The Atkins Diet is characterized by eating foods that are high in protein and low in carbs. By following this diet, your body goes into a state of ketosis where it burns stored fat for energy. The drawback of the Atkins Diet is that a lot of high-protein foods are also high in saturated fat, which can elevate cholesterol levels. By making several changes, you can still follow the Atkins Diet and lower your cholesterol.
Step 1
Choose the right type of meats. Red meat, ribs, wings, sausage, hot dogs, ham and dark meat poultry are all high in protein and saturated fat. Choose lean beef, chicken and turkey breasts with no skin, pork tenderloins, bison and venison instead. These meats all have the same high-protein content of the other types of meat, but without the added fat.
Step 2
Include eggs in your diet. For most people, only a small amount of the cholesterol in food passes into the blood, according to the Harvard Medical School. Not only are eggs high in protein, but they are low in carbs. They also contain choline, which is good for memory. Keep your intake to one egg with yolk per day, or use the whites or egg substitutes that you can find in cartons at the grocery store.
Step 3
Watch your intake of cheese. Cheese is high in protein and low in carbs, but it is also high in saturated fat. Seek out low-fat varieties, and eat it in moderate amounts.
Step 4
Eat fish two times a week for dinner. Select cold water fish, which is high in omega-3 fatty acids. Not only do omega-3 fatty acids reduce triglycerides and blood pressure, but they also decrease the growth rate of plaque in the arteries, according to the American Heart Association. Herring, mackerel, halibut, salmon, sardines and albacore tuna are all high in omega-3s.
Step 5
Stock up on vegetables. With the exception of corn, potatoes, yams and sweet potatoes, all vegetables are low in carbs, high in vitamins and minerals, and low in saturated fat. Add vegetables, such as leafy greens, asparagus, sprouts, broccoli, tomatoes and celery, to your diet.
Step 6
Add olive oil to your diet. Use it to cook with, drizzle it over your salad, make dips and saute vegetables in it. Not only is olive oil acceptable on the Atkins Diet, but it also offers benefits to cholesterol. It contains a potent mix of antioxidants that can lower your "bad" cholesterol but leave your "good" cholesterol untouched, according to MayoClinic.com. It also contains zero grams of carbs.
