What does the Heart Foundation recommend?
The Heart Foundation recently made the following dietary recommendations for lowering blood cholesterol (3): • Use margarine spread instead of butter or dairy blends. • Use a variety of oils for cooking – some suitable choices include canola, sunflower, soybean, olive and peanut oils. • Use salad dressings and mayonnaise made from oils such as canola, sunflower, soybean and olive oils. • Choose low or reduced fat milk and yoghurt or ‘added calcium’ soy beverages. Try to limit cheese and ice cream to twice a week. • Have fish (any type of fresh or canned) at least twice a week. • Select lean meat (meat trimmed of fat and chicken without skin). Try to limit fatty meats including sausages and delicatessen meats such as salami. • Snack on plain, unsalted nuts and fresh fruit. • Incorporate dried peas (eg split peas), dried beans (e.g. haricot beans, kidney beans), canned beans (eg baked beans, three bean mix) or lentils into two meals a week. • Make vegetables, and grain based foods such a
