More people should add cholesterol-lowering foods to their diet, researchers say

In addition to a prescription to buy Lipitor, certain foods may play an important role in lowering cholesterol. However, a new study has found that eating low-saturated fat foods may not be enough. Instead, individuals should eat more foods that are recognized for their ability to reduce cholesterol.

For the study, researchers asked 345 individuals to consume either a diet low in saturated fat or one that included foods shown to have cholesterol-lowering properties. These included plant sterol ester-enriched margarine, fiber-packed oats, soy products and nuts.

The results, which were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, showed that participants who followed this diet reduced their cholesterol by 13 percent. For comparison, individuals who restricted saturated fat consumption only reduced their cholesterol by 3 percent.

The researchers said the findings indicate that encouraging people to eat more foods with proven cholesterol-fighting properties could have a positive impact on the number of people who suffer from high cholesterol. This may especially benefit those whose cholesterol is so high that they require a prescription to buy Lipitor.