Super Food Cholesterol Diet for Lowering Blood Cholesterol Count

High Cholesterol Diet

High cholesterol diet is intended to lower one’s blood cholesterol. It is most commonly referred to as the low cholesterol diet, as while one has a high cholesterol count the diet is intended to lower it.

There are two types of cholesterol:

LDL or Low Density Lipoprotein: It is the bad cholesterol that needs to be low.
HDL or High Density Lipoprotein: It is the good cholesterol that needs to be high and maintained.

Super foods that help lower cholesterol

There are five major foods, most often called super foods that help to lower the cholesterol, that is the LDL cholesterol.They are all an essential part of the high cholesterol diet. It is important to note that while it is necessary to have low LDL cholesterol it is also important to have a high HDL. So, many of the foods on the list help to lower the LDL while raising the HDL or not affecting it at all.

The first super food that serves to lower cholesterol and is part of the high cholesterol diet is the oat. Oat is a soluble fiber that lowers the bad cholesterol while not affecting the good cholesterol. This is important as it is essential to maintain the good cholesterol. Oatmeal and the whole oat flour are simple ways to get the oat into one’s diet.

The second super food in the high cholesterol diet is fish. Fish provides Omega 3 Fatty Acids. This food is a special part of the high cholesterol diet as it lowers the LDL while raising the HDL. That is why this is special and important.

The third super food is the nut. Nuts are not only rich in fiber but they contain mono unsaturated and polyunsaturated fats that have been proven to lower the bad LDL cholesterol. Nuts are a good part of the high cholesterol diet.

The fourth super food in the high cholesterol diet is any food fortified with plant sterols. They are natural substances that are able to block absorption of cholesterol. If cholesterol is not absorbed then it can not affect one’s cholesterol. This is essential to the high cholesterol diet. Prevention is important in any process.

The fifth food on the super food list in the high cholesterol diet is soy. Soy products serve as a really good substitute for animal products. Many now do not recommend soy as a part of the high cholesterol diet because while it does lower LDL, the effect is not great enough for soy to be essential. None the less, it can’t hurt.

It is important to note that fruits and vegetables can be eaten as part of the high cholesterol diet as well. Also, it is essential to know that part of the reason the above super foods are affective is because they are eaten in combination with one another.

The five super foods as well as fruits and vegetables, can help to lower cholesterol to a greater degree.

This is of the utmost importance when engaging in the high cholesterol diet, intended to lower LDL cholesterol, the bad cholesterol, and raise HDL cholesterol, the good cholesterol.

Cholesterol Management: Lower Cholesterol Naturally, Cholesterol Lowering Diet

What is Cholesterol? What are the functions of Cholesterol? Is Cholesterol bad for our health?

Lipid or fat metabolism is a complex metabolism of our body. First common question is what exactly is cholesterol – it is a waxy fat like substance found in the blood stream and the cells of our body.
It is essential because the body uses it for tissue formation, metabolic function and also for production of certain hormones. While our body is usually able to produce the amount we need, the food we eat increases cholesterol levels in our body. When there is excess cholesterol in our system, it starts accumulating in our arteries. Over time cholesterol forms hardened plaques which can block arteries, disrupt blood flow to heart and other vital organs like brain resulting in heart attack and brain strokes.

What are the causes of high cholesterol? What are lipoproteins?

Improper diet, stressful lifestyles and lack of exercise increases bad cholesterol levels in blood. Statistics show that people older than 30 years old fall in high risk zone.
Since cholesterol is insoluble in water it doesn’t mix with blood – instead it binds itself with special proteins called lipoproteins, which then acts as vehicles for cholesterol.

There are four types of lipoproteins:

Chylomicrons
VLDL ( Very Low Density Lipoprotein)
LDL (Low density Lipoprotein)
HDL (High density protein)

What are LDL and HDL? What is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol?

LDL carries cholesterol from liver to the organs that need it and unloads it there. If there is excess LDL cholesterol, it accumulates in wall of major arteries causing blockage. That is why LDL is also referred to bad cholesterol.
HDL- does the opposite. It behaves like a sweeping vehicle; picks up unused cholesterol from blood vessels and take it back to the liver for disposal. That is why HDL is also called as good cholesterol. But even low levels of HDL also increase this risk of coronary heart disease.

How do I check Cholesterol levels? What foods help lower cholesterol naturally?

To know cholesterol levels you have to ask for a blood test called as “lipid profile”. You have to give a fasting blood sample for the lipid test.

How Do I Prevent High Levels of Cholesterol? What diet and treatment help me reduce high cholesterol levels?

Diet- calorie restriction, reduction of saturated fats and replacement with unsaturated fats (vegetable) oils. Increase in carbohydrate content to about 55%.
Weight reduction, if obese.
Exercise: Daily Brisk Walks, Yoga.
Increase in fiber content – found for e.g. in apples, oats and vegetables like broccoli. These are soluble fibers which help bring down cholesterol levels.
Avoid Butter, processed butter, hydrogenated oil, palm and coconut oil, whole milk and dairy products, meat or chicken, coffee, cream and ice-cream. But mustard oil, fish fat can be taken.
Also dried beans, peas, pulses, chicken breast, lean meat, low fat dairy products, green leafy vegetables and salads to be taken.
Modification of life style – discontinue smoking and alcohol can help you in achieving a healthy cholesterol regulated state.

More natural home remedies for reducing high cholesterol levels

Garlic is one of the most useful home remedy in this condition. It is useful as preventive as well as curative measure. Many researchers confirm these benefits.
Take 5 gms of raw garlic cloves, remove the outer layers and the inside pedicels and soak in 50ml butter milk for 6 hrs.
Then wash and put them in 200 ml of milk. Boil the milk till ¼ of the quantity approx (i.e. 50 ml) is remaining. Filter it and add some sugar if one is not a diabetic and consume as a single dose at bed time daily.

These tips for keeping a healthy cholesterol level are just starters, you need to make sure you contact your doctor for detailed treatment if you have high cholesterol levels so you can avoid health complications later.