If cholesterol has increased, then how can it be reduced through a diet?

Prem Prakash Gupta

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PhD from Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI) (Graduated 1985) 19h

If cholesterol has increased, then how can it be reduced through a diet?

A chronic increase in serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels may lead to atherosclerosis causing coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Please consult a physician, who will prescribe you certain hypolipidemic drugs (Fibrates and Statins) for reducing serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels that will decrease the risk of developing coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Hypolipidemic drugs, often combined with lifestyle modifications such as a low-sugar, low-refined carbohydrate diet, and regular physical activity, dramatically reduce serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Along with hypolipidemic drugs, following factors can help to reduce serum cholesterol level & decrease the risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD), heart attack and stroke:

(i) In diet, animal fats & trans fats should be avoided. Vegetable oils, rich in MUFAs and PUFAs (omega 3 & 6 fatty acids) should be preferred in place of animal fats.

(ii) Egg yolk, organ meat and red meat are rich in cholesterol, therefore, they must be avoided.

(iii) Regular moderate physical exercise helps to decrease plasma LDL-cholesterol level and to increase plasma HDL-cholesterol level.

(iv) Diet rich in dietary fibres helps to maintain serum cholesterol level within normal limit.

(v) Therapeutic use of choles-tyramine, a bile acid binding resin, decreases the serum cholesterol level by stimulating excretion of bile acids.

(vi) Reducing alcohol intake is also important, as alcohol can raise triglyceride level.

(vii) High doses of niacin decrease the serum cholesterol and triglyceride level.

(viii) Garlic, onion, fenugreek seeds, guggul and Tulsi leaves are claimed to decrease the serum cholesterol level.

(ix) Natural antioxidants (vitamin E, vitamin C and beta-carotenes) decrease the risk of atherosclerosis & CHD.

(x) Treatment of medical conditions (like diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, nephrotic syndrome, etc.) that are responsible for causing hypercholesterolemia reduces the serum cholesterol level.

(xi) Consumption of fried foods and fried nuts should be given up. Un-fried nuts like walnut, almond and peanut helps to reduce serum cholesterol.

(xii) Cigarette smoking, and stress should be avoided in order to maintain serum cholesterol level within normal limit.