The TLC Diet is also known as the therapeutic lifestyle changes diet. It was introduced by the National Cholesterol Education Program, or NCEP, as part of an effort to help people lower their low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, blood cholesterol, which is also known as bad cholesterol. The TLC Diet is part of the three-part therapeutic lifestyle changes program. The other two parts of the program involve weight management and physical activity.
Considerations
You may be a candidate for the TLC Diet if you are susceptible to heart disease because you have a risky bad cholesterol level and other major risk factors that affect your bad cholesterol, according to "High Blood Cholesterol," an NCEP report. The risk factors include cigarette smoking, blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg, family members who had "early" heart disease, a good or high-density lipoprotein, HDL, cholesterol level less than 40 mg/dL and your age -- at least 45 if you're a man and at least 55 if you're a woman.
Categories
TLC dieters are in four categories. You need to reduce your bad cholesterol below 100 mg/dL if you're in the highest risk category, below 130 mg/dL if you're in the two moderate risk categories and below 160 mg/dL if you're in the lowest risk category. Your category depends primarily on the chance that you will have a heart attack in the next 10 years -- an assessment that is based mostly on the number of risk factors you have. You can go off the TLC Diet if your bad cholesterol falls below your category's standard.
Features
"Your Guide to Lowering Your Cholesterol With TLC," a U.S. government report, lists the TLC Diet's features. They include eating less than 200 mg of dietary cholesterol daily, getting less than 25 to 35 percent of your calories from fat and less than 7 percent of your calories from saturated fat, and eating 10 to 25 g of soluble fiber and 2 g of plant stanols or sterols daily. You should also limit your calories so you can "reach or maintain a healthy weight." Body mass index charts list healthy weights.
Expert Advice
Saturated fat and dietary cholesterol increase heart-attack risks, according to the "Lowering Your Cholesterol" report. The report says TLC dieters can eat less saturated fat and dietary cholesterol by limiting their consumption of poultry with skin, vegetable oils, butter, cream, cheese, egg yolks, luncheon meats and fatty cuts of meat. The NCEP report says TLC dieters can limit saturated fat by eating a lot of fat-free or 1-percent dairy foods, fish, fruits, lean meats, skinless poultry, soft margarines, vegetables and whole-grain foods.
Sources
TLC dieters can reduce their bad cholesterol by eating lots of soluble fiber. The "Lowering Your Cholesterol" report recommends whole-grain cereals, fruits, legumes and vegetables. Its recommended cereals include barley, oatmeal and oat bran. Its recommended fruits include apples, bananas, blackberries, grapefruit, oranges, peaches and prunes. Its recommended legumes include kidney, lima and Navy beans. Its recommended vegetables include broccoli, Brussels sprouts and carrots. In addition, orange juice is an excellent source of stanols and sterols.
References
- National Cholesterol Education Program: High Blood Cholesterol
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Your Guide to Lowering Your Cholesterol With TLC
- "Controlling Cholesterol The Natural Way;" Dr. Kenneth Cooper and William Proctor; 1999
- "Dr. Dean Ornish's Program For Reversing Heart Disease;" Dr. Dean Ornish; 1996
- "The 8-Week Cholesterol Cure;" Robert E. Kowalski; 2004
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