The Best Grains to Help Lower Your Cholesterol (2024)

Heart Health

High Cholesterol

Nutrition

ByJennifer Moll, PharmD

Updated on September 08, 2022

Medically reviewed byRichard N. Fogoros, MD

When you're considering foods to eat on a cholesterol-lowering diet, it's likely that you focus mainly on consuming less animal meat and more fruits and vegetables. Eating grains is probably an afterthought since they don't contain much if any fat. But you may be surprised to learn that, when you’re trying to lower yourcholesterol, the types of grains you eat can make a difference in your results.

The Best Grains to Help Lower Your Cholesterol (1)

Carbohydrates and Your Heart Health

You need carbohydrates to provide your body with the energy it needs. However, according to the National Cholesterol Education Program, your carbohydrate intake should not exceed 60% of your total daily calories. Too much carbohydrate in your diet may not be good for your heart.

Studies have linked the high consumption of carbohydrates to high levels oftriglycerides (a type of fat found throughout the body), lower levels ofHDL, or “good,” cholesterol, andweight gain.

As you can see, choosing the right types of grains to eat on a cholesterol-lowering meal plan is important for keeping your cholesterol levels within a healthy range. It may even help lower your cholesterolslightly.

Which Grains Are Best

When planning meals for your cholesterol-lowering diet, it's important to select whole grain bread, pasta, and cereals and to avoid refined, processed grains, which are found in foods like egg noodles, white bread, pastries, muffins, and crackers.

But that doesn't mean you have to take all the fun out of eating! You can prepare many different and delicious meals and snacks using heart-healthy grains. Here are some tips to help you choose the healthiest types of grains to eat on a cholesterol-lowering diet:

  • Switch your regular pasta to whole-wheat pasta. These types of pasta are higher in nutritional value than refined grains and contain higher amounts of fiber (especially soluble fiber)which can help lower your cholesterol.
  • Are you still eating white bread? Try switching to whole-wheat or whole-grain varieties. These types of bread are also high in fiber, which can help lower your cholesterol. You might also try low-carbohydrate varieties of bread, but make sure that you check out the fat and fiber content on the food nutrition label before you make your choice.
  • Other grains can be healthy, too, so you don’t need to limit yourself to whole-wheat bread and pasta. Have you tried adding couscous, legumes like soybeans and lentils, and whole-grain rice to your meals? These are excellent low-fat, high-fiber foods that can taste great with many dishes. And, again, they can help you manage your cholesterol.
  • Watch what you add to your grains! If you slather a high-fat sauce over your whole-wheat pasta, you'll cancel out the pasta's cholesterol-lowering benefits. You don't have to eat your healthy grains unadorned; just be sure to keep things in balance by checking the fat content of the condiments, spreads, and sauces you eat with them.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is brown rice good for cholesterol?

    Yes, brown rice is good for cholesterol. One study showed that regularly eating brown rice can help lower LDL cholesterol. High levels of LDL cholesterol increase the risk of multiple health conditions, including heart attack and stroke. If you are seeking to maintain a reduced-cholesterol diet, try replacing white rice with brown rice.

  • Is sourdough bread good for cholesterol?

    Sourdough bread may be good for cholesterol in some people. In one study, participants saw a reduction in serum cholesterol from sourdough bread, while others did not see meaningful effects. In another study, people with the APOE E3/E3 genotype experienced heightened LDL cholesterol from eating sourdough bread, making it a potentially poor choice for high cholesterol in these participants. It may be best to speak to your healthcare provider for their recommendations on which bread you should eat to manage cholesterol.

  • Is couscous high in fiber?

    One serving of whole-grain couscous contains a healthy amount of fiber. It also contains healthy amounts of protein, and is a good substitute for white rice. Whole-grain couscous, whole-grain rice, soybeans, and lentils are all great options for managing cholesterol.

7 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). Third report of the national cholesterol education program (NCEP) expert panel on detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults (Adult treatment panel iii) final report.Circulation. 2002;106(25):3143-3421.

  2. Jung CH, Choi KM. Impact of high-carbohydrate diet on metabolic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes. Nutrients. 2017;9(4). doi:10.3390/nu9040322

  3. Cooper DN, Kable ME, Marco ML, et al. The Effects of Moderate Whole Grain Consumption on Fasting Glucose and Lipids, Gastrointestinal Symptoms, and Microbiota. Nutrients. 2017;9(2). doi:10.3390/nu9020173

  4. Dixit AA, Azar KM, Gardner CD, Palaniappan LP. Incorporation of whole, ancient grains into a modern Asian Indian diet to reduce the burden of chronic disease. Nutr Rev. 2011;69(8):479-88. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2011.00411.x

  5. Malik VS, Sudha V, Wedick NM, et al. Substituting brown rice for white rice on diabetes risk factors in India: a randomised controlled trial. Br J Nutr. 2019;121(12):1389-1397. doi:10.1017/S000711451900076X

  6. Lau SW, Chong AQ, Chin NL, Talib RA, Basha RK. Sourdough microbiome comparison and benefits.Microorganisms. 2021;9(7):1355 doi:10.3390/microorganisms9071355

  7. Tucker A, MacKay K, Robinson L,et al.The effect of whole grain wheat sourdough bread consumption on serum lipids in healthy normoglycemic/normoinsulinemic and hyperglycemic/hyperinsulinemic adults depends on presence of theAPOEE3/E3 genotype: a randomized controlled trial.Nutr Metab (Lond).2010;7(1):37. doi:10.1186/1743-7075-7-37

Additional Reading

By Jennifer Moll, PharmD
Jennifer Moll, MS, PharmD, is a pharmacist actively involved in educating patients about the importance of heart disease prevention.

