Cholesterol has many uses in the body. However, if found in excess and if it accumulates in the wrong places in the body, it can cause serious illnesses. If you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, you have to ensure to keep a check on your diet. Listed here are five low-cholesterol snacks you can enjoy guilt-free between your meals. What’s more, they are fuss-free and easy to make in a jiffy.

Whole grain toasts

Whole grain bread is an excellent source of soluble fiber that helps in proper digestion and maintains cholesterol at a consistent, healthy level. LDL lowering phytosterols are plant cholesterols found in whole grains and vegetables. Hence, a combination of the two in the form of a nutritious sandwich is a good guilt-free snack. Lightly toast a couple of slices of wholegrain bread and stack them with some baby spinach, sliced avocados, olives, cherry tomatoes, and grated carrots. Drizzle a little olive oil, add some salt and freshly crushed black pepper over it and bite into this when hungry.

Oats with apples and cranberries

To regain lost energy instantly between meals, put together a bowl of cooked oats with some fresh apple and dried unsweetened cranberries. This dish has healthy carbohydrates and proteins, and no fats. Fiber-rich apples, less processed steel-cut oats, and antioxidant-rich cranberries sufficiently reduce total cholesterol and LDL or “bad” cholesterol in your body.

Barley Salad

Similar to oats, barley reduces elevated levels of bad cholesterol in your body. Have this high-fiber, high-protein food that is easy to cook, as a hearty salad. Cook a cup of barley and add ripe tomatoes and chopped cucumber along with a few more ingredients for an instant snack. A teaspoon each of lemon juice and olive oil, freshly chopped coriander or parsley leaves, and salt and pepper will make a flavorful addition. Depending on whether you like your salad dry, or moist and juicy, you could either reduce the lemon juice and oil or drizzle a little extra.

Pan-roasted eggplant and okra

If you have access to a fully equipped pantry, then these pan-roasted vegetables will make a delicious snack. Phytonutrients in eggplants and okra are beneficial in reducing LDL levels in the body, so use them to make a crunchy bite for yourself or your family. Prepare a dry mixture of cornflour, garlic powder, red chili flakes, turmeric powder, dried Italian herbs, and salt. Dice the eggplants or okra thinly, smear a little sunflower or olive oil over them, smear them fully with the cornflour mixture, roast on a pan and enjoy it hot!

Grapes and blueberries

The pterostilbene compound naturally found in luscious fruits like grapes and blueberries helps reduce both triglycerides and cholesterol. Fully ripe, seedless, sweet grapes can be frozen and had as a snack as is. Fresh, organic grapes, and blueberries can be made into popsicles with a little unsweetened grape juice or lemonade. You could even make a yummy salsa, or a warm chickpea-grape salad to have a low-cholesterol snack.