| Cholesterol is a fatty lipid, steroid and an alcohol | | | | Healthy diets are considered effective to lower |
| found in the body tissues and blood plasma of | | | | cholesterol. A low cholesterol diet contains |
| vertebrates. It is the cardinal part of the outer | | | | extremely low or no cholesterol at all. Diets of |
| membranes of human body cells and it circulates | | | | plant origin are the best low cholesterol diets. |
| in the blood of humans. Cholesterol in the human | | | | Fat is the major source of energy for the body, |
| body comes from two major sources - diet, and | | | | but excessive fat in the diet is dangerous. The |
| the liver, where it is produced internally. | | | | excess fat raises blood cholesterol levels. It's bad |
| High cholesterol in the blood is considered to be | | | | for the circulatory system and causes heart |
| unhealthy. The cholesterol levels in the | | | | attack or stroke. The amount of fat and |
| bloodstream can influence the pathogenesis of | | | | cholesterol in a diet should just be according to |
| certain conditions, such as the development of | | | | the daily calories required by the body. Thus a |
| atherosclerotic plaque and coronary artery | | | | perfectly balanced diet is considered a healthy |
| disease. It gets collected on the walls of arteries | | | | diet. |
| and interferes with the flow of blood. This buildup | | | | A perfect low cholesterol diet has the following |
| of cholesterol in the blood vessels may constrict | | | | features: |
| the passages considerably and inhibit the flow of | | | | - It's low in fat (especially saturated fat). |
| blood to and from the heart. | | | | - It contains low cholesterol. |
| Recent researches have revealed that the | | | | - It contains low sodium contents. |
| abundance of protein complexes, called lipoproteins | | | | - It's rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates. |
| are responsible for the cholesterol build-up in the | | | | - It's usually a low calorie diet. |
| blood vessels. Elevated levels of bad cholesterol | | | | Besides taking low cholesterol diets, sugar and |
| (low density lipoprotein or LDL), are responsible | | | | alcohol consumption should also be reduced, as |
| for heart disease. | | | | they contribute to high cholesterol levels. |
| Cholesterol in your diet: | | | | Avoid eating at fast food restaurants, because |
| A high cholesterol diet is considered an | | | | fast foods are usually high in fats and sodium. |
| unwholesome diet. Diets which are rich in animal | | | | Regular exercise can also reduce cholesterol levels. |
| fats, meat, poultry, fish, oils, egg yolks and dairy | | | | Recent studies have revealed that certain |
| products, are a rich source of cholesterol. Organ | | | | deep-sea fish -- mackerel, salmon, herring, |
| meats, such as liver, are extremely rich in | | | | albacore tuna, and lake trout -- contain an oil called |
| cholesterol. A diet high in cholesterol is fatal for | | | | Omega-3 fatty acid that may help to lower blood |
| the heart. | | | | cholesterol. |