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The Best Grains to Help Lower Your Cholesterol (2024)

FAQs

The Best Grains to Help Lower Your Cholesterol? ›

Pick the Best Carbs

Beans and whole grains such as brown rice, quinoa, and whole wheat have more fiber and don't spike your blood sugar. They will lower cholesterol and make you feel full longer.

What grain is best for lowering cholesterol? ›

Pick the Best Carbs

Beans and whole grains such as brown rice, quinoa, and whole wheat have more fiber and don't spike your blood sugar. They will lower cholesterol and make you feel full longer.

What is the number one food to lower cholesterol? ›

Oatmeal, oat bran and high-fiber foods

Oatmeal has soluble fiber, which reduces your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol. Soluble fiber is also found in such foods as kidney beans, Brussels sprouts, apples and pears.

What are the six super foods that lower cholesterol? ›

  • Legumes. Share on Pinterest. ...
  • Avocados. Avocados are a rich source of monounsaturated fats and fiber, two nutrients that help lower LDL and raise HDL cholesterol. ...
  • Nuts. ...
  • Fatty fish. ...
  • Whole grains. ...
  • Fruits and berries. ...
  • Dark chocolate and cocoa. ...
  • Garlic.
Dec 19, 2023

Which seed is best to lower cholesterol? ›

Examples include chia, flax, pumpkin, and sunflower seeds. When it comes to adding these into the diet, possible ways include adding ground flaxseeds to a bowl of oatmeal, using sunflower butter in a sandwich, adding chia seeds to a pudding, or eating a snack of roasted pumpkin seeds.

What is the healthiest grain to eat? ›

Here are the healthiest grains to eat, according to nutrition expert Malena Perdomo, MS, RDN, CDE.
  • 06 of 13. Oats. ...
  • 07 of 13. Farro. ...
  • 08 of 13. Bulgur Wheat. ...
  • 09 of 13. Freekeh. ...
  • 10 of 13. Wild Rice. ...
  • 11 of 13. Millet. ...
  • 12 of 13. Rye. Verywell / Alexandra Shytsman. ...
  • 13 of 13. Brown Rice. Max Kelly.
Apr 16, 2024

What is the golden drink that lowers cholesterol? ›

Supports Heart Health: Studies have shown that the curcumin in turmeric milk may have a positive impact on heart health. It can help reduce cholesterol levels and improve blood circulation. Aids Respiratory Integrity: The properties of turmeric milk make it beneficial for respiratory health.

What can I drink to flush out my cholesterol? ›

Cholesterol is often high due to excessive saturated and trans fat consumption. There are certain drinks that can help maintain an ideal cholesterol level. Some of the best drinks for cholesterol management include green tea, pomegranate juice, citrus juice, soy milk, plant-based smoothies, and red wine.

What foods flush out bad cholesterol? ›

Cholesterol-lowering foods

1) Oatmeal, oat bran and high-fiber foods. Foods high in soluble fiber help reduce the absorption of cholesterol into your bloodstream. Soluble fiber is also found in kidney beans, apples, pears, barley and prunes. 2) Fish and omega-3 fatty acids.

What is the super fruit for cholesterol? ›

For those who aren't big on watermelon, consider adding apples, grapes, strawberries, citrus fruits or even avocados to your diet. All of these are rich in pectin, a type of soluble fiber that lowers LDL cholesterol.

Are bananas good for cholesterol? ›

The fiber and potassium in bananas can reduce the level of cholesterol and blood pressure. Banana is especially known as a good source of soluble fibre which will gives one a healthy body and good immune system. Grapes get into the bloodstream and carry all the bad cholesterol into the liver where it gets processed.

What should I eat if my cholesterol is high? ›

plenty of vegetables, fruit and wholegrains. a variety of healthy protein-rich foods (especially fish and seafood), legumes (such as beans and lentils), nuts and seeds. Smaller amounts of eggs and lean poultry can also be included in a heart-healthy eating pattern.

Which nuts reduce cholesterol? ›

Good options are: almonds, macadamias, brazil nuts, cashew nuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, walnuts, peanuts, pecans.

Does lemon water lower cholesterol? ›

Reduced risk of heart disease

Plant compounds found in lemons--namely limonin, hesperidin, and diosmin--have also been found to lower your cholesterol levels.

What is the best flour to lower cholesterol? ›

Whole grains are another good source of fiber. Instead of refined flour and white rice, try whole-wheat flour and brown or wild rice. Old-fashioned oatmeal is also a good choice, but not the quick-cooking versions, which have had much of the fiber processed out. And don't substitute sugar for fat.

What kind of bread should you eat to lower cholesterol? ›

Saturated fat is more likely to increase LDL cholesterol levels in our blood, along with refined carbohydrates such as white bread. People should try to increase their fiber intake, including eating more whole grain bread types, which can help to lower cholesterol levels.

What is the best cereal to lower cholesterol? ›

Oatmeal: This hot cereal is a cardiologist favorite. It contains fiber, vitamins and minerals, and studies associate it with lowering cholesterol and helping with weight control, according to the American Heart Association. Use plain oatmeal as a base to add fruit and nuts.

What is the best vegetable to lower cholesterol? ›

Fill your plate with non-starchy vegetables like asparagus, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, peppers, celery, carrots, leafy greens and onions, as they're low in calories, high in fiber and contain protein. “These vegetables support all of the goals we're trying to accomplish,” says Zumpano.

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