Lowering Your Cholesterol With Your Diet

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 results of the cholesterol test to come back. You would do well 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 get your cholesterol numbers in a better range as quickly as possible. If you do not do this it could lead to heart attacks, so consider carefully the medical advice you are given.

Now, if your numbers are acceptable, your doctor may just suggest that you improve your diet, switching to one that is low cholesterol, and hardly contains high cholesterol foods on a regular basis.

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 have changed, your heart health is going to be improving, and your risk of heart problems will be getting less.

This is exactly what you need, a strong heart. But along with the avoidance of a high cholesterol diet, you should also 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 consumed in moderation, with only the leanest cuts of meat being considered. Egg yolks are also high in cholesterol, but the egg whites are good for you, so think about moving over to egg white products rather than whole 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 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 way to start your day. It gives your body 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 healthy blood, bones, hair and internal organs too.

There are obviously a lot more foods that contribute to a diet low in cholesterol, but I am running out of space here. The important thing is to start reducing your cholesterol now, so that you are at lower risk of heart attacks or strokes. But of course, this is entirely up to you, lower your cholesterol now, or be at risk for strokes and heart attacks in your future.