Cholesterol Problem

High cholesterol is a growing problem. People do not need to get worried. High cholesterol can be dealt with very easily by following a few basic rules. These would help to get the cholesterol level in control and lead a normal healthy life. The first step that needs to be taken is to control the amount of fat and cholesterol that a person is consuming. The food people need to stay away from include whole milk, cheese, egg yolks, organ meats, butter, ice cream, cream, salami, hot dogs, duck, goose meat, fried foods, oils and so on. The food that needs to be included in the persons regular diet are fish, whole grains, nuts and seeds, lean meat, unsaturated vegetable oils etc. these are healthy fat which helps people suffering from high cholesterol.

People who are suffering from cholesterol problem also need to substitute the dishes they like and make it healthier. Dishes which require egg should be made with egg substitutes and not the egg yolk. People love cheese and the dishes that have been made by them. Cheese can be substituted with low fat cottage cheese or skim milk mozzarella cheese. It is preferable to use vegetable oil while cooking the food. It is also advised that while baking people can use wine, fruit juice or marinade. Another very important factor is to remember to control the size of the portion being consumed. A balanced portion also helps in reducing the cholesterol problem. This can be done by making small portions of fatty dishes and bigger portion of healthy dishes like rice, vegetables and pulses.

Flaxseed is very beneficial for a cholesterol patient. It helps in reducing the total cholesterol level. They also contain a fatty acid called omega 3 which benefits the body. Flaxseed can be added to the diet by adding it to cereal in the morning, or adding it to a sandwich, or bake them into cookies, breads, muffins and other such baked products. They can also mix the flaxseed in yogurt and have it. Fiber also helps in reducing the bad cholesterol level, as it prevents the intestines from absorbing more cholesterol. Soluble fibers include oats, Barley, rye, beans, peas, apples, prunes, berries and so on.

It is also important for a cholesterol patient to get plenty of exercise. Studies have shown that even exercise 3 times a week can help reduce the cholesterol level. The best exercise is to go for long walks. People do not require going to a gym or learning anything. Walking is good for health. Taking the stairs instead of elevators, taking a dog for a walk, walking around a little between works also helps in increasing physical activity and hence helps in reducing cholesterol level. Gardening, mowing, washing the car, cleaning and other simple household work also helps in reducing the bad level of cholesterol.

If controlling the diet and exercise is not making any difference to the cholesterol level people can consult doctor for medication.