Saturday, September 4, 2010

Low Cholesterol Foods

What are Low Cholesterol Foods?


By: Nick Mutt


A high level of cholesterol is a very serious problem and it increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease as well as stroke and heart attack. Diet high in fats, smoking, drinking and leading a sedentary lifestyle are the major factors for increase in cholesterol level.



Low cholesterol foods are one of the natural ways of lowering cholesterol levels. Following a low cholesterol diet can be very effective in controlling and maintaining a normal cholesterol level. This means eating low cholesterol foods such as soy products, lean meats, nuts, vegetables and fruits are good for healthy heart.



High fiber foods are also very helpful in lowering cholesterol. Regular exercise is also a good habit if you are really trying to lower your cholesterol levels. Exercise helps in increasing HDL (good cholesterol) in the body as well as strengthens your heart muscle, helps keep your blood pressure at normal and even helps you in shedding of those excess pounds.



List of cholesterol lowering foods



1. Vegetables – They are high in dietary fiber and dietary nutrients that aids not only regulated metabolism but also balances cholesterol levels. Other benefits of eating vegetables also include the reduction of heart diseases and cancer as well as high blood pressure.



2. Fruits – This food group is also among the top food groups that lower cholesterol because they are very low in calorie content. Fruits contain large amounts of significant vitamins and nutrients that help prevent of vitamin deficiency as well as other diseases.



3. Grains, Nuts & Seeds - They are in high-energy content and dietary fiber content. This makes them effective foods to lower cholesterol level. They are also known as effective in controlling weight. Nuts and seeds contain large amounts of vitamins and minerals and are also high in dietary fiber.



4. Lean meats - Lean red meats, lean chicken/turkey meats and fish are another important foods in the list of low cholesterol. These are rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients that are excellent for a person's metabolism as well as in fighting off bad cholesterol.



Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.



Copyright © Nick Mutt, All Rights Reserved. If you want to use this article on your website or in your ezine, make all the urls (links) active.



Read information on How to lower cholesterol naturally. Also know Cholesterol lowering foods at Natural cures website – a comprehensive health guide for Herbal supplements and natural treatments.


About the Author


Nick Mutt is an active writer and blogger on health related topics. He has published many ebooks on natural health.

(ArticlesBase SC #667358)


Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - What are Low Cholesterol Foods?

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

worst cholesterol foods

Where Does High Cholesterol Come From?

Author: MiShaun Taylor

One of the most disturbing and one of the most silent killers within modern society is high cholesterol which often leads to heart attack. From French fries dripping with grease and unhealthy foods that are available upon a moment's request, it is becoming more difficult to fight high cholesterol. However, there are many more causes that may come hand in hand with elevated cholesterol levels and knowing the causes for this terrible condition. When you find out what causes high cholesterol, you will be in a better position to take action in order to reduce the effects high cholesterol levels can have on your life.



Obesity or Being Overweight - High blood pressure is like a magnet for overweight or obese people, and can really do damage if it's not properly controlled. In fact, with the high amount of foods that we consume from fast food chains and other places can cause a very large risk for high cholesterol. Saturated fat is one of the worst culprits and it can be found in fast food, pre packaged food and prepared food. Many people don't know that food which is high in carbs can also be a perfect precursor to elevated cholesterol. While we get tons of energy from carbs, when the energy is not needed right away, these things get stored and converted into fat! If possible, stay away from foods like this; especially if you have a genetic predisposition to high cholesterol!



Genetics - Of course, your risk of elevated cholesterol levels is worse if you have had someone in your immediate family or even your distanced family with cholesterol issues. Many times, this means that it is nearly impossible to control the cholesterol levels with natural methods. In fact, with genetic cases of cholesterol it can be difficult even to control them with medications. There is a chance, however that with natural methods such as diet, exercise and low stress, that the cholesterol will be lowered or will not have such damaging effects on the body.



Age and Gender - With age, cholesterol levels do rise. Although there are cases in which even children have had high cholesterol which led to heart disease, the truth is that cholesterol becomes more of a problem the older we get. Men are also more likely to have elevated cholesterol because their bodies product more than women do, up until menopause. After that, women are at a greater risk of heart disease due to high cholesterol. One thing is for sure; cholesterol does not discriminate.



Being Stressed Out - Although it doesn't seem like much, stress is a really powerful thing. Large amounts of stress will cause people to behave differently as well as live differently. Through indirect reasons, stress can cause cholesterol levels to rise, and learning how to properly manage stress and of course getting time to relax will help you prevent high cholesterol due to stress.



