Today, more and more people suffer from high cholesterol and obesity due to improper food intake, unbalanced diet, and unhealthy lifestyle. Whatever the reasons behind the certain condition such as having high blood cholesterol level, the first treatment any physician will recommend is a low cholesterol diet.

A Guide to Low Cholesterol and Cholesterol Diets

As defined, cholesterol is a complex alcohol constituent of all animals fats and oils. It is a sterol that is related to other sterols and is contained in many foods such as dairy products and meat fats. Other sources of cholesterol include eggs, poultry, fish, and shellfish.

Studies show that that people with high levels of cholesterol are more likely to develop heart attacks more specifically, atherosclerosis which is a disease involving blockage of certain arteries compared to those with lower levels.

Diet is indeed very significant in treating high blood cholesterol level. If you would want to lower your cholesterol levels, try eating foods that are less high-fat foodespecially those high in saturated fat while replacing part of the saturated fat in your diet with unsaturated fat. You should also eat less high-cholesterol foods.

Aside from veering away in eating high-fat foods, you should also learn how to choose foods that are high in complex carbohydrates like starches and fibers. By lowering your carbohydrate intake, you can also reduce your weight especially if you are overweight.

Although the basics of low cholesterol diet may seem easy to follow, more people who have high cholesterol are having a hard time sticking to a specific low cholesterol diet.

But, if the person is really determined to lower his/her cholesterol levels, a low cholesterol diet can be easy to follow given the wide variety of foods available. In fact, more and more food manufacturers come up with foods that have low cholesterol content so if you are out shopping grocery items, take the time off to look at the labels. Here are additional tips to make a low cholesterol diet successful:

1. Load on lots of fruits and vegetables because these are low in calories, cholesterol, and fat.

2. Lower your intake of saturated fatsor the foods that contain theseto lower the possibility of developing heart diseases.

3. Take note of trans-fatty elements that are usually found in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils like margarines and shortenings because they increases blood cholesterol levels the way saturated fat does.

4. Consume foods that use whole grain foods instead of those that contain white flour.

5. Compared regular, full-fat dairy products, opt for low fat or skimmed ones. These are not only good for your cholesterol level but also for your weight as well.

6. Choose lean meats like turkey and chicken meats instead of red meat because it is closely-associated with decreasing cholesterol levels.

7. Use olive and canola oils when cooking instead of using cooking oils because these are lower in monounsaturated fats that help lower cholesterol levels.

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The body needs cholesterol in order to build cell walls, digest dietary fats, produce hormones, and other important processes. Unfortunately, too much can give anyone high blood pressure and heart disease.

This means the individual has to be careful about the kind of food being taken in that has this chemical. One way will be to reduce eating items that are high in saturated fat such as those found in dairy products, poultry, egg yolks and red meat.

Another will be avoiding the kind of food being offered in fast food joints. The ingredients and oil used in the cooking have also been known to contain high levels of cholesterol that are not safe for the body.

The ideal way to maintain a low cholesterol diet is to eat products that are fat free like those made in dairy products. The person should also consume lean meat, fish, skinless poultry and whole grain foods.

The individual should also not forget to get some vitamins and nutrients from fresh fruits and green vegetables. These are better when combined with large quantities of monostaturates and olive oil.

The way to cook these products is also important. Instead of frying, the best way to reduce the cholesterol is to grill or roast the meat, boil or steam those vegetables or fish. The cooking time will surely be much slower than before so another way will be to use the microwave.

If ever the person needs to use cooking oil, it is best to use low fat oils that are available at the supermarket.

Another thing the individual should avoid is consuming products such as beer, wine and soda. It is okay to have a drink on occasion but living a healthier lifestyle will be achieved by only taking water and fresh juice from fruits.

A low cholesterol diet should also be combined with some form of exercise. This can be as simple as going for a morning stroll, jogging or running. The person can also hit the water if there is a pool nearby but if not, there is surely a gym so one can sweat it out.

The one in control of the persons well being is no other than that individual. This means it is matter of choice what food or drinks to buy in the grocery which is also the same when ordering a meal in the restaurant.

