Cholesterol is one of the major
substances that cause heart attacks, high blood cholesterol levels, and weight
problems. Despite its “bad guy image,” this waxy, fat-like substances made in
the body by the person’s own liver serves a number of vital functions unknown
to many.
Basically, there are two types of
cholesterol: the Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and the High-Density Lipoprotein
(HDL). The former refers to the bad type of cholesterol that is known to clog
the person’s blood vessels, thus, increasing the risk for a heart attack or a
heart disease. Studies show that a diet that is high in saturated fat is a main
dietary cause of a raised LDL cholesterol level. The latter, on the other hand,
is the good type of cholesterol that helps clear LDL cholesterol out of the
blood stream, thus, reducing the risk for any heart illness. Researches have
shown that a diet rich in fruit and vegetables along with average levels of
omega-3 from fish oil greatly helps raise HDL cholesterol levels.
Although diet is the major reason for
having high cholesterol levels, experts agree that factors such as genetics,
lack of exercise or regular physical activity, obesity, unhealthy lifestyle
such as excessive drinking and smoking, hormones, and varying high and low
cholesterol levels can trigger the sudden increase of cholesterol levels in the
body.
Indeed, cholesterol is a growing
problem in the health of many people in the world. Experts say that people over
20 years of age should be more concerned about their cholesterol levels; thus,
they should start doing everything they can to lower LDL cholesterol. Although
it is quite hard to stick to the needed requirements and regiments to combat
the growing problem, experts say that it can be controlled with the proper diet
to lower cholesterol.
Studies show that a good diet to
lower cholesterol can reduce a person’s risk for heart diseases while getting
rid of bad fats because this diet to emphasizes on eating heart-healthy foods.
But, aside from using the proper and proven low cholesterol diets available
today, the most important thing is that knowing and taking in the right foods
and effective cholesterol formulas to assist in lowering cholesterol levels.
Experts say that a diet to lower
cholesterol includes good foods like grains—especially whole grain products and
cereals—fish rich in omega3 such as salmon and tune, a variety of fruits and
leafy vegetables, nuts, juices, and the like. Here are other effective means of
lowering cholesterol level through diet:
1. Make sure that you visit your
attending physician first before trying out any low cholesterol diets so he/she
could administer the proper examinations and access your general health status.
2. You can lower your cholesterol
levels by replacing saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat in meat, chicken,
and whole milk products.
3. Refrain from eating refined
carbohydrates contained by bakery products, pastas, and sugary or sugar-added
foods.
4. When eating out, makes sure that
you ask the waiter to make serving substitutions like steamed or boiled food
preparations. If possible, also pick lean meat, fish, or skinless chicken that
is broiled, baked, grilled, steamed, or poached instead of being fried and ask
for lots of vegetable side dishes and fresh fruit desserts.
5. Cutting down on eggs, margarine,
or butter out of your daily diet.
6. Use natural-based oils such as
vegetable, corn, and olive oils when cooking instead of the usual cooking oil.
7. Load up on a lot of garlic when
you’re preparing dishes because it contains substances that help lower HDL
cholesterol.
8. Take in high quality daily vitamin
mineral supplements like Vitamin E to improve blood circulation, and Vitamin C
and vitamin B3 to lower your high cholesterol levels.