Obesity, foods high in trans fat and saturated fat, and even stress can cause high cholesterol. Even the healthiest of people can have damaging cholesterol problems which may lead to heart attack or stroke. However, learning to care for our bodies in the most natural ways can really prevent this problem and help us have a great, healthy and carefree life! The key is to do what it takes to keep cholesterol levels in check.

About the Author:
Do you suffer from high cholesterol? Do you want to take control of this condition with proven techniques that work? If so, please visit http://www.cholesterolreducing.net We will teach you how to reduce your cholesterol with diet and holistic/traditional medical treatments.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Where Does High Cholesterol Come From?

Friday, July 17, 2009

list of bad cholesterol foods

What Are High Cholesterol?

Author: Penny Albright

It should not come as a big surprise that the foods we love are very high in cholesterol. However, given that there is good and bad cholesterol, it is important to distinguish between the two. So as HDL is good and LDL is bad, it is very important to avoid or at least try to eat foods that are low in LDL cholesterol because too much can cause heart disease.

If you are reading this article, you have probably been told by your doctor or have personally decided to reduce your cholesterol levels. So, what are the high cholesterol foods that you should omit from your diet?

Firstly, there are two main ingredients that will raise your cholesterol levels:

Saturated fat - found in most animal products

LDL cholesterol - found in most animal products

Some sources of fat and bad cholesterol that are considered high cholesterol foods can include:

Meats

Nuts

Dairy foods

However, not all of them are bad. This is why it is important to monitor the saturated fat content in foods because the more there is, the harder the liver has to work to detoxify the body. Also, subsequent LDL cholesterol from bad fats will create plaque inside arteries, veins, and capillaries which can result in serious, if not deadly, cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks.

The following is a list of high cholesterol foods. They are listed according to food type, serving size, and cholesterol levels. If at all possible, try to eat something else, or choose lower fat versions of them:

Food Serving Size Cholesterol Level

Beef, kidney 3.5oz 375 mg

Beef, liver 3.5oz 300 mg

Beefsteak 3.5oz 70 mg

Boiled egg 1 225 mg

Butter 3.5oz 250 mg

Cheddar cheese 1oz 19 mg

Chicken 3.5oz 60 mg

Cream cheese 1oz 27 mg

Ice Cream 3.5oz 45 mg

Lamb 3.5oz 70 mg

Sponge cake 3.5oz 260 mg

Dietary Changes

This section will give you information on how to reduce cholesterol by changing your diet.

Many people suffer with high cholesterol because of the type of diet they follow. Eating foods which are high in saturated fat can cause high cholesterol. Our bodies need a certain amount of fat to function properly but we need to be careful what kind of fat we consume. The saturated fats that are found in meat products, whole fat milk, cheese and butter are the bad fats, as are trans fats or hydrogenated fats which are found in commercially produced cakes, cookies, pastries, fast food, coconut oil and palm oil.

It is good to know how to reduce cholesterol by simply changing the type of fat that you consume. Cut down on foods containing saturated fat or replace them with foods containing good fats like mono-unsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

Mono-unsaturated fats are found in oils like rapeseed oil and olive oil and some nuts. Polyunsaturated fats are found in oily fish such as salmon, sardines, herrings and mackerel, and also some spreads. These types of fats are actually good for our hearts and cholesterol levels.

How to reduce cholesterol by changing your habits:-

- Stop using butter on your bread or in baking and instead use polyunsaturated spreads or olive oil.

- Fry foods with olive oil or avoid frying and grill, microwave or steam foods.

- Trim fat off meat or use lean cuts.

- Replace meat with soya products or cook more vegetarian meals.

- Buy low fat versions of your normal foods.

- Replace snacks like cakes and cookies with fruit and vegetable based snacks.

- Eat oily fish two or three times a week.

It is important to have no more than 200mg or less of cholesterol per day. The rest of any healthy diet should include fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes (peas, beans, lentils, etc.), whole grains and either 2% or no-fat milk. The American Heart Association recommends a calorie controlled version of the 'Mediterranean Diet'. This can be found in pyramid for through their website.

About the Author:
What are high cholesterol foods? Webmaster of mecholestrol.com Penny Albright is providing her viewers with facts and solutions, how to reduce high cholesterol. Simply by memorizing the list of high cholesterol food and avoid dangerous fat levels, you will notice a difference.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - What Are High Cholesterol?

Thursday, July 2, 2009

low cholesterol diet foods

The Best Low Cholesterol Diet Plan

Author: Jam

If you want to lower your cholesterol levels, following an ideal diet may be able to help you a lot. It has been known for a long time now that the food a person eats or is accustomed to eating daily can have a direct relation in the body's cholesterol levels.


