healthy and balanced diet, ensuring that you include certain heart healthy foods in your diet is also important. It also becomes equally important to avoid certain foods that may harm your health.
According to a recent study, people who have high cholesterol levels, one of the factors that affect your heart health, should avoid carbs, and not saturated fats, as popularly believed. A study published in SceinceDaily reported that an international team of experts on heart disease and diet say there’s no evidence that a low-saturated fat diet reduces cholesterol in people with familial hypercholesterolemia.
Here are a few low-carb, heart-healthy foods you must include in your diet.
- Lean meats: Lean meats are low in carbohydrates and make for a healthy, nutritious food to include in your diet. Lean meat is low in saturated fats, as well as carbs, which makes them an ideal choice to improve heart health.
- Fish: Fishes such as salmon and tuna that are rich in good fats and omega-3 fatty acids are a good choice for people who want to keep their heart-healthy. Fish consumption also has a positive impact on your skin health.
- Leafy green vegetables: If you are a vegetarian and looking for options for better heart health, leafy green vegetables are the way to go. They are low in calories and rich in nutrients. They are also low in sugar content, rich in fibre, which can also help in weight management.
- Nuts and seeds: Nuts and seeds are rich in various healthy fats, which can help to strengthen the heart. Nuts and seeds also work as great snacks to stay healthy and fit, and keep your weight in check. This food group is also low in calories, which can help reduce your carbohydrate consumption.
- Fruits: While some fruits such as mangoes are super high in sugar and carbs, others such as apples, berries and others are heart-health friendly foods. You must include fruits in your diet for better health overall, as well as for improved heart health.
Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purpose only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.
