Understanding Food and Cholesterol
What you eat has a big effect on your body’s cholesterol level. Eating certain foods can raise your cholesterol. Other foods can help you lower it. Watching what you eat can help you get your cholesterol level under control.
Know High-Cholesterol Foods
Foods high in fat, cholesterol, or both:
Fatty beef, cold cuts, bacon, sausage
Creamy sauces and fatty gravies
Cookies, donuts, muffins, and pastries
Fried foods
Egg yolks
Shortening, butter, coconut oil, palm oil, hydrogenated oils (read labels)
High-fat dairy products, such as whole milk, cheese, and ice cream
Better choices:
Lean beef, skinless white-meat poultry, fish
Tomato sauce, vegetable puree
Dried fruit, bagels, bread with jam
Baked, broiled, steamed, or roasted foods
Egg whites or egg substitute
Tub margarine, canola oil, and olive oil in moderation
Low-fat or nonfat dairy products, such as 1% or fat-free milk, reduced-fat cheese, and nonfat frozen yogurt
Use Fiber to Help Control Cholesterol
Foods high in fiber can help you keep your cholesterol down. Good sources of fiber are:
Oats, barley
Whole grains
Beans
Vegetables
Cornmeal, popcorn
Berries, apples, other fruits
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