| Increasing incidence of heart diseases is a | | | | the grocery store to ensure purchase of a |
| worrisome possibility in modern high-pressure | | | | variety of nutrient-rich foods for meals and |
| lifestyles. One of the major risk factors for | | | | snacks throughout the week. The healthy eating |
| coronary heart disease is high cholesterol (a lipid | | | | plan should give due importance to fruits, |
| or fat necessary for building cell membranes) | | | | vegetables, whole grains, and fat free or low-fat |
| levels in the blood. Cholesterol is delivered to the | | | | milk and milk products; include lean meats, poultry, |
| cells by two types of lipoproteins (combination of | | | | fish, beans, eggs and nuts; be low in saturated |
| the lipid and special proteins made by the liver) i.e. | | | | fats, trans-fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and |
| high density lipoprotein (HDL) the so-called "good" | | | | added sugars (caloric sweeteners). The aim of the |
| cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein (LDL) the | | | | plan should be to eat foods that provide adequate |
| so-called "bad" cholesterol Excessive cholesterol in | | | | nutrients without exceeding the daily calorie needs. |
| the blood tends to deposit, as plaque, on the | | | | It is not enough to simply tighten the eating plan |
| artery walls leading to their constriction and | | | | at home and let go while eating out. The effort |
| resultant heart problems. | | | | should be towards a change to a healthier lifestyle. |
| While a number of medicines are now available to | | | | At the restaurant, it would be a good idea to |
| control excessive cholesterol levels, the preferred | | | | examine the menu and to choose steamed, grilled |
| initial treatment should be a combination of diet, | | | | or boiled dishes and avoid those that are fried or |
| exercise and weight loss. It is very important to | | | | sautéed. If one is predisposed towards |
| make the right choices of food and physical | | | | alcoholic beverages, the golden rule is "drink in |
| exercise as they affect one's health. Exercise | | | | moderation", since these beverages have calories |
| should typically involve at least thirty minutes of | | | | without any significant nutritional value. |
| daily cardiovascular activity like brisk walking or | | | | Changing over to a healthy lifestyle, with a |
| aerobic exercises. | | | | balanced diet and adequate exercise, not only |
| The best way to achieve a low cholesterol diet | | | | helps to control blood cholesterol, but also reduces |
| (one which helps to control cholesterol levels in | | | | the risk of many chronic ailments such as heart |
| the blood) is to work out a healthy eating plan. | | | | disease, diabetes etc. |
| The plan should ideally start from buying food at | | | | |