Being Healthy with a Diet for Lower Cholesterol

Jul 11
08:30

2011

Jim Haynes

Jim Haynes

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Your health depends on your lifestyle and the kind of food you eat. Therefore it is vital that you eat the right type of food to achieve maximum health.

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Your health depends on your lifestyle and the kind of food you eat. Therefore it is vital that you eat the right type of food to achieve maximum health. Having a diet for lower cholesterol reduces the risk of heart illnesses. Cholesterol is a substance naturally manufactured by the liver. Its other sources are meat, eggs,Being Healthy with a Diet for Lower Cholesterol Articles milk, ice, cream, and cheese. 

There are two types of cholesterol and they are the Low-Density Lipoproteins (LDL) or the bad cholesterol and High-Density Lipoproteins (HDL) or the good cholesterol. The LDL clogs up the blood vessels and prevents the blood from flowing properly throughout the body while the HDL carries cholesterol back to the liver for the latter to process and flush out of the body. When you have too much LDL, it can cause heart problems. Hence, it is important to have a diet for lower cholesterol which includes fish, soya, nuts, oats and food containing plant sterol or stanol so as to lower LDL. 

Fish reduces LDL cholesterol and heightens HDL cholesterol. It is good food for the heart as it also contains proteins and omega-3 fatty acids to decrease plaques in the arteries. The kind of fish that are very rich in omega-3 fatty acids are sardines, herring, tuna, salmon, trout and mackerel. These should be included daily in everyone's diet for lower cholesterol in order to help maintain a healthy heart. 

Oats should also be included in the diet to help lower cholesterol. It contains fiber that aids in decreasing LDL Cholesterol. Oats can be found in oatmeal and oat cereal bran. Nuts are equally effective in lowering bad cholesterol as they are rich in vitamins, nutrients, protein, fiber and antioxidants. They should be eaten raw and not mixed with too much salt, sugar and chocolate. Walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pistachios, pecans and pine nuts all aid in decreasing the level of LDL cholesterol in the body. 

Soy which is made from soya beans is also said to lower cholesterol levels therefore should be included in a diet for lower cholesterol. There are a lot of soy products that replace milk rich in fat and animal meat. These are equally delicious. Tofu replaces meat while soy milk substitutes fat-enriched milk. There is also soy flour which can be used in other food creations. 

Plant sterols or stanols are natural substances that are proven to decrease LDL cholesterol. These are usually mixed in certain kinds of foods such as salad dressings, fruit juices, spreads, and margarine. 

A healthy lifestyle includes eating the right kind of food. A diet for lower cholesterol is essential to achieve good health. If you continuously stick to this diet daily, you are helping your heart and body ward off illnesses. You must also bear in mind that you should regularly exercise and take plenty of rest to become truly healthy. Stay away from vices such as smoking, drinking, and taking drugs as all these can decrease the heart's strength. Living a stress-free life also aids in having a healthy lifestyle.