Cholesterol

Oats as a natural helper: How they can lower your cholesterol level

Oats are not only delicious, but can also actively help lower your cholesterol. Thanks to beta-glucan, a special fibre found in oats, a cholesterol-conscious diet can be easily integrated into your daily routine. Scientifically proven: Oat beta-glucan has been shown to help lower cholesterol levels – a daily intake of 3 g of beta-glucan is all you need and can easily be enjoyed with oat bran, oat flakes or porridge.

But there's more to it: a fat-conscious diet, five servings of fruit and vegetables daily, sufficient fluids and exercise. High cholesterol is just one of several factors that can contribute to coronary heart disease – but those who actively work on it can achieve positive effects. So, get those oats!

Cholesterol – what is it actually?

At first, that sounds like something we want to get rid of – but wait! Cholesterol is an essential component of our body. Our liver produces it and we take it in through our food. Cholesterol is important because it:

• keeps cell walls elastic
• is starting material for hormones & vitamin D
• is needed for fat digestion by bile acids 

The problem?

High cholesterol is one of the risk factors for coronary heart disease. Coronary heart disease is caused by several factors. Changing one of these can have a positive or neutral effect.

Oats and cholesterol: How oats support you naturally

Here's the short and sweet answer: Beta-glucan, the special soluble fibre found in oats, interferes with bile acid metabolism – and that's a really good thing! Bile acids are formed in the liver from cholesterol and aid in fat digestion in the small intestine. Normally, they're recycled and reused. But that's exactly where oats come in.

Beta-glucan binds some of the bile acids, causing them to be excreted. This means the body has to produce new bile acids – and for this purpose, it uses cholesterol. The result? Cholesterol levels drop or normalise.

Good to know: Studies show that regular consumption of oat products can reduce cholesterol by up to 15 percent after three to six weeks. Furthermore, the viscous gel formed by beta-glucan also prevents or slows the absorption of dietary cholesterol in the small intestine. Amazing, isn't it?

Lowering cholesterol: Why it's worth it and how you can tackle it

High cholesterol levels are no joke – above 200 mg/dl (5.2 mmol/l), your lipid metabolism can become disrupted. This means: Fats build up in the blood vessels, arteries narrow and your risk of cardiovascular disease increases. The good news: You can do something about it! A low-fat diet, a healthy weight and regular exercise help keep your cholesterol levels in check. And oats? They can help!

Soluble fibre such as beta-glucan, which is found in Delicate Kölln Oat Flakes and Regular Rolled Kölln Oat Flakes, can have a positive effect on cholesterol levels. Even more concentrated? Available in Kölln Oat Bran Flakes and Kölln Oat Bran Fleks (currently only availabe in Germany).

Conclusion: Simply integrate oats into your everyday life – and your heart will thank you!