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 numbers 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 advise that you take prescription drugs to get your cholesterol levels in a better range as quickly as possible. If you do not do this it could lead to heart disease, so consider carefully the medical advice you are given.
Now, if your numbers are acceptable, your doctor may just encourage you to improve your diet, switching to one that is low cholesterol, and hardly contains high cholesterol foods regularly.
Once you become of the foods that you should and should not be eating, then switching to good foods should not be a problem, especially since you know that once you are eating better, your heart health is going to be improving, and your risk of heart problems will be getting less.
This is precisely what you want, a healthy 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 overall health.
So, if you are to eat foods low in cholesterol , what does that mean you will be consuming, and what foods should you avoid? It is necessary to avoid an excess of foods from animals, this means red meats should be consumed in moderation, with only the leanest cuts of meat being considered. Egg yolks are also of high cholesterol, but the egg whites are fine, so consider switching to egg white products rather than complete eggs.
On the list of not recommended is butter, as it is derived from an animal, so if you still need to cook in oil, think about using olive oil, especially virgin olive oil. This is processed less than light olive oil which is so called just because it is lighter in color, not lighter in calories.
Oat bran and oatmeal is a good food to eat, and is also a great breakfast food. It provides you with soluble fibre, which is also found in apples, pears and barley.
Pulses, or legumes, or dried peas, dried beans and lentils are good for you, because not only do they provide you with soluble fibre, but they also contain non-animal protein, which is good for the growth of tendons and muscles, as well as good for healthy blood, bones, hair and internal organs too.
Naturally, there are a lot more foods that could be mentioned for a low cholesterol diet, but I am running out of space here. What is important is to start reducing your cholesterol now, so that you are not at risk of heart disease or strokes. But of course, the choice is yours, reduce your cholesterol now, or run the risk of heart attacks and strokes in your future.
Tags: calories, cholesterol, high cholesterol foods, low cholesterol foods, low fat diets, recipes