High Cholesterol Cholesterol Diet Menu

Eat Fewer Added Sugars

Its not just saturated and trans fats that can raise cholesterol levels. Eating too many added sugars can do the same thing .

One study found that adults who consumed 25% of their calories from drinks made with high-fructose corn syrup experienced a 17% increase in LDL cholesterol in just two weeks .

Even more troubling, fructose increases the number of small, dense oxidized LDL cholesterol particles which contribute to heart disease .

Between 2005 and 2010, an estimated 10% of Americans consumed over 25% of their daily calories from added sugars .

According to a 14-year study, these people were almost three times more likely to die from heart disease than those getting less than 10% of their calories from added sugars .

The American Heart Association recommends eating no more than 100 calories of added sugar per day for women and children, and no more than 150 calories per day for men .

You can meet these goals by reading labels carefully and choosing products without added sugars whenever possible.

Summary Getting more than 25% of your daily calories from added sugars can raise cholesterol levels and more than double your risk of dying from heart disease. Cut back by choosing foods without added sugars as much as possible.

How To Lower Cholesterol With Diet

Several diets, including the Mediterranean diet and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet, have been shown to lower LDL cholesterol by up to 15% and reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other conditions like gout .

These diets share many similarities in that they emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, nuts, seeds, and legumes, and limit processed meats, added sugars, and refined grains.

Other diets like the standard American diet or Western diet which is low in the foods the Mediterranean and DASH diets emphasize and high in the foods they limit have been shown to increase cholesterol .

Some evidence suggests the ketogenic diet or keto diet temporarily raises cholesterol levels in some people but decreases levels in the long-term, likely because the diet can promote weight loss in some people .

SUMMARY: Diets that have been proven to lower cholesterol like the Mediterranean and DASH diet emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, nuts, seeds, and legumes, and limit processed meats, added sugars, and refined grains.

Low Cholesterol Diet: Foods To Avoid Meal Plan And More

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Cholesterol is a type of lipid or fat that is essential for human life.

Its a component of cell membranes and is needed to produce vitamin D and sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen.

Your body also needs cholesterol to make bile salt, which helps digest fat and absorb the fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, E, and K.

However, high levels of cholesterol are unhealthy and can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Fortunately, you can reduce high cholesterol levels by making some dietary changes.

This article explains what to eat and avoid to lower high cholesterol levels and provides a 3-day sample low cholesterol diet menu.

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What Causes High Cholesterol

You can blame a mix of genetics, diet and lifestyle for your high cholesterol. When we talk about lowering your cholesterol, we are referring to LDL cholesterol, which is often referred to as “bad cholesterol.” This type of cholesterol is responsible for the artery-clogging plaque that increases risk of stroke and heart attack. HDL, or “good cholesterol,” takes circulating fat to your liver to be processed, so it’s less likely to build up in your arteries. Although genetics can play a role in your LDL numbers, it’s important to look at factors that you have the ability to control. Higher body weight, lack of exercise, smoking and nutrition can all play a role.

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What Are Some High Cholesterol Symptoms

Unfortunately, high cholesterol is a silent disease, which means it has no symptoms. The only way to know if you have high cholesterol is to get a blood test from a medical provider. The side effects of high cholesterol can be serious because it builds up in our arteries as plaque, which limits blood flow to vital organs. High cholesterol can lead to chest pain, stroke or heart attack if untreated.

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Table Diet For High Cholesterol

In order to lower the level of cholesterol it is important to understand what products are appropriate to use, the number of which should be minimized, and which are completely prohibited. On this depends the success of treatment and further well-being. The list of food products should be adjusted based on the individual characteristics of the patient: allergic reactions and taste predilections.

Foods To Avoid To Improve Cholesterol

To keep your numbers in check, stay away from high-sugar, highly processed, and empty-calorie foods. Here are some to watch out for.

• Fried foods: French fries, onion rings, fried chicken, potato chips.
• Processed meals and snacks: Boxed meal mixes, fast food, hot dogs, cookies, bakery products, fruit snacks, and candies.
• Refined grains: White bread, white pasta, white rice, and white flour in baking.
• Sweetened beverages: Juice, soda, energy drinks, and excessive amounts of alcohol.

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Triglycerides In Your Blood

In addition to cholesterol, your blood also contains a type of fat called triglycerides, which are stored in your bodys fat deposits. Hormones release triglycerides to make energy between meals.

When you eat, your body converts any extra energy it doesnt need right away into triglycerides.Like cholesterol, your body needs triglycerides to work properly. However, there is evidence to suggest that some people with high triglycerides are at increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

If you regularly eat more energy than you need, you may have high triglycerides.

