If your cholesterol level is too high, then you need to decide how to go about lower it. As with all changes, it is important to make a change to your lifestyle, otherwise no change will last. Although this sounds easy, it is probably the hardest step and it is the step that will have the biggest impact on lowering your cholesterol. There are no bad habits that cannot be broken; some just take a little more effort than others. When you health is at risk, this extra effort is a small price to pay in order to lower your cholesterol. When your goal is to lower your cholesterol a smart choice is to start with a cholesterol lowering diet.
Cholesterol lowering diets are not difficult to follow and easy to implement. Basically you eat lower cholesterol foods or completely cholesterol free foods like fruits and vegetables or other high fiber foods. Fiber works to soak up the cholesterol, helping the body to get rid of it. Fiber also is beneficial to the body in other ways. Many scientific studies show that a diet with increased fruits, vegetables and fiber intake greatly reduce the risk of heart disease. In addition to the heart healthy benefits, there is a benefit to reducing colon cancer and other colon related issues. Pears, apples, carrots, oats and oranges are examples of some high fiber foods.
It is easy to find many cholesterol lowering diets on the internet. When the level of cholesterol is lowered in the body, the risk of many health ailments is greatly reduced. Regardless of what cholesterol lowering diet you choose, they all have some of the same basic points. So evaluate any cholesterol lowering diet using these main ideas. The diet should not only help you reduce cholesterol but also calories and saturated fats. Also, daily exercise helps in reducing overall cholesterol levels.
One of the most important items in cholesterol lowering diets is how the food is prepared. It is best if the food is cooked using monounsaturated oils; such as olive oil, peanut oil or canola oil. At the same time, you should avoid vegetable oils or hydrogenated oils. Fried foods are a no-no. Stick with grilled, baked, broiling or roasting.
Saturated fats and processed foods should also be avoided. These foods include dairy products, whole milk, egg yolks and organ meats. The use of sugars and alcohol should be minimized. It is a good idea, to increase the levels of Omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. Foods that are high in Omega-3 are low fat dairy products and fish. Omega-3 helps reduce blood lipids.
Say goodbye to all fast food restaurants during your diet, frequently the foods there are very high in fat and sodium. Below is a good example of some foods that can be eaten during a cholesterol lowering diet.
Breakfast
Choose from cereals and fruits, skim milk, an egg substitute (no yolk), and whole grain toast.
Lunches:
Choose salad with vinegar and olive oil dressing or sliced vegetables, vegetable soup, and a fresh fruit salad.
Dinners:
Whole grain roll, salad, carrots, lean meats, broccoli, and brown rice
Healthy snacks:
Consider nuts, fruits, pretzels, or low-fat yogurt.
If you need more advice in creating your cholesterol lowering diet, you can always contact a dietitian or a nutritionist.
Alan Jensen is recognized as a leading expert on herbal weight loss products for fast and safe weight loss. He is a frequent contributor to [http://www.TopDietSecrets.com] and [http://pure-hoodia-gordonii-complete.com] He enjoys spending free time with his family and 3 year old German Shepherd.
