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Have you been advised to start a low cholesterol diet? Your doctor may decide that you should begin a low cholesterol diet because the current level of saturated or dietary fats in your blood stream puts you at risk for heart attack or stroke.
Starting a low cholesterol diet in a timely manner does not only prevent heart attack, it can also help you lose weight and reduce high blood pressure, resulting in a healthier overall lifestyle. So how do you implement a low cholesterol diet?
A low cholesterol diet aims to reduce the total amount of this substance in your blood stream by cutting back on one of the major sources of this substance - the saturated fat in your diet.
This sticky, fatty substance is a normal part of our biology that is created in the livers of all animals, including our own. It's only when there is a surplus in the blood created by an unhealthy eating plan that it starts to stick to the insides of major blood vessels called arteries, potentially cutting off blood flow to the major organs like the heart and the brain.
Because the substance is found in animal products, the first things you'll want to cut back on are red meat, fatty or fried poultry, pork, eggs and dairy products like rich cheeses, creams and butters. These all contain what are known as saturated fats, which are fats that are solid at room temperature. Replace these dangerous fats with healthier options - monounsaturates derived from vegetable products such as olive oil, corn oil and sunflower oil. Stay away from hydrogenated vegetable oils as they have been chemically altered to become solid at room temperature, just like saturates.
Once you have switched the kinds of fats in your eating plan, you should increase your intake of fruits, vegetables, fibre and fish products, which are known to combat clogged arteries and reduce the amount of fat in the bloodstream. Your doctor can provide you with an extensive eating plan that will help you along the road to health.
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