There is a fringe benefit to a low-cholesterol diet that even the most skeptical reader will easily see- the food on your plate might not just be better for you, it might be tastier and more interesting too. One thing even healthy people seem to forget is that eating a healthy diet means eating reasonable amounts of a variety of foods. Contrary to the popular magazine covers or books touting whatever the ‘superfoods’ of the moment may be, a little of everything can be healthy for you.
It is common knowledge that certain foods such as oatmeal, walnuts, and fatty fish will help control your cholesterol. According to the FDA (who has reviewed extensive research on each of these low cholesterol foods and consequently awarded them the status of ‘health claim’), in some cases they work as well as prescription medications that function to lower your LDL (or ‘bad’) cholesterol levels. Instead of a bowl of sugary cereal, a toaster pastry, doughnut or only a cup of coffee for breakfast, pair your favorite beverage with a bowl of oatmeal- top it with bananas and walnuts, brown sugar and apples, or any other fruit you desire. Not to your liking? Even a cereal containing oat bran is beneficial. Not only will oatmeal keep you from eating unhealthy foods, it sticks to cholesterol in your intestines and keeps it from being absorbed- which, by the way, helps keep you feeling full until lunchtime!
Were burgers your favorite dinner before a low cholesterol diet? Swap the beef patty for salmon or tuna. These species, as well as trout, sardines, and mackerel, contain omega-3 fatty acids that will help lower triglycerides, a type of fat, in your bloodstream. Omega-3 fatty acids might also be responsible for reducing inflammation of tissues and slowing down plaque growth in arteries. One serving the size of a deck of cards per day will do the trick, and if prepared by steaming, broiling, or baking, the health benefits of the fish are preserved without adding fat. Although a low cholesterol diet is not a cure-all, the idea that a low cholesterol diet can be enjoyable is welcome news for the over 100 million adults in the US alone with high cholesterol. Not only will a low cholesterol diet be cheaper than a trip to the pharmacy or hospital co-pays, it eliminates undesirable side effects and costs less.
