Should your doctor decide that it is time to test your cholesterol, he or she will send you for a blood test, and then wait for the numbers for your cholesterol to come back. You would do well to spend a little discussing these numbers with your doctor, asking about 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 recommend that you take prescription drugs to help get your cholesterol levels in a better range as soon as possible. Not doing this could lead to strokes, 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, moving to a low cholesterol diet, and does not contain many high cholesterol foods on a regular basis.
Once you are aware of the foods that are good and bad for you, then switching to good foods should not be a problem, especially since you know that once you are eating better, your heart health will be improving, and your risk of heart problems will be getting less.
This is exactly what you want, a healthy heart. But along with the low cholesterol diet, you need to be exercising, may be every other day going for a brisk walk for about 30 minutes, 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 eating, and what foods should you not eat? It is necessary to avoid an excess of animal products, this means red meats should be eaten 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 whole eggs.
Butter is not recommended, as it is an animal product, 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 called that just because it is lighter in color, not lighter in calories.
Oat meal and oat bran is good for you to eat, and is a great way to start your day. It gives your body soluble fibre, which is also found in barley, pears and apples.
Legumes, such as 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 muscles and tendons, as well as good for internal organs, blood, hair and bones, too.
Naturally, there are a lot more foods that could be mentioned for a diet low in cholesterol, but there is limited space here. The important thing is to start bringing down your cholesterol now, so that you are at lower risk of heart attacks or strokes. But of course, the choice is yours, reduce your cholesterol now, or be at risk for strokes and heart attacks in your future.
Tags: calories, cholesterol, high cholesterol foods, low cholesterol foods, low fat diets, recipes