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Cholesterol Diet |
Cholesterol Diet
Cholesterol and Cholesterol Diet
Cholesterol is a waxy element that is needed for healthy cell function in the body. However, as with everything in life, too much of one thing can prove harmful. When cholesterol levels build up in the body, it results in a buildup of fatty deposits in the body’s blood vessels. These plaque formations grow thicker over time and interfere with the blood flow to and from the heart. If left unchecked it can lead to heart failure as well as strokes.
While there are cholesterol lowering supplements available in the market, it is always better to lower cholesterol naturally. This can be done by following a cholesterol diet menu and backing up this healthy diet with a regular exercise regime.
Cholesterol Diet Menu
It’s fairly easy to control rising cholesterol levels as there are a number of food groups that have natural cholesterol reducing properties. When you include these to your diet, and cut out foods that increase levels of cholesterol from your meal plan, you will begin to notice the difference in health within no time. Remember, the key is not to eliminate cholesterol; it’s to maintain a healthy balance. For optimal effect, consult your doctor and nutritionist on the best approach towards adopting a cholesterol diet menu. There are a number of factors that go into formulating an ideal diet plan to lower cholesterol. These include age, current physical condition, eating habits, status of current medication, and so on.
Cholesterol Lowering Foods
If you are on the lookout for cholesterol lowering foods, use the following as a guideline when chalking up a diet plan that lowers cholesterol naturally. These foods will help lower cholesterol and at the same time they can be used as alternatives for foods that do raise cholesterol.
• Fruits and Vegetables – The simplest solution to most health problems is to up your fruit and vegetable intake. Fresh fruits and greens are rich in nutrients like proteins and vitamin; they are also rich in fiber. They help keep the body lean, thus aiding weight loss, a key factor in lowering cholesterol. In addition these foods are also a rich source of plant sterols and stanols. These chemicals have properties that mirror cholesterol without the harmful plaque formation. These chemicals get absorbed by the body, while cholesterol is passed out.
• Saturated and Unsaturated Fats – Fat rich foods are tricky. While fats are essential for a balanced diet, it is important to pick and choose the right one. The trick is to limit the presence of saturated fats in your diet. These are known to increase cholesterol in the body. These foods include butter, margarine, cookies, animal fat, dairy products, and so on. On the other hand, consuming saturated fats in limited quantities is good for the health. Unsaturated fats include olive oil, avocado, nuts, and so on.
• Meats – When opting for meat, it is better to go for the lean meats in place of the red. Red meat is known to raise cholesterol levels. If you are looking to lower cholesterol levels, substitute red meats with leaner ones like chicken and turkey. These make for a healthier alternative.
• Low fat and whole grain – These days there is a lot of choice when it comes to opting for healthier alternative to traditional cholesterol raising products. So when you are out shopping for groceries and supplies, go for labels that say ‘whole grain’ in place of white flour (so whole grain bread and pasta instead of white flour ones) and ‘skimmed’ products in place of regular, high-fat ones (skimmed milk and yogurt instead of regular ones).
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| Submitted on September 19, 2010 |
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