Sample menu for people with high cholesterol. Cholesterol diet for weight loss with a menu for the week. Low-cholesterol diet: nutritional basics and composition

Content

As a goal of dietary nutrition, you can set the result not only to lose weight, but also to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood. To do this, you also need to consume certain foods. What is the diet for high cholesterol? Check out the recommendations below to create your personal weekly diet.

How to lower blood cholesterol through nutrition

Eating for high cholesterol involves excluding foods that contain it in large quantities - these are foods of animal origin, i.e. fish, milk, meat, offal. The main rule of the diet is to minimize dishes with saturated fats. So, meat portions should be reduced to 100-150 g, the skin should be removed from the chicken, and fatty sour cream and cream, butter and mayonnaise should be discarded. In addition to these rules, you need to listen to a few more tips:

1. use lemon juice or olive oil as a salad dressing;
2. use useful ways cooking: boiling, stewing, baking, steaming;
3. include more fiber in your diet, which can be found in vegetables;
4. eat more often, but in small portions with a break of 3 to 4 hours;
5. With the usual 3 meals a day, make snacks.

How to stick to a diet for high cholesterol in women and men

A cholesterol-lowering diet is especially indicated for those who have problems with cardiovascular system or is at risk for such pathologies. If there is an imbalance in the weekly diet menu to reduce cholesterol, you need to include polyunsaturated fatty acids. They are found in seafood, fatty fish and fish oil. The standard amount of cholesterol entering the body is 300 g, but to reduce the level it is necessary to reduce it to 250 g and create a menu according to this condition.

Hypocholesterol

This substance in moderate quantities is beneficial for the body, because it is an integral element of construction cell membranes, participates in strengthening the immune system. The first thing you need to do is calculate the number of foods that are recommended to be included in your weekly diet menu to reduce cholesterol levels:

1. Protein dishes should be slightly limited: the daily protein intake should be 80-100 g. A hypocholesterolemic diet should be based on skinless chicken breast, fish, and vegetable proteins contained in beans, nuts, peas or soybeans.
2. Daily norm fat – 40-50 g. This includes vegetable oil: olive, flaxseed, sesame and sunflower.
3. Carbohydrates should only replenish energy reserves, so you need to eat only slow ones: fruits, vegetables, whole grain bread, cereals, durum pasta.

Hypolipidemic

This diet option is indicated for impaired lipid metabolism, i.e. fats in the body. In addition to cholesterol, these include triglycerols and phospholipids. A diet to restore fat metabolism consists of increasing the amount of vegetable fats and reducing or completely eliminating animals. The foods on the weekly menu to lower cholesterol should be low in calories, but still nutritious. Servings should include small amounts of protein in the form of lean meats, complex carbohydrates found in cereals, and fiber from fruits and vegetables.

Foods for cholesterol

All foods can be divided into those that increase and decrease cholesterol levels. The former are recommended to be completely or partially limited to consumption, and the latter to be included in the diet in large quantities. By making a list of recommended and prohibited foods, you can plan your daily menu and diet for the whole week in advance, because you can eat it for an unlimited amount of time to reduce cholesterol.

Raising blood cholesterol

List of prohibited products

Fat meat cutlets pork mutton beefsteaks meatballs sausages meat by-products, i.e. lungs, liver, kidneys and brains smoked meats canned meat sausages sausages red meat bird skin Fish products and seafood fish caviar and liver shellfish shrimps crabs sturgeon Premium bread Confectionery cakes cakes biscuits cookie Pasta Carbonated drinks Coconut and palm oil, pork and cooking fat, margarine, refined vegetable oil High fat dairy products, especially sweet ones Alcohol

Removes cholesterol from the body

Foods that lower cholesterol levels

Fatty fish sardines mackerel salmon anchovy sea ​​bream cod navaga sprat halibut tuna Fruits with skin, except banana and grapes Brown pasta Low fat dairy products Fresh, boiled or baked vegetables almond walnuts tahini rabbit meat chicken turkey beans peas Wholemeal bread celery salad spinach brown rice oatmeal millet mineral water fresh juices pure water Vegetable oils olive rapeseed peanut