And it is important for people to lower their cholesterol levels because cholesterol has been associated with the development of coronary heart disease. The higher the level of blood cholesterol levels in an individual, the more likely it is that he will be developing heart disease later on. Aside from that high cholesterol levels can also put a person at risk of suffering from a stroke or a heart attack.


Aside from using drugs to lower cholesterol levels, following a low cholesterol diet is the next best thing to keep your cholesterol levels down. Eating more vegetables, soy products and other low cholesterol foods can be just as effective at reducing blood cholesterol as medication. A study has been able to show that a vegetarian diet can lower cholesterol by as much as one-third in just a month.


The best cholesterol-lowering diet that you can follow usually includes a hearty serving of vegetables such as broccoli and red peppers. Soymilk and soy sausages, oat bran cereal and bread as well as plenty of fruits and nuts make up a complete low cholesterol diet. Soy protein, nuts, and fiber rich food such as oats and barley can effectively cut cholesterol levels by up to seven percent.


A low cholesterol diet also requires you to minimize your intake of saturated fat by seven percent and other fat substances by 25-35 percent. It has been discovered that the best diet for avoiding coronary heart disease includes consuming non-hydrogenated (unprocessed) fats rather than the hydrogenated variety. Increased consumption of omega-3 fats from fish, fish oil or plant sources such as flaxseeds is the suggested fat intake in a low cholesterol diet. With a low cholesterol diet, one should also limit daily sodium intake somewhere in the level of 2400 milligrams daily.


A typical day on the low cholesterol diet would include a hearty breakfast of soymilk, oat bran cereal with chopped fruit and almonds, oatmeal bread, vegetable-based margarine and jam. A typical low cholesterol lunch would comprise of soy cold cuts, oat bran bread, bean soup and a dessert of fruit. For dinner, stir-fry vegetables, tofu, fruit and almonds would be the usual low cholesterol diet fare. Following this type of low cholesterol diet religiously for long periods, it is possible for one's cholesterol level to drop by as much as 29 percent in just a month.

About the Author:

Jam is a postgraduate medical intern who loves to research and write about health, particularly about diabetes.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - The Best Low Cholesterol Diet Plan

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

reduce cholesterol foods

What Foods Reduce Cholesterol?

Author: Andrew Bicknell

Cholesterol is an important substance we all need for our body to function properly. But in this case to much of something is not a good thing and high levels of cholesterol can be dangerous to your long term health. If you have high cholesterol it is a good idea to lower it to more normal levels and the best way to do this is through diet.

So what foods reduce cholesterol?

The first thing you need to know is that all foods that come from animal sources contain cholesterol in them. Eggs, poultry, meat, seafood, and dairy products all contain it and eating them can contribute to raising cholesterol levels.

But more importantly when it comes to foods that lower cholesterol are foods that are high in Trans fats and saturated fats. In fact these two fats have been shown to increase blood cholesterol levels more then foods that contain it.

The daily limit for cholesterol as recommended by the American Heart Association is no more then 300 milligrams. By maintaining a healthy diet it is easy to keep your levels under control and your cardiovascular system healthy. Choosing healthy foods low in saturated and Trans fats is the first step to beating this problem. Also eating plenty of high fiber no cholesterol foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables is important.

Many people wonder if they need to cut out animal products all together. The answer is no but they should be eaten in moderation. Probably what is most important is how these foods are prepared. You should eat only lean cuts of meat and poultry and they should be baked, broiled, or grilled. Frying any food should be avoided at all costs because of the saturated and Trans fat used to fry foods are a known danger.

One food that is known to reduce cholesterol is seafood rich in Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Salmon is the best choice as it has one of the highest amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids of all seafood's. For those who don't like seafood or have limited access to seafood it can be bought in pill supplement form.

The key to finding foods reduce cholesterol is eating healthy. It's not really that hard but to prevent future health problems it is important to do so.

About the Author:

To learn more about Low Cholesterol Food please visit the website Lowering Cholesterol by clicking here.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - What Foods Reduce Cholesterol?

Sunday, June 28, 2009

foods with a lot of cholesterol

Different Foods to Avoid Inorder Lower Cholesterol

Author: Jan Richards

One past time that people love to do is eating. This can happen at anytime aside from the three basic meals of the day whenever the person is craving for something.

Whenever the individual buys the snack or meal to suit that craving, little attention is paid on how much cholesterol the food has. In fact, a lot of those of the dishes made in fast food joint are unhealthy which has prompted McDonald's to print the calories, cholesterol and other things on each product given to the customer.

The growing number of those who are overweight and obese has caught the attention of doctors since this means there are a lot of people now who are considered to be high risk of suffering from heart disease or stroke in the United States.

