Low Cholesterol Diet

A low cholesterol diet should focus on increasing plant-based products -- such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes -- while cutting back on animal-based products and certain fats, such as saturated fats and trans fats. A person on a low cholesterol diet should be eating at least 3 to 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.

 

Low Cholesterol Diet: An Overview

Health experts recommend a low cholesterol diet in order to lower or maintain cholesterol levels. Such a diet emphasizes an eating plan low in saturated fat and cholesterol. In most cases, a low cholesterol diet should meet the following criteria:
 
  • Saturated fat intake -- Less than 7 percent of daily calories
  • Total fat intake -- 25 percent 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.
     

Nutrition Strategies for a Low Cholesterol Diet

When considering a low cholesterol diet, there are two important factors to keep in mind:
 
 
  • Cholesterol is only found in animal-based foods, such as meats and dairy products
  • Certain fats have also been shown to increase cholesterol, regardless of whether they came from an animal.
     
Given these factors, a low cholesterol diet should focus on:
 
  • Eating more foods with no cholesterol (plant-based products)
  • Cutting back on foods from animals
  • Decreasing saturated fat and trans fat.
     
(Low Cholesterol Diet Continued: Page 2)
Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD