Cholesterol Levels And Diet

Before you start tucking into your favorite foods or decide on which weight loss diet you may embark on, you might want to think about whether you’re consuming (or going to consume) too much cholesterol in your diet.

Not to long ago, many people were not aware what cholesterol was, they just happily ate whatever they liked. But with all the latest nutritional information floating around in cyber-space or on the TV, people are becoming more aware of how cholesterol (especially bad cholesterol) levels can affect their lives.

It's an old saying but it still stands true... "You are what you eat" and what you eat directly affects your cholesterol levels and maybe ultimately your life so please read this page with great intent.

What is cholesterol? How will you know if you have a healthy cholesterol level or a dangerously high cholesterol level? Does it make any difference or are we just worried about nothing? Can cholesterol affect my weight loss diet?

Well, Cholesterol Is…

A waxy steroid metabolite found in the cell membranes and transported in our blood plasma. It is an essential structural component of our cell membranes, where it is required to establish proper membrane permeability and fluidity. In addition, cholesterol is an important component for the manufacture of bile acids, steroid hormones, and several fat-soluble vitamins... Ok, Biology lesson over.

In 'ordinary people speak': Cholesterol is a fatty substance known as a lipid. It is mostly made by the liver from the fatty foods we eat and is vital for the normal functioning of the body.

Medical evidence strongly suggests that high cholesterol levels can cause narrowing of the arteries, heart attack and stroke. This is because cholesterol can build up in the artery wall restricting the flow of blood to your heart, brain and the rest of your body. It also increases the chance of a blood clot developing. Your risk of coronary heart disease (when your heart's blood supply is blocked or disrupted) rises as your blood's cholesterol level increases.

More and more people are developing heart disease due to high levels of cholesterol in their bodies so it is advisable to go to your doctors and have your cholesterol level checked.

But it's not all doom and gloom, if you have high levels of Cholesterol there are many things you can do to decrease your levels...

Following a healthy low fat diet can lower cholesterol levels and trim your waist-line at the same time... A true win - win situation.

Eating a healthy diet that is low in saturated fats can reduce your cholesterol levels along with regular exercise... A healthy diet includes foods from all of the different food groups:

• carbohydrates (cereals, wholegrain bread, potatoes, rice and pasta)
• unsaturated fats
• fruit and vegetables (at least five portions a day)
• proteins (lean meat, beans and fish)

In conclusion... You can help prevent getting high cholesterol by eating a healthy, balanced diet that is low in saturated fat and including a small amount of unsaturated fat in your diet can be healthy as this type of fat can reduce cholesterol levels.
Foods high in unsaturated fats include:

• sunflower, rapeseed and olive oil
• oily fish
• nuts and seeds
• avocados

See my weight loss super foods for a healthy diet for a full list of cholesterol busting foods.

You should be concerned about your cholesterol levels and you should always be aware of what you are consuming especially if you are on a weight loss diet... High cholesterol and fatty foods will certainly not help your dieting efforts! But it's not all lost, changing what you eat right now and exercising a little bit more can only have a positive result on your health and on your waist-line!

Note: Just like most things in life, please seek professional medical advice before undertaking any form of dietary change or starting an exercise program. It may just save your life!