Not only is this spice nutritious, its versatile and can be added to sweet and savory dishes.
EatingWell
Culinary spices elevate the flavor of foods and amplify the nutrition profile of your dishes.
Using spices to flavor foods allows for less salt and fat in cooking.
Photo:EatingWell
This is advantageous for many health conditions, particularly those with high cholesterol.
Read on to learn more about which specific spice dietitians recommend for high cholesterol and why.
Pictured recipe:Cinnamon-Sugar Roasted Chickpeas
What Is High Cholesterol?
High cholesterol is one of the precursors of heart disease.
Cholesterol is also found in foods.
Elevated cholesterol increases the risk of developing plaque.
Plaque can narrow the arteries, causing atherosclerosis, which increases the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Regular physical activity, smoking cessation, stress reduction and diet can all impact cholesterol.
In fact, fiber-rich diets are associated with heart health and a reduced risk of heart disease.
Spices may also enhance the bodys ability to keep cholesterol in a healthy range.
The #1 Spice to Reduce High Cholesterol
Cinnamon is our No.
1 spice for high cholesterol.
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) comes from the bark of various species of cinnamon trees.
Cinnamon contains the compounds cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic acid, which are present in the oil.
In addition, the participants were educated on healthy eating and exercise.
Therefore, more research is needed to determine the dose and length of treatment to have a positive effect.
Compared to placebo, the group given cinnamon experienced reduced levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
Should You Take Cinnamon Supplements?
Culinary use of cinnamon can be beneficial.
Cinnamon powder at a dose of 14 to 1 teaspoon daily may be used.
If you plan to consume cinnamon regularly, you may want to search for Ceylon cinnamon.
Hill says, The possibilities are endless when it comes to using spices.
If youre looking for a mouthwatering way to start, whip up theseBanana-Bran Muffins.
Other Ways to Lower Cholesterol
Overall, diet quality is important for lowering cholesterol.
Choose proteins that are low in saturated fat, says Hill.
Opt for chicken, turkey, fish and plant-based proteins like tofu and tempeh.
She also recommends moderating red meat, cheese and alcohol and incorporating regular exercise to maintain a healthy weight.
But replacing salt, sugar and saturated fat with spices is a great way to improve health.
Using cinnamon as an addition to your lifestyle changes can be a complementary tool to lowering your cholesterol.
Its important to examine any medications that can cause drug-nutrient interactions.
