Cholesterol is a waxy substance which is essential for the body to make cells and hormones. However, too much cholesterol can narrow, harden and block your arteries, which can lead to blood clots.

This definitely exerts pressure on your heart to pump harder, and your heart is at risk to get weaker too soon due to all the extra work.

This increases your risk of developing heart disease, heart attack and even stroke. In order to avoid such life-threatening conditions, it is best to get regularly tested and maintain a healthy lifestyle - including diet, sleep, exercise and mental wellbeing.

Talking about diet, do you know about these wonderful drinks which can help in managing and even reducing high cholesterol? Read on to find out.

Soy milk

Soy is low in saturated fat and so soy milk or creamers are a healthier replacement for high-fat cream or other milk products, to help you better manage your cholesterol levels. Make sure the soy milk you purchase is fresh and not loaded with additional sugar, salt and fats.

Tomato juice

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a compound which can improve your lipid levels and reduce LDL cholesterol levels. Tomato juice is also a rich source of cholesterol-reducing fiber and niacin.

A 2015 study found that 25 women (aged 20–30 years with body mass index scores of at least 20) who drank 280 ml of tomato juice daily for 2 months experienced a reduction in their blood cholesterol levels.

Oats drinks

Oats are rich in beta-glucans, which create a gel-like substance in the gut and interact with bile salts. This helps in reducing your cholesterol levels. If you are drinking packaged oats drinks, make sure they have beta-glucans. You can do so by checking the fiber information on the label.

Interestingly, a 2018 review found that oat drinks may offer a more consistent reduction in cholesterol than semi-solid or solid oat products.

Green tea

Green tea contains catechins, epigallocatechin gallate and other beneficial antioxidant compounds that may help lower “bad” LDL and total cholesterol levels.

In a 2015 study, scientists gave rats drinking water infused with catechins and epigallocatechin gallate. After 56 days, they noticed that the total and LDL cholesterol levels had gone down by around 14.4% and 30.4% in the two groups of rats on high-cholesterol diets.

Cocoa drinks

Cocoa is rich in antioxidants called flavanols (a subgroup of flavonoids) that can help improve cholesterol levels. Cocoa also contains high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids, which can help improve cholesterol levels.

Cocoa is the main ingredient in dark chocolate. Make sure the cocoa drinks you consume are not loaded with sugary chocolates with added salt and fats. Drinks containing processed chocolate have high levels of saturated fats.