Eating a diet high in saturated fats and dietary cholesterol increases your risk of developing heart disease. High levels of LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, can lead to clogged arteries, which in turn force your heart to work overtime to pump blood through narrowed vessels. Diets to lower cholesterol focus on restricting or eliminating unhealthy foods, while increasing consumption of nutritious foods that do not increase cholesterol levels. The "Gale Encyclopedia of Diets: A Guide to Health and Nutrition" suggests following a cholesterol-lowering diet in combination with your doctor's recommended treatment plan.
Cholesterol's Role in Your Body
Cholesterol is smooth, waxy and nearly white in color. Every cell in your body contains cholesterol, and this vital substance boosts mental performance, helps cell recovery, regulates blood sugar, builds strong bones and protects muscle. Cholesterol also aids in digestion and helps protect you from infectious disease, according to the "Gale Encyclopedia."
High Cholesterol Levels
While your body produces a small amount of cholesterol, eating saturated fats and foods high in cholesterol can raise LDL to dangerous levels. Cholesterol does not dissolve in your blood, so excess amounts can accumulate in your arteries, leading to atherosclerosis, or the formation of plaque, which reduces blood circulation.
Diets
The American Heart Association recommends the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes, or TLC, diet for those wanting to lower their cholesterol levels. The TLC diet limits dietary cholesterol and fats and encourages eating high-fiber, whole-grain products, fruits and vegetables.
According to the AHA, a vegetarian diet may also be beneficial in lowering high cholesterol. Since most saturated fats come from meats, substituting vegetable sources of protein for meat in the diet may reduce LDL blood cholesterol.
Benefits
Following a cholesterol-lowering diet may help you shed extra pounds, which is also beneficial in reducing your cholesterol levels, according to MayoClinic.com. When cholesterol levels drop, so does the risk of suffering a heart attack or a stroke.
Considerations
Diet is a vital part of controlling cholesterol, but it does not eliminate the need for a doctor's ongoing care and medication. Vegetarians may need a multivitamin to ensure that they are getting enough calcium, zinc, iron and vitamins B-12 and D.
References
- American Heart Association: Step I, Step II and TLC Diets
- American Heart Association: Vegetarian Diets
- MayoClinic.com: High Cholesterol Lifestyle and Home Remedies
- "The Gale Encyclopedia of Diets: A Guide to Health and Nutrition"; Jacqueline L. Longe; 2008
