A big fan of fibre-rich foods, Dr Klodas, has explained why such foods are good for you. “As a cardiologist, I always tell patients that lowering their LDL [low-density lipoprotein] ‘bad’ cholesterol can help prevent cardiovascular disease,” said Dr Klodas. “Many foods have soluble fibre, which binds cholesterol in the digestive system and drags them out of the body before they get into circulation,” the doctor said.
Ideal for salads, stews and curries, the mighty chickpea packs a punch when it comes to its health benefits.
“They’re packed with potassium and magnesium, both important for blood pressure control,” said Dr Klodas.
“One cup has almost 15 grams of protein, 12 grams of fibre, and one-fourth of your daily iron requirement.”
As for snacking, Dr Klodas suggested eating a handful of almonds as it can provide fibre, protein, and vitamin E.
An example includes swapping butter (high in saturated fat) for vegetable oil spreads, such as sunflower or rapeseed oil.
In terms of cooking, if you are a meat eater, you can replace regular mince for lower-fat options.
Even better yet, you can swap red or processed meat for fish, turkey or chicken without the skin.
Plant-based options are also preferable to red meat, such as lentils, soya or Quorn.
Source: | This article first appeared on Express.co.uk
