Cholesterol Lowering Diet: How to Lower Cholesterol Fast

Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fat whose primary function is to build cell walls in our body. It is required in small amounts and is formed in the body. Excess of cholesterol in the body gets deposited in the arteries, narrowing them, thus causing a disease known as atherosclerosis. High amount of cholesterol also results in a high risk of heart stroke and other heart related diseases. You must follow a diet for lowering cholesterol. What does a low cholesterol diet consist of? First, let us have a look at the foodstuffs that should be avoided to maintain a low cholesterol level.

Foods to be Avoided in Low Cholesterol Diet

• Whole fat dairy products like whole milk, butter, cheese, etc., must be completely avoided as they contain high amount of fats and cholesterol.
• Eggs, especially egg yolk and meat (red meat) also contain a lot of cholesterol. Saturated fats are found in large amounts in meat and poultry. Also, you must try to avoid pork and beef.
• Butter, margarine, and coconut oil are rich in cholesterol. It is a general conception that margarine contains less amount of cholesterol than butter. On the contrary, both of them have an equal amount of cholesterol. You should also avoid foodstuffs like buttered popcorn or excess butter on bread.
• Nearly all the junk food contains cholesterol. You must abstain or reduce the intake of fried foodstuffs like chips. You may be disappointed to know that ice-cream contains high cholesterol.

So, which foodstuffs should be consumed to lower the level of cholesterol? The following are foodstuffs containing less or no cholesterol.

Foods to be Consumed in a Low Cholesterol Diet

• Fruits and vegetables contain absolutely no cholesterol. They contain other essential nutrients, except fats. Many vegetables contain fibers that are beneficial for our body. You must opt for salads or veggies instead of junk food.
• Beans do not contain cholesterol, similarly, legumes and peas have no cholesterol. Nuts like almonds also do not contain cholesterol.
• As you have read above, butter and margarine contain cholesterol, you can use vegetable oil or olive oil for cooking. Fat-free margarine or low fat peanut butter are also considered good options.
• You can consume low-fat milk, low-fat cheese and yogurt as an alternative to the whole fat dairy products. You can also have tofu as it does not contain cholesterol.
• You must have only egg white instead of a whole egg. While preparing meat, try to remove as much fat as possible. It is advisable to reduce the intake of meat altogether.
• Try to have wheat or whole grain bread rather than white bread. Oatmeal and oat barn should also be eaten as it does not contain cholesterol.

Apart from following diet for lowering cholesterol, there are other methods for lowering cholesterol too, fast exercise being one of the most effective. You should exercise regularly to remain fit. Overweight people tend to have high amount of saturated fats and cholesterol. Cholesterol-lowering diet and regular exercise will reduce the chances of heart diseases. There are even medications available to lower cholesterol. But they are recommended only in extreme conditions when diet and exercise is found less effective. Medications should be taken strictly under medical supervision. Low-cholesterol low-fat diet will definitely help you in lowering the cholesterol level in your body.

You must try and have a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet. Following a proper diet and regular exercise will definitely help you to lead a healthy and wonderful life.