FEBRUARY 6: FIBER, FIBER, FIBER
29 Days to a Healthier Heart
An increased consumption of fiber-rich plant foods (fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes) will lower your chance of heart disease. The term “dietary fiber” refers to the components of plant cell wall as well as the indigestible residues.
Dietary fiber, particularly the soluble fiber found in legumes, fruit, and vegetables, is very effective in lowering cholesterol levels. Specifically, a significant reduction in the level of serum total cholesterol was found in 68 of the 77 (88%) studies reviewed.
The overwhelming majority of these studies demonstrated that individuals with high cholesterol levels will see significant reductions with frequent oatmeal or oat bran consumption. This result may be explained not only by oatmeal’s fiber content, but also by its high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Try these delicious heart healthy spins on oatmeal:
Apple Crisp Oatmeal
1/2 cup chopped apple
2 tablespoons low-fat granola
1 tablespoon chopped almonds
1/8 teaspoon apple pie spice
Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal
2 tablespoons fat-free vanilla yogurt
1 tablespoon pumpkin butter
1/8 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Cheesy Hash Brown Oatmeal
1/4 cup cooked hash brown potatoes
2 tablespoons shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 tablespoon salsa
Peanut Butter Cup Oatmeal
1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips
And here are lots more healthy oatmeal and oat recipes at Heart Healthy Living…