Here's how you can keep your cholesterol in check.
1 Make a smart move: Make your food choices wisely. If you like non-vegetarian food, become a fish vegetarian instead of being Lacto-vegetarian. Have zero cholesterol food like fresh fruits, vegetables and fiber in addition to fresh water fish. Have this as a snack every time you crave to eat something.
2 Cut down on dairy products: Dairy products like whole milk, butter, ghee, creams and ice-creams are rich in cholesterol. Allow yourself a helping or two every week, but not more.
3 Go skim: Use skimmed milk. It is healthy for the heart. Say no to red meat like goat, pork and beef. Stop taking the yellow portion (yolk) of eggs, instead take the white portion as it is healthy for the heart.
4 Avoid sweets: Indian sweets made of “khoya or mawa” like burfi, gulab jamun, rasgulla or jalebis are made in reused or hydrogenated oils and are concentrated source of so called slow poison known as bad or LDL cholesterol. Avoid them as much as possible.
5 Get regular check up done: Consult your cardiologist and ensure that you are not suffering from diseases which elevate cholesterol levels in your body. Thyroid and kidney disorders may raise your cholesterol numbers or it may be in your genes as in familial hyper-cholestrolimia.
HTC with inputs by Dr Balbir Kalra, Senior cardiologist, Artemis Hospital Gurgaon
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