Tips to lower cholesterol

Hi all,

My husband had a heart attack in Jan 2009 & has changed his lifestyle…I have been cooking low fat meals for him and foods that are very low in cholesterol…Which I have done all along…..But now he knows he has to stick  to it ….Really it was all the snacking in between meals he used to do….Stopping for those fast food burgers and eating a whole bag of chips at one sitting…He never exercised…

Well I have found that turkey is lower in fat & cholesterol…..I use smart balance for him and the taste is very good…Hardly use salt at all so my taste has changed too. A lot of things seem very salty that I used to eat before…..I have been using herbs & making my own spice blends….Just use egg whites now, no more whole eggs for him..I don’t even buy them…He never cared for egg white omelets but he loves them now…LOL…He is going to the gym & has lost 25 lbs….

Foods to avoid or limit include:

• Whole milk, cream, and ice cream
• Butter, egg yolks, and cheese—and foods made with them
• High-fat processed meats, such as sausage, bologna, salami, and hot dogs
• Fatty meats that aren’t trimmed
• Duck and goose meat (raised for market)
• Baked goods made with egg yolks and saturated fats
• Fried foods
• Saturated fats, including coconut oil, palm oil, and palm kernel oil
• Solid fats, such as shortening, partially hydrogenated margarine, and lard

Just as some foods increase cholesterol, others help lower it. Foods you should eat include:

• Fruits and vegetables: 8–10 daily servings, especially high-fiber items such as beans and peas
• “Good fat” fish (i.e. salmon): 2 or more servings per week
• Whole grains: 6 or more daily servings
• Nuts and seeds: 4–5 servings per week
• Nonfat and low-fat dairy: 2–3 daily servings
• Lean meat and poultry without skin: 5–6 ounces daily – turkey is really the best it is the lowest in fat & cholesterol….
  
• Unsaturated vegetable oils: including canola, corn, olive, safflower, and soybean oils (but limit the amount of margarines and spreads made from them)