| Are you worried about your cholesterol | | | | soups or stews, which can be very |
| levels or do you have a family history | | | | healthy, tasty and filling when cooked |
| of high cholesterol? If so then you | | | | properly, prepare them the day before |
| should already be paying close attention | | | | and put in the fridge overnight. This |
| to your diet and lifestyle. One of the | | | | will allow any fat in the stew or soup |
| most simple ways that you can keep your | | | | to rise to the top and harden, so you |
| cholesterol in check is by changing the | | | | can remove it before re-heating and |
| way you cook your food. It is not hard | | | | eating. |
| to eat a low cholesterol diet, and | | | | One of the key components of a diet low |
| modifying the way you cook your food can | | | | in cholesterol is to ensure that you eat |
| help keep your heart and body healthy | | | | a lot of fruit and vegetables, and a |
| and happy. | | | | wide variety of them. Try and find fresh |
| To start with you should strictly limit | | | | fruits that you enjoy, so you can eat |
| the foods you eat which are high in | | | | them as healthy snacks, of prepare and |
| saturated fat in your kitchen (and | | | | freeze to eat later. A lot of people |
| house), and use alternatives instead. | | | | ruin the benefit of the vegetables they |
| You'll find when cooking that techniques | | | | eat, by covering them in excess salt |
| such as grilling, baking and broiling | | | | (sodium chloride), which can raise your |
| (and microwaving), will help you control | | | | blood pressure. Instead use herbs and |
| the levels of saturated fat in the food | | | | spices to flavour your veg. You can |
| you eat. You can use a light stir-fry or | | | | purchase ready made mixed herbal |
| perhaps a sauté, as long as you | | | | seasoning's from your local grocery |
| monitor the amount of oil you use, or | | | | shop. For example an Italian herb mix |
| use the more expensive virgin olive oil, | | | | seasoning might contain herbs such as |
| which can be beneficial in small | | | | oregano, basil, rosemary and more. |
| quantities. | | | | Others such as chives and parsley also |
| Another way you can reduce the amount of | | | | give your food interesting flavours. |
| cholesterol in your diet is through the | | | | When cooking your veg, try and only use |
| way you prepare your meat and poultry. | | | | a minimal amount of vegetable oil or |
| You can easily lower the amount of | | | | spray, or even better use olive oil. |
| saturated fat in the meat you eat by | | | | Make sure you avoid butter or margarine, |
| trimming or cutting off any fat you can | | | | as both are sources of high saturated |
| see on the meat, or by buying better | | | | fats and sodium. Which is a doubly bad |
| quality cuts of meat. Try to avoid | | | | combination for your health, especially |
| frying food, instead roast, bake or | | | | for people worried about cholesterol |
| broil the meat as mentioned earlier. If | | | | levels. |
| you decide to roast or bake the meat, | | | | These article has identified just a |
| you can use a rack to allow the fat to | | | | sample of cooking ideas and tips for |
| drain away, so you don't eat it with the | | | | your diet to help you lower your |
| meat. Alternatively purchase a George | | | | cholesterol. It might take a little time |
| Foreman Lean Mean Grilling Machine, | | | | for you to get used to cooking using |
| which will allow you to drain the excess | | | | different methods, but the benefits for |
| fat away with ease. | | | | you health and your palette will quickly |
| To keep your meat moist and tasty, use | | | | out weight the little extra time it may |
| wine, vinegar, lemon juice or a low-fat | | | | take. |
| oil as a marinade. If you like to cook | | | | |