Diet to Control High Cholesterol - Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference

A diet to control high cholesterol would include certain foods and exclude others. If you have been told by your doctor that you need to do something to lower total triglycerides, increase HDL levels or lower LDL levels, but you were not given any dietary recommendations, it could be because many doctors feel that statin drugs are more effective than dietary changes.

All natural health experts recognize the danger of statin drugs. They inhibit the body's Coenzyme Q10 production at the same time that they inhibit cholesterol-synthesis.

Coenzyme Q10 is essential to the normal function of every cell of the body. If the level in the muscles becomes depleted, the muscle cells can die. This can and does happen to people taking statin drugs. The first symptom is pain in the muscles of the legs.

COQ10 is an antioxidant. Cholesterol is only dangerous if it becomes oxidized. The smaller, less dense LDL particles can penetrate through the inner lining of the arteries and become hardened. Antioxidants in the bloodstream prevent the oxidation of the LDL particles.

So, not only do you want a diet to control high cholesterol, you want one that prevents oxidation of the LDL particles. You might be afraid that the diet will be tasteless and no fun at all, but with a few small changes and by limiting your intake of a few high fat foods, you should be able to get your cholesterol-levels balanced, which is what you actually want.

If the levels happen to fall too low, something that could happen with statin drugs, it will be just as detrimental to your health as hypercholesterolemia (excessively high cholesterol levels). The biggest risk of hypercholesterolemia is an increased risk of heart disease. Clearly, a diet to control high cholesterol will also be good for the heart.

What's good for the heart? Regular physical activity is good for the heart. Working out until you are breathing hard is one way to improve the health and function of that vital organ.

Teas are better for the heart than coffee. The green and the black varieties contain antioxidant flavonoids called Theaflavins and catechins. Theaflavins and catechins have been shown in several studies to raise HDL levels and lower LDL levels.

Phytosterols, which are plant steroids, have been recommended for balancing cholesterol-levels. Beta-sitosterol, in particular, which comes from soy, is very effective for reducing the re-absorption of cholesterols in the gut.

Molecularly, beta-sitosterol and cholesterol are very similar. Consequently, they compete with each other for absorption; beta-sitosterol usually wins.

A diet to control high cholesterol should be very low in alcohol, because that is one of the components of the compound. It is a waxy, yellow alcohol.

Trans-fats should be cut completely out of the diet. They would be listed on a label of ingredients as partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. That's important, because partially hydrogenated soy-bean oil is very common. Although soy is usually good for you, in this case it is not.

There are other factors to consider in a diet to control high cholesterol. The ones mentioned here are some of the most important. You might also want to consider a dietary supplement that could help, or at least learn more about it.

Jackie Leone is a consumer advocate and a dedicated researcher who has been on a search to find the lowercholesterolinfo.com best natural cholesterol balancing supplements available. Visit her website at lowercholesterolinfo.com lowercholesterolinfo.com to discover what she personally takes and why.