Cholesterol and heart health have a long lasting relationship. To keep your heart healthy you should consider eating a low cholesterol diet. There are different types of cholesterol and it is important to know the difference between “good” cholesterol and “bad” cholesterol.
The National Cholesterol Education Program has established a diet guide that will lower the LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, and raise your HDL, or “good” protein. The diet that this agency endorses is called the TLC, or Therapeutic Lifestyle Change diet, or simply a low cholesterol diet. Any foods such as saturated fats and trans fats are eliminated as much as possible.
The LDL is the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and is called “bad” because it is known to clog your arteries. The HDL is the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is labeled “good” because it does just the opposite. It cleans the LDL deposits from your arteries, and helps prevent cardiovascular disease.
For your TLC diet, these foods are recommended to eat or avoid:
Recommended:
-Nuts: Pistachios, almonds, walnuts
-Beans and legumes: Black beans, lentils, pinto beans
-Fresh fruits and vegetables
-Oatmeal, oat bran and other high fiber foods
-Whole grains
-Omega 3 fatty acids: Salmon, flaxseeds, nuts.
-Lean proteins: Chicken, turkey, fish and tofu
-Grapeseed, Olive and Canola Oil
-Egg whites
-Nonfat and lowfat dairy
Avoid:
-Processed foods
-Foods containing trans fat
-Butter and margarine
-Red meat
-Full fat dairy
-Egg yolks
To help with a sweets craving have fresh fruits, sorbet, or lowfat frozen yogurt.
To lower your cholesterol, you really need to check your diet first and foremost. Always consult your Health Professional or Nutritionist before making any drastic changes.
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