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 numbers for your cholesterol to come back. Plan to spend a few minutes discussing these results with your doctor, covering how you can improve them if that is in fact needed, and find out what your risk is for heart disease.
If your cholesterol numbers are not acceptable, your doctor may suggest that you take prescription drugs to get your cholesterol levels in a better range as soon as possible. Not doing this could lead to strokes, so take seriously the medical advice you are given.
Now, if your numbers are reasonable, your medical practitioner may just suggest that you improve your diet, moving to a low cholesterol diet, and does not contain many high cholesterol foods regularly.
Once you become of the foods that you should and should not be eating, then switching to good foods should be no difficulty, 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 precisely what you need, a healthy 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 consuming, and what foods should you avoid? It is necessary to avoid an excess of animal products, this means red meats should be consumed 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 moving over to egg white products rather than complete eggs.
Butter is not recommended, as it is an animal product, 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 called that just because it is lighter in color, not lighter in calories.
Oat meal and oat bran is a good food to eat, and is also a great way to start your day. It provides you with soluble fibre, which is also found in apples, pears and barley.
Dried peas, beans and lentils, otherwise called legumes are good for you, because not only do they provide you with soluble fibre, but they also contain non-animal 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 a lot more foods that could be mentioned for a low cholesterol diet, but I am running out of space here. What is important is to start bringing down your cholesterol now, so that you are at lower risk of heart attacks or strokes. But of course, this is entirely up to you, reduce 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
