A Low Carb, Plant-Based Diet May Help Lower Your Weight -- and Your Cholesterol
Information recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine suggests that consuming a diet high in fruits and vegetables, and low in carbohydrates, may help to reduce your weight -- and your cholesterol levels.
There are many diets out there that tend to play with proteins, carbs, and fats. Whereas some of these diets -- especially the all meat, protein, and vegetables types of diets -- help reduce your waistline, some studies have shown that they also increase your LDL cholesterol, otherwise known as your "bad" cholesterol levels.
David Jenkins, MD and colleagues at St. Michael’s Hospital and the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada examined the effects of a low carb, high vegetable protein diet (fruits, vegetables, soy, nuts) in 44 men and women who were overweight with high LDL cholesterol levels. Half of these individuals followed a low carb, plant protein based diet, whereas the other individuals had to follow a high carbohydrate diet that also included whole grains and low fat dairy products.
While both groups had similar reductions in weight (roughly 9 pounds), individuals consuming the low carb, plant protein-based diet had lower LDL cholesterol levels. Additionally, their blood pressure was slightly lowered.
So, if you're looking for a modification in your current healthy eating plan, this information may help steer you in the right direction in terms of healthy food choices. Here is some more information regarding healthy eating with plant-based proteins:
Comments
Many people believe eating foods such as margarine, yogurt and cream cheese helps to reduce their cholesterol levels. When in fact, you need to eat such a significant amount to benefit from its cholesterol lowering properties that we exceed our daily fat intake.
Plant sterols are the key ingredient to help lower cholesterol levels (this is what is found in special yogurts and margarine) yet in the West we consume far less than anywhere else in the world. In fact we need to eat 14 times more vegetables to have a cholesterol lowering effect.
I work for a product called Lestrin, a natural food supplement, that contains just the right amount of plant sterols to help maintain your cholesterol at a healthy level. You need four tablets of Lestrin a day and they can either be taken with water, or eaten with food.
They are available from Boot & Holland & Barrett and from the website above.
I think vegetarian food is the best when it comes to lowering cholesterol levels. Thanks for the info.
“Many people believe eating foods such as margarine, yogurt and cream cheese helps to reduce their cholesterol levels. When in fact, you need to eat such a significant amount to benefit from its cholesterol lowering properties that we exceed our daily fat intake.” – Natalie
I don’t think margarine has a cholesterol-lowering property. In fact, if you check the label, chances are you will see “hydrogenated oil” as one of the ingredients. Hydrogenated oil is trans fat taking on a fancy name. Both undergo the same chemical process and both contribute a high percentage of low-density lipoprotein which transform into arterial plaque.
A vegetarian diet is certainly a good choice. I was able to lower my cholesterol levels by 21% through this kind of diet with exercise.