2 posts tagged “diet to lower cholesterol”

Genetic factors and diet are the two most common reasons for high cholesterol levels in your body. Though, you may not do anything about what you inherited genetically, you can always control your diet to keep the cholesterol level low, as required by your body.

A high cholesterol level leads to building up of a waxy substance – cholesterol plaque in your arteries that obstructs the blood flow. Gradually, it leads a dysfunctional organ and may be a heart attack as well. A planned cholesterol diet is essential to keep it in control. In fact, a minimum level of cholesterol is always required for your body as it helps in repairing cell membrane, and in producing some useful hormones. However, after a certain level, it is dangerous to have high cholesterol level in your body.

Cholesterol Diet

Plan your diet and see what foods can help you lower your cholesterol level. There are some foods that can lower your cholesterol; while others can help it not rising beyond the required level. Generally, you should reduce fat intake and avoid oily and fried foods. Since fats are the main sources of calories, replace the saturated fats intensive diet by natural foods such as fruits and vegetables, and more of complex carbohydrates.

Low Cholesterol Diet

Certain foods are very good for low cholesterol. You should have fish, at least three times in a week. A few kinds of sea fish contain omega-3 fatty acid that helps you lower blood cholesterol. Reduce your fat intake. A low cholesterol diet should include more of complex carbohydrates such as whole grains and potatoes. These are excellent sources of energy and these take care of the benefits that you might miss because of avoiding fats.

While purchasing food items from market that are cooked, baked or roasted, read the label carefully and see there should not be any saturated oils. In addition, have lots of natural fruits, such as fruits or vegetables. These are rich source of fiber that your body requires for many reasons. Apples, carrots, brown rice, barley and legumes form a very good low cholesterol diet. A widely recommended herb – psyllium also helps you reduce cholesterol level, if taken daily.

You can also have soya to control cholesterol level in your body. Research has shown that soya milk helps in reducing cholesterol. If possible, have at least 2-3 glasses of soya milk everyday. However, there are a variety of soya sweeteners such as for ice creams or desserts. Read out the sugar content and the amount of calories in those items and select the one that don’t have too many calories.

In true sense, a low cholesterol diet does not require wholesome changes in your diet; rather, it only requires using alternative methods of preparing food.  For example, if you are in the habit of having salads, try having potato salad. Cut a few boiled potatoes into thin slices and soak these into plain, low fat yoghurt. Serve these with fresh chive, or even with onions. This is a good low cholesterol diet that is an excellent source of carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.

High Cholesterol Diet

There is no such defined or standard high cholesterol diet. As long as you take planned diet and take enough of vitamin C, even a diet that is high in cholesterol too is not bad for your body. The problem arises when the excess of cholesterol is not balanced due to lack of vitamin C, or antioxidants. The high cholesterol level leads to arteries’ blockage, and heart related diseases.

If you see that your cholesterol level is higher than required, cut down on fats and oily foods, reduce the sodium content in your meals. A high cholesterol diet usually consists of meats, dairy products and foods that contain hydrogenated or saturated oils. Trans fats are particularly harmful for people who have high cholesterol. Many packed and processed foods that are available at stores contain trans fats or saturated oils, and you should avoid such products for a healthy body.

Even if you are taking required precautions with respect to your diet, ensure to have a decent intake of vitamin C. Have lots of fruits and vegetables as these are generally good antioxidants. Orange, lemon, papaya, cabbage and grapefruit are good sources of vitamin C.

If your doctor says that you should seriously avoid all fats and take minimum of salt, it means that you need to take such food items that have no cholesterol at all. Slowly, a cholesterol free diet helps you neutralize the high cholesterol level in your body. Some of the items that you can take are Orange Juice, Raw Melon, Seedless Raisins, Raw Watermelon, Boiled and Drained Asparagus, Apple, Banana, White Rice, Sweet Potato, Oat Bran, Spinach, Tomato, Cabbage, Cucumber, and Onion to name a few.

Garlic should be integral part of your cholesterol free diet since it is an excellent product for cholesterol control. Research has shown that a clove of garlic for 12 consecutive days starts bringing down the cholesterol level to normal.

Dr John Anne is a herbal specialist with years of experience in the field of Alternative Health Care. For more information visit Cholesterol Treatment at Herbal Supplements. 

Cholesterol refers waxy and fatty like substance that is formed in the body. Our liver is primarily responsible for developing cholesterol in our body system. It is an important substance that supports various vital functions in our body such as maintaining healthy cellular walls, building hormones and vitamin D. Also, it helps in building bile acids in our body that gives support to the digestion of fat in particular. However, there is a saying that “too much of anything is good for noting” and it is also true in this case. Sometimes, our body produces cholesterol more than actually required. High level of cholesterol in our blood stream always puts us in high risk by increasing the possibility of heart diseases and strokes.

Diet plays a significant role in the management of cholesterol in our body system. The level of cholesterol in our body increases if we eat excessive amount of saturated fat in our diet. The saturated fat is common in animal based foods like meat and dairy products. So it is always recommended that you should maintain a healthy diet in order to have a good control on your level of cholesterol. Let us discuss few guidelines for cholesterol lowering diets:

Diet low in saturated fat

In general, the food we take in our regular diet is a combination of saturated and unsaturated fat. Saturated fat actually increases the cholesterol level in our blood. It is primarily found from animal products such as meat, dairy products, and lard as well as also from few vegetable oils like coconut oil and palm oil. So it is always advisable that you should stay away from all these substances if you have a high cholesterol level or even if you have a family history of the same. You can always alter your diet from these apparently harmful substances to cholesterol lowering diets full of green vegetables and fruits – they are really beneficial for your health.

Diet low in total fat

It is always recommended that you should have a minimum level of fat in your regular diet. It is because the food high in total fat has a high level of saturated fat. It is always better that you must substitute your fat food with unsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat for saturated one. If you like to include unsaturated fat in your diet, you may depend on having olive oil or canola oil in your cholesterol lowering diet, whereas, for polyunsaturated diet, safflower oil, sunflower oil or corn flower oil can be a good choice for you.

Diet low in cholesterol

Dietary cholesterol increases the level of cholesterol in your blood. So it is always advisable that you select your diet low in cholesterol. Generally, animal products are high in dietary cholesterol, so refrain from it in your cholesterol lowering diet as much as possible even if you have a family history of high cholesterol level.

Diet high in starch and fiber

It is highly recommended that you must add starch and fiber in your regular diet to make it a cholesterol lowering diet. It is available in green vegetables, fruits, breads, grains, corns, dry beans, peas and cereals. It offers a low calorie diet compared to high fat food. Not only that, it also aids in deriving a good amount of vitamins and minerals. If you are able to switch your diet from saturated to the diet full of starch and fiber, certainly it will enhance your health condition. Of course, it will help you lowering the level of cholesterol in your blood. The bright colored fruits also help in preventing cholesterol from being chemically altered due to its antioxidant property.

Following a low fat diet always increases the possibility to have a healthy system. It will help you reducing calories, extra fat and weight from your body. Obesity is truly threatening for developing heart disease, diabetes and even cancer. Overweight definitely increases the risk high blood cholesterol level. To fight with obesity, you must maintain a healthy cholesterol lowering diet along with regular exercise.

Dr John Anne is an herbal specialist with years of experience and extensive research on herbs and alternative health.  If you are looking for more information, read about Cholesterol Lowering Diet. If you are looking for Dental related problems then visit Gum Diseases Treatment.