What To Look Out For When Shopping For Foods To Lower Cholesterol:

When grocery shopping, there are foods you’ll want to focus on and foods to avoid to lower your cholesterol. To lower your cholesterol, focus on foods high in fiber like canned or dried beans or lentils, fruits and vegetables , as well as whole grains like quinoa, oatmeal, brown rice and whole-wheat bread. Other healthy options to focus on include those foods high in unsaturated fats like nuts and seedsincluding chia and flax, as well as olive oil, avocado and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon. These healthy fats help raise your good HDL cholesterol which protects your heart. Some other foods you can eat that may surprise youeggs and shrimp. Although traditionally avoided because they’re high in dietary cholesterol, there’s not a lot of evidence that cholesterol in foods actually raises our body’s cholesterol, so feel free to include these foods in your healthy diet plan.

To identify trans fats, look at the ingredient list and try to avoid foods that say “hydrogenated” or “partially hydrogenated fats.” You’ll often find them in processed foods, especially processed baked goods, as well as some peanut butters, so try to opt for a natural peanut butter that contains just two ingredients: peanuts and salt.

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Why Have Diet Recommendations Changed For Cholesterol

If you have the sense that dietary recommendations around cholesterol have changed in the last couple of decades, you’re not wrong. Why is it that eggs used to be bad and now they’re fine, or that saturated fat isn’t the problem we thought it was?

The fact is, nutrition research is a constantly evolving field. “For those that follow the evolution of nutrition science closely, the shifts are gradual and logical. But for those who do not follow it closely, the shifts can seem like they come out of left field,” says Sollid.

Rest assured that current recommendations aren’t being made willy-nilly. “It’s important for people to know that major changes in dietary guidance don’t occur because of one single study that makes media headlines,” says Sollid. “Rather, shifts are made after a compilation of the highest-quality evidence is reviewed.”

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Healthy Eating Tips To Lower Cholesterol

As well as sticking to a varied and healthy diet, try these tips to help you manage your cholesterol:

• The Heart Foundation recommends that people follow a heart-healthy eating pattern, which is built on eating mostly plant-based foods. Eating more plant-based foods like vegetables, legumes, fruit, wholegrains, nuts and seeds is good for heart health.
• Include legumes , beans in at least two meals a week. Check food labels and choose the lowest sodium products.
• Beans make a great alternative to meat in tacos, or snack on hummus with vegetable sticks. You can also add legumes to soups, pasta sauces, curries and stews.
• Use tofu or lentils instead of meat in stir fries or curries.

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Dark Chocolate And Cocoa

Cocoa is the main ingredient in dark chocolate.

It may seem too good to be true, but research verifies the claims that dark chocolate and cocoa can lower bad LDL cholesterol

In one study, healthy adults drank a cocoa beverage twice a day for a month.

They experienced a reduction in bad LDL cholesterol of 0.17 mmol/l . Their blood pressure also decreased and their good HDL cholesterol increased

Cocoa and dark chocolate also seem to protect the bad LDL cholesterol in your blood from oxidation, which is a key cause of heart disease

However, chocolate is often high in added sugar which negatively affects heart health.

Therefore, you should use cocoa alone or choose dark chocolate with a cocoa content of 7585% or higher.

Summary

Garlic has been used for centuries as an ingredient in cooking and as a medicine

It contains various powerful plant compounds, including allicin, its main active compound

Studies suggest that garlic lowers blood pressure in people with elevated levels and may help lower total and bad LDL cholesterol although the latter effect is less strong

Because relatively large amounts of garlic are needed to achieve this heart-protective effect, many studies utilize aged supplements which are considered more effective than other garlic preparations

SummaryAllicin and other plant compounds in garlicmay help lower LDL cholesterol and reduce other heart disease risk factors.

Days Of Cholesterol Diet Recipes Youll Actually Enjoy

If you have high cholesterol or are worried about getting it in the future, rest assured that there are lifestyle changes you can make to help turn your health around. Starting a heart healthy diet is one of the best things you can do to start feeling better, and weve rounded up 30 days of cholesterol diet recipes so you can start living a healthier lifestyle today!

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Does The Cholesterol Diet Work

Eating a diet that will lower your cholesterol is a heart-healthy lifestyle change you should be making ASAP if you have high cholesterol. Eating the right foods will increase your good cholesterol and lower your bad cholesterol, helping you reduce your cholesterol in a healthy, natural way. Keep in mind that dietary changes arent always enough, and be sure to check with your health care provider to see if additional measures are needed to lower your cholesterol levels.

If youre looking for cholesterol-friendly recipes, weve curated our favorites below!

Foods To Avoid With High Cholesterol

Contrary to what some may believe, it is unlikely that dietary cholesterol in food is what causes your blood cholesterol to increase . And high cholesterol is not typically the result of a single food or food component.

Thus, it is not that certain foods need to be avoided completely, as much as they should be limited or decreased. It is entirely possible to enjoy your favorite foods and manage your cholesterol levels with a healthy, thoughtful approach to eating.

