How Indian Food Taught Me a Better Way to Raise “Good” Cholesterol
I’ve always been fascinated by how small food habits can change our health in big ways. A few months back, during a family dinner, my uncle casually mentioned how switching oils and eating more nuts helped him feel lighter and more energetic. That got me curious—could Indian food traditions really hold the key to boosting HDL, the so-called “good” cholesterol?
When I started digging, I found a detailed piece on this exact topic: How to increase HDL cholesterol with Indian food naturally. You can check it here:
https://ask-ayurveda.com/articles/1404-how-to-increase-hdl-cholesterol-with-indian-food-naturally
The article broke it down so simply. HDL isn’t just about what we avoid, but also about what we add: nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains, fish, and the right oils. Even something as basic as not eating late at night, or swapping out refined oils for traditional ones like mustard or sesame, can nudge cholesterol in the right direction. Ask Ayurveda framed it in a way that felt doable, not overwhelming.
Everyday Voices That Make It Real
Reading expert advice is one thing, but seeing how people in the community apply it makes it stick. For instance, I stumbled on this Pinterest post full of vibrant Indian dishes, and it’s basically a visual reminder that “healthy” can look like comfort food too:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/895934919627171258
On Threads, I came across a post where someone talked about replacing sunflower oil with cold-pressed sesame oil in their cooking and noticing better digestion and energy. It was refreshing to see such small swaps celebrated:
https://www.threads.com/@askayurveda_24/post/DN5aZ2zEZzq
Over on X (formerly Twitter), a user shared a little ritual—ending the night with almonds and warm herbal tea—and called it a “shield for the heart.” Simple, relatable, and kind of poetic:
https://x.com/1857364984759541760/status/1961028563353706750
On Instagram, I saw a gorgeous bowl of quinoa, legumes, greens, and nuts. It wasn’t just tasty looking—it felt like proof that HDL-friendly meals can be Instagram-worthy:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DN5aaArjjeU/
LinkedIn, surprisingly, had a thoughtful post about community kitchens using whole grains and turmeric. It made me think about how food isn’t only about health, but also about culture and connection:
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:share:7366794313634152448
And finally, on Facebook, someone wrote about how switching from refined oil to mustard oil not only lowered their LDL but also gave them more energy. It’s the kind of everyday testimonial that hits home:
https://www.facebook.com/885804900366149/posts/1092570959689541
What I’m Taking Away
The biggest lesson? Raising HDL doesn’t have to mean restrictive diets or expensive superfoods. It can be as straightforward as soaking fenugreek seeds in the morning, choosing millet instead of white rice a few times a week, or adding a handful of nuts to your evening routine. These are things our grandparents did without overthinking, and now science is just catching up to explain why it works.
Personally, I’ve started adding more legumes and whole grains into my week, and I’m experimenting with mustard oil. I can’t claim miracles yet, but there’s something satisfying about cooking with intention—knowing each ingredient is doing a little good for my heart.
What about you—have you tried any traditional food habits to improve your cholesterol or general health? I’d love to hear your stories, experiments, or even family hacks in the comments.