Lower Cholesterol by Dieting in Order to Improve Your Health

Jul 20
07:56

2011

Jim Haynes

Jim Haynes

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Due to the unhealthy lifestyle people have these days, they tend to suffer from many health illnesses which typically involve the heart. Poor eating habits and foods high in bad cholesterol cause dangerous heart problems. Cholesterol is a substance produced by the liver and animals.

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Due to the unhealthy lifestyle people have these days,Lower Cholesterol by Dieting in Order to Improve Your Health Articles they tend to suffer from many health illnesses which typically involve the heart. Poor eating habits and foods high in bad cholesterol cause dangerous heart problems. Cholesterol is a substance produced by the liver and animals. They are found in the blood stream and in food that come from animals such as cheese, milk, butter and eggs. When there is a build-up of cholesterol in the arteries, this can cause blood clots and plaque in the artery walls. Blood and oxygen fail to properly pass through the bloodstream therefore the heart will not function well and as a result blood pressure, strokes, angina and heart attacks occur. The good news is that you can lower cholesterol by choosing an appropriate diet.

 

To lower cholesterol by diet, choose food that has little or no fat and grease at all.  Drink plenty of water so as to be hydrated throughout the day and control the level of cholesterol in your body. Colas, sodas and alcohol contain sugar that stay in the body and heighten cholesterol level as time passes. 

Another way to lower cholesterol by diet is to eat two servings of fish a week. Fish such as mackerel, tuna, salmon, sardines, trout, and herring contain omega-3 fatty acids which lower cholesterol because of the properties it has thus protecting the heart and blood cells.  Eat a handful of raw nuts such as almonds, pecans, peanuts, pine nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts and pistachio daily because they contain omega-3 fatty acids similar to fish. These are better than eating chips, cookies, cakes and ice cream. These foods contain high cholesterol as studies show. 

When you fry or sauté food, do not use regular cooking oil, butter or margarine but use olive oil or canola oil instead. These do not contain saturated fats or trans-fat that heightens cholesterol level. Studies show that two tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil daily is beneficial as this contains antioxidants to cleanse the body and lower cholesterol level. If you are a salad-lover, use a salad dressing that contains olive oil. 

Oatmeal contains high amounts of fiber that cleanses the body and lowers cholesterol. Opt for this instead of bread, cheese and butter. You can also have cereals made of whole grains as these have the same essential benefits of oatmeal. You can combine oatmeal and cereals with fruits and low-fat milk for a healthier meal. Fruits have no cholesterol at all and are rich in vital nutrients as well as fiber. Fiber assists in the removal of cholesterol from the intestines and flushes them out of the body so in order to lower cholesterol by diet, have at least 10 grams of fiber a day.

 

It is necessary to maintain a lower cholesterol level so that your heart is able to function properly by pumping enough blood at the right pace. When the heart and its arteries are healthy, premature death is avoided. A lower cholesterol level also involves maintaining a proper and healthy weight. Regular exercise also decreases bad cholesterol level as they increase the amount of good cholesterol in the body. Good cholesterol helps flush out bad cholesterol. For a healthier you, lower cholesterol by dieting, exercise and living a healthy lifestyle.