Controlling Cholesterol

Experts suggest eating these foods if you’re concerned about your numbers

Gavin Escott
USA Today

For people with creeping cholesterol levels, a healthier diet can go a long way. Revamping what you eat can often seem intimidating — and expensive — on its face, but there are many accessible foods that can help you lower your cholesterol and leave you feeling brighter and stronger.

What causes high cholesterol?

“Bad” cholesterol, or LDL, comprises the majority of the body’s cholesterol. Excess LDL can build up in the walls of the blood vessels, raising the risk of health problems like heart disease and stroke. Switching to foods that provide polyunsaturated fats, which directly lower LDL, and others that contain plant sterols and stanols — which block the absorption of cholesterol — can lower your numbers, according to Harvard Medical School.

Foods that contain a meaningful amount of soluble fiber — which binds to cholesterol in the digestive system and drags it out of the body before it enters the circulatory system — or foods that contain anti-inflammatory compounds can also help, said Christina Manian, a dietitian and sustainable food systems professional.

Foods that can lower LDL cholesterol 

1 Avocados

Full of monounsaturated fats, fiber and plant sterols, avocados are an effective tool to reduce cholesterol.

2 Legumes

Think beans, lentils, chickpeas and peas. Rich in soluble fiber, legumes can significantly help lower cholesterol. They also take longer for the body to digest, leaving you more satisfied after a meal and making them a great choice for weight loss. 

3 Almonds

Through a combination of healthy unsaturated fats, fiber and antioxidant-rich vitamin E, almonds can help lower LDL. Substituting them as a daily snack — a study found almond snacks lowered cholesterol more than calorie-matched crackers — also is effective. 

4 Oats

Oat-based products contain the soluble fiber beta-glucan, which removes cholesterol-containing bile acids in the gut and can lower LDL in people with dyslipidemia. A recommended amount is 5 to 10 grams of fiber daily (about 1 ½ to 2 cups of cooked oatmeal).

5 Dark chocolate

When consumed in moderation — a small square of extra-dark chocolate, with a high cocoa concentration — dark chocolate can help lower LDL and aid heart health.

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

Other foods that lower cholesterol include tofu and edamame, leafy greens like broccoli and kale, apples and citrus, dietitian LeeAnn Wein-traub said.

Study: GLP-1s may hinder cancer spread

Anthony Thompson
USA Today

Weight-loss and diabetes drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound may do more than help patients manage blood sugar and obesity, according to new research led by the Cleveland Clinic.

The study, posted last week on the American Society of Clinical Oncology website, found that people taking GLP-1 drugs were less likely to see certain obesity-related cancers spread, including lung, breast, colorectal and liver cancers.

Researchers said the findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting GLP-1 drugs may have anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects beyond their role in diabetes and weight management. The research has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, and experts cautioned that the study was observational, meaning it cannot prove the drugs directly slowed cancer progression.

Still, researchers and outside experts said the results are promising enough to justify larger randomized clinical trials.

Dr. Mark David Orland of the Cleveland Clinic’s Taussig Cancer Institute led the research using data from the TriNetX Global Health Research Network. Investigators analyzed records from 12,112 patients diagnosed with Stage 1 through Stage 3 cancers.

The study included seven obesity-related cancers: breast, colorectal, prostate, pancreatic, liver, kidney and non-small cell lung cancer. Half the patients began taking GLP-1 drugs while the other half took DPP-4 inhibitors, another class of Type 2 diabetes medications.

Researchers matched patients based on factors including age, body mass index, smoking history, cancer treatments and other health conditions to make the groups as comparable as possible.

The main goal of the study was to see whether patients’ cancers spread and advanced to stage 4 disease.

Researchers found lower rates of cancer progression in six of the seven cancer types studied among patients taking GLP-1 drugs. Four cancers showed statistically significant reductions: non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer and liver cancer.

Among lung cancer patients, 10% of those taking GLP-1 drugs progressed to stage 4 disease, compared with 22% of those taking DPP-4 inhibitors. Breast cancer patients taking GLP-1 medications had progression rates of 10%, compared with 20% in the control group.

Colorectal cancer progression occurred in 13% of GLP-1 users versus 22% of DPP-4 inhibitor users, while liver cancer progression occurred in 19% versus 28%.

Researchers also found that patients with tumors who had higher GLP-1 receptor levels tended to live longer overall. In breast cancer patients, higher GLP-1 receptor levels were linked to a 45% lower risk of death compared with patients whose tumors had lower levels.

Orland said the findings suggest the benefits may stem from the drugs themselves, not simply from improved diabetes or obesity control.

“This study provides early evidence that future studies are worth pursuing,” Orland said during an ASCO news briefing.

Outside experts said the medications may affect cancer growth through several pathways, including reducing inflammation, altering tumor metabolism and improving immune system activity.

Dr. Marcin Chwistek of the Fox Chase Cancer Center said the consistency across multiple cancer types makes the findings particularly noteworthy.

“What’s new here is the consistency across tumor types, and data this large and this consistent warrant a prospective randomized trial,” Chwistek said.

Researchers emphasized it is still too early to recommend GLP-1 drugs as cancer treatments. However, the study found no increase in serious side effects, including pancreatitis, among cancer patients taking the medications.

Southwest Montana Health Care Directory