A Low Cholesterol Diet Can Taste Great

By George McKenzie

Many people, when they think of healthful eating, immediately think of bland, boring diets that may be heart-friendly, but are not particularly appetizing. This doesn't have to be true of low-cholesterol diets.

Watching your cholesterol can include eating delicious foods, prepared in ways you may not have tried before. There is endless room for experimentation and learning to love tastes you've never experienced.

One of the first things to remember about a heart-healthy, low-cholesterol diet is that cholesterol only appears in animal products. This is good news, because it means you can have lots of tasty vegetables, fruits and grains to add variety to your diet.

When you first start eating cholesterol-free foods, you may feel as if you're "giving up" some of your favorite foods. But chances are, you'll develop new favorites quickly from among the many choices available.

Fruits and vegetables are staples of a low-cholesterol diet. Don't feel limited to apples, bananas, lettuce and tomatoes. Your local farmer's market or produce department will have many appealing choices you've never tried before, and you will no doubt find new favorite veggies and fruits making their way to your table quite often.

Because grain does not contain cholesterol, whole grain breads and cereals are good choices for your heart-healthy diet. Sprinkling some brewer's yeast on your morning cereal and dinner salad can also help keep your cholesterol balanced.

One of the big issues for many people, in adopting a low-cholesterol diet, is meat. While red meat does contain a lot of cholesterol, fish and skinless poultry are great choices for healthful eating. Make sure to trim all the visible fat from meat before you cook it. And instead of frying, try grilling, broiling, boiling, baking, or sautéing.

If you love a morning omelet and are dreading the thought of giving up eggs, you can switch to egg whites, or use cholesterol-free egg substitutes.

You can also add heart-friendly nuts like walnuts and almonds to your diet and enjoy healthy snacks of plain, salt-free popcorn or pretzels.

Your choices are nearly unlimited when it comes to finding foods that are tasty and healthful. Most people dread cholesterol-free diets only because they are unaware of the variety of foods available. Once you take the time to discover your new favorites, you'll find that eating foods that are good for you can taste great and leave you feeling good about your eating habits, as well.
For more information on topics related to this article, click on Foods That Are High in Cholesterol.

George McKenzie is a retired TV anchor, medical reporter and radio talk show host. He often contributes articles to The Southwest Health Information Exchange, a resource site about health and wellness.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_McKenzie