Meal Planning for High Cholesterol

Learn to replace high-fat foods such as this with healthier ones.

According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, high blood cholesterol increases the chances of an individual developing heart disease or of having a heart attack. Changing one's diet can help to lower cholesterol.

The TLC Diet

In addition to exercising frequently and maintaining optimal body weight, cholesterol can be further controlled by carefully planning your meals and eating the right foods. The Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) diet is an eating plan that emphasizes meals with minimal amounts of saturated fat and low amounts of dietary cholesterol. This diet aims to keep patients at optimal weight and is designed to prevent you from gaining excess pounds.

Soluble Fiber

When low density lipoprotein (LDL) is still not lowered after following the TLC diet, adding more soluble fiber to the diet can help to achieve better results. Foods such as oats, dried beans, oranges, carrots and pears have high fiber content and should be included in your meals.

Low Saturated Fat

Meals that contain foods low in saturated fat are essential for controlling cholesterol. Look to include dairy products that are fat-free and eat lean cuts of meat, skinless chicken and turkey. When you plan your meals, avoid foods that contain large amounts of cholesterol, such as liver, kidney or egg yolks.

References

• National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: High Blood Cholesterol: What You Need To Know
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Women's Health: Heart Healthy Eating