Everyone wants to maintain cholesterol at a healthy level to avoid any health problems and complications, and many people usually look for natural ways to lower cholesterol, including food and drinks, so we will learn together through the following article about the best drinks that lower cholesterol, and are pomegranate juice and coffee safe For cholesterol patients, in addition to a list of some drinks that are best avoided.

Cholesterol lowering drinks

There are several drinks that can help lower or control cholesterol, including the following:

1- Green tea

Green tea contains some antioxidants that reduce bad cholesterol and also reduce the total cholesterol level in the body.

2- Oatmeal drinks

Oats contain beta-glucan fiber, which is a gel-like substance in the intestines that interacts with the salts in bile, helping to reduce cholesterol absorption. According to some studies conducted in 2018, consuming oatmeal drinks such as oat milk can help lower cholesterol, compared to consuming solid products.

3- Soy milk

Replacing whole milk or creamers and cream with soy milk can help reduce cholesterol levels, as soy contains less saturated fat. According to the FDA, eating 25 grams of soy protein daily, as part of a diet low in fat and cholesterol, can help prevent heart disease.

4- Raspberry juice

Berries are foods rich in antioxidants and fiber, both of which help reduce cholesterol levels in the body. Berries and raspberry juice are foods and drinks that do not contain many calories or a high percentage of fat.

5- Tomato juice

Tomatoes contain an ingredient known as lycopene, which can help improve lipid profile and reduce bad cholesterol. Some studies have suggested that turning tomatoes into juice increases the lycopene content, thus increasing the possibility of reducing cholesterol. Tomato juice is also rich in fiber, which also reduces cholesterol.

6- Stanol and sterol drinks

Stanols and sterols are two types of phytochemicals similar in size and shape to cholesterol, which help prevent cholesterol from being absorbed, but vegetables and nuts contain these elements in a small amount, so some companies tend to add them to many foods and drinks, such as yogurt drinks, milk and fruit juices . According to the Food and Drug Administration, you should get 3.1 grams of sterols and 3.4 grams of stanols daily.

7- Cocoa drinks

Cocoa is considered among the drinks that lower cholesterol, as cocoa contains beneficial antioxidants called flavanols, which can help improve cholesterol levels, and cocoa contains a group of unsaturated fatty acids that can also improve cholesterol.

However, it must be remembered that not all cocoa drinks are healthy and beneficial, as there are some types that are full of saturated acids and sugars, so be sure to choose healthy ones.

8- Ginger tea

Ginger has been used for centuries to treat some health problems such as diarrhea and nausea, and according to some preliminary studies it can also help lower cholesterol levels and reduce the chances of atherosclerosis, but these results still need more studies, so it is preferable to eat it in moderation.

Does tea raise cholesterol?

Some studies indicate that regular tea or black tea also has a positive effect on cholesterol levels, but its effect is less effective compared to green tea, and this is due to the amount of antioxidants present in the two types.

Does pomegranate juice lower cholesterol?

Some studies have suggested that drinking pomegranate juice can reduce the level of cholesterol, as it is believed that pomegranate juice can prevent or reduce the buildup of cholesterol in the arteries in people at risk of heart disease, but the evidence to support this is insufficient.

Pomegranate juice is a safe drink in general, but it must be ensured that the juice is natural, pure and not mixed with juices or other drinks full of harmful sugar for heart health. It is preferable to speak with a doctor before consuming pomegranate juice regularly for the purpose of lowering cholesterol, to know the negatives and positives, and to avoid any side effects that may occur or interactions with medications.

Coffee and cholesterol

The results of studies examining the relationship between drinking coffee and its effect on cholesterol levels vary, but many other studies agree that what affects cholesterol levels is not the amount of caffeine in coffee, but the oils that are naturally present in coffee beans.

The relationship between coffee and cholesterol also depends on the method of preparing coffee. Using paper filters can reduce the amount of natural oils in coffee, and thus the effect of coffee on cholesterol levels is reduced.

It is preferable to avoid drinking unfiltered coffee for people with high cholesterol, such as Turkish coffee. Without filtering coffee, coffee may contain a higher amount of oils that raise cholesterol.

Cholesterol patients should avoid drinks

After knowing the best cholesterol-lowering drinks, and if you want to improve cholesterol levels or maintain normal levels, it is preferable to stay away from the following drinks:

• Coffee and tea drinks that contain additives such as whipped cream, whole milk or creamers.
• Juices or shakes containing coconut and palm oils.
• Coconut drinks.
• Drinks containing ice cream.
• Full-fat dairy products.
• Sugary drinks such as soft drinks, energy drinks, or chocolate drink products.