When your doctor decides that it is time to test your cholesterol, he or she will send you for a blood test, and then wait for the numbers for your cholesterol to be reported. Plan to spend a few minutes discussing these results with your doctor, covering how you can optimize 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 suggest that you take prescription medications to help get your cholesterol levels in a better range as quickly as possible. Not doing this could lead to heart attacks, so take seriously the medical advice you are given.
Now, if your numbers are reasonable, your medical practitioner may just encourage you to improve your diet, switching to one that is low cholesterol, and hardly contains foods of high cholesterol regularly.
Once you become of the foods that you should and should not be eating, then switching to low cholesterol foods should be no difficulty, especially since 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 precisely what you want, a strong heart. But along with the avoidance of a high cholesterol diet, you need to be exercising, may be four days a week going for a brisk 30 minute walk, as this will help your fitness level, and your general health.
So, if you are to consume foods that are low in cholesterol , what does that mean you will be eating, and what foods should you avoid? It is good to avoid an excess of animal products, this means red meats should be eaten in moderation, with only the leanest cuts of meat being considered. Egg yolks are also high in cholesterol, but the egg whites are fine, so consider switching to egg white products rather than complete eggs.
On the list of not recommended is butter, as it is derived from an animal, so if you still need to cook 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 breakfast food. It provides you with soluble fibre, which is also found in apples, pears and barley.
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 muscles and tendons, as well as good for internal organs, blood, hair and bones, too.
Naturally, there are a lot more foods that contribute to a diet of low cholesterol, but there is limited space here. The important thing is to start reducing your cholesterol now, so that you are not at risk of heart disease or strokes. But of course, the decision is yours, lower your cholesterol now, or be at risk for strokes and heart attacks in your future.
Tags: calories, cholesterol, high cholesterol foods, low cholesterol foods, low fat diets, recipes
