High Cholesterol Diet

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

Cholesterol Diet-Overview

High Cholesterol Diet: An Introduction

For people with

high cholesterol, making a few 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. This eating plan is low in saturated fat and low in cholesterol. It 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)