Low-Cholesterol Diet

A low-cholesterol diet is a balanced diet limiting food choices to only those with little or no cholesterol. This diet is planned so that cholesterol intake is no more than 300 mg per day. Because dietary fibers have been shown to have a cholesterol lowering effect, this is often prescribed.

This dietary management is good for Hypercholesterolemia, Atherosclerosis. A patient prescribed with low cholesterol diet will benefit from a vegetarian diet.

Note: Cholesterol is important to the body, but is not a dietary essential since the human body can produce its own cholesterol needs from carbohydrates, proteins and fats taken in through foods. In fact, “taking in cholesterol” from foods is not necessary because it often leads to hypercholesterolemia or increased blood level of cholesterol.

Cholesterol can only be found in animal sources. Plants do not produce it. Rich sources include egg yolk, fatty meats, internal organs, etc. Cholesterol usually abounds in fat of animal foods.

                                                                            

Some Tips for a Low-Cholesterol Diet

• Avoid foods high in cholesterol. This includes pork, shellfish, fat-rich dairy products, and internal organs such as heart, liver, kidney, brain, sweetbreads and animal fats. (For the Amount of Cholesterol Content in Foods See Cholesterol in Foods)

• Limit all cooked meat (lean meat, poultry) up to a maximum of 2 exchanges per day. Cut off fatty portions of meat.

• Use plant proteins (beans, nuts, legumes) as often as possible in place of meat. By nature, they do not contain cholesterol.

• Use sparingly polyunsaturated (liquid at room temperature) fats such as corn oil, soybean oil and peanut oil. These plant oils are cholesterol-free but are fat-rich.

• Avoid egg and egg products like leche flan (eggyolk/milk custard), rich cakes, and rich desserts. Use egg white only; only the yolk has cholesterol. A yolk contains an average of 240mg cholesterol.

• Boil, pan- or oven-broil, or bake food.

• Skim the fat off stews and soups. Avoid gravies.

• Eat fruits rather than rich desserts which are high in fats and “eggs”.

• Eat more fruits, vegetables, unrefined cereal (e.g. oatmeal and unpolished rice), nuts and grains. High fiber diet helps in lowering blood cholesterol.

• Drink 6 to 8 (at least) glasses of water daily in addition to fresh juices. Avoid milk shakes, chocolate drinks, coffee, tea, alcoholic beverages. See The Importance of Water.

• Keep a regular 3-meal-a-day schedule. Eat a heavy breakfast, a moderate lunch, and a light supper.

• Do not overeat.

Note: For List of Foods which are Allowed and Not Allowed for Low-Cholesterol Diet See Low-Cholesterol Diet Food Selection Guide 

Reference: Healing Wonders of Diet Effective Guide to Diet Therapy p.116-117 © 2003 Philippine Publishing House ISBN 971-581-013-6