Posted on: 14 Apr 2009
Low Cholesterol Diet to Manage Your High Cholesterol
In today’s day and age, people are relying more and more on processed and packaged foods for their daily diet, and hence, unwittingly following a high cholesterol diet. High Cholesterol levels greatly increase the level of heart diseases and cerebral strokes, therefore is essential to follow a cholesterol lowering diet.
Permissible Foods
A low cholesterol diet is basically a diet, which is low in saturated, and trans fat. Thus, those following a low-cholesterol diet can eat fat-free or low-fat dairy products, lean meat, skinless poultry, fish, and sea-food and whole grain foods. Those who don’t like fruits and vegetables are in for a tough time because, fresh fruits and vegetables, preferably green vegetables are to be incorporated in this diet.
Olive oil should be used for cooking purposes, as it is rich in mono-saturated fats. Olive oil, in combination with these vegetables lower blood cholesterol levels because this combination is a rich source of vitamins and minerals as well as monosaturated fats. Moreover, natural anti-oxidants present in these fruits and vegetables prevent oxidation of cholesterol, hence decreasing damage to artery walls. Cholesterol – lowering salad dressings as well as margarine, which contain plant sterols and stanols can be incorporated in the diet.
Saturated fats can be substituted with foods high in fiber and starch, so pasta lovers, here is a treat for you! Breads, cereals and pasta are excellent sources of energy, so these can be consumed regularly to meet your daily energy requirements, instead of fat.
Foods, which are not allowed
That’s easy. Foods which are not allowed are those which are high in their fat content, such as egg-yolks, liver and other organ meat, highly processed meat products, full-fat dairy products and FAST FOOD!! So all of you Burger Kind patrons out there, it’s time to cut down on your visits to your favorite fast food restaurant. Eliminating these kinds of food from your diet can go a long way in lowering your cholesterol and decreasing your risk of heart diseases.
Obesity is a big risk factor for heart diseases and some cancers; an additional benefit of following a low-cholesterol diet is weight loss. It is essential to manage high cholesterol with a cholesterol lowering diet, to live a happy, healthy life.