Weekly menu for high cholesterol

	Orange juice Vegetable salad	Some berries	Chicken with rice A piece of bread		Low-fat borscht
	Grapefruit		Vegetable soup	Dried fruits	Skim cheese
	Vegetable salad	Green tea	Vegetarian borscht	Greek salad	Baked fish
	Porridge with honey		Chicken with vegetables	Cabbage salad	Vegetable casserole
	Fresh juice	Tangerines	Steamed cutlets Green vegetables	Fruit salad	Steamed fish Rice portion
	Millet porridge	Cabbage salad	Steamed fish Mineralka	Some berries	Borscht with lean beef
	Cup of coffee without sugar	A handful of nuts	Shchi with chicken Mineralka	A glass of kefir	Vegetable stew

Cholesterol is an organic compound that is vital for every living organism to exist. 80-90% of our body's total cholesterol is produced by our own cells. Another 10% comes from food. High levels of total cholesterol, according to blood biochemistry, are a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases. First of all, this is true for coronary heart disease, and therefore heart attacks. The cholesterol diet is aimed at reducing blood cholesterol levels. The cholesterol diet menu does not contain sources of this substance - animal fats. In addition, the diet is rich in foods that normalize metabolism in the body and reduce the production of excess cholesterol by cells. A decrease in body weight can also be considered a positive effect of such a diet. Thus, this nutritional system both removes extra pounds and improves health. Cholesterol diet recipes can be found on the Internet and in specialized literature.

Principles of the cholesterol diet

The diet can be less (step 1) or more strict (step 2).

Step number 1. The total fat content in the diet should not exceed 30% of the total calories, saturated fatty acids– 10% of total calories, daily cholesterol intake should not be more than 300 mg. Daily consumption of meat and fish is limited to 180 grams (no more than 90 grams per meal). The fat is carefully trimmed from the meat, and the skin is removed from the poultry. Avoid butter and hard margarine. Milk, kefir, and cottage cheese are allowed only low-fat. Vegetable oil should be present in the cholesterol diet menu. It should account for no more than 10% of the daily calorie intake. Egg yolk and offal (liver, kidneys, brains) should be completely excluded. Carbohydrates should make up 55-60% of all food. Preference is given to foods rich in fiber (fruits, vegetables, bread, toast, muesli, cereals and other whole grain products). You can adhere to the diet of step number 1 of the cholesterol diet for 6-12 weeks. If the results suit you, then you should move on to a balanced one. healthy eating according to the age. If there is no reduction in blood cholesterol, then you need to move on to step number 2 of the cholesterol diet. In this case general content fat remains the same, and the content of saturated fatty acids is reduced to 7% of the calorie intake, and cholesterol - to 200 mg per day. You should move to the second stage diet gradually, preferably under the supervision of an endocrinologist, nutritionist or general practitioner.

Cholesterol diet menu

You should eat several times a day, in small portions. Eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly. Eating in front of the TV or computer is not recommended. A sample cholesterol diet menu looks like this:

• Breakfast (1 option): a glass of low-fat kefir, grain bread, boiled carrots;
• Breakfast (2 option): a glass of freshly squeezed juice from any fruit. Cottage cheese 5% 150 grams;
• Breakfast (option 3): boiled beans 100 grams and grain bread 25 grams;
• Lunch (1 option): boiled chicken meat 90 grams. Grain bread 25 grams. Vegetables with vegetable oil;
• Lunch (option 2): low-fat cheese 50 grams. Grain bread 25 grams. Vegetables with spices;
• Lunch (option 3): pollock 90 grams. Boiled potatoes 100 grams. Apple;
• Dinner (1 option): lean buckwheat porridge 50 grams. Chicken 90 grams. Cabbage salad with vegetable oil;
• Dinner (option 2): low-fat cottage cheese 200 grams. Apple. Cereal bread 25 grams;
• Dinner (option 3): boiled potatoes 100 grams. Boiled fish 90 grams. Orange.

you can use various options breakfasts, lunches and dinners throughout the week. For afternoon snacks and second breakfasts, always eat vegetables and fruits. If you really want something sweet, take those confectionery products that do not contain fat. For example, you can eat a spoonful of honey, or one marshmallow, or 50 grams of marmalade. As you may have noticed, eating according to cholesterol diet recipes is very simple and accessible to any level of culinary ability.

Today, probably everyone has heard about a cholesterol-free diet. Disturbances in fat metabolism in the body provoke the development of atherosclerosis, a serious disease dangerous for its complications. Treatment of pathology is complex, but always includes correction of lifestyle and nutrition. What are the consequences of high blood cholesterol, and how diet can help: let's figure it out.

A little about cholesterol and its effect on the body

Before you understand the features of a diet for cholesterol, it is worth learning more about this substance and its effect on the human body.

