Changing Diet to Lower High Cholesterol Levels
If you are recently diagnosed with high cholesterol and looking for a diet to lower the level, you are not alone. Statistics show that today seven out of ten people over 45 years of age have high cholesterol. Cholesterol levels in the blood rise as we age, so if your cholesterol level is still within normal limits, chances are they will not stay the same for long. Recent research has proven that the appropriate diet for high cholesterol is not as simple as eating low-fat foods only. It is not the amount of fat you eat that is important, but it is the type of the fat.
The results of studies done in the past few years show that it is saturated and Trans fats that increase the risk for certain diseases. While good fats (mono-unsaturated and poly-unsaturated fats) lower the risk. So it is obvious that the key is to substitute good fats for bad fats. Saturated fats contribute significantly to high cholesterol levels and tend to boost both HDL and LDL cholesterol. Trans fats however, tend to raise LDL and lower HDL.
But some fats are good because they can improve cholesterol levels. Omega 3 fats, for example, actually help to improve blood fats like cholesterol. Quitting cigarettes, increasing vitamin C intake, and doing more exercise are several other things you can do to lower your cholesterol levels, in addition to changing your diet.