Cholesterol Rules of Thumb

A proper, well balanced diet is vital for staying healthy, keeping in shape and maintaining your cholesterol. If you happen to have high cholesterol levels, it is important to know which foods out there can help you lower it. Bad cholesterol can build up in the arteries and restrict blood flow. If the restriction becomes severe there is a strong risk for a stroke or a heart attack to happen. Choosing a healthy lifestyle could mean a second chance at life for people who have at risk levels of cholesterol.  Choosing a diet rich in foods that promote well being by reducing cholesterol can help you overcome many heart  related problems.

More fiber, less sugar, lesser fat

The first rule of thumb for people trying to tackle their high cholesterol is to eat more foods that are rich in fiber. Good sources for fiber are those vegetables that you like to leave on your dinner plate. Broccoli, cauliflower, potato skins, and celery are all especially rich in fiber. The second and third rules of thumb involve what you should not eat. Foods that are high in sugar should be avoided as well as foods that are high in saturated fat. Processed foods are the poster children for foods that happen to be high in both sugar and saturated fats and should be avoided at all costs.

Oatmeal

Eating oatmeal is one of the best things that you can do, if you are looking to reduce your cholesterol, Oatmeal has and always will be one of the best ways to lower your cholesterol and it is important to include it into your meal schedule. If oatmeal in the morning is not your thing, try oatmeal cookies for a delicious snack or find ways to include it into other recipes such as adding it to meatloaf in lieu of crackers or bread crumbs. Aside from oats, other cereal grains are also laden with cholesterol lowering fiber as long as they are of the wholegrain variety. Eating fresh fruit throughout the day can also help lower your cholesterol. Make sure to at least three half cup servings of fruit a day.

Animal products

Animal products are a major source of cholesterol and limiting them, especially the very fatty ones, is a good way to help reduce your cholesterol. Minimize your consumption of pork, beef, dairy and cheese and altogether avoid food that has been fried in animal fat and processed meats like burgers, hotdogs, sausages, and prepackaged lunch meat. As for dairy products, drink only skim or low fat milk, and use fat free cheese, yogurt and sour cream.

Genetics

It is also important to know that our own bodies play a part in the production of cholesterol and some people are more predisposed to have high cholesterol than others. It is important to know your own risk factors and to be extra careful about your lifestyle if high cholesterol runs in the family.

Supplements

Certain supplements can also help in lowering your cholesterol and even help reduce releince upon prescription drugs. Red yeast rice is a example of a supplement that you can add to your food to help lower your cholesterol. Some studies have found that red yeast rice can lead to as much as a 40% reduction in cholesterol levels.

Eating the right foods, not eating the wrong foods and getting plenty of exercise can help lower your cholesterol and give you a longer and healthier life to live.