If you have high cholesterol are you following a diet to lower cholesterol? There are foods that can help manage and lower your cholesterol levels.
Many health care professionals will recommend that you go to a nutritionist or dietitian to help you, but you may want to take control of your own health. Is it really necessary to enlist the help of a nutritionist or are you self-controlled enough to follow a low cholesterol diet?
Changing your diet can not only lower your high cholesterol levels, but can effectively help keep it low all the time. You just have to learn to eat the good cholesterol foods and avoid the bad ones.
Diet Tips to Lower Cholesterol
Try some of these healthy diet tips to get you started on your diet to lower cholesterol.
- Protein
Protein is essential for health. Much of the protein we eat is from meats and animal products, so this can increase your cholesterol levels. However, you can still eat meat! If possible eat lean meats, chicken and turkey, or otherwise limit your meal size portions. Eat beef when it’s lean.
You can have a little cheese once in a while too, as you need to eat at least 2 grams of protein pre kilo of bodyweight per day to remain healthy. Consider eating more fatty fish, such as salmon, as this contains lots of protein and Omega-3 fatty acid which your body needs.
- Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Eat plenty of fresh fruits and veggies as they are naturally low in fat and cholesterol and they can help you to keep your system running smoothly. Veggies such as dark leafy greens are rich in anti-oxidants and contain iron and folic acid and vitamin C. Peppers are very high in vitamin C, so include these in your diet.
- Fiber-Rich Foods
Eat fiber rich foods, such as different types of beans and whole grains, including oats. Fiber not only helps the system to run smoothly, but it also helps to remove toxins and the bad LDL cholesterol from your system. So make sure to incorporate plenty of fiber into your diet to lower cholesterol.
- Fluids
Drink plenty of water! This is a must. Drink water or even green tea, but do limit or avoid sugary drinks, such as carbonated and sweetened sodas, as the extra sugar can add to your problem. Plus, sugary drinks add weight, which can cause a weight problem, which can increase cholesterol levels.
In the end, a good diet to lower cholesterol is a healthy eating style. Lower carbs, eat protein foods, fresh fruit and veggies and you can lose weight and improve cholesterol levels. A win-win don’t you think?
It might be hard to make the changes now, but in the end, these foods will become a habit for you and you’ll find that you really don’t mind eating healthy at all, so see it as an adventure and work on keeping a healthy heart with a healthy diet to lower cholesterol.
My husband does not tolerate statins drugs. I am willing to cook a low cholesterol diet, but it is foreign to me. I also need recipes, it is hard for me to just “throw something together”. Can you recommend a good cookbook, or do you have recipes? Thanks
Hi Kathy,
I have been thinking about putting a recipe book together, but I haven’t as yet….so I’m sorry I haven’t now! However, there are many free low cholesterol recipes you will find on the Internet too.
I may just have to put pen to paper and get started on writing some recipes. There are possibly many recipes you are cooking now that can be changed to being more cholesterol friendly.
For example, replace your cooking oils with olive oil, steam your vegetables, rather than frying them, grill your meats instead of frying or roasting. Eat lean meats instead of fatty sausages or processed meats.
Please ask me any questions at all! I am happy to answer them.