Most people get frustrated when told to reduce their blood cholesterol.
Everyone thinks it is not easy. However, most often the problem is with the
wrong approach. If patients adopt the right approach, you will see; it’s not
that difficult to maintain your blood cholesterol at normal level. Here’s what
you should do:
Eat meat sparingly
The best way is to relegate meat to a minor part of your meals instead of
making it the centerpiece of your diet. Don’t forget to trim off fat and skin
from poultry and meats. When dining out, choose fish dishes, meatless pasta or
a smaller portion of meat.
Watch your snacks
Choose snacks that are low in fats. Eating homemade popcorn, dried fruits
or fresh fruits instead of high-fat foods like potato chips and candy bars will
help you manage your cholesterol problem in a better way.
Learn about good drugs that can help:
Patients, whose blood fats can not be controlled by diet alone, can use
Tricor. This drug contains Fenofibrate that works by increasing some enzymes
that break down fats in the blood. The initial recommended dose of Tricor is
145 mg, once daily. However, patients should consult a physician and learn
about the modifications in this dose required for them depending on their cholesterol
levels.
Minimize use of saturated fats in cooking
You should use liquid cooking oils rather than margarine or butter. Using
nonstick pans ensures less oil is needed for cooking. Steam, bake, roast or
stew your food instead of frying.
Avoid coconut and palm oils
Most vegetable oils contain unsaturated fatty acids; coconut and palm oils
being the two that contain the most of them. Experts advise to use canola,
sunflower, corn, olive and peanut oils instead.
Include complex carbohydrates and fiber in your diet
Emphasize foods that are rich in complex carbohydrates—such as whole-grain
products, fruits and legumes. Eat foods having water-soluble fiber, such as
that found in fruits and oat bran. This form of fiber helps lower your blood
cholesterol level significantly.
Besides your food habits and lifestyle, genes and gender also play a major
role in determining your cholesterol level. Though you can not fight your genes
and gender, you can definitely change your food habits and lifestyle together
with the use of Tricor for lowering your cholesterol.
