Cholesterol restricted diets are best for those with high blood cholesterol of over 240 mg total cholesterol, those who are overweight and anyone who wants to maintain a healthy heart. The American Heart Association recommends a diet low in saturated fats, trans fats and salt. Learn how you can use low cholesterol foods to control your cholesterol levels, encourage weight loss and maintain blood sugar levels.
Protein
Saturated and dietary fats can be found in beef, pork, lard, butter, milk and cheese products. A helpful way to get the protein you need while avoiding too many saturated fats is to purchase lean cuts of meat like turkey or chicken. Instead of eating meatballs from ground meat, use ground turkey instead. Remove the skin from turkey and chicken after cooking, though you'll want to leave the skin on while cooking for additional flavor.
Use cooking methods that require little or no oil like grilling, broiling, baking or poaching. Eat processed meats only on special occasions such as ballgames or family get-togethers. Check out meat alternative products like veggie burgers for your next barbecue. Alternatives for diary products have come a long way. You can find almond milk, soy cheese, coconut yogurt, soy ice cream and rice milk. Some soy cheeses have a rubbery texture. You can fix this by simply melting the cheese on your meal. Use soy in your daily coffee. Non-dairy creamers generally have coconut oil that is full of saturated fat. Find a brand you like and replace artery-clogging cheeses on pizzas, sandwiches, pastas and casseroles.
Salt
Salt undoubtedly brings out the flavor of food. Add some zest to foods without missing salt by adding herbs and spices. Throw some chopped chives on potatoes,sprinkle some basil on tomatoes or roll chicken or meat on top of a mix of rosemary and oregano. Lemon or lime juice picks up the flavor of fish and vegetables like green beans and spinach. Hot sauce is great with legumes and brown rice. Keep a small bottle of hot sauce in the car or your purse so you always have one nearby. Experiment on your own and find your own creative mixture of herbs and spices.
Fats
Most old-fashioned recipes for baking include copious amounts of oils and butter. Buck tradition and use pureed fruits in place of fat. Pumpkin can be used in muffins and cakes for moisture. Applesauce works well in cookies or pies. Bananas are a wonderful addition to brownies. Just smash them up and drop into the batter. Use egg whites instead of egg yolks in baking. You can even buy low-cholesterol egg substitute at the grocery store. Replace whole milk for low fat or 2 percent milk. Don't give up on your sweet tooth because of a cholesterol restricted diet. Use some of these suggestions and find out what works for you.
Tags: herbs spices, milk cheese, saturated fats, turkey chicken