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Time and again, it has been said that weight loss is not just about dieting, rigorous exercise, or drastic cosmetic surgeries. But peoplebeing stubborn and not content beings they arenever listens. They continue to live the lifestyles that put their health to risk by trying out different means of losing weight without proper guidance from their healthcare providers.

LOW CARB DIET 101

Indeed, a lot has been said about various diets and how these work for some people. There s the Atkins Diet, the South Beach, the After-Six Diet plan and so on goes on the list of diet crazes that swept the western world and even Asian regions. Among all these, one type of diet has become popular than the othersits called the Low Carb Diet.

Basically, low carb diet actually emphasizes cutting down on from a persons daily food intake. This diet allows the dieter to take in all foods except those that have carbohydrates. Although there are many testimonies that prove that low carb diet really works, you must be very knowledgeable first about its pros and cons before deciding to go with the hype.

People who have tried low carb diets say that its advantages include:

1. Faster and quicker weight loss compared to fasting.

2. The diet may result to higher protein intake and absorption.

3. It stabilizes blood sugar levels and is extremely beneficial to those who suffer from diabetics.

Experts say that the disadvantages of low carb diets may include:

– High cholesterol levels due to the lack of protein-rich and fatty foods that has saturated fats.
– Increased blood pressure due to elimination of whole grains products that help lower blood pressure.
– It can lead to osteoporosis because there will be no enough supply of calcium.
– In some cases, this diet can lead to diarrhea, constipation, and severe headaches.
– Low carb diets increase the possibility of lower mental acuity.
– Instead of losing weight, this diet can lead to weight gain.
If you are planning on taking low carb diet, here are some helpful tips to keep you in track:

1. Make sure to drink lots of water to avoid dehydration and constipation.

2. Consider taking in more fiber and vitamin supplements.

3. Cease from consuming products that has sugar.

4. Cut down on taking in products that contain caffeine.

5. Monitor your daily carbohydrate intake.

6. Dont mind calories, they are allowed in this diet.

7. Acquire a carbohydrate counter to keep you updated.

8. Do regular physical activities and exercise to reach ketosis easily.

9. Brace yourself for diarrhea that may last for a couple of days.

10. If possible, avoid eating foods that have saturated fats.

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One of the pioneers of the diet revolution in the early part of 2000 is the Atkins Diet, a program created by cardiologist Dr. Robert Atkins for the patients of his private clinic. Because it is so very effective, the diet program has since evolved to include famous celebrities as part of its millions of followers.

The diet program is actually based on the book that Atkins published in 1999. Aptly titled, Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution, the book created a world-wide sensation with people taking in pros and cons position. Despite the opinions of his critics, the book became an overnight hit in bookstores nationwide. In fact, Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution topped the New York Times Bestsellers list, which is perhaps the most prestigious bestsellers book list in the country. What is more, it has stayed in the list for seven years. Truly a great fit for a diet book.

Atkins Diet Revolution is made up of seven chapters. It explains the basics of the diet program. It also contains tips on leading a healthy lifestyle in the 21st century as well as different recipes that dieters can whip up at home.

One of the advantages of the Atkins diet program is the fact that people are allowed to choose the food that they will eat and to prepare their meals themselves. This is less expensive than having foods delivered to you. Being able to choose the food that you will eat increases the will and commitment to stay into the program.

The diet is based on the rationale that taking in less carbohydrates in meals can help in the reduction of weight. This is because the water content in the body is flushed off when the body uses it as an alternative source of energy.

The same goes with the fat cells, which are temporarily used for energy in lieu of the missing carbohydrates. As you well know, both fats and carbohydrates are potential sources of energy. The body just prefers the carbohydrates as it can easily be burned as opposed to fats, which has a really complex structure.

Another advantage of the Atkins program is the fact that it is a very good diet for people with diabetes and a whole lot more. In fact, according to many dieticians, the Atkins Diet is the only diet that can prevent the incidence of high blood pressure and high cholesterol as well as obesity, which are all precursors of the Type 2 form of diabetes.

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