You’ve probably seen them buzzing the dumpsters at hamburger joints. Flocks of shiny crows, cawing over discarded cheeseburgers and fries. And now scientists have discovered that those city crows — with their love of fast foods — have developed significantly higher cholesterol levels than their countryside counterparts.
So don’t eat like a bird if you’re fighting high cholesterol. Instead, try these seven foods guaranteed to please your palate and help your heart.

  • Oats renew your veins and arteries naturally. Frugal cooks know the value of keeping their pantries stocked with these inexpensive whole grains. Oats contain beta glucan, a super fiber found in the cell walls of some plants. This fiber may lower cholesterol by stopping it from being absorbed in your stomach and intestines. Researchers say just 3 grams a day will do the trick.
  • Garlic works like a natural Roto-Rooter. If your doctor has told you your arteries are clogged, this 10,000-year-old remedy will help clean them out. Studies show garlic has sulfur-containing compounds that help reduce LDL, or bad, cholesterol. And garlic can bring down total cholesterol by up to 12%.
  • Flaxseed — just what the doctor ordered for ticker troubles. In one study, 50 people with high cholesterol ate 4 tablespoons of roasted flaxseed powder every day for three months. At the end of the study period, the flaxseed folks had significantly lower LDL and total cholesterol levels than those who didn’t have flaxseed in their diet. Researchers think the results were caused by alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid known for its heart-healthy qualities.
  • Peanuts pack a punch against bad cholesterol. Not really nuts at all, these inexpensive legumes are a healthy source of plant sterols and monounsaturated fat, both of which lower LDL cholesterol. A recommended serving size is 28 peanuts, about 1 ounce, and provides 161 calories and 14 grams of fat.
  • Turmeric is a wonder for your arteries. This spice removes harmful fats from your body, lessens inflammation, and keeps your cholesterol in check. Add it to any foods for a tasty, healthy treat. It’s worth its weight in gold, and a little pinch goes a long way. Turmeric contains a powerful ingredient — curcumin — that lowers your LDL cholesterol. Research shows that just about a teaspoon a day is all you need.
  • Bet on apples. In a Florida State University study, 160 women between the ages of 45 and 65 were divided into two groups. The first ate a little less than a cup of dried apples every day for a year, while the second ate dried prunes instead. One of the researchers, professor Dr. Bahram Arjmandi, was surprised by the results. “Incredible changes in the apple-eating women happened by six months,” he says. “They experienced a 23% decrease in LDL cholesterol.” Not only that, the apple eaters’ HDL numbers climbed 4%.
  • Go for guava. Want to wash artery-clogging LDL right out of your body? A small study of medical students in India found that those who ate 14 ounces of peeled guava fruit a day — about two large guavas — had significant drops in their LDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol after six weeks.