Millions of Americans need guidance to change their diet and reduce their blood cholesterol levels. More than 102 million Americans had high cholesterol in 2010, and more than 35 million of these people had levels high enough to put them at risk for coronary disease. Every 1 percent drop in your cholesterol reduces your risk for heart disease by 2 percent, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Function
The function of a low-cholesterol diet is to lower the amount of cholesterol in your blood. Excess cholesterol and other fatty substances accumulate in the bloodstream and build up inside the walls of your blood vessels. This condition, known as atherosclerosis, injures arteries, causes inflammation and prevents blood from flowing efficiently through your veins. Atherosclerosis may prevent blood from flowing to the muscles of the heart, resulting in chest pain or even heart attack.
Features
The focus of a cholesterol diet is to lower daily intake of fat and cholesterol and increase the amount of foods known to be beneficial to heart health. Animal products, such as eggs, meat and dairy, contain saturated fat and dietary cholesterol. Many animal products have healthy substitutes available. Vegetables, fruits, whole grains and nuts are healthy for your heart, as are some types of fish. A cholesterol diet is low in calories because obesity is a risk factor for high cholesterol and for the development of heart disease.
Guide
A healthy person should consume less than 300 mg of cholesterol per day. A person with heart disease should aim for less than 200 mg daily. Fat should contribute 25 to 35 percent of your day's caloric intake, with saturated fat limited to 7 percent of your daily calories. Trans fats are unhealthy and should account for less than 1 percent of your calories.
Food
Trade in fatty meat for healthier alternatives like lean cuts, skinless chicken and vegetarian meals. Choose cold water fish, like salmon and mackerel, high in omega-3 fatty acids. Inuit Eskimos have a low incidence of heart disease despite their high fat intake because they consume large amounts of these fish. You can take omega-3 supplements if you don't like fish. Make vegetables the focus of meals, relegating meat to a side dish. Vegetables, fruits, whole grains and nuts are high in fiber and beneficial to heart health. Choose olive or canola oil instead of shortening. Use tub margarine fortified with plant sterols and stanols, which has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels, instead of butter.
