Low Cholesterol Diet
0.0A low cholesterol diet is a diet that encourages individuals to reduce the amount of cholesterol that is found in the bloodstream. By implementing specific dietary and lifestyle changes, dieters can strive to improve their cholesterol levels so as to experience a generally more healthy well being.
Types of Cholesterol
While exercise habits and dietary sources certainly influence cholesterol levels, biology is also an additional contributor to one’s levels. Essentially, both diet and genetics impact the two different types of cholesterol: LDL levels, and HDL levels.
LDL Cholesterol – This type of cholesterol is “low density,” and is considered to be harmful and bad. An excess of LDL cholesterol can cause arterial buildup and blockage. This buildup then stimulates fatty deposits and plaque development, which often results in cardio-vascular disease, mental impairment, gall stones, and high blood pressure issues.
HDL Cholesterol – HDL is “high density,” and is considered to be beneficial and good. HDL is non-soluble, and is almost a wax-like substance that is essential in creating and producing hormones, bile, nerve elements, and other membrane composites.
How Does Cholesterol Function in the Body?
As the body receives cholesterol from certain food sources, the body’s genetic makeup also adds to this ingested amount by producing additional cholesterol as well. Essentially, as the body digests foods, the liver process dietary cholesterol while also creating its own; the liver then sends the dietary and manufactured cholesterols out to be delivered to various cells in the body.
How Does the Cholesterol Diet Work?
The Cholesterol Diet and Food
To lower negative, LDL, cholesterol levels, dieters engaging in the cholesterol diet strive to incorporate specific food restrictions in order to experience success. The most common habits practiced by individuals on the cholesterol diet include adhering to specific dietary restrictions and changes, such as:
- Avoid eating margarine completely
- Decrease the ingestion of hydrogenated fats
- Decrease the ingestion of trans and saturated fats
- Decrease the ingestion of all processed foods
- Increase the intake of omega 3 fats from dietary and supplemental sources
- Implement a daily supplement that includes fish oil, DHA, and EPA
- Reduce butter intake by eating and cooking with extra virgin olive oil
- Implement a CoQ10 daily supplement to boost the strength of heart muscles
- Implement a daily multivitamin that includes vitamins E, C, and B3
- Reduce the intake of specifically high-cholesterol foods, such as lobster
The Cholesterol Diet and Exercise
Adding to dietary changes, individuals engaging in a cholesterol-lowering diet also strive to incorporate daily exercises to improve health and decrease LDL levels. A specific and commonly practice regimen includes:
- Physical / cardiovascular exercises at least 3 to 5 times per week
- 30 minutes of exercise on designated days
If engaging in this type of activity schedule, dieters can anticipate benefits such as:
- Decreased blood pressure
- Decreased triglyceride counts
- Decreased risk of developing diabetes
- Increased levels of beneficial (HDL) cholesterol levels