Saturday, July 11, 2009

Foods That Lower Cholesterol


Foods that lower cholesterol is the best defense against high blood cholesterol. Vegetables, fiber, whole grains, and plenty of fruits are all low in saturated fat and cholesterol. An overall solution for Americans to lower high blood cholesterol is to eat healthy and exercise and lose weight. All these methods can contribute to lowering your cholesterol levels. However you must be aware that some foods that contain cholesterol need to be part of an overall diet.


When choosing foods that lower cholesterol, remember to pick wisely, and make sure to get into the habit of reading food ingredient. Another important point is moderation. Many people have a bad habit in overindulgence. You must train your mind to control your eating habits. Remember too much of anything is no good. Over eating any supplement food will not be beneficial to you. It will only hurt you in the long run.



Foods that lower cholesterol



Nuts help lower cholesterol

It is a fact that nuts are high in fat and calories. So many people frown on them as being part of a healthy diet. Contrary to popular belief adding nuts to your diet can really be good for your heart. Numerous studies have shown that nuts play a part in lowering the risk of heart disease and the risk of sudden cardiac death. Research has shown that a moderate-fat diet that includes almonds, peanuts, walnuts can significantly lower cholesterol and LDL cholesterol by up to 19 percent. The unsaturated fat, fiber, vitamin E, phytonutrients, plant sterols and amino acid arginine have a beneficial effect on blood cholesterol.




Garlic helps lower cholesterol


In ancient times, the garlic bulb was used as a common treatment for intestinal parasites, loss of appetite, respiratory illnesses and leprosy. Now garlic is mostly used for seasoning. You can purchase it as dried powder, tablet, capsule and aged extract. Raw garlic contains highly concentrated allicin. Research has shown that using powder garlic over a short period of time can reduce cholesterol by only 6 percent. This shows that garlic has a short term effect on cholesterol levels. So if you choose to add garlic to your diet, use it in moderation. Oh and make sure you have some gum or mints to go with it.




Fish and fish oils lower cholesterol


Fish is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, docosahexanoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). These omega-3 fatty acids are found in marine vegetation called phytoplankton. Fish consume these fatty acids by eating the phytoplankton. Salmon, herring, anchovies, tuna, are some of the richest sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Fish may also help lower LDL cholesterol. If you have cardiovascular disease, or even if you are healthy, the American Heart Association suggests that you should eat different types of fish twice a week. It's important to remember that it's best to eat fish baked. Fried food is just not good for anybody's health.




Alcohol helps lower cholesterol


Studies have shown that alcohol consumed in moderation can raise HDL cholesterol. However it may also decrease blood clotting and insulin resistance and may also reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Now while this may be a good thing, most doctors do not recommend using red wine, beer and liquor to fight cholesterol, due to the fact that some people cannot handle alcohol very well and there is high risk for many to become alcoholics. Many people do not have enough self control to moderately drink. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to high blood pressure, damaged liver, risks of developing cancer and other life threatening ailments.


These are just some of the foods that lower cholesterol. There are plenty of other choices, just remember that too much of any foods weather good or bad will in the long run have ill effects on your health.



nikeExerciser >>


Don't live to eat- Eat to live :-)

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Low Cholesterol Foods


Consuming low cholesterol foods is very important for keeping your cholesterol level down. Thousands of Americans suffer from high cholesterol, mainly due to bad eating habits. People make a lot of uninformed choices when it comes to eating food. Now I'm quite sure that when you go food shopping you will find products labeled "no cholesterol" or "low cholesterol." Now most of these products that make this claim are somewhat false advertising. Why do I say this you might ask? We'll Any foods you eat that come from animals have a high amount of cholesterol in it. Foods that come from plants have no cholesterol.


Eating low cholesterol foods is only one part of fighting high cholesterol. You also have to look for foods that are low in saturated fats. You must understand that foods with trans fatty acids can increase blood cholesterol, and increase the risk of heart disease. A low cholesterol diet is not that hard to follow. It takes mental strength and some self discipline. First, when looking for low cholesterol foods, make sure you get into the habit of reading the labels on your choices of food products.


Low cholesterol foods


The best low cholesterol foods that should be part of your diet are food with no cholesterol.

A low cholesterol diet should include:

  • Vegetables
  • Fruits
  • Whole grains and legumes


A person should be eating fruits and vegetables each and everyday. Fruits and vegetables are also low in fat and calories. Now when it comes to eating carbohydrates, you must eat these sparingly because recent studies have shown that consuming too much carbohydrates can also increase cholesterol. Whole grain, cereal, and certain breads, dry beans and peas are a excellent choice to add to your diet.


Low cholesterol foods - animal products


Foods that come from animals contain some cholesterol. However the amount will vary for each animal product.

Poultry, Fish and Meat substitutes for low cholesterol


First off red meat is extremely high in cholesterol, so when cooking meat you should cook lean meats such as Chicken, turkey and fish. These are a low in cholesterol. Some fish are high in cholesterol and should be avoided or not consumed as much. Even though lean meat, poultry and fish are low cholesterol foods they do contain some saturated fat and cholesterol, so limit the amount you consume on a daily basis.

Beans and dry peas contain a lot of fiber which can help lower blood cholesterol, and they are great meat substitutes low cholesterol foods.

Egg whites have no cholesterol



Low cholesterol foods in dairy products


Dairy foods such as whole milk, cheese and ice cream are high in saturated fat and cholesterol. However dairy foods are extremely important for nutrients and should be a regular part of your diet.


Low cholesterol foods in the dairy group are:

  • Low-fat cottage cheese
  • Low-fat sour cream or cream cheese
  • Low-fat or non-fat yogurt
  • 1 percent or fat-free milk



Sweets and snacks

Not all sweets and snacks are high in saturated fats and cholesterol. Sweets and snacks that are considered to be low cholesterol foods are:


  • Popcorn
  • Pretzels
  • crackers that are low-fat
  • fresh fruit
  • Raw vegetables
  • Bread
  • Fat-free cakes and pastries
  • Gelatin desserts
  • Pudding made with fat-free milk
  • Fat-free cookies and fruit bars

Be aware that these foods are not low in calories and should be eaten in modesty especially if your trying to watch your weight and improve your cholesterol.



Low cholesterol foods advice and tips

For many people eating healthy is a tough and life changing experience. It is not easy to change many of the bad eating habits that we've become so accustom to, due to our up bringing. Pizza, fried chicken and many other greasy foods have become the norm for many of us. So we must gain knowledge and understanding of ourselves, and we must gain a genuine appreciation for our bodies. This way we can began to take control of our lives. Remember to make up in your mind to start by eating healthy. Gain a better understanding of cholesterol and arm yourself with the best low cholesterol foods.



nikeExerciser


Don't live to eat - Eat to live :-)
Welcome to Low Cholesterol Foods. This site contains lots of information and tips for people who are looking to find foods with little or no cholesterol. If you have any questions not covered in low cholesterol foods feel free to email them to nikeExerciser