If you need to lower your cholesterol, one of the things you can do is reduce your intake of fat, in particular, saturated fat and trans fats. These fats can raise levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol, and, in the case of trans fats, lower levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. Other fats can be beneficial or have a neutral effect on cholesterol. Even so, too much fat can lead to weight gain, which in itself can raise levels of bad cholesterol. Losing just 5 or 10 percent of your body weight can improve your cholesterol numbers, and lessen your risk of heart disease. Find out more below from About's Guide to Cholesterol.
Knowing the difference between the good fats, which are considered heart healthy, and the bad fats, which elevate blood cholesterol levels, is key to managing your fat and cholesterol intake wisely.
Food labels can be confusing, even if information about cholesterol content is provided. But how can you find out about cholesterol in foods lacking nutrition information? Learn more about how to decipher food labels, and how to find out about cholesterol in foods that lack them.
Eating a low cholesterol diet usually means eating a diet that is also low in fat. Essentially, this means choosing lean meats, low-fat or non-fat dairy products, as well as eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Do you know which kinds of foods contain high levels of dietary cholesterol or are high in saturated fat? Knowing the key food categories to limit or avoid, and learning how to read food labels, will help you manage your fat and cholesterol intake wisely.
You might be surprised to learn that some kinds of relatively high-fat foods are permissible, in moderation. Certain foods, like nuts, contain healthier fats and little cholesterol, and are considered heart healthy. This means you can eat well and not feel hungry on a low cholesterol diet.
No doubt about it, eggs are a major source of dietary cholesterol. But does this mean they should be completely removed from your diet? The obvious answer might be yes, but there are some mitigating factors to consider.
If you need to eat a low-cholesterol diet, is it OK to use butter, which is high in saturated fat and contains cholesterol, or should you opt for margarine, which may contain trans fats? Given that both saturated fats and trans fats are linked to raising levels of LDL cholesterol, this seems to present a dilemma.
Stocking your pantry and refrigerator with a variety of heart-healthy, low-cholesterol, low-fat foods is key to addressing high blood cholesterol. If eating this way is new to you, find out which foods you should stock, and what kinds of foods need to go.
