Do you want to reduce cholesterol intake without compromising on taste? Snacks for high cholesterol can be tasty too. It isn’t just tofu and oat bran. You just have to plan your snacks, cut out fattening items, and learn how to swap unhealthy snacks with healthier options to manage high cholesterol numbers painlessly. We know that medications can take a toll on your savings, so if your doctor has prescribed you with medications like Nexlizet, be sure to check out Nexlizet discounts and SingleCare prescriptions to save some money.

Now let’s jump into it, here are some of the snack options that are good for high cholesterol:

1. Skip croutons and choose walnuts
Excess carbohydrates in meals can lead to spikes in the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is also called bad cholesterol.

You can make a salad healthier by swapping carbohydrate-laden croutons with nutritious walnuts. Walnuts are rich sources of polyunsaturated fat, which is a beneficial fat that boosts HDL (good) cholesterol production and lowers LDL cholesterol levels.

2. Choose red wine over cocktails and mocktails
Research shows that a moderate amount of alcohol consumption increases HDL (good) cholesterol levels. However, you would not get the benefits if you have mixed drinks or cocktails tossed with fruit juices containing loads of carbohydrates.

The safest bet is red wine. It contains one-tenth of the carbohydrates present in a margarita, and you also get a good dose of antioxidants like flavonoids. With the proven risks of alcohol, the American Heart Association recommends a daily intake of only two glasses of red wine for men and one glass for women.

3. Swap cheese and crackers with nuts and edamame
Making snacks for people with high cholesterol levels is tricky. For instance, if you want to prepare a starter or a pre-dinner snack, what would you choose? Ideally, cheese and crackers would be the first choice, but not if your cholesterol numbers were high. You would have to reconsider your choice then.

Go for healthier edamame made of baby soybeans and opt for almonds. Edamame is a wonderful snack for high cholesterol as it contains essential proteins, and almonds add crunch to the snack, along with benefits for lowering cholesterol.

4. Replace unhealthy salad dressings with lemon juice and vinegar
High-fat salad dressing rips off the goodness of fresh vegetables and fruits and defeats the purpose of a salad. To keep your cholesterol levels in check, go for a simple vinegar or lemon juice dressing. Drizzle some over the salad and relish the richness and crunch of veggies.

5. Choose lean protein, turkey over beef
Red meat is rich in dietary cholesterol and saturated fat, both unhealthy for cholesterol. Instead, choose a leaner source of protein like ground turkey, which contains half the amount of saturated fat.

6. Eat more fish than lean protein
Fish is the richest source of omega 3-fatty acids, which is proven to reduce LDL cholesterol levels. Also, omega-3 fatty acids have much lesser fat content than even the leanest of meats like chicken.
Scallop over chicken is a good choice, and the choices of fish are plenty, like salmon, herring, and mackerel.

7. Have quinoa, not rice
Quinoa has innumerable benefits as a snack for high cholesterol: it is healthy, hearty, and low in cholesterol and carbohydrates. A cup of cooked quinoa contains 15% fewer carbs and 60% more proteins than a bowl of cooked brown rice. It also contains more fiber, all of which is good for lowering cholesterol levels.