Aside from advising people to visit the doctor annually, many are suggesting to make some lifestyle changes before it is too late. This usually means making some changes in the food being eaten since this is the only way to control the amount of cholesterol going in the system.

So what type of foods must be avoided to have lower levels of cholesterol in the body? The first is reducing the quantity of red meat being consumed. A good example is steak, ham and bacon that is high in fat.

Giving it up will be difficult so eating smaller portions should be done especially for those who are moderate or at a high risk of getting a heart disease or a stroke.

Fried food such as hamburgers and fries should also be avoided. The ingredients and oil used in cooking these things are also high in cholesterol that could be dangerous to one's health. This also includes pre-packaged frozen meals that a lot of people will just throw in the microwave after a long day at the office.

Dairy products such as milk, eggs and chicken should also be reduced. If the person has a hard time giving this up, this can be substituted using non-fat milk or yogurt to provide calcium that the body needs.

It is safe for kids to have junk food, candies and cake. As the individual gets older, these things have to be avoided. This is because the ingredients used in making these products are high in fat.

Now that more or less the food the person should avoid has been revealed, it is time to mention those that can be substituted to maintain a good diet.

Ideally, those who want to reduce the cholesterol intake should have a diet that contains less than 30% of fat. Those who can eat less will do better in living a healthy life.

The best products in the market to get are beans, fish oil, fruits, garlic, grains, soy, vegetables and whole grain bread. These things have vitamins and minerals as well as omega 3 acids that are known to reduce cholesterol levels in the body.

Different variations can be done daily so the person will not get tired of eating the same thing just to have a healthy diet. If planning this is difficult, a dietitian will gladly help and make changes every week so the cholesterol levels will improve when the patient pays another visit to the clinic.

About the Author:

Read about cholesterol ratio and low cholesterol foods at the Cholesterol Guidelines website.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Different Foods to Avoid Inorder Lower Cholesterol

Thursday, June 18, 2009

cholesterol lowering food

Cholesterol Lowering Foods - Heart Disease Prevention

Author: peterhutch

Little by little larger numbers of people suffer from heart disease as a consequence of high cholesterol levels. There are many factors that enable the accumulation of cholesterol inside the organism, but the major cause is considered to be unhealthy diet. Unhealthy diet and bad eating habits can considerably increase blood cholesterol levels. That’s why cholesterol lowering foods should be part of a cholesterol lowering diet.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in your bloodstream and every cell in your body. First off, it is important to note that cholesterol is normal. We all must have some cholesterol within our bodies. Without out it, your body would be unable to produce cell membranes and various hormones. But here is where it gets complicated. When your body has too much cholesterol, this waxy substance starts to form blockages in the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

Cholesterol lowering food in combination with a healthy fit lifestyle has been proven over and over again to be one of the most effective ways of lowering cholesterol naturally.

Cholesterol lowering food should be included in everyone's diet but especially in a diet to lower cholesterol if your cholesterol is already high. Failure to include cholesterol lowering food in your diet can lead to heart attack and stroke.

Nuts such as almonds and walnuts that have a high amount of monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fat, also help lowering cholesterol. Researchers have found that nuts not only lower the total and LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol significantly, but also help maintain a desirable level of HDL (or “good”) cholesterol.

Garlic is a popular cholesterol-lowering herb that contains allin and allicin. It has antispasmodic properties that help facilitate proper digestion and absorption. Because of its quick and effective actions on the gastrointestinal tract, excess cholesterol won't be easily stored as fat since garlic tries to let the body eliminate it instead.




Oatmeal is a good source of carbohydrates and soluble fiber. Soluble fiber helps reduce low-density lipoprotein or LDL which is also called bad cholesterol. Soluble fiber acts to hinder excess absorption of cholesterol in the intestines. With its gel-like qualities, bile works with dietary cholesterol to be properly excreted by the body.





Flaxseed

Flaxseed provides alpha-linolenic acid a poly-unsaturated fat which has been shown to lower cholesterol while providing needed soluble fiber.




Olive Oil

Olive oil is one of the mono-saturated fats and studies have shown that it lowers blood cholesterol. Extra virgin olive oil is suggested to be better than other varieties.




While foods containing soy protein are no longer considered cholesterol lowering foods, they can still be part of a healthy diet. Soy protein will not harm your health, and substituting soy protein, such as tofu, tempeh, edamame, soy nuts, soy milk, soy burgers, soy cheese, and soy flour for animal protein, continues to be a wise food choice because of its high content of polyunsaturated fats, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and low content of saturated fat.

About the Author:

Read about Natural Supplements, Herbal Remedies. Also read about Natural Weight Loss and Obeslim

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Cholesterol Lowering Foods - Heart Disease Prevention