To lower cholesterol many Americans will be told to go on a low fat diet.
A wholesome diet is the key to a healthier lifestyle. Diabetes, sleep apnea, certain types of cancer, high blood pressure are weight related illnesses said to be caused by poor diet.
To determine if you are overweight you need to check your body mass index or (BMI). To do this divide your body weight by your height squared. If your BMI is 24 or less but greater than 17.5 you are within your ideal weight range. A body mass index of 25 or more indicates that you are overweight. A BMI of 40 or over indicates morbid obesity.
In the United States many people have a body mass index that is 25 or higher and are considered to be overweight. This phenomenon is blamed on everything from poor food choices to the advent of computers and an inactive lifestyle.
Whatever the cause, the fact remains that the American public is desperate to reduce our waistlines. To do so, we try fad diets that endanger our health, buy pills, try fake “metabolism busters” and do almost everything else we can to try to lose weight. We spend millions of dollars annually in our quest to find a magic formula for weight reduction.
Some Americans are overweight as children. Too many hours spent in front of the television or computer take their toll. Plus, children and teens often munch on snacks that are filled with calories and high sodium while watching television or playing video games. By puberty, many bad eating habits are deeply ingrained and must be unlearned.
The United States Department of Agriculture has developed a food pyramid to help guide us into making healthier food choices. Their latest food pyramid is simply called “MyPyramid”. It steers us toward a wholesome diet that is touted by many health professionals. The pyramid encourages us to eat whole grains, lots of fruits and vegetables and to consume only small amounts of meat, fats and sugar.
While food educators across the country tout this plan many of us will choose other programs, methods or diets to try to lose weight. This may include a program with regular support meetings or food education classes.
A low fat diet means that you get no more than 30% of your daily calories from fat. There are two different kinds of fat, saturated and unsaturated. Saturated fats raise your cholesterol. Limiting your intake of saturated fat will help you lower your cholesterol.
Foods high in cholesterol include egg yolks, meat, poultry and higher fat milk products.
To help follow a low fat diet use oils and fats as little as possible when cooking. Read the nutrition labels on prepackaged food. As much as possible, eliminate high fat foods from your diet
Always consult your healthcare professional before beginning any program to lose weight. Your health practitioner has the latest information and can be your best ally as you follow a low fat diet.
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