What is a Low Cholesterol Diet?

The low cholesterol diet is good not only for those who have high cholesterol, but also good for people with normal cholesterol level. It can lower your weight and keep you fit.

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Low Cholesterol Diet, The Therapeutic Lifestyle Diet

If your cholesterol is high, you should eat low cholesterol foods and follow a low cholesterol diet. The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) has suggested the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) diet. Following a low cholesterol diet and doing regular exercise can bring your total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol level to healthy limits.

The low cholesterol diet prescribed in the TLC program is basically a low fat, low cholesterol diet. You may follow a TLC diet if your LDL cholesterol is above the recommended cholesterol levels.

The TLC Diet Guidelines

1. 25-35% or less of the day's total calories from fat. Low-fat diets are more effective in keeping a healthy cardiovascular system.
2. Less than 7% of the day's total calories from saturated fat.
3. Less than 200 milligram of dietary cholesterol a day.
4. Less than 2400 milligram sodium a day.
5. Just enough calories to achieve or maintain a healthy weight and reduce blood cholesterol level. (Ask your doctor or a registered dietitian what is a reason able calorie level for you.)
6. Soluble fiber foods may be increased in the diet if LDL is not lowered enough by reducing saturated fat and cholesterol in diet.

The low cholesterol diet or TLC diet needs you to do the following:

1. Avoid foods high in saturated fats such as egg yolks, full-fat dairy products, deep fried foods, liver and other organ meats, sausage, hot dogs, bologna, salami and fatty and untrimmed red meats. Eat foods low in saturated fat, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grain foods and fat free dairy products. If you are a meat eater, then eat lean meats, fish and shellfish and skinless poultry.
2. Do not eat deep fried foods. Bake, microwave, broil, poach, grill, roast, sauté or lightly stir fry your food. You should know ways how to avoid fat in cooking.
3. Choose vegetable a cooking oil that is high in unsaturated fats. Always select the best cooking oil.
4. Eat foods high in fiber, specially high soluble fiber foods.
5. You should remain physically active. Exercise and fitness go hand-in-hand.

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