Nutrition

Low Cholesterol DietProducts Relating to 'Low Cholesterol Diet'

For a low cholesterol diet you should choose only lean meats, poultry, and seafood. Make sure that you only eat chicken and turkey with the skin removed or remove the skin yourself before eating. The former method is much to be preferred as some of the benefits of a low cholesterol diet will be lost if the poultry is cooked with its skin on.

A low cholestrol diet means reducing as much as possible your saturated fat intake. Some fish such as cod has less saturated fat than either chicken or meat. Whatever meat, poultry or seafood you eat they will all have some saturated fat and cholestrol so it is recommended that if you are on a cholesterol heart disease diet you should not consume more than five ounces a day.

Chicken and Turkey is generally recommended for a low cholesterol diet as these two products are lower in the forbidden substances than goose or duck. As a rule of thumb white meat generally contains less saturated fat than dark meat. Always use lean mince if on a low cholesterol diet and if possible use turkey mince rather than beef or pork. Likewise poultry sourced sausages are greatly to be preferred to those of pork or beef on any low cholesterol diet.

Fish and Shellfish can be included in your low fat diet and you should remember that most fish is lower in saturated fat than poultry or meat. Different types of shellfish have varied cholestrol content but all shellfish provide little in the way of fats. It is quite permissible to gradually edge yourself into a low cholesterol diet - just eat a little less of the 'forbidden fruits' each day - you will soon not notice the difference.

A more drastic but even healthier low cholesterol diet is to turn vegetarian. There are some great meat substitutes on the market such as quorn and tofu that are very low in fat and cholestrol. Dry peas and beans are full of fibre and this has been shown to help lower the level of blood cholestrol. Marinate tofu in a tangy low fat dressing and then grilling or baking or add a handful of beans to casseroles, soups or pasta. Egg yolks are high in cholestrol and you should limit yourself to no more than two per week - including those used in baking and processed foods - if in doubt check the label to see the contents. Egg whites, however, have no cholestrol and can be used to substitute yolks in most recipes.

Article Published: Thursday 16th November 2006