Additionally, even though some of the nutritional components in foods may contribute to increased cholesterol, these foods can also provide essential nutrients – making them not all bad or all good either.

The key is being mindful of your intake and focusing on overall balance.

It is essential to note that altering your blood cholesterol through diet requires a total dietary approach, not just changing one or two foods you consume.

Research suggests that eating too much of the following is associated with higher cholesterol levels:

• Shelf Stable Cakes
• Vegetable Shortenings

An easy way to cut back on trans fats is to limit your overall intake fried foods and heavily processed foods altogether.

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Most Of The Time Choose Plant Proteins Such As Beans And Tofu Over Meat

We all know that eating lean meat like skinless chicken breast is better for our hearts than fatty meats like prime rib. And certainly, lean meats like white poultry and game meat are part of the Pritikin Eating Plan.

If plant-based, protein-rich foods like tofu have turned you off in the past, youre in for many delicious surprises at Pritikin.

But is your goal ratcheting down your blood cholesterol as much as you can? Are you trying to not only halt but reverse the build-up of plaque in your arteries?

If so, its a good idea to choose plant proteins over meat most of the time. Thats because leaner cuts of meat, including skinless white poultry, still contain some saturated fat and dietary cholesterol. For optimal cholesterol lowering, limit lean meat to no more than once weekly, and to a 3.5-ounce serving or less.

Plant Proteins

Plant proteins like beans and tofu are not only free of artery-clogging saturated fat and dietary cholesterol, theyre also high in soluble fiber, which lowers blood cholesterol.

Fish

Another excellent choice is fish, particularly fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, sardines, herring, mackerel, and trout. Choose at least 2 times weekly. If youre using canned fish, such as canned sardines, select very-low-sodium or no-salt-added varieties.

Other types of fish do not contain as many omega 3s, but theyre still good choices, preferable to land animal meat.

Do Baked Foods Raise Cholesterol

Butter or shortening are usually used in cookies, cakes, and donuts, which are high in saturated fat and cholesterol. Furthermore, they frequently contain a lot of sugar, which can lead to high levels of blood triglycerides, an unhealthy fat in the blood that can increase the risk of heart disease.

When your blood contains a high level of LDL cholesterol, a type of cholesterol, you have a higher risk of developing heart disease. Because fatty steaks and ground beef contain high levels of saturated fat, they can raise your LDL cholesterol. Red meats like bacon and sausage, which are high in sodium, are even worse for the heart. These artery-clogging ingredients, such as butter and sugar, are combined with refined flours in muffins, cookies, and cakes. Trans fats are mostly being phased out of processed foods, but they should be noted on the label. Some foods that were once considered taboo for people watching their cholesterol have now been given the green light.

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Foods To Avoid On The Mediterranean Diet

Any food with trans fat. Your goal is to eat as little trans fat as possible while still following a balanced diet. Foods high in trans fat include fried foods such as donuts and french fries, commercially baked goods like cookies and cakes made with partially hydrogenated oil, margarine spreads, fast-food fries, processed and packaged snacks.

Eat A Variety Of Unsaturated Fats

Two main kinds of fats are found in food: saturated and unsaturated.

On a chemical level, saturated fats contain no double bonds and are very straight, allowing them to pack together tightly and stay solid at room temperature.

Unsaturated fats contain at least one double bond and have a bent shape, preventing them from joining together as tightly. These attributes make them liquid at room temperature.

Research shows that replacing most of your saturated fats with unsaturated fats can reduce total cholesterol by 9% and bad LDL cholesterol by 11% in just eight weeks.

Longer-term studies have also found that people who eat more unsaturated fats and fewer saturated fats tend to have lower cholesterol levels over time.

Foods like avocados, olives, fatty fish and nuts contain ample heart-healthy unsaturated fats, so its beneficial to eat them regularly.

SUMMARY Eating more unsaturated fats and fewer saturated fats has been linked to lower total cholesterol and bad LDL levels over time. Avocados, olives, fatty fish and nuts are especially rich in unsaturated fats.

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Foods Especially Rich In Soluble Fiber Are:

Beans are stars in this meal plan for lowering cholesterol. And with the huge variety of beans now available, from fancy heirloom combinations to good old pintos, youll never get board.

• Beans such as lentils, peas, kidney beans, lima beans, black beans, red beans, pinto beans, and so on

• Processed meats such as hot dogs, bacon, and bologna
• Partially hydrogenated vegetable oils
• Cholesterol-rich foods like egg yolks.

Have you recently heard in the news that egg yolks are okay? Dont believe it, cautions Kimberly Gomer, Director of Nutrition and Educator at Pritikin. Egg yolks are not okay, as this review by faculty at Pritikin elucidates.