A lot of cholesterol diet advice focuses on reducing bad cholesterol (LDL), however it’s also hugely beneficial to raise your levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol – the “good” cholesterol. Experts believe HDL acts as a scavenger, carrying bad cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it is broken down and passed from the body.
I’ve spent a lot of time over the last few months searching for recipes that are cholesterol friendly and still taste good. I haven’t found a huge amount of meat-based recipes containing foods like beans that actively lower cholesterol, so I tend to add them myself or have them on the side.
When I started my cholesterol-lowering mission, I decided against transforming my diet completely because I think if you change too much, then it’s probably not going to be sustainable.
I’ve seen friends go on diets where they’ve basically replaced everything they normally eat with completely different foods that they would never normally choose to eat. Read More »
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I really love chocolate, so when I found out I had high cholesterol I was worried that I’d have to cut it out of my diet. Imagine my delight then when I found out that eating chocolate can actually help to reduce cholesterol! There’s a catch though…well two actually. It has to be dark chocolate (70% cocoa or higher), and it has to be eaten in moderation, because unfortunately it’s still pretty high in sugar and saturated fats.
I used to really hate salads and I would avoid them at all costs. As far as I was concerned, salads meant strips of bland iceberg lettuce mixed with a few chopped tomatoes, slices of cucumber and some sort of oil and vinegar dressing. If I had salad with a meal when eating out, I would invariably leave most of it and hide the remnants under my knife and fork. And I just couldn’t understand why people would want to order a salad on its own as a main meal in a restaurant – it just baffled me!
Seeds are packed with dietary fibre and healthy fats, which can help to lower cholesterol. They are also a good source of protein and full of all sorts of other nutrients, making them a great addition to meals, or eaten on their own as a snack.
Oatcakes are a brilliant base for a snack, because oats contain soluble fibre, which helps to lower cholesterol. They’re also low in saturated fat and if you combine them with other healthy foods, you can make a really nutritious, filling snack.
Curries are one of my favourite things to eat, so I make them a lot. As I’m trying to reduce my cholesterol, I add as many cholesterol-lowering ingredients as I can to my meals. Curries are great for this, because you can add things like chickpeas, ground flaxseeds and vegetables, and the curry tastes just as good. And the vegetables count towards your five a day, which is an added bonus.
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