Does a Cholesterol Diet sound confusing?

Does a Cholesterol Diet sound confusing?

At first it doesn’t seem quite right, doesn’t it? But is seems that what we have here is actually just a slight misnomer.

Makes you think that cholesterol diets advocates the eating of more cholesterol, but the opposite is actually the case. Cholesterol diets are intended to lower the cholesterol in the bloodstream. There are some cholesterol diets that lower the total cholesterol count, and other cholesterol diets that increase the so-called good cholesterol in the bloodstream so it can combat the bad cholesterol that is there. Cholesterol diets are occasionally supplemented by cholesterol-lowering drugs. Most of the people who take cholesterol-lowering drugs wish the drugs would supplant their need for cholesterol diets, but this is not usually the case.

Cholesterol diets usually restrict specific foods from the diet, or limit the ingestion of those foods. Foods that are usually limited or banned for people on cholesterol diets include dairy products, eggs, and, sadly, shellfish. It is sad to think that such delectable foods as crab, shrimp, and lobster are high in cholesterol, but these are cholesterol-rich foods that are generally forbidden to people who are on low cholesterol diets.

But what really is cholesterol and why do we need to go on a cholesterol diet? Cholesterol is a waxy fat that is present in all human beings. Two sources contribute to the amount of cholesterol in the human body. First, the liver manufactures about 80 percent of it. Second, people consume it by eating animal products such as meat, eggs and dairy products. Cholesterol is carried through the bloodstream by certain proteins (apolipoproteins). When these proteins wrap around cholesterol and other types of fats lipids to transport them through the bloodstream, the resulting “packages” are called lipoproteins. There are four different types of lipoproteins that carry cholesterol through the bloodstream:

High-density lipoproteins (HDL), or “good” cholesterol.

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol.

Very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), or "very bad" cholesterol.

Chylomicrons, which carry only a small percentage of cholesterol. Chylomicrons are mostly rich in another type of fat (lipid) called triglycerides.

So why do we need to be wary of cholesterol?

To be more specific, what we need to avoid are LDL/VLDL. High levels of LDL/VLDL cholesterol have been associated with hardened arteries atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. In contrast, high levels of HDL cholesterol have been shown to reduce some of the harmful effects of LDL cholesterol. So if your physician decides that you are in need of a cholesterol diet, basically what you’re in for is this:

Since many foods high in total fat are also high in saturated fat, eating foods low in total fat will help you eat less saturated fat. When you do eat fat, you should substitute unsaturated monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat for saturated fat. Examples of foods high in monounsaturated fat are olive and canola oils, those high in polyunsaturated fat include safflower, sunflower, corn, and soybean oils.

Foods high in starch and fiber are excellent substitutes for foods high in saturated fat. Breads, cereals, pasta, grains, fruits, and vegetables - are low in saturated fat and cholesterol. They are also usually lower in calories than foods that are high in fat. Foods high in starch and fiber are also good sources of vitamins and minerals. Cholesterol diets are low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and high in fruits, vegetables, and grain products - like oat and barley bran and dry peas and beans. The antioxidant properties in certain (e.g. brightly colored) fruits and vegetables can reduce the effects of cholesterol. Point is, to damage artery walls, cholesterol must first be chemically changed through a process called oxidation. Antioxidants help prevent cholesterol from being chemically changed and help prevent cholesterol from moving out of the blood and into the lining of the blood vessels.

Dietary cholesterol also can raise your blood cholesterol level, although usually not as much as saturated fat. A cholesterol diet chooses foods low in dietary cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol is found only in foods that come from animals. Many of these foods also are high in saturated fat. Foods from plant sources do not have cholesterol but can contain saturated fat.

All in all, following a cholesterol diet will also help you to reduce calories, lose weight and reduce obesity. That doesn’t sound too bad, doesn’t it?



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