High cholesterol actually begins in your gut. When we consume a diet rich in whole grains, like oats, a certain amount of cholesterol is bound during digestion.
Thus, this process lowers cholesterol because it gets excreted instead of absorbed. Oats contain a significant source of soluble fiber that helps excrete cholesterol via digestion.
Soluble fiber acts as a "binder" to prevent "bad" cholesterol from being absorbed and circulated.
Choosing high soluble fiber foods like oats, oatmeal, and oat-containing products changes how much cholesterol becomes absorbed by the body.
Total cholesterol numbers include all types of cholesterol in the body—both good and bad!
Because LDL cholesterol in part makes up the total levels of cholesterol in the blood, total cholesterol also decreases with lower LDL values.
High soluble-fiber foods significantly impact LDL cholesterol, but have virtually no direct impact on HDL cholesterol.
However, the ratio of good to bad cholesterol changes with a heart-healthy diet, and that plays a role in your total cholesterol and your HDL, LDL ratio.
Triglycerides are often elevated due to excess sugar in the diet, simple carbohydrates, and saturated fats. Thus, choosing carbohydrate sources that are high in fiber
can keep triglyceride levels from rising.Choose foods like oats, whole-grain bread, and berries for high soluble fiber options in your diet to positively impact your cholesterol