Low
Cholesterol Diet Menus can be Tasty as well as
Healthy
When some hear the words, “low fat” or “low
cholesterol,” they automatically think of a bland and boring diet
plan. Fortunately for all of us who are interested in maintaining
healthy bodies, this idea that tasteless equals boring is not even
remotely accurate. You can find many low cholesterol diet
menus that offer tasty dishes made up of interesting foods
and spices. The important thing to remember if you are checking out
low cholesterol diet menus is to find some foods that you enjoy
eating, because this will make it much easier to stick with your
nutrition plan.
Foods
to Include in your Low Cholesterol Diet Menu
A low
cholesterol diet menu will include foods that are low in
fat as well as sodium. Sometimes modifying your diet will mean
giving up certain foods that are simply not going to fit in a low
cholesterol diet menu, but it also means making substitutions of
low fat choices over the foods that are higher in fat. For example,
you can switch your whole milk dairy products with skim milk and
low fat varieties. Change your red meat dishes to those containing
lean meats like fish and poultry. You can also replace some of the
meat in your diet with a vegetarian dish that uses beans as the
bulk of the recipe. You will be losing fat and gaining fiber – it’s
a win, win!
A low cholesterol diet menu should include
plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish and
beans. Oats are a good source of grain in a low cholesterol diet
menu, so feel free to enjoy a hot bowl of oatmeal every morning.
You can also include foods like nuts and flaxseeds, along with
common cooking oils like sunflower and safflower. You can enjoy
some meats in this diet plan, as long as they are lean cuts of beef
and poultry without the skin.
Foods
to Avoid in your Low Cholesterol Diet Menu
Yes, there are some “no-no’s” in a menu for a
low cholesterol diet. Foods that are high in saturated fats will
not only raise your cholesterol levels, they will pack on the
pounds as well. Studies show that people that are overweight tend
to have higher cholesterol levels. To maintain your healthy diet
and weight, avoid processed meats like bologna, sausage and hot
dogs. You should also stay away from dairy products that are made
with whole milk, opting instead for selections of the low fat
variety. Most processed and snack foods are high in saturated fats,
such as chips, candy bars and most items from the bakery shelves.
The good news is that if you fill your diet with tasty and healthy
fare, you will eventually lose your taste for some of these less
healthy, processed foods.
If your cholesterol is on the high side, why
don’t you try a low cholesterol diet menu to offer
yourself a healthy alternative to the high fat foods that most of
us fill our pantries with? You might be surprised at how much
better you feel, and your doctor will most definitely be happy to
see your cholesterol numbers drop.
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