Heart disease and stroke are often triggered by high cholesterol
in the blood. Lowering your cholesterol for some is just a
matter of changing your diet. Others may need to diet and the
help of medications prescribed by their doctor. Either way,
lowering your cholesterol can save your life.
Changing your diet to lose weight is not the same as changing
your diet to control your cholesterol level. While losing weight
will certainly improve your health, you also need to monitor
your diet to exclude foods that are causing your high
cholesterol levels.
Monitoring your diet does not mean giving up all the foods you
love. Many foods are healthy and good for you. For instance, a
good variety of fruits and vegetables (with five or more
servings per day), grain products like bread, cereal, rice, and
pasta (choose six or more servings per day). In addition, lean
meats and poultry ( without skin and up to 6 ounces per day),
fat-free and low fat milk , beans and peas , nuts and seeds in
limited amounts, and fatty fish ( which can be baked or broiled
, but limited to 2-3 servings per week ). You should use
vegetable oils like olive oil or corn oil when preparing your
foods. There is also a large assortment of spices to give your
food that extra pizzazz.
There are a number of foods you should omit from your diet if
you want to lower your cholesterol. Whole milk and ice cream
should be avoided. Additionally, butter, egg yolks, and cheese
and foods that include them should be removed from your diet.
Finally, organ meats like liver, high-fat processed meats (like
sausage and hot dogs), and limit your intake of fried foods.
Eating healthier involves knowing how to prepare your foods and
changing your diet. If you are not able to lower your
cholesterol by diet and exercise alone, your doctor may have to
prescribe medication.
Dieting and eating healthier to lower your cholesterol will
improve your quality of life and significantly reduce your risk
of other health problems. High cholesterol is a serious health
problem, and you can take action to avoid further health
complications.
For more information about lowering your cholesterol, visit
http://www.lowercholesterolanswers.com
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