No matter why you are having a problem with high cholesterol – heredity, diet, or both – you doctor will invariably start your treatment with a good, low cholesterol diet. If this does not lower your level in 6 months or so, your doctor may consider using medication along with diet to help control your cholesterol levels.
If he does prescribe medication for your cholesterol, don’t think that means you can eat anything you like. Diet will still be a very important part of your treatment. Medication will not work all on its own.
Here are some guidelines to make choosing the right foods a little easier.
There are two major types of dietary fat - saturated and unsaturated, and all foods contain some mixture of both of these fats. Saturated fat raises your blood cholesterol level more than anything else in your diet does. There are several types of saturated fats.
Animal Fats Butter, cheese, whole milk, ice cream, cream, and other animal products all contain high amounts of saturated fat. Poultry, fish, and shellfish also contain saturated fat, although generally less than meat products do.
Vegetable Fats A few vegetable fats, namely coconut oil, cocoa butter, palm kernel oil, and palm oil, are high in saturated fat. These fats are found in many commercially baked goods - cookies and crackers - and in nondairy substitutes, such as whipped toppings, coffee creamers, cake mixes, and even frozen dinners. They are also in some snack foods like chips, candy bars, and buttered popcorn.
Unsaturated Fats Unsaturated fat actually helps to lower cholesterol levels when it is substituted for saturated fat. So, when you do eat fat, try to eat as much unsaturated fat as possible.
Polyunsaturated fats are found primarily in safflower, corn, soybean, cottonseed, sesame, and sunflower oils, which are common cooking oils. Polyunsaturated fats are also contained in most salad dressings, though many commercially available salad dressings also contain large amounts of saturated fats. The word “hydrogenated” is one clue that this is true.
Another very important point in cholesterol control is your weight. If you are overweight, it is very important that you reach and maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight can make your cholesterol level very high, and can strain your heart and other functions as well.
While cholesterol is needed for normal body function, a healthy liver makes enough for your body's needs so that you don’t really need extra cholesterol from food at all. Restricting your intake of high cholesterol foods will help to greatly reduce your cholesterol levels.
If he does prescribe medication for your cholesterol, don’t think that means you can eat anything you like. Diet will still be a very important part of your treatment. Medication will not work all on its own.
Here are some guidelines to make choosing the right foods a little easier.
There are two major types of dietary fat - saturated and unsaturated, and all foods contain some mixture of both of these fats. Saturated fat raises your blood cholesterol level more than anything else in your diet does. There are several types of saturated fats.
Animal Fats Butter, cheese, whole milk, ice cream, cream, and other animal products all contain high amounts of saturated fat. Poultry, fish, and shellfish also contain saturated fat, although generally less than meat products do.
Vegetable Fats A few vegetable fats, namely coconut oil, cocoa butter, palm kernel oil, and palm oil, are high in saturated fat. These fats are found in many commercially baked goods - cookies and crackers - and in nondairy substitutes, such as whipped toppings, coffee creamers, cake mixes, and even frozen dinners. They are also in some snack foods like chips, candy bars, and buttered popcorn.
Unsaturated Fats Unsaturated fat actually helps to lower cholesterol levels when it is substituted for saturated fat. So, when you do eat fat, try to eat as much unsaturated fat as possible.
Polyunsaturated fats are found primarily in safflower, corn, soybean, cottonseed, sesame, and sunflower oils, which are common cooking oils. Polyunsaturated fats are also contained in most salad dressings, though many commercially available salad dressings also contain large amounts of saturated fats. The word “hydrogenated” is one clue that this is true.
Olive and canola oil are examples of oils that are high in monounsaturated fats. Like other vegetable oils, these oils can be used in cooking as well as in salads.
Another very important point in cholesterol control is your weight. If you are overweight, it is very important that you reach and maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight can make your cholesterol level very high, and can strain your heart and other functions as well.
While cholesterol is needed for normal body function, a healthy liver makes enough for your body's needs so that you don’t really need extra cholesterol from food at all. Restricting your intake of high cholesterol foods will help to greatly reduce your cholesterol levels.
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