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Low cholesterol diet    

In almost all cases of high cholesterol, irrespective of the cause of high cholesterol the doctor will recommend that the patient should start following a low cholesterol diet. This may be the case whether the high cholesterol is on account of stress, lack of physical activity, hereditary etc. The color will put the patient on a low cholesterol diet plan for at least six months and after that if the cholesterol levels have still not reduced sufficiently then some cholesterol lowering medication may also be added along with the low cholesterol foods.  A low cholesterol diet menu is an extremely essential part of the treatment for high cholesterol as the medication for lowering cholesterol levels are known to be more effective when combined with a low cholesterol diet. These medications are meant to supplement and not replace low cholesterol and allow saturated fat diet. Low cholesterol food list will not include foods that are high in fats especially saturated fats and this diet will replace the part of the saturated fat in the diet with unsaturated fat.

Low cholesterol diet recipes will also include ingredients that are high in complex carbohydrates in the form of fiber and starch.
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One of the primary aims of a low cholesterol diet is to reduce the intake of saturated fats as fats are the highest source of calories  which in turn result in the individual being overweight and obese thereby increasing the levels of bad cholesterols in the blood stream. Si8milalry animal fats in the form of cheese, butter, whole milk, cream and ice cream also are a rich source of saturated fat which should not form part of a cholesterol lowering diet as also foods like meat, fish, poultry and shellfish. A low cholesterol diet plan should include unsaturated fats which are known to help lower the cholesterol levels. Polyunsaturated fats found in corn, safflower, soybean, sunflower and sesame oil can also be part of a low cholesterol diet.  Fat found in shellfish and fish which are also known as fish oil or Omega3 fatty acids are also another type of polyunsaturated fats and is found in high quantities in fish such as salmon, herring and mackerel. A low cholesterol food list should include foods that belong to the low –GI variety and are good sources of complex carbohydrates such as cereals, rice, dried peas, vegetables and fruits. A low cholesterol diet should include plenty of fruits and vegetables as they are low in fat and calories and can be consumed in large quantities without affecting the cholesterol levels adversely. Similarly one should not consume foods containing white flour and instead increase the intake of whole grain foods. This is because it has been observed that consuming high amo8nts of carbohydrates may also increase the levels of cholesterol and consequently the risk of developing heart disease in an individual more so if they are suffering from diabetes.

A cholesterol lowering diet plan is known to be highly effective and beneficial for those suffering from extremely high cholesterol levels, hypertension and cardiac problems. An ideal low cholesterol diet will include low cholesterol and low fat foods wherein almost 25 to 35 percent of the daily calorie intake of the individual comes from fat in a low cholesterol diet. This fat is ideally polyunsaturated fats or monounsaturated fats. Legumes are also a crucial part of a low cholesterol diet menu as the folic acid in legumes tends to reduce the level of homocysteine which is one of the main culprits behind blockage of the arteries which in turn leads to heart problems. To facilitate low cholesterol levels one should maintain an ideal body weight and make changes in one’s lifestyle and abstain from alcohol and smoking.

Submitted on September 19, 2010
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