Are Cholesterol Free And Low Cholesterol Foods Wasted Effort?

Lowering the amount of  cholesterol and saturated fat in the daily diet is an important part of a heart-healthy eating plan. Most people are familiar with the word or have heard of cholesterol, whether it is high or low. Many people need to re-educate themselves and develop new eating and nutrient supplementation habits.

Did you know that cholesterol is a waxy substance that clogs the arteries, but is also vital to our body?

Cholesterol is critical to the formation of cells and other tissues.

But if it is high, it could lead to a stroke. If you have a high cholesterol level, is one of the primary risk factors of getting heart disease. If you maintain a healthy diet and exercise on a regular basis you can lower your cholesterol level. Also, you may want to consider eating low cholesterol free foods.

Keep in mind that, it doesn’t give you a blank ticket to eat anything you want because you are eating cholesterol free foods.

You still need to be conscious of what you eat. It is back to basics and you should eat at least three to five servings of fruit or vegetables, or at least make use of a convenient, natural,  liquid super-antioxidant nutritional supplement.

Did you know that fruits and vegetables have no cholesterol?

Keep in mind that you can eat fruits and vegetables as snacks, side dishes and as a main dish. Have you thought of making vegetarian dishes as a main course? Make sure that you wash all fruits and vegetables before eating them.

Carbohydrates such as bread, cereals, peas and pasta are foods that are very starchy and full of fiber however, they are low in fat and calories.

Try to eat five to ten servings of this low cholesterol food group daily.

If you have a low cholesterol level, you should try to keep the amount of carbohydrates to approximately 60% of the total calories. Make sure that you are choosing whole grain breads rather than white bread because they have more fiber.

Also buy dry cereals because they tend to be lower in fat. Try to limit the amount of sugar and baked goods you eat, as these tend to have empty calories and are not healthy. They also most generally, have a high cholesterol content.

At restaurants, remember to choose those that offer low-cholesterol and healthy low-fat meals. You may want to check with the server and inquire as to how the foods are prepared.

You should always avoid high cholesterol food that is fried, breaded, covered with cheese, fried and other dishes that are high in fat.

You are better off with dishes that are steamed, broiled rather than breaded or fried, poached, grilled, and those dishes that are baked. If you have to eat fast food, try to eat salads and avoid burgers that are layered with cheese, mayonnaise and bacon. Try to eat broiled chicken and lean meats.

You have probably heard that bacon, sausage and eggs have a high amount of cholesterol. You may want to try eating fruits and vegetables and high fiber cereal for breakfast.

Bottom line is, the National Cholesterol Education Program recommends . . .

. . . that people with coronary heart disease should lower LDL-cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) to less than 100mg daily or a total cholesterol reading to around 160.  

For some people, diet changes alone may not be enough to lower cholesterol to acceptable levels. In those cases, an addition of a super-antioxidant nutritional supplement may be helpful to lower cholesterol. For others, the doctor may need to prescribe daily cholesterol-lowering drugs. Be sure to have the doctor discuss the side-effects of the drugs.