High cholesterol runs in the family. There are many drugs on the market to address this health problem. But, a heart healthy diet can be part of the solution. This natural approach can be used in addition to the drugs. For some, a diet including heart healthy oat bran muffins can lower LDL cholesterol without resorting to medication.
I buy my oat bran in bulk from Heartland Mill. You can visit their website by clicking here. Heart Healthy Oat Bran Muffins are a staple in our house baked on a regular basis. The muffins are easy to mix and take less than 30 minutes from start to finish.
Ingredients for Heart Healthy Oat Bran Muffins:
2 ¼ cups oat bran cereal
¼ cup chopped almonds (Feel free to substitute an equal amount of your favorite nut)
¼ cup dried cranberries (Other dried fruits as well as chopped fresh fruits can substitute)
1 tablespoon baking powder
¼ cup honey
1 ¼ cups skim milk
2 egg whites
2 tablespoons sunflower oil
Directions for Heart Healthy Oat Bran Muffins:
Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add the honey. Stir milk, egg whites and sunflower oil together and pour over oat bran mixture. Stir until all ingredients are incorporated. Use paper baking cups to line muffin pan. Bake for 16 minutes and then test to see if done. Use a toothpick to make sure Healthy Oat Bran Muffins are moist but not wet. If batter clings to toothpick bake a few more minutes.
If you substitute fresh fruits with a lot of juice such as peaches, substitute brown sugar for the honey for better results. I like to chop my nuts fairly fine but individual tastes may vary. These disappear quickly at my house, but you can store in the refrigerator or freezer if you cannot eat all in 72 hours. The lack of preservatives such as salt means the Heart Healthy Oat Bran Muffins will not keep for an extended amount of time at room temperature.
