Should your doctor decide that it is time to check your cholesterol, he or she will send you for a blood test, and then wait for the cholesterol results and numbers to come back. You would do well to spend a little discussing these numbers with your doctor, covering how you can improve them if that is in fact needed, and ask what your risk is for heart disease.
If your cholesterol numbers are not acceptable, your doctor may recommend that you take prescription drugs to get your cholesterol levels in a better range as quickly as possible. If you do not do this it could lead to heart disease, so take seriously the medical advice you are given.
Now, if your numbers are reasonable, your doctor may just encourage you to improve your diet, moving to a low cholesterol diet, and does not contain many high cholesterol foods on a regular basis.
Once you are aware of the foods that are good and bad for you, then switching to good foods should not be a problem, especially as you know that once you are eating better, your heart health will be improving, and your risk of heart problems will be decreasing.
This is exactly what you want, a strong heart. But along with the avoidance of a high cholesterol diet, you should also be exercising, may be four days a week going for a brisk walk for about 30 minutes, as this will help your fitness level, and your overall health.
So, if you are to eat foods low in cholesterol , what does that mean you will be eating, and what foods should you not eat? It is necessary to avoid an excess of foods from animals, this means red meats should be eaten in moderation, with only the leanest cuts of meat being considered. Egg yolks are also of high cholesterol, but the egg whites are fine, so consider switching to egg white products rather than whole eggs.
Butter is not recommended, as it is derived from an animal, so if you still want to in oil, think about using olive oil, especially virgin olive oil. This is less processed than light olive oil which is so called just because it is lighter in color, not lighter in calories.
Oat bran and oatmeal is good for you to eat, and is a great way to start your day. It gives your body soluble fibre, which is also found in barley, pears and apples.
Legumes, such as dried peas, dried beans and lentils are good for you, because not only do they provide you with soluble fibre, but they also contain plant protein, which is good for the growth of tendons and muscles, as well as good for internal organs, blood, hair and bones, too.
There are obviously many more foods that could be mentioned for a diet of low cholesterol, but there is limited space here. The important thing is to start bringing down your cholesterol now, so that you are at lower risk of heart attacks or strokes. But of course, the choice is yours, lower your cholesterol now, or have the threat of heart attacks and strokes in your future.
Tags: calories, cholesterol, high cholesterol foods, low cholesterol foods, low fat diets, recipes
