What Are Foods Low in Cholesterol?

What Are Foods Low in Cholesterol?

Foods low in cholesterol are those that come from plants, i.e. legumes, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. These are usually the main food components of low-fat diets, which can be used to reduce weight or even lower one’s cholesterol level.

It has been noted that obese or overweight people have a greater chance of being diagnosed with high levels of cholesterol. Low-fat diets are commonly perceived as the best way of solving 2 problems in one go. However, before plunging head-on with any low-fat diet, there are a few myths that one needs to know.

First, it is believed that drinking red wine would help lower cholesterol. Yes it may help, but if one drinks too much red wine he/she is actually increasing the levels of triglyceride in his/her body. An occasional glass of red wine would do, as well as eating foods low in cholesterol.

It is natural for a person to think that he/she should only be concerned on removing or cutting down on saturated fatty foods to decrease his/her cholesterol level. This, however, is a myth. Diets that include foods low in cholesterol should also have fiber, which can be found in whole grain food and fruits. Reducing cholesterol levels doesn’t mean that one has to focus solely on removing fat in his/her diet; having a healthy lifestyle is also important.

The third myth concerning diets with foods low in cholesterol is related to the second myth. People seem to believe that they should mostly focus on the cholesterol content. There are 2 kinds of cholesterol: serum cholesterol and dietary cholesterol. Serum cholesterol is located in the bloodstream, while dietary cholesterol is located in the foods people eat.

Serum cholesterol levels are increased whenever a person eats food rich in saturated fats, such as bacon and butter. Foods with a lot of trans fat (e.g. fast food, cookies, ramen noodles, etc.) also help raise the levels of serum cholesterol.

With regards to this myth, some people believe that removing fatty foods would help in lowering cholesterol. Although there are some fatty foods that should be removed from one’s diet, foods with polyunsaturated fats can actually help. This type of fatty food can assist in decreasing the levels of LDL, which are also considered as “bad” cholesterol. Olive oil, avocados, and omega-3 fatty acids are some examples of foods with polyunsaturated fats. Hopefully now you have more ideas on those foods low in cholesterol.