A new healthy diet to reduce ldl ( ” bad ” ) cholesterol need not deprive your taste buds!
February 6, 2010
“If only it was as easy to banish hunger by rubbing the belly as it is to masturbate. ~Diogenes the Cynic”
Sufferers with excessive ldl cholesterol are now more common than those with good cholesterol readings. We are constantly enjoined by our doctors to keep tabs on our cholesterol readings, with good reason. High cholestrerol levels levels of the bad sort and low cholesterollevels of the good type lead to artery blockages and heart attacks.
Our dietary habits play a big role in keeping bad cholestrerol levels levels under control. In addition to medications which reduce cholestrerol levels, a proper diet to lower cholestrerol levels levels is essential. It can be discouraging to be on constant alert with what we can and cannot eat. We may regard a strict diet as depriving us of the normal enjoyment of eating. This need not be the case. You can enjoy your food, perhaps more than before you got the bad news, with a diet to lower ldl cholesterol.
People of the Mediterranean regions seldom suffer from high cholestrerol levels. You may well ask why. The secret to their good heart health lies in the consumption of heart healthy foods. Olive oil has no ldl ( ” bad ” ) cholesterol and is a mainstay in the fats consumed. Fish, with a high content of the antioxidant Omega-3 fatty acids, also contribute to lowered ldl cholesterol levels.
Fresh garlic is included in the tasty Mediterranean diet in copious amounts. Entrees, salads and whole grain breads slathered with garlic and fresh produce play a major role in a diet to lower cholestrerol levels. Bruschetta, an Italian favorite, is often composed of a garlic, olive and diced tomato mixture spread on the bread. It is a fact that garlic, given a prominent place in the diet to lower ldl ( ” bad ” ) cholesterol, is as effective as pharmaceutical medications in reducing bad ldl ( ” bad ” ) cholesterol. Some studies have shown garlic to be even more effective than the pharmaceuticals!
If you must adhere to a diet to lower ldl ( ” bad ” ) cholesterol, the Mediterranean menus are certainly no punishment to your palate. The proof in this pudding is that Mediterranean populations rarely have high cholesterol levels and the death rate from heart attack is one of the lowest in the world.
Would you ever imagine that pizza would be an excellent addition to a diet to lower cholesterol? Unlikely, if you are eating a pizza prepared in the American way. A Mediterranean pizza is prepared with olive oil and much lesser amounts of the fatty meats we use. Olives are frequent additions to the Mediterranean style pizza, as are fresh tomatoes and low fat fresh mozzarella cheese.
The Mediterranean diet uses small amounts of fatty meats, instead favoring lean meats such as pancetta and lamb. Meats are used judiciously, more as flavoring than bulk. Pasta dishes emphasize the pasta, drizzled with olive oil and small amounts of meat, vegetables and seasonings for sensational taste appeal.
If you must adhere to a diet to lower cholesterol, take a page from the normal Mediterranean diet and get healthy!
“After all the trouble you go to, you get about as much actual “food” out of eating an artichoke as you would from licking 30 or 40 postage stamps. ~Miss Piggy”
You might also consider red yeast rice extract or guggul extract as a supplement to your current diet. You can consider the benefits and potential side effects if any. Check out this site: http://www.redyeastricesideeffects.com/
Here are some related articles:
-Guggul Extract: The Benefit To Diabetics
-Information on Red Yeast Rice Side Effects
Eating healthy is a balancing act but one that you can be successful in performing!