CHOLESTEROL IS one of those dietary curse words that doesn’t deserve its bad reputation.
That’s largely because now-outdated science once linked dietary cholesterol to blood cholesterol. They are two different things and work largely independent of each other, according to the latest research.
Not only do you need dietary cholesterol to survive, but eating the nutrient has its benefits.
Hector PerezMD, a board-certified general and bariatric surgeon who practices in Tijuana and Cancun, says cholesterol isn’t all bad for the body because it’s needed to help organs work properlyas well as create hormones, vitamin D and digestive fluids.
All that said, maybe your doctor has decided to recommend that you follow a low-cholesterol diet to protect you from heart disease, stroke, or other health problems.
If this is the case, Dr. Perez says that, in general, “a low-cholesterol diet is fairly easy to follow and you don’t have to give up all your favorite foods. You’ll just have to be more mindful of the foods you eat and make sure you’re getting enough nutrients.”
“However, too much of anything is always bad, and if your body has a high amount of LDL cholesterol, it could lead to multiple health problems,” he adds. “LDL cholesterol is known as the ‘bad cholesterol‘ because it can cause plaque to build up in the arteries, which can lead to heart disease and other serious health problems.”
As always, you should consult with a trusted health professional, such as your primary care physician or registered dietitian, to find out what is best for your individual needs and whether such a nutritional regimen may be right for you.
Below, learn what dietary cholesterol is, how to implement a low-cholesterol diet, and more about the misunderstood dietary substance.
What is dietary cholesterol?
“Dietary cholesterol is found in the tissues of animal products such as meat, poultry, dairy products, eggs, and shellfish,” says Kelsey Lorencz, RDN, with Wellness Zen Master. “Research has found that eating foods with cholesterol like eggs or shrimp is not linked to high blood cholesterol levels or heart disease risk for most people.”
Although the link between dietary cholesterol and heart disease risk is unclear, a small portion of the population may be hypersensitive to dietary cholesterol and benefit from limiting this nutrient.”
Is dietary cholesterol the same as blood cholesterol?
No, dietary cholesterol and blood cholesterol are not the same thing.
“What are you doing [dietary cholesterol] different from blood cholesterol is that dietary cholesterol doesn’t have as big an impact on blood cholesterol levels,” says Dr. Perez.
“This is because the liver makes most of the cholesterol in the body, and only a small amount comes from food,” says Dr. Perez. “When you eat less cholesterol, your liver makes more cholesterol to make up the difference. And when you eat more cholesterol, your liver makes less.”
Put another way, Lorencz says that eating cholesterol from other animals doesn’t necessarily turn into cholesterol in the blood. “Blood cholesterol is cholesterol that circulates throughout your body and has the potential to accumulate as plaque in your bloodstream,” she says.
What is a low cholesterol diet?
A low-cholesterol diet emphasizes lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
“A low-cholesterol diet limits animal products, especially those high in cholesterol like eggs, liver, and shellfish,” says Lorencz. “While some animal products can be included in a low-cholesterol diet, they should be limited.”
Respectively, Vegan and vegetarian diets are associated with lower levels of LDL or “bad cholesterol” and lower levels of total cholesterol.
What is a low cholesterol diet like?
Lorencz shares a sample menu for a day on a low cholesterol diet:
Breakfast: Oatmeal
Snack: peanut butter and apple
Lunch: salmon salad
Snack: Hummus and vegetables with pita chips
Dinner: Boneless skinless chicken breast with rice and sauteed vegetables
That doesn’t sound so bad, huh? If you need more meals to fit the bill, check out our guide to foods that can naturally lower cholesterol.
Is a low cholesterol diet a good idea?
The bottom line: Always talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before making any major changes to your diet.
With that in mind, if you’ve tried other diets and lifestyle changes to lower your blood cholesterol and lower your risk of heart disease, a low-cholesterol diet may help.
“Keep in mind that people on a vegan diet don’t get cholesterol from the food they eat,” adds Lorencz. “Your body can make its own cholesterol, so limiting cholesterol in your diet won’t put your health at risk.”
This content is created and maintained by a third party and is imported into this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content on piano.io
