There are several diet plans that specifically target cholesterol and heart disease, most of them devised by physicians who work trying to reduce cholesterol and reverse heart disease in patients. Losing weight alone will usually lower cholesterol, but, according to an article at MayoClinic.com, what you eat can also play a role in lowering your numbers. Five foods to consider adding to any cholesterol-lowering eating plan are oat bran, fish high in Omega-3 fatty acids, olive oil, nuts such as walnuts or almonds and foods fortified with plant sterols such as orange juice.
Eat More, Weigh Less
Cardiologist Dean Ornish devised this eating plan to help patients reverse blockages in their hearts and to lower cholesterol. It is basically a vegetarian diet with no animal products. He does not suggest portion sizes, but allows patients to eat until they feel full. Allowed on the plan are beans, fruits, vegetables and grains. Dieters may eat nonfat dairy products including skim milk and nonfat commercially prepared products in moderation. Dieters must avoid most oils--including olive oil--and may eat no commercially prepared food with more than 2g of fat per serving.
The Hawaii Diet
The Hawaii Diet was created by nutritionist and medical doctor Terry Shintani in 1999 and is based on his nutrition-related disease practice. The diet is very low in fat and based on Shintani's Mass Index of Food--called the SMI--which rates foods based on the weight of food it would take to fill a day's worth of calories. For instance lettuce would have a very high SMI because it would take many pounds of lettuce to equal a 2,000 calorie diet. Butter would have a very low SMI and should be avoided. The diet encourages high SMI foods, which tend to be vegetables and fruits while limiting meats and fats. Shintani developed The Hawaii Diet from his version of an Eat More, Weigh Less diet which was similar to Ornish's, but allowed some fish.
Pritikin Program
The Pritikin Program is based on the work of diet and longevity expert Nathan Pritikin, updated by his son Robert. Using a food exchange program dieters eat a menu heavy on unrefined carbohydrates such as yams and oats and very light on fat. Protein is most often in the form of fish and nonfat dairy choices are available. Pritikin dieters may also eat a few nuts to get their one daily protein serving.
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