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.



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