Health

High cholesterol: The best snack to help lower cholesterol levels


Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is found in the blood. A body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells, but high levels of cholesterol can increase a persons risk of heart disease. High cholesterol can be inherited, but it’s often the result of unhealthy lifestyle choices, which make it preventable and treatable. A certain snack has been proven to lower a person’s cholesterol levels. What is it?

Soy nuts are soybeans soaked in water, drained, and then baked or roasted. They are a crunchy snack made from mature soybeans soaked in water.

They are high in protein and dietary fibre. Along with other soy products, soy nuts are common amongst vegans and in plant-based diets all over the world.

Soy nuts are often sold as a healthy snack and come in a range of flavours that are rich in healthy protein. According to LiveStrong.com, replacing 25g of a person’s dietary protein with 25g of soy protein derived specifically from soy nuts may help with general cardiovascular health.

A May 2007 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that eating soy nuts helped lower blood pressure by up to 9.9 per cent and decreased levels of .

The researchers concluded that soy nuts have a “cardioprotective effect.”

Soy nuts may help lower cholesterol levels and improve other risk factors for heart disease.

It’s understood the fibre, protein, and the alpha-linolenic acid in soy are likely to play a role in protecting the heart and lowering cholesterol.

A review of 35 studies found that eating soy products significantly decreased LDL (bad)cholesterol levels while increasing HDL (good) cholesterol levels, especially in those with high cholesterol.

In a study with the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, the effects of soy on metabolic biomarkers of cardiovascular disease in elderly women was investigated.

The study ascertained the effects of soy, including soy nuts and blood pressure in elderly women.

The study resulted in soy nuts significantly improving levels with the serum total cholesterol decreasing significantly. 

In another study, the effect of soy nuts on blood pressure and lipid levels in hypersensitive postmenopausal women was investigated.

The study involved 60 women in an eight week study and ate 25 grams of protein from soy nuts per day.

The study noted a lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 9.9 per cent and 6.8 per cent respectively, in those with high blood pressure, compared with a diet without soy protein. 

Soy nuts are great in taste and a the perfect healthy snack.

They can be added to yogurts, salads, and stir-fries while soy-nut butter is an excellent addition to sandwiches, sauces and smoothies.



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