Cholesterol diet, good and bad foods
Often the curse of a fast paced modern life style is a fading health profile, the banal result of the vagaries of 21St century living. The reasons for high cholesterol may vary in different cases from hereditary to diet, and the common prescription calls for cholesterol diet control. Battling fat and cholesterol go hand in hand, supplanted by medications which aid the process. The benefits of a low cholesterol diet will accrue over a sustained period, thus it’s worthwhile to switch early in order to reduce the unwanted risks from accumulation of bad cholesterol.
The reasons of high cholesterol are different for different individuals and if there is any family history, its common sense to remain extra cautious. In the initial stages of treatment, your Doctor may advice a planned diet for about six months during which the blood cholesterol limits will be carefully watched. The cholesterol diet will be supplemented by cholesterol lowering medication if the LDL (bad cholesterol) levels do not recede. These medications are more effective when induced with proper diet control.
Embarking on the difficult path of cholesterol diet control, one needs to steel oneself for the battle ahead. One of the main contributory factors for accretion of high levels of bad cholesterol is the devastating effect of trans-fat or saturated fat in our daily food intake. So the first goal is to cut down on the total fat intake and even eat foods that fight fat. Unsaturated fats, found in fish oils, Omega-3 acids, corn, soybean and cottonseed oils help lower the cholesterol levels. Oats endowed with soluble fiber, stanols or plant sterols and even nuts are known to lower LDL (Lower Density Lipoproteins) levels by 10-15%.
Reducing weight if overweight is a good idea to begin the fight against fat and regular physical activity, as less as only 30 minutes a day is adequate for weight control. Knowing your BMI and keeping a regular chart of the same helps you track your weight changes. The equation here is quite simple, you must eat only those many calories that you can burn in a day, extra calories mean extra fat. And fat provides twice as many calories as proteins or carbohydrates, now you know why wild animals never get fat. A good low cholesterol diet will thus be a mix of fibre, carbohydrates, protein and unsaturated fat.
Maintaining the right balance between food, exercise and work is much easier than attempting to lose fat or lower cholesterol through dieting. The risks of high cholesterol are too many to list and controlling cholesterol may be become difficult if not tackled early. Switching to a low cholesterol diet if susceptible is the best alternative for a healthy life style.
Category: Nutrition
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