Millions of people need to change their diets to lower cholesterol. Eating too much saturated fat and cholesterol is the main reason for high cholesterol, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Choosing the right portions of healthy foods can reduce cholesterol levels and decrease your risk for heart disease.
Significance
There is a great need to lower blood cholesterol by adjusting diet. More than 102 million adults in the United States have cholesterol levels over 200 mg/dL, according to the American Heart Association. More than 35 million of these Americans have cholesterol over 240 mg/dL, putting them at significant risk for developing heart disease.
Features
Diet plays a large role in the treatment of high blood cholesterol levels. A cholesterol patient should avoid foods containing saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol. A diet high in fiber is especially helpful in reducing cholesterol levels. Soluble fiber, like that found in oatmeal and bananas, reduces cholesterol by increasing the amount of "good cholesterol" in the blood. A diet for cholesterol patients includes fish high in omega-3 fatty acids once to twice a week. Reduce portion sizes to avoid consuming excess calories and encourage weight loss.
Function
A diet high in saturated fat and dietary cholesterol raises the amount of cholesterol in the blood. Foods that come from animals, such as meat, eggs and dairy, are sources of saturated fats. Cholesterol comes only from animal products. Trans fat is an unhealthy, man-made fat found in many commercially baked products, such as doughnuts and cakes. Excess cholesterol builds up in the bloodstream, accumulating along the interior walls of blood vessels, which leads to heart disease.
Effects
A healthy diet will reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood to reduce the amount of cholesterol accumulating inside arteries. If left unchecked, this accumulation can harden arteries and prevent blood from flowing properly through the veins. Tissues and vital organs, such as the heart, brain and kidneys may not get the oxygen-rich blood they require to function. You may experience chest pains or even a heart attack if blood is prevented from reaching the muscles of your heart
Considerations
While diet is very important in controlling cholesterol, a patient may not be able to reduce his cholesterol with diet alone. His doctor may recommend he increase his activity level, quit smoking and lose weight. His physician may also prescribe medication to reduce his cholesterol even further.
