Does Oatmeal Lower Cholesterol?

Oatmeal offers many health benefits in its contribution to a well-balanced diet. One of these benefits is its ability to reduce your cholesterol. At Mylk Labs, our oatmeal breakfast cups are the low sugar, full in flavor, and the healthy alternative you have been searching for in a breakfast meal.

Types of Cholesterol

When having cholesterol monitored, there are four different results listed – HDL, LDL, and total cholesterol, as well as triglycerides.

• HDL is often called the “good cholesterol”
• LDL, often termed the “bad cholesterol”
• Total cholesterol accounts for all cholesterol types in the body.
• Triglycerides are not specifically a type of cholesterol, but rather a type of fat in the body that gets listed in the lab results from cholesterol tests.

Oatmeal, Cholesterol, and Your Gut

Whole grains such as oats bind cholesterol in the gut during the digestion process. As a result, cholesterol is reduced as it is eliminated from the body, rather than absorbed.

LDL Decreases

The high level of soluble fiber in oats is what helps bind and expel LDL “bad” cholesterol. With a diet rich in high soluble fiber food such as high fiber oatmeal, the percentage of LDL cholesterol absorbed by the body is significantly reduced.

HDL Stays the Same

As LDL reduces with the soluble fiber in oatmeal acting upon it, HDL “good” cholesterol remains unaffected.

Total Cholesterol Decreases

Since LDL comprises part of the total cholesterol number in the body, and it decreases with the regular consumption of whole grains like oatmeal, the total cholesterol number also goes down.

Triglycerides Decrease

Although triglycerides are not cholesterol, they are associated as the most common source of fat in the body. Triglyceride levels often increase when the diet contains excess sugar, saturated fats, and simple carbohydrates. Eating sources of carbohydrates with high fiber content, like high fiber oatmeal, tends to prevent the increase of triglyceride levels.

Try Our High Fiber Oatmeal

Take control of your health today and try our healthy instant oatmeal cups today!