Veggie Blog

Foods to Avoid to Lower Cholesterol

One thing that people love to do is eat. This can occur at any time aside from the three square meals of the day, whenever the person is craving something.

Whenever the person buys the food or meal to satisfy that craving, little attention is paid to how much cholesterol the food has. In fact, a lot of the dishes made in fast food joints are unhealthy, which has prompted McDonald’s to print the calories, cholesterol and other things on each product given to the customer.

The growing number of people who are obese and overweight has caught the attention of doctors because there are a lot of people now who are considered to be at high risk of suffering from heart disease or stroke in the United States.

Many doctors are also suggesting some lifestyle changes before it is too late. This usually means making some changes in the food being eaten since diet is one of the main ways to control cholesterol (some people also need medication).

So what type of foods should be avoided to have lower levels of cholesterol in the body? The first step is reducing the amount of fatty meat being consumed. Good examples are steak, ham and bacon, which are high in fat.

Giving it up will be hard, so eating smaller portions should be done, especially by those who are at a high risk of getting a heart disease or a stroke.

Fried foods such as hamburgers and fries should also be avoided. The ingredients and oil used in cooking these things are often high in saturated and trans fats, which raise LDL cholesterol. This also includes pre-packaged frozen meals that a lot of people will just throw in the microwave after a long day at the office.

Full-fat dairy products such as whole milk, cream and butter should also be reduced, and egg yolks eaten in moderation. If the person has a hard time giving this up, they can be substituted with non-fat milk or yogurt to provide the calcium that the body needs.

Junk food, candies and cake are popular with kids, but they should be limited at any age, and especially as a person gets older. This is because the ingredients used in making these products are high in fat and sugar.

Now that the foods the person should avoid have been covered, it is time to name those that can be substituted to maintain a good diet.

Ideally, those who want to reduce their cholesterol intake should have a diet that is low in saturated fat and trans fat. Those who can eat less will be more likely to live a healthy life.

The best foods in the market to buy are beans, oily fish, fruits, garlic, whole grains, soy, vegetables and whole wheat bread. The soluble fibre in beans, oats and other whole grains helps reduce cholesterol levels in the body, while the omega 3 fats in fish mainly lower triglycerides and protect the heart.

Different variations can be made often so the person will not get tired of eating the same thing just to have a healthy diet. If planning this is difficult, a dietitian will gladly help and make changes every week so the cholesterol levels will improve when the patient pays another visit to the clinic.