High Cholesterol Diet

A high cholesterol diet can lead to high blood cholesterol. Making dietary changes can help reduce or control cholesterol levels. A diet for people with high cholesterol focuses on plant-based products -- such as vegetables and legumes -- while cutting back on animal-based products. While changing from a high cholesterol diet to a healthier eating plan is not always easy, it can offer many health benefits.

 

High Cholesterol Diet: An Introduction

For people with
 high cholesterol, dietary changes can improve blood cholesterol levels. Many people with elevated cholesterol levels also have a high cholesterol diet. Health experts recommend a low cholesterol diet to treat people with high cholesterol. A low cholesterol diet is an eating plan that is low in saturated fat and low in cholesterol. A low cholesterol diet should meet the following criteria:
 
  • Saturated fat intake -- less than 7 percent of daily calories
  • Total fat intake -- 25 to 35 percent of the day's total calories
  • Salt intake -- less than 2,400 mg per day
  • Dietary cholesterol -- less than 200 mg per day.
     
A low cholesterol diet also promotes:
 
  • Eating only enough calories to maintain a healthy weight
  • Increasing the amount of soluble fiber in your diet from sources such as oatmeal, kidney beans, and apples
  • Adding cholesterol-lowering foods to your diet, such as margarines containing plant stanols or plant sterols.
     
(High Cholesterol Diet Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD