7 Best Tips To Control Cholesterol
1. Cut Back On Animal Fats
Forgo fatty, processed meats such as bologna, salami, pepperoni, and hot dogs, as well as fatty red meats like ribs and prime cuts of beef, pork, veal, or lamb.
Also, skip skin-on chicken or turkey. Avoid full-fat dairy products such as whole milk, cheese, cream, sour cream, cream cheese, and butter.
These foods contain saturated fat as well as cholesterol, which are both associated with higher blood cholesterol and plaque build-up.
2. Make Friends With Fiber
Specifically, get friendly with foods high in soluble fiber. In the gut, soluble fiber can bind to bile (which is made up of cholesterol) and remove it.
Look for soluble fiber in oats, oat bran, ground flaxseed, psyllium, barley, dried beans and legumes, fruits, and whole-grain cereals.
3. Go Veggie
Choose at least one meatless meal per week. Substitute animal protein (meat, poultry, fish, eggs, cheese) for plant-based protein such as beans, tofu or quinoa.
Try these plant-based proteins in salad, soup, stir fry, or a burrito to decrease your saturated fat intake and increase your fiber intake.
If you enjoy meatless meals, try to go meatless for one day per week!
4. Be Mindful Of Carbs
Research shows that following a low-carb eating plan can help you lose weight and reduce cardiovascular risk factors.
Choose high-fiber carbohydrates like oatmeal, whole grain starches, beans, lentils and whole fruit, which will provide the energy you need but also keep you feeling full.
The key is to watch your portions — aim for no more than about 1 cup of starch and/or fruit with meals. Also, fill up on vegetables which are low in calories and high in fiber.
5. Lose Weight (If You Need To)
If you’re overweight or obese, shed the extra pounds. Weight loss helps lower LDL cholesterol. Even a small-to-moderate weight loss — just 10 to 20 pounds — can make an impact.
Start by decreasing your portion sizes. Aim to fill half your plate with non-starchy vegetables, one-fourth of it with a whole-grain starch and the other one-fourth with lean protein.
Avoid drinking your calories, too. Instead, choose zero-calorie beverages as your primary fluid source. Be mindful of your hunger levels to limit extra calories from mindless snacking.
6. Move More
Work up to 90 minutes of cardiovascular exercise per day for optimum heart health and weight loss.
Cardiovascular exercise means any activity that uses large muscles repetitively and increases the heart rate — think walking, cycling, rowing, using the elliptical and swimming.
If you find 90 minutes daunting, start with 30 minutes and work your way up a little at a time. For some people, 45 to 60 minutes of cardiovascular exercise is enough.
7. Make It A Habit
Consistency is the key. Work out regularly and you’ll watch your triglyceride levels drop. Triglycerides are the only lipid in the cholesterol profile used for energy.
They decrease an average of 24 percent with regular cardiovascular exercise.