What Types of Foods Should I Avoid on a Low Cholesterol Diet?

Question: What Types of Foods Should I Avoid on a Low Cholesterol Diet?

Answer: While there are many foods you can consume while on a low cholesterol diet, there are some foods that you need to avoid. Avoiding saturated fat and trans fats is the cornerstone of any cholesterol-lowering diet. Both of these fats, also known as the "bad" fats, are found in foods such as:

• Animal meats
• Dairy products, such as milk, yogurt and various cheeses
• Toppings, such as butter, dips, mayonnaise and dressings
• Processed foods, such as cookies, cakes and candies

Avoiding foods that contain high amounts of saturated fats and/or trans fats will not only help lower your cholesterol, it will also lower your risk for heart disease later on.

There is also evidence that, in addition to watching your saturated fat intake, you should also watch your intake of certain carbohydrates. "Bad" carbohydrates consist of simple sugars often seen in foods such as candy, white bread, white rice, cookies. This type of carbohydrate can raise your LDL cholesterol, or "bad" cholesterol, in addition to your triglycerides.

_Sources:

Rolfes SR, Whitney E. Understanding Nutrition, 3rd ed 2005.