| Cholesterol is a waxy substance that the body | | | | * Butter, egg yolks and cheese. |
| needs to function normally. Your body uses | | | | |
| cholesterol to produce certain hormones and | | | | * Untrimmed fatty meats and organ meats. |
| make vitamin D. It also produces bile acids | | | | |
| that digest fat. But your body only needs a | | | | * Processed meats such as Bologna, hot dogs, |
| small amount of cholesterol to perform these | | | | salami and sausage. |
| functions. Too much cholesterol in your | | | | |
| bloodstream will start to adhere to the | | | | * Bakery goods made with saturated fats and |
| artery walls and form blockages. These | | | | egg yolks. |
| blockages are the cause of heart attacks and | | | | |
| strokes. | | | | * Coconut oils, palm oils and palm kernal |
| | | | oil which are saturated fats. |
| It is important that you keep your | | | | |
| cholesterol at a healthy level. While high | | | | * Solid fats such as shortening, partially |
| cholesterol can be hereditary, a lot of our | | | | hydrogenated margarine and lard. |
| cholesterol problems come from the food we | | | | |
| eat and lack of exercise. | | | | * Fried foods. |
| | | | |
| The best way to lower your cholesterol is to | | | | Lowering cholesterol does not mean that you |
| lose weight. Being overweight interrupts the | | | | cut out all the fats. You just exchange them. |
| bodys metabolism causing the body to hang | | | | The above guidelines should help you |
| onto too much fat. Following a low fat, low | | | | determine how to do this. |
| cholesterol diet and getting more exercise | | | | |
| will help you lose weight and lower your | | | | There is a lot of focus on cutting back on |
| cholesterol. | | | | the fats in the food we eat but did you know |
| | | | that there are beverages that can help lower |
| Here is a guide on what foods to eat and what | | | | cholesterol? Studies have shown that green |
| foods to limit: | | | | tea has a lot of powerful antioxidants that |
| | | | help lower cholesterol and can even lower |
| Food you should eat:- | | | | blood pressure. |
| | | | |
| * 5 servings per day of a variety of fruits | | | | Orange juice contains folic acids that help |
| and vegetables. | | | | lower homocysteine levels in the body. High |
| | | | homocysteine levels can cause cholesterol to |
| * 6 servings per day of whole grain breads, | | | | change into oxidized low density lipoprotein |
| rice and pasta. Oatmeal is especially | | | | which can damage the arteries. It can also |
| beneficial. | | | | make blood clot easier and increase the risk |
| | | | of blockages. |
| * 2 to 4 servings of fat free or low fat | | | | |
| milk products. | | | | Grape juice is loaded with certain |
| | | | antioxidants that help prevent red blood |
| * 6 ounces of lean meats or skinless poultry | | | | cells from clumping together to form clots. |
| per day. | | | | |
| | | | Research has proven that having 1 to 3 ounces |
| * Beans and peas. | | | | of wine a day can lower your risk of heart |
| | | | attack. But do not drink it if you have an |
| * Nuts and seeds in limited amounts. | | | | alcohol dependency problem or high blood |
| | | | pressure. |
| * Unsaturated vegetable oils. But limit the | | | | |
| amount of margarine and spreads made from | | | | Keeping your cholesterol at a healthy level |
| them. | | | | takes some effort on your part. Lose weight, |
| | | | exercise, quit smoking and eat healthily. |
| Foods to Limit:- | | | | This may seem like a lot to some but you only |
| | | | have one heart. It is your responsibility to |
| * Whole milk, creams and ice cream. | | | | take good care of it. |
| | | | |