Our body needs cholesterol to build cell membranes and synthesize ATP. Initially, it is not in the body, the lipids obtained from products are metabolized in the liver, as a result of which the body receives cholesterol. It is an essential component during the synthesis of sex hormones and fat-soluble vitamins. Nevertheless, an increase in blood cholesterol is fraught with adverse consequences for the body. People with high cholesterol should eat in a special way. A cardiologist prescribes a hypocholesterolemic diet, which allows, by eliminating certain products, to achieve a minimum concentration of lipids in the blood.
What is the essence of a diet?
The hypocholesterolemic diet limits products that have certain lipid groups in their composition. This allows you to reduce excess weight, remove excess water from the body (reduce swelling of the lower extremities), improve overall health, and reduce the risk of myocardial infarction several times. Already in the second week a person begins to feel a surge of strength. The essence of any diet program is to reduce the amount of harmful substances (in this case, lipids). To achieve the goal, golden rules from nutritionists were formed:
- restriction of the intake of fats of plant and animal origin;
- a complete rejection of ethyl alcohol;
- restriction of bakery products;
- eating chicken without skin.
These recommendations are mandatory in order for the hypocholesterolemic diet to fully meet its expectations.
What products need to be excluded?
Hypocholesterolemic diet eliminates a large number of familiar foods that are consumed in the diet daily. Remember that they need to be canceled gradually, so that the body adapts to new conditions, begins to use the fat depot. Nutritionists prohibit the following foods:
- fatty fish, natural butter, margarine, as well as palm and peanut oils;
- crackers, flour, chips, pancakes, waffles, etc .;
- completely excluded pork, factory sausages, sausages, limited to eggs.
Dairy products are recommended for use, only they should be low-fat. It should be noted that vegetables can only be consumed fresh, if they are fried in butter, then cholesterol will increase sharply.
Recent data suggest that some changes have been made to the standard hypocholesterolemic diet. Doctors agreed that caffeine should also be banned. This is due to the fact that the substance enhances intestinal motility, and also dilates blood vessels. This is an unfavorable factor for the people to whom this table is assigned, as often they are overweight.
What can I use?
The list of foods excluded from the diet is quite large, but what is included in the hypocholesterolemic diet? Fats must be present in the diet, but they must be easily digested, lipids of this group are found in red fish meat, vegetable oils (sesame, soybean).
Of the proteins allowed to eat varieties of lean meat, such as rabbit, chicken. Fans of squid and shrimp should limit the intake of these products, as they contain a large amount of specific cholesterol, as well as salt.
You can use absolutely any plant products (vegetables, fruits, herbs). They will be the main part of the diet, replace the usual carbohydrates.
What should be the diet?
The hypocholesterolemic diet should not exclude all usual fats from the diet at once , it must be done gradually. Reduce the intake of lipids that are harmful to the body by 5 grams daily, replacing with recommended foods. When there will be no animal cholesterol in the diet, it will be necessary to consume 50-60 grams of olive or flaxseed oil daily. They will help normalize the endocrine system at the time of transition to a new diet.
Enrich your diet with plenty of fiber in vegetables. This will help to remove the feeling of hunger, normalize the function of the gastrointestinal tract in case of constipation. Must be present cereals in the human diet, replacing fast carbohydrates. Only subject to these rules, the results will not be long in coming.
What should be the menu?
A standard hypocholesterolemic diet (sample menu) should be scheduled immediately for a week. First you need to evaluate your financial capabilities, and only then make a diet. Meals a meal on a hypocholesterolemic diet schedule . The menu for the week will look something like this.
Monday
Breakfast: the most difficult weekday, it is advisable to start with a toast oiled with honey. Instead of tea, drink a glass of skim milk.
Lunch: cook vegetable soup, boil 150 grams of chicken breast. On the second - vegetable salad.
Dinner: jacket potatoes, steamed fish, vegetable salad of fresh cucumbers.
Tuesday
Breakfast: one boiled egg, orange juice without sugar, toasts with jam.
Lunch: tomato and sweet pepper salad, chicken broth, brown bread, 150 grams of boiled veal.
Dinner: low-fat homemade yogurt, oatmeal cookies, tea with lemon balm.
Wednesday
Breakfast: 150 grams of boiled green beans, toast.
Lunch: jacket potatoes (200-250 grams), 120 grams of stewed rabbit, vegetable salad (optional).
Dinner: boiled rice, strawberry jam, kefir.
Thursday
Breakfast: oatmeal cooked in milk, an apple.
Lunch: vegetable soup, boiled turkey meat, jelly, dried fruit compote.
Dinner: baked fish with lemon, buckwheat, a glass of milk.
Friday
Breakfast: grated carrot with sugar, fruit drinks.
Lunch: spaghetti with boiled rabbit meat, one boiled egg, brown bread.
Dinner: vegetable salad from cabbage, low-fat yogurt.
Saturday
Breakfast: sweet black tea, diet bread, one banana.
Lunch: 100 grams of chicken, rice porridge, salad of fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers.
Dinner: low fat cottage cheese, green tea.
Sunday
Breakfast: oatmeal, low-fat yogurt.
Lunch: vegetable soup, low-fat fish, porridge (optional), weak coffee with milk.
Dinner: a pair of baked apples with cottage cheese, dried fruit compote.
Hypocholesterolemic diet menu is quite diverse. Remember that water should be consumed in an amount of 2.5-3 liters, and the number of teas should not exceed 500 ml. A hypocholesterolemic diet requires tremendous willpower as well as endurance. Do not forget about a systematic approach, since a sharp change in the usual diet will be stressful for the body, as a result, the condition will not improve, but will worsen.