What is Low cholesterol diet?
A low cholesterol diet involves the consumption foods that contain little cholesterol. Red meats, egg yolks, organ meats, whole milk and milk products are avoided, because they increase the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) that the body already makes. This cholesterol is absorbed through the intestines and added to what the liver makes. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, a low cholesterol diet is one of the three most important things a person can do to prevent heart disease. The other factors include quitting smoking and getting regular exercise. There are two types of cholesterol in the body-low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Diets that include large amounts of “unhealthy” cholesterol result in an over accumulation of LDL in the body. Excessive LDL binds to arteries. Most American diets include an intake of much more LDL than HDL. This means that LDL accumulates in the arteries of the body and brain, forming what is known as a plaque.
