Breakfast is known as the most important meal of the day, so why not start the day off right with a bowl of cholesterol-busting steel-cut oatmeal? Steel-cut oats can give you the energy you need to power through your day, while also providing you with a rich, hearty and delicious breakfast.

This super grain contains 2 grams of soluble fiber per serving, which has been shown to help reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol when eaten as part of a heart-healthy diet. The soluble fiber acts like a sponge, binding cholesterol in the digestive track and removing it from the body. Steel-cut oats also are a good source of protein and are sodium-free. Because oats are a plant food, they naturally provide phytochemicals, similar to fruits and vegetables.

New research has found that oats have unique antioxidants that may play a role in maintaining artery health. Flavonoids found in oats may protect LDL from oxidation. LDL that is oxidized is thought to possibly lead to hardening of the arteries. In addition, other studies have found flavonoids in oats have anti-inflammatory properties and may help reduce plaque build-up in the walls of arteries.