No matter how old or young you are or what walk of life you belong to, you should know by now that consuming high-cholesterol food is BAD for your health. Whichever way you look at it, the disadvantages far outweigh the benefits, and it's imperative that you learn about foods that lower - rather than increase - your cholesterol level.
No More Fatty Food!
Basic Facts about Fat - There are two types of fats: unsaturated and saturated. Saturated fat is the most dangerous of all types of foods, and the primary dietary cause of high cholesterol. Unsaturated fats, on the other hand, can lower cholesterol levels in your body.
Classifications of Saturated Fats
Animal Fats - These can be found in foods like butter, cheese, ice cream, poultry, and fish.
Vegetable Fats - These can be found in chocolate, cookies, coffee creamers, and other candy and snacks. At first glance, they seem to be unlikely sources of fat, don't they? Obviously, you're wrong, and that's why it's important for you to read food labels before buying anything.
Classification of Unsaturated Fats
Polyunsaturated Fats - These can be found in foods like corn, cooking oils, and fish oils. Although fish and fish oils have one of the lowest concentrations of saturated fats, they do have omega 3 fatty acids - elements which can lead to undesirable effects on your health.
Monounsaturated Fats - These can be found in vegetable oils. Using them instead of other types of cooking oils can help in reducing cholesterol levels in the body.
What to Do: Lessen total intake of fatty foods because not only do they cause an increase in cholesterol levels, they can also cause you to gain weight. Even if you're not concerned about gaining a few pounds, having high cholesterol levels is still bad for your health. At the very least, just replace fatty foods with foods that are high in carbohydrates.
What You Should Eat
Dairy Products that are Fat-Free or with Minimal (1%) Fat - Just because you need to lower your cholesterol levels doesn't mean you have to say farewell forever to delicious dairy products. Thanks to the innovative minds in our generation, food companies have been able to manufacture dairy products that taste just like the original without containing any harmful fat!
Skinless Poultry - Again, there's no need to permanently abstain from eating poultry products like chicken or duck. All you need to sacrifice is avoiding eating the skin. Yes, we know, the skin's usually the best and most delicious part BUT this is for your own good. If you want to save your own skin, don't eat the chicken's skin (yes, pun intended).
Fish and Shellfish - If you were averse in the past to seafood, it's time to explore other food options, because foods like fish and shellfish are good for your health, more so for your cholesterol level. It's time to get rid of gastronomic restrictions and welcome new varieties. And if you really, really want to be healthy, you should also consider eating sushi and sashimi - yes, raw food, prepared Japanese style - because they're free from the fatty oily effects of the frying pan!
Fruits - Fruits are mostly good for our health. So instead of dropping by a fast food joint to grab a burger, why not take a leaf from children's story books: an apple a day keeps the doctor away!
Vegetables - There must be a reason why Popeye's all enamored with spinach. When cooked properly with the right flavor and zest, vegetable won't taste as drab as you've imagined it would. In fact, you might even be surprised to find that you like it!
Having a low-fat low-cholesterol diet isn't as tortuous as many of us think, but you'll never know until you try!
Dr. Michael Lee is a board certified physician who has counselled thousands of patients on lowering their cholesterol. To get free tips on lowering your choleseterol naturally without harmful drugs, please check out [zapcholesterol.com/tips.html]
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