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Jennifer Moll

Cholesterol

By , About.com Guide

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Ways to Include Poultry in Your Heart-Healthy Diet

Wednesday May 16, 2012

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If you're watching your cholesterol, you're more than likely cautious about what you put on your plate. Although you should watch the types of meat you consume, it doesn't mean that you have to cut out this food group from your diet entirely.  Chicken, turkey, and other poultry are leaner than red meat, making them a good go-to food if you're craving meat, but are cautious about your heart health. This article will show you how to introduce poultry into your diet -- without adding extra fat and calories.

Photo credit: draganica, istockphoto

Can Phytosterols Lower Your Cholesterol?

Tuesday May 8, 2012

Phytosterols have many healthy properties.

Phytosterols have also become very popular over the past few years. These chemicals, which are found in a variety of healthy foods, such as vegetables, fruits and nuts, have beneficial properties that can also affect some aspects of your cholesterol. Phytosterols especially appear to affect your LDL, or "bad", cholesterol by almost 10%. Find out more about these delicious -- and heart-healthy -- foods:

There has also been a lot of debate as to whether or not phytosterol supplements work just as well as foods containing phytosterols. Besides being delicious, phytosterol-containing foods may possess other healthy, naturally occurring chemicals, such as polyphenols. So, if you are looking to implement phytosterols in your diet and aren't quite sure of how to do it, here are some healthy tips to help you on the road to a healthy diet -- and a healthy heart:

Photo: Luis Albuquerque, istockphoto.

A Cholesterol-Lowering Diet: Where Do You Start?

Monday April 30, 2012

Beginning a low cholesterol diet is the first step to a healthy lifestyle. A heart-healthy diet plays an important role in keeping your cholesterol levels within a healthy range. But if you're not accustomed to watching what you eat, beginning a heart-healthy diet may seem like a horrendous task.

Luckily, it doesn't have to be.

There are many approaches you can take to following a cholesterol-lowering diet, but if you're relatively new to watching what you eat, there are many ways to keep begin -- and stay -- on your diet. Not only does it ensure that you are consuming healthy foods -- it also makes sure that you're not sneaking in foods that are not.

Try some of these helpful ways to start your cholesterol-lowering diet -- and stay on track:

Photo Credit: Bochkarev Photography, istockphoto

Keeping Your Cholesterol In Check While Traveling

Monday April 30, 2012

It's that time of the year where we begin to sneak in that last vacation before fall gets here. While we are all entitled to a bit of rest and relaxation, this also the time we are tempted to break away from our diets. This is mostly due to eating out, where some foods may contain hidden fats that could raise your cholesterol levels.

It's true that a little bit of fudging on your diet will not hurt things too much, however the bad diet habits you develop over your vacation could continue when you resume your post-vacation activities. The good news is that, even trying to lower your cholesterol, you can enjoy delicious food during your travels. These helpful tips will help you to keep on the path of having a healthy heart:

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Which Fats Are Healthy?

Sunday April 29, 2012

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Unsaturated fats, saturated fats, trans-fats...these are all common types of fats seen on the back of food labels. While some of the fats we hear about are bad for our heart and could raise our cholesterol levels, there is a type of fat that is considered "heart-healthy". This article will set you straight on which fats are good for you and which fats are bad for your health.

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Hearing Rumors About High Cholesterol?

Thursday April 26, 2012

Expelling myths about cholesterol.

There's a lot of talk about high cholesterol, and some of it could maybe even a little confusing. Cholesterol is probably one of the most interesting -- but perplexing -- molecules in the body. And it's no surprise with the double personality cholesterol has in our bodies -- while too much of it can be bad for our heart and circulatory system, we need it for survival. There are a lot of rumors circulating about cholesterol and, although some of them may be true, there are others that are downright false. Need a little bit of education concerning your cholesterol? Find out what the most common myths are surrounding cholesterol -- and whether or not they are true.

Photo credit: bobbieo, istockphoto

Using Exercise to Control Your Cholesterol

Wednesday April 18, 2012

Exercise, along with a healthy diet, is an important weapon against heart disease and high cholesterol. The good news is that you don't have to be an accomplished athlete to beat high cholesterol through exercise. There are many forms of exercise out there to fit your hectic lifestyle. Whether you love to run a marathon or take a brisk walk with your dog, there is a form of exercise that fits your personality and lifestyle!

What Kind of Foods Can You Eat on a Cholesterol-Lowering Diet?

Tuesday April 10, 2012

Believe it or not, there are a variety of foods that you can eat on a cholesterol-lowering diet. While moderation in any diet is very important, the most important factor in considering any diet that lowers cholesterol is watching the amount and types of fats that you consume. This article will help you to determine which foods are good for lowering your cholesterol, and which foods you need to avoid.

Adding Beans to Your Cholesterol-Lowering Diet

Monday April 2, 2012
Beans are a great way to include fiber in your cholesterol-lowering diet.

Are you looking for a nutritious, high-fiber food to add to your heart-healthy diet? If so, try adding beans to your next meal. Beans are the perfect complement to any healthy dish, and can be added to a variety of foods, such as lean meats, whole grains or your favorite vegetables. Although fiber plays a role in maintaining digestive and cardiovascular health -- including modestly lowering LDL cholesterol -- most people do not consume enough of this healthy ingredient in their diets on a daily basis. Try some of these bean-containing dishes that are guaranteed to be a delicious way to add a little more fiber in your diet:

Photo credit: Marilyn Barbone ,istockphoto

Is a Diet High in Carbohydrates Bad for You?

Saturday March 31, 2012

When you think of a cholesterol-lowering diet, what comes to mind? Many of us might think of consuming less fats - especially saturated fats. However, there is a lot of evidence that suggests that you might need to also watch your carbohydrate intake, too. Just like there are good fats and bad fats, there are also good carbs and bad carbs. Good carbs include foods that contain whole grains whereas bad carbs are contained in foods like cookies, cakes, and candies. So, watching your carbohydrate, in addition to your carbohydrate intake could help you to better manage your cholesterol levels.

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