Diet and exercise can help reduce cholesterol levels in the body. Broccoli is considered to be one vegetable that can actually lower your cholesterol. How is this so? Can you actually reduce your cholesterol just by eating broccoli?
According to the Mayo Clinic, eating high-fiber foods can help lower cholesterol levels naturally. One cup of chopped raw broccoli contains two grams of dietary fiber. Steaming broccoli first actually increases the cholesterol-lowering benefits of the fiber in the vegetable.
Two grams of fiber isn't much when it comes to lowering cholesterol levels. But adding broccoli as one source of fiber-rich food is a good place to start.
Omega-3 fatty acids are also believed to help in the battle against cholesterol. That one cup serving of broccoli also contains 19.1 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids.
Although fish is a better source of these essential fatty acids, adding broccoli to your diet can help with both your fiber and omega-3 fatty acid needs.
Other ways broccoli might help lower cholesterol are because it is low in calories and has nearly no fat with 31 calories and 0.3 grams for a one-cup serving. Losing weight is one way to help lower cholesterol levels, and eating more vegetables, such as broccoli, is one way to help accomplish your weight-loss goals.
Broccoli also contain five percent of your daily needs for magnesium and fourteen percent for folate. Both magnesium and folate are important to keep your heart healthy.
Even though it appears that the nutrients in broccoli are not enough to lower cholesterol levels on their own, when added as a part of a healthy diet, broccoli can be just one tool in helping to lower cholesterol.
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