|
Advice to reduce cholesterol Cholesterol is a fat-related substance, which though essential for you, is very bad in excessive quantities. Cholesterol is produced by your body naturally and helps in cell building and hormone production. It can also be found in foods that are of animal origin and it is recommended that you keep intake of such foods to a minimum. Serum cholesterol is in the blood stream and is further divided into high-density cholesterol (HDL) and low-density cholesterol (LDL). Ensure that you consume an adequate amount of HDL because it helps keep your arteries clean. You should avoid low-density cholesterol because this is what blocks and clogs the arteries, leading to heart trouble.
To control your cholesterol, you should start by watching your weight because the more overweight that you are, your body produces that much more cholesterol. Your diet should be made up in the majority by fruits, vegetables, grains, and cereals. Ensure that not more than 30% of your diet is composed of dairy products and red meats. You can include red meats in your diet provided that they have been trimmed of all the fat. To cook your food everyday, use olive oil instead. Olive oil is rich in mono-unsaturated fats and this is very beneficial for lowering your cholesterol. Beans contain a substance known as pectin which is very helpful in ridding your body of cholesterol. Corn bran, carrots, and oat bran are also very helpful in lowering your cholesterol levels.
|
