Eat healthy

In this week’s edition, we will be looking at certain diets and life­styles that influence our body cholesterol, and how we can modify them.

Cholesterol is a “fatty” substance which accumulates in our blood from usually years of consuming high fat meals, and also from a lifestyle devoid of physical activity. There are two variants of cholesterol; high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which is good for the body, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglyceride, which are bad for the body and can lead to hypertension, stroke, heart diseases, among other diseases.

Foods to avoid

To reduce the bad cholesterols, foods like red meat, deep fried foods, cheese, butterhigh processed foods like white bread, pastriesand pizza should be reduced to a mini­mum in our diet.

Foods to consume

It will benefit us greatly to include foods like;

Oats and barley

Low fat diet like fish, skinless chicken or turkey and lean meats

Nuts and seeds

Beans and lentils

Fruits and vegetables­regularly in our diet. These increase the good cholesterol, and thus help to fight against the conditions mentioned above.

Lifestyle modification

Modifying our lifestyle from a predominantly sedentary lifestyle to incorporating exercises like going for walks, jogging, and riding bicycles, as well as avoiding late-night high-calorie meals, excessive alcohol intake, and cigarette smoking will serve to prolong our healthy life and prevent high cholesterol from being our burden.

In summary, dietary and lifestyle management plays a pivotal role in controlling high cholesterol levels. By focus­ing on whole foods, reducing saturated fats, and embracing heart-healthy choices, we can take vital steps towards improving our cardiovascular health. Making these simple yet impactful changes can lead to a healthier, cholester­ol-friendly lifestyle.

The writer is a Dietitian and CEO of Holistic Health Consult E-mail: info@holistichealth­consult.org

By Bernice Korkor Asare