My DH tested borderline high for cholesterol. .so I am trying to change his eating habits. ..what are foods he should eat and what to avoid?
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Seafood and eggs?
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Cholesterol is found in animal products. So, a diet rich in plant-based foods is best. If you're used to baking with eggs and butter, you could sub a flax egg and vegan margarine. If he's craving soup, use veggie stock instead of chicken. There is almost a substitute for everything. My father in law was able to lower his cholesterol by reducing consumption of animal products. It helped him lose weight and his blood pressure is way better. If you need resources, wall me!
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If you want to avoid dietary cholesterol you would avoid animal products. However, the latest US dietary advice is showing that consumption of cholesterol has very little to do with one's cholesterol levels. From the just released 2015 Dietary Advisory Committee's 2015 report:
"Previously, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommended that cholesterol intake be limited to no more than 300 mg/day. The 2015 DGAC will not bring forward this recommendation because available evidence shows no appreciable relationship between consumption of dietary cholesterol and serum cholesterol, consistent with the conclusions of the AHA/ACC report. Cholesterol is not a nutrient of concern for overconsumption."
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@Corduroy: this. I think they actually believe that high cholesterol is more a result of too much polysaturated fat such as in fast food.
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@Corduroy: Thanks for sharing that. I'm part of a weight loss group for women with IGT and PCOS, and this is a big topic of conversation. A lot of them have great success with a paleo diet, which would have a lot of dietary cholesterol, but way less fat, sugars, and carbs.
That said, I don't eat any animal products, and my cholesterol reflects that. I think starting with your diet is a great option before resorting to medication. HOWEVER, like @coduroy mentioned, it's not the whole picture, and if you're not getting results, it's worth looking into other solutions: hormone levels, cardiovascular panels, etc.
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@Jass: what do his current eating and exercise habits look like?....
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@Corduroy: exactly what I was going to say. Foods with high cholesterol actually don't really contribute to cholesterol levels.
(I learned this in the book Eat the Yolks)
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One good thing to avoid would be trans fats - not just things that say "zero grams trans fat" on the label, but check ingredient lists for partially hydrogenated oils. Supposedly trans fats both raise bad cholesterol (LDL) and lower your good cholesterol (HDL). My DH has a history of high cholesterol in his family and his improved from just okay to good after completely cutting out trans fats from his diet.
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Reducing the amount of fried foods I ate and eating steel cut oatmeal lowered my cholesterol.
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@Alivoo01: he should avoid these...does it includes fish also??
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@blackbird: he doesn't exercise regularly and his food habits not have been good but he has family history of high cholesterol and I think it is combination of both.
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It depends. There is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. Generally speaking food really does not reduce your levels by much. Unfortunately a lot of it is genetics. DH has a family history of high cholesterol. In their case it contributes to blood clots and they also have a history of heart problems so it's a double whammy. We eat very very healthy and DH exercises. Sadly his cholestrol is higher than that of a overweight person that eats McDonald's daily. I'm not even exaggerating. All his cardiologists are shocked when they see his numbers.
That said he's in cholestrol medication and blood thinners.What was the dr recommendation?
I'm not saying your DH shouldnt change his eating habits or start exercising. He absolutely should! Just don't expect to see a miraculous drop in levels.
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@Jass: I have a really bad family history, too, and diet and exercise can really keep a lot of that at bay!
Will they set him up with a nutritionist? It sounds like he has areas to improve
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@regberadaisy: thanks..I know part of it is family history but I know it is more of his eating habits that he fell into after we have lo and zero exercise.
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@blackbird: yeah getting to nutritionist is a good idea ...m not sure he will onboard for it but I am trying to improve his diet and making him work out.
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