Table of Article Contents
How Healthy Is Your Low Cholesterol Diet?
One of the easiest ways to maintain healthy cholesterol levels is to eat a low cholesterol diet. We all know that eating too much of the wrong foods can cause problems such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
You don’t have to deprive yourself of delicious foods in order to stay healthy. It’s just a matter of knowing what to eat and what not to eat and watching how much you eat.
Any low cholesterol diet works well because it promotes healthy cholesterol levels without starving yourself to death.
There may be several foods that you are used to eating daily that you may have to reduce such as eating too many egg yolks, red meats and dairy products. There are other alternatives that are just as filling and just as delicious.
Some of the nutritious foods that are allowed in a low cholesterol diet include foods rich in phytosterols, lean white meat, such as fish and skinless poultry, whole grain products and fresh fruits and vegetables. Many would say foods that are fat-free and cholesterol-free…but many contain too many sugars which are just or more harmful.
- Vitamins are essential for maintaining healthy cholesterol levels whilst on your low cholesterol diet.
- Aside from the nutrients that you get naturally from organic fruits and vegetables, you may also benefit by taking supplements if you are missing out on essential vitamins and minerals.
- You can also use olive oil to enhance your meals and make your dishes tastier and healthier.
The manner in which you cook your food is also very important. Eating fish and chicken won’t do you any good if you fry them in regular cooking oil. As much as possible, avoid frying your food — there are other healthier options like grilling, roasting, steaming or boiling.
You should also reduce your intake of alcoholic beverages and sodas. An occasional glass of wine is acceptable but as much as possible, stick to drinking plenty of water and freshly squeezed fruit juices (not sugary-laden ones).
You can also boost healthy cholesterol levels by improving your exercise routines. A simple 20-minute morning walk will improve your heart health and reduce your cholesterol levels considerably.
Foods To Lower Cholesterol
You probably already know the foods to reduce already – the saturated fats and the trans fats, but what are a few “cholesterol-lowering” foods to add to your healthy, low cholesterol diet?
- Oats – Start with a healthy bowl of oats for the day!
- Whole grains
- Beans and Lentils
- Nuts – Almonds especially are good for so many things.
- Olive oil – The choice of oils.
- Fruits – Eat fruits, such as apples, that contain pectin. Pectin helps lower LDL levels.
- Eat fish and chicken to replace some of those red meat dishes. Fish that contain the high Omega-3 fatty acids include salmon and halibut.
What sort of meals or recipes would you make if you were following a low cholesterol diet? As I said earlier, it is the easiest way to maintain healthy cholesterol levels and lower cholesterol naturally.
When it comes to a lower cholesterol diet, the secret is switching out the foods that are not so good for you (or are actually harmful for you) in favor of the foods that are high quality and contain all the goodness your body needs to work well.