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Cholesterol-fighting foods more effective than low-fat diet at supporting heart health

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

For people who have received unhealthy cholesterol test results, eating a diet that is rich in proven cholesterol-fighting foods like nuts and soy may be more effective at improving heart health than simply restricting saturated fat intake, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

For years, limiting saturated fats has been the standard recommendation for doctors treating patients with high cholesterol. However, the new findings show that the nutrients included in a diet may be more important than what is left out.

During the course of the six-month study, researchers from St. Michael’s Hospital and the University of Toronto asked a group of participants to either eat a diet rich in nuts, soy and other foods containing plant sterols, or to simply increase their fiber intake and restrict saturated fats.

The results showed that those who consumed foods high in plant sterols - which have been shown to have a beneficial effect on cholesterol - experienced a 3 percent greater reduction in LDL cholesterol levels than those on the low-fat diet.

The researchers said their findings could push recommendations for preventing heart disease in a new direction.