So, cholesterol, or cholesterol, is a fat-like substance, according to the biochemical classification it belongs to the class of lipophilic (fatty) alcohols. The total content of this organic compound in the body is approximately 200 g. Moreover, most of it, 75-80%, is formed by hepatocytes in the human liver, and only 20% comes from food as fat.

To the logical question, why does the body need to produce a substance that is potentially dangerous to it, there is a logical answer. A normal amount of cholesterol is necessary because the organic compound performs the following functions:

• is part of the cytoplasmic membrane of all cells, making it more elastic and durable (another name for fatty alcohol is a membrane stabilizer);
• regulates the permeability of the cell wall, blocks the penetration of certain toxic substances through it;
• is the basis for the synthesis of steroid hormones by the adrenal glands;
• participates in the production of bile acids and vitamin D in the liver.

But increased cholesterol levels in the blood pose a certain health hazard. This pathology is associated with a violation of fat metabolism in the body and is provoked by:

• hereditary (familial) dyslipidemias;
• chronic renal failure;
• arterial hypertension;
• acute or chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver;
• pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer;
• endocrine and metabolic disorders: diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, growth hormone deficiency;
• obesity;
• alcohol abuse;
• smoking, including passive smoking;
• taking some medicines: COCs, steroid hormones, diuretics, etc.;
• pregnancy.

Note! The risk of encountering high cholesterol increases with age: dyslipidemia is more common in men after 35-40 years of age and women after 50 years of age.

First of all, high level cholesterol is associated with diseases such as atherosclerosis. This pathology is characterized by the appearance of fatty plaques on the inner surface of the arteries, narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels and impaired blood supply. internal organs. This is fraught with the development of conditions such as:

• cardiac ischemia;
• angina pectoris;
• encephalopathy;
• disorders of blood supply to the brain: TIA, and the highest degree of pathology - stroke;
• impaired blood supply to the kidneys;
• circulatory disorders in the vessels of the extremities.

In the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, an important role is played not only by the concentration of total cholesterol, but also by which fraction of it predominates in the blood. In medicine there are:

1. Atherogenic lipoproteins – LDL, VLDL. Large, saturated with cholesterol and triglycerides, they easily settle on the intima of blood vessels and form atherosclerotic plaques.
2. Antiatherogenic lipoproteins - HDL. This fraction is small in size and contains a minimal amount of cholesterol. Their biological role consists of capturing “lost” fat molecules and transporting them to the liver for further processing. Thus, HDL is a kind of “brush” for blood vessels.

Thus, a diet for high cholesterol should be aimed at reducing its atherogenic fractions and increasing HDL.

If you have high cholesterol, it is important to follow a diet

Therapeutic diets are an important stage in the treatment of many somatic pathologies. Atherosclerosis and its causes are no exception. Before creating a menu for high cholesterol, let’s try to figure out how nutrition affects its level.

So, the daily diet of a healthy person contains on average 250-300 mg of cholesterol. Considering the fact that most of the fatty alcohol is produced in the liver, this amount is enough to meet the physiological needs of the body.

What happens if blood cholesterol is high? As a rule, an increase in the concentration of this organic compound occurs due to the endogenous, “own” fraction. In any case, even 250-300 mg of a substance coming from outside becomes unnecessary and only aggravates the course of atherosclerosis.

Thus, therapeutic nutrition to lower blood cholesterol levels:

1. Positively affects the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
2. Normalizes metabolism.
3. Already within the first month it helps reduce “bad” fats in the body by 15-25% of the original level.
4. Reduces the likelihood of the formation of atherosclerotic plaques on the inner wall of the arteries.
5. Provokes a reduction in the risk of complications that are dangerous to health and life.
6. Increases the life expectancy of people with lipid metabolism disorders.

Therefore, adherence to the principles of therapeutic nutrition at all stages of treatment of atherosclerosis helps to achieve excellent results. How to reduce blood cholesterol with diet: let's figure it out.

Principles of therapeutic nutrition

A diet for high blood cholesterol is not only about preventing the formation of new atherosclerotic plaques. Long-term adherence to the principles of therapeutic nutrition will help cleanse blood vessels of cholesterol deposits and even “dissolve” mature plaques. Among the basic rules of a diet for lowering cholesterol are:

• sharp limitation/exclusion of foods that cause an increase in the concentration of “bad” lipids;
• reducing daily cholesterol intake to 150-200 mg;
• saturating the body with “good” cholesterol