High Cholesterol Foods to Avoid
If your doctor has informed you that you need to lower your LDL cholesterol or raise your HDL cholesterol, changing your diet can help. The foods you eat are very important when it comes to lowering bad cholesterol and raising good cholesterol. You might already know that a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, nuts and other healthy choices is good for you. But are you aware of which foods you shouldn’t be eating? There are quite a few, and most of them are filled with either saturated or trans fats. These fats are notorious for raising bad cholesterol and should be avoided at all costs.
Many saturated fats are found in animal products. This doesn’t mean that you have to give up animal products altogether, but you should use proper discretion. For example, choose skinless chicken breast instead of fried chicken with skin. Rather than fatty ground beef, go for lean ground chuck or sirloin. Instead of eating the entire egg, eat only the whites and discard the yolk. If you drink milk, choose skim rather than the full fat variety. While a vegetarian diet can be healthy and appropriate for some people, others can reap rewards simply by being more careful about the animal products in their diet. One of the very best meats you should be eating is fish, especially salmon. Salmon has Omega oils, which are beneficial for anyone watching their cholesterol.
If you are unsure about the foods you should stay away from and which ones you should be eating, consulting with a dietician can be very helpful. Many dieticians specialize in helping individuals with high cholesterol lower their LDL levels. Even your doctor can help you, and may be able to give you some guidelines regarding foods to eat and foods to avoid. In addition to watching what you’re eating (or not eating) getting enough exercise is also important. Try to get at least thirty minutes of cardiovascular activity three to five times each week. Even a simple walk around the block every day can make a difference.
When it comes to keeping cholesterol levels healthy, the best thing to do is combine a healthy diet with plenty of exercise. You don’t have to be compulsive about your diet, but you should use common sense. Red meat, organ meat, egg yolks, products made with eggs, fried foods and most fast foods are all items to avoid. Foods that are especially beneficial include oatmeal, soy, salmon, fruits and vegetables and wheat germ. Adding one to two glasses of red wine to your nightly meal may also provide some benefit, although drinking more than that can have a harmful effect. Once you get used to choosing healthy foods, it will become second nature and you may even find that you prefer healthy foods to those laden with fat.
