How To Lower Your Cholesterol

Cutting back on cholesterol makes for a healthy and happy heart. Lowering your LDLs, or bad cholesterol levels, can greatly improve the quality and length of your life, reducing your risk of developing heart disease or suffering from stroke.

Lowering cholesterol does not equal forfeiting taste in your foods. Using nonfat yogurt as a topping for fruit or other desserts is a delicious, low fat alternative to whipped cream, which is nothing but fat. Other great-tasting, low cholesterol food toppings include low fat cheeses and 1% milk products.

You can still cook foods to maintain flavor without drowning them in fat. Instead of lard, butter or heavy oils, use lighter oils like olive, corn, vegetable or canola and cook your foods in a nonstick skillet. This allows you to use less added cooking fat. Also, poultry and fish taste great when steamed over a low-sodium broth. This seals in the flavor and keeps the food light. Use low-sodium seasonings, herbs and lemon for added zest.

Though eggs are good for you, the yolks you can do without. One egg yolk contains about two-thirds of the recommended daily cholesterol allowance! The egg whites, however, are high in protein and cholesterol-free. There are also a number of egg substitutes currently available on the market today. Egg whites can be used in salads and omelets. Two egg whites plus a teaspoon of vegetable oil can often be substituted for one whole egg in many of your baked goods.

Numerous studies have shown that increasing the amount of soluble fiber in your diet will also help in lowering your cholesterol levels. Soluble fibers bind with cholesterol in your body and pull it out as waste. Fruit, vegetables, oats legumes and oat-bran foods can help in reducing your risk of developing heart or artery disease.

Be good to your heart and lower your cholesterol levels. Maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system is crucial to your longevity and well being.