The body produces blood cholesterol necessary for making cells and others substances essential for functioning. Excess cholesterol, which can lead to heart disease, accumulates from dietary cholesterol. Choosing the right foods reduces cholesterol intake and can lower cholesterol levels. Finding the diet that fits your needs provides nutritious and tasty meals that avoid excess dietary cholesterol.
Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes
The therapeutic lifestyle changes or TLC diet includes foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol to lower blood cholesterol levels, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Daily recommendations for the diet include 5 oz. of lean meat, poultry or fish and ½ cup of dry peas or beans, two to three servings of a cup of fat free or 1 percent milk or a cup of nonfat or low-fat yogurt, and six to eight servings of fats and oils that include a teaspoon of soft margarine or vegetable oil, 1 tbsp. of salad dressing or 1 oz. of nuts. The diet also includes two to four servings of fruits and three to five servings of vegetables a day. Six to 11 servings of breads, cereals, pasta, rice and other grains a day include serving sizes of a slice of bread, an ounce of dry cereal and ½ cup of cooked cereal, potatoes, pasta or rice. Two yolks of a whole egg are allowed or unlimited egg whites and egg substitutes. You can have sweets and snacks now and then.
Low Cholesterol Diet
Low cholesterol diets include lean meats with minimal marbling with excess fat trimmed away, according to Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology. Broiling or grilling meats about the size of a deck of cards provides healthy benefits. Choose chicken and turkey without the skin. Avoid fatty meats, such as corned beef, ham, bacon, luncheon meats, sausage, hot dogs, organ meats and processed poultry. Eat fish at least three times a week. Swordfish, mackerel, albacore tuna, salmon, walleye and blue fish have high amounts of healthy fish oils to help lower cholesterol. Avoid deep fried or sautéed seafood. Stick to egg whites or low cholesterol egg substitutes. Eat low-fat cottage cheese, mozzarella or Swiss cheese. Stay away from cheeses high in saturated fat. Focus on low-fat or fat-free milk products. Get plenty of grains and complex carbohydrates from oat cereals low in saturated fat. Whole grain breads and rolls provide low-cholesterol benefits. Enjoy fresh, frozen or canned fruits and vegetables without high sodium content or packed in syrup when canned. Nuts, seeds and avocado have healthy unsaturated fats. Olive, canola and peanut oils contain heart-healthy monounsaturated fats.
Vegetarian Diets
Vegetarian diets usually contain no fat or low amounts of fat from animal products, the American Heart Association notes. The diets have lower cholesterol and saturated fat contents. If you choose a vegetarian diet, make sure you get enough nutrients. Protein often comes from animal products, but plant foods contain amino acids necessary to build protein in the body. Whole grains, vegetables, seeds, nuts and legumes have plenty of amino acids. Soy protein may equal the protein in animal foods. Essential vitamins include vitamin B12, found in fortified breakfast cereals, soy drinks and brewer's yeast. Vitamin supplements can work to add vitamin B12 or vitamin D if you do not get enough sunlight, which provides the D vitamin. Good sources of iron minerals include dried beans, spinach and dried fruit. Spinach, kale, broccoli and soybean products offer calcium. Grains, nuts and legumes provide you with zinc.
