Whole grains, fruits and vegetables are food sources that are low in cholesterol. Most fish and poultry are also somewhat low in cholesterol too. Make sure to incorporate low cholesterol foods in your diet to avoid risk for developing heart disease.
If you want to completely stay out of the risk for developing heart disease, stick with low cholesterol foods and foods low in fat. Truth be told, a low cholesterol diet is not all that hard to follow, considering the wide range of food options available. Below is a list of foods you should incorporate in your diet for optimal cardiovascular and overall health:
1. Fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are essentially “cholesterol free” because cholesterols can only be produced from animal sources. Thus, increasing your fruit and vegetable intake will not only mean loading your body with important vitamins and minerals, but indulging in all health goodness without increasing cholesterol. Adding more vegetables and less meat to every meal is a great way to start.
2. Whole grains
Whole grains like cereals, oat meal, pasta, and whole wheat breads are rich in dietary fiber but high in energy content. These foods do not contain dietary cholesterol (except for breads which are added with dairy products and sugar) and can also be helpful in maintaining weight.
3. Fish and Poultry
Chicken, turkey and fish generally have lower cholesterol and saturated fat than pork and beef. Some types of shellfish are also considered to be low cholesterol sources. However, despite being low on cholesterol, a heart healthy diet should still limit the total amount of intake of these protein food sources to 5 ounces per day. It would also help to take in low cholesterol protein sources and meat substitutes such as tofu, beans and dry peas. Read more …