Foods to Increase HDL (Cont.)

Walnuts

Walnuts are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids and may reduce the risk for heart disease. Walnuts are most beneficial when used to replace less healthy fats (such as saturated fat from meat); however, they have not been shown to increase HDL or lower LDL.
 

Garlic

Dietary use of garlic may lower some types of cholesterol in the short term, but it does not appear to offer long-term protection against heart disease. Garlic may help to reduce LDL ("bad" cholesterol) and triglycerides. However, this food has not been shown to increase HDL levels.
 

Alcohol

Moderate alcohol intake actually does increase HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) levels, but does not lower LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol). Research studies have shown that HDL can be raised, on average, by 4.0 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) with moderate alcohol consumption.
 
(Click Alcohol and High Cholesterol for more information.)
 

Things to Remember Regarding Foods to Increase HDL

Although at this point, there are no proven foods to increase HDL, there are a number of other natural ways to increase it. These include:
 
  • Losing weight, if you are overweight
  • Quitting smoking, if you smoke
  • Exercising.
     
(Click Raising HDL for more information on how to raise HDL levels.)
 

Pages:

Previous 1 2

Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD