About Low Cholesterol Heart Healthy Diets

Following a heart-healthy diet is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of heart disease. By eating heart-healthy foods, you can lower your blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure, and body weight. The key to success if focusing on what you can eat rather than depriving yourself.

Benefits

Low cholesterol, heart healthy diets prevent blocked arteries, which lead to heart disease. In fact, a good diet combined with other lifestyle changes can reverse the progression of heart disease.

Misconceptions

Most people focus on what they can't eat when planning a heart healthy diet but the truth is that a low cholesterol heart healthy diet can be versatile and delicious. Focus on what foods are available to you and try adding as much of those heart healthy foods into your diet as possible.

Prevention/Solution

The foods most important in preventing and treating heart disease are fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.

Considerations

Protein-rich foods such as meat and dairy products can put you at high risk of developing heart disease. As a preventive step, get your protein from a variety of sources including lean meats, soy, quinoa, and low fat dairy products. Avoid protein sources that are high in fat.

Warning

Limit your consumption of dietary cholesterol to prevent your blood cholesterol level from rising. Avoid trans-fatty acids and saturated fats. Instead, try to eat more foods that contain monosaturated fat, such as olive oil and avocados. To keep your blood pressure under control, reduce your salt intake.

Additional Tips

To prevent overeating, don't skip meals and drink at least one to two liters of water each day. Exercise daily to keep your weight and blood sugar level under control.