Most cholesterol in the diet comes from animal sources, such as meat, poultry, fish and dairy. Vegetables and fruits, such as dates, don't contain cholesterol, but they may help a bit to bring cholesterol levels down. If your cholesterol level is high, you may be at greater risk of developing heart disease. There are usually no symptoms of high cholesterol, but your levels can be checked with a simple blood test.
Cholesterol
You need some cholesterol to keep your body running properly, but if you have too much of this waxy, fat-like substance, it can stick to the walls of your arteries. Over time, this plaque buildup can narrow arteries or cause blockages. Blood tests check for different types of cholesterol. High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, picks up excess cholesterol and carries it back to your liver. It's known as "good" cholesterol. Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, can build up and make arteries hard and narrow. That's why it's known as "bad" cholesterol. Very-low-density lipoprotein, or VLDL, contains the most triglycerides, which make LDL cholesterol larger in size and cause narrowing of blood vessels.
Treatments
There are a number of different prescription drugs available to treat high cholesterol and high triglycerides, but doctors are likely to recommend lifestyle changes, too. Your health provider may recommend more exercise, weight loss and some changes to your diet. MayoClinic.com lists five top foods to help lower cholesterol, and high-fiber foods top the list. It recommends oatmeal, oat bran and the soluble fiber found in vegetables and fruits. MayoClinic.com notes that 5 to 10 or more grams of soluble fiber each day can decrease your total and LDL cholesterol.
Dates
A serving of five dates can help you the reach the USDA's recommended five-a-day count of fruits and vegetables while adding fiber to your diet. A serving of five dates contains 3.3 g of total dietary fiber, which is similar to the fiber content in an apple, a banana or a 1 cup of strawberries. However, most of the fiber in dates is in the form of insoluble fiber, which may help prevent constipation, colon cancer and diverticular disease, as well as help slow the absorption of glucose.
Warning
If you're worried about your cholesterol, check with your doctor about the right diet for you. While dates can add fiber to your diet, they also add carbohydrates and calories, about 24 per date. Excess weight can contribute to high cholesterol, so if you're trying to watch your calories, there are other fruits and vegetables that can provide more fiber and fewer calories per serving.
References
- MayoClinic.com; High Cholesterol; June 2011
- California Date Administrative Committee: Dates Are Great Nutrition
- MedlinePlus: Cholesterol
- Colorado State University Extension; Dietary Fiber; J. Anderson, et al.; December 2010
- Tufts University Nutrition/Infection Unit; Fiber; March 2002
- MayoClinic.com; Cholesterol: Top 5 Foods to Lower Your Numbers; May 2010
