Cholesterol is one of the key factors that contribute to heart disease. The consumption of fatty foods can increase the cholesterol level of your body. That is why a healthy diet based on the correct choice of food can help save your heart and your life.

A low cholesterol diet can reduce your risk of acquiring heart disease or decrease the level of cholesterol in your body. Following a low cholesterol diet can add years to your life if you are diagnosed with hypertension or heart disease. Anti-cholesterol medication in combination with a low-cholesterol diet is also an effective treatment in reducing high cholesterol levels.

What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a fatty substance normally found in animal products. Some people think that fat and cholesterol are one and the same, but they are actually different substances. However, they have somewhat the same effect - increase the cholesterol level in the blood.

Cholesterol, just like fat, is necessary for the normal functioning of bodily organs. It is alright to consume very small amounts of cholesterol. In any case, the body produces enough cholesterol for its own needs, so you don’t need extra amounts of this substance.

Cholesterol is believed to be harmful to the human body because excessive cholesterol has been linked to arteriosclerosis, which is the abnormal thickening and hardening of the arteries. Arteriosclerosis is one of the causes of heart disease and heart attacks.

Going on a low cholesterol diet can help you avoid heart disease by reducing cholesterol levels in your body. A low cholesterol diet cannot cure an existing heart condition and is not meant to replace medication, but it can help prevent diseases associated with high blood cholesterol.

Going on a Low Cholesterol Diet

Animal meat and seafoods are the main sources of cholesterol. Animal products that are rich in dietary cholesterol are beef, pork, poultry, shellfish, eggs and milk. If you eat a lot of meat, be particular to avoid animal organs such as the liver, kidneys and brain as these contain high levels of cholesterol. Egg yolks also have high levels of cholesterol.

Foods that are low in cholesterol content are those that are of plant origin, such as vegetables, fruits, cereals, beans and nuts. Many plant foods, like oatmeal and wheat germ for example, are even vital in helping the body get rid of excess cholesterol and to keep the heart in good shape.

Some people wrongly believe that low fat foods are lacking in cholesterol, which is not always the case. There are some foods that are low in fats but are also high in cholesterol content. Liver, for example, is low in fat but rich in cholesterol.

Many foods rich in saturated fats are also high in cholesterol content, such as some dairy products and meats. If you plan to go on a low cholesterol diet, you should be careful to avoid foods rich in saturated fats and cholesterol. For instance, you can choose skim milk instead of full cream milk, or lean beef instead of ordinary beef.

Common foods rich in cholesterol (as well as saturated fat) are full cream milk, fatty meats (pork, beef, chicken), eggs, oysters, butter, cheese, lard and cream. Junk foods and some packaged foods such as potato chips, burgers, ice cream and fries are also high in both fat and cholesterol.

The Good Fats

Not all fats are bad. Saturated fats are harmful to the body, but monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are not. There are also evidence to prove that unsaturated fats may even help reduce your cholesterol level.

Unsaturated fats are found in vegetable oils such as corn oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, some vegetables, nuts and seeds. It’s a good practice to replace saturated fats with unsaturated ones. If you use butter in your meal preparations, you can replace it with corn or olive oil.

Most packaged and processed foods contain excessive levels of saturated fats and cholesterol, so it is important to read the labels and packaging first. Processed foods contain information on the amount of saturated fats and cholesterol. Your calorie consumption from fats should be less than 30 percent of your daily calorie needs. So if you consume 1,500 calories per day, you need less than 50 grams of fat (one gram of fat contains 9 calories).

Why You Need a Low Cholesterol Diet

A low cholesterol diet can protect you from heart disease and other conditions linked to excessive cholesterol. Not only that, you will also see a reduction in your weight as a result of a diet low in saturated fats. If you are also looking to lose weight, you can exercise on a regular basis. Be sure to consult your physician first to know if you are qualified to perform strenuous physical activities, especially if you have a pre-existing heart condition.

If you want to lose weight, get fit and preserve your healthy heart, get on a low cholesterol diet and see beneficial results on your health. A low cholesterol diet is not difficult to maintain as long as you know which foods are rich in cholesterol and which are not.

Diet Plans at a Glance

This entry was posted on Friday, August 10th, 2007 at 6:04 pm and is filed under Diet Plans at a Glance. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.