Cholesterol lowering diets

Found – The Most Effective Cholesterol Lowering Diets

People often tend to confuse cholesterol lowering diets with weight loss diets, but the reality is, both of these are totally different from each other. In reality, most types of weight loss diets contain high protein foods that are forbidden in diets for lowering cholesterol. This is because high protein foods are also rich in cholesterol. In fact, cholesterol reducing diets are carefully planned eating schedules in which, you will have to completely eliminate all those foods that are rich in cholesterol, and they must be substituted with cholesterol-free edibles. Such diets may include the Mediterranean, TLC or South Beach diet plan. Very low fat diets like the Pritikin may work well.

Is The Pritikin Diet Plan The Right Solution?

The Pritikin diet plan consists of many complex carbohydrates like brown rice, oats, some starchy vegetables like potatoes and yams and limited quantities of pasta or white bread. It may also contain calcium-rich beverages like fat-free yogurt or non-fat milk. Smaller servings of fish and lean meat or white meat occasionally supplement the advanced Pritikin diet.

Normally this diet plan is well suited for people who are suffering from high cholesterol. However since they are low in saturated fat, the low-protein content may create a problem because you will have to compensate the deficiency by consuming more carbohydrates than what is normal. This unfortunately increases the triglycerides, which in turn raises the level of ‘bad cholesterols’ in the blood. Triglycerides and cholesterol are the two lipids that must be avoided (a lipid is a fat substance that you will find in the blood). It is because of this that the American Heart Association has advised people to refrain from very low-fat diets for long periods.

Some Other Cholesterol Lowering Diets That Can Work

The Mediterranean diet plan named after the traditional menu followed by people from this region where fruits, vegetables and olive grow in abundance can be one alternative. These diets can easily be termed as cholesterol lowering diets as they are mostly fat-free and almost completely organic in nature. Moreover, small servings of oily fish like salmon, mackerel and tuna can lower the cholesterol level because they are all rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

The TLC or “Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes” diet has been advocated by the National Cholesterol Education Program for all those who are suffering from high cholesterol problems. According to this plan, people are allowed to take up to 5 ounces of poultry or fish, lean meat (not red meat) every day. Of course there is no limit on the intake of fruits and vegetables or low-fat dairy products, provided the cholesterol intake does not exceed 200 mg.

Many believe that the “Vegetarian” diet may be the most effective diet for lowering cholesterol, but in reality this can be counterproductive. To begin with, if you are a complete vegetarian and eat only plant-derived foods that include vegetables, grains, beans and peas (both sun-dried and in natural form) to keep your metabolism going, you may be increasing the levels of triglycerides in the blood. A lacto-vegetarian, on the other hand over such a diet, adds cheese and other dairy products, and an ovo-vegetarian supplements the meal with eggs.

Such diets, loaded with milk, eggs, cheese, and others like this can seldom help lower cholesterol level in the blood, even though you may be happy with the idea that you have finally hit the right path. The fact is, the best cholesterol lowering diets are those that recommend a wholesome meal, but obviously without real fatty foods in them. You must thus start with the right information because identifying the right eating plan is very important.