2. Oats
Once men reach age 45 and women reach age 55, the risk of heart disease increases dramatically, so it is important to add cholesterol-lowering foods to the diet. A soluble fiber in oats called beta-glucan makes it an ideal choice for lowering cholesterol. Because soluble fibers bind to cholesterol during digestion, they pass through your body instead of staying in your arteries.
If you eat three grams of beta - glucan a day, total cholesterol and low-density cholesterol levels are reduced by 5 - 10%. Oatmeal is a very affordable staple, so there's no reason not to develop this habit! People who eat a lot of oats have a lower risk of dying earlier than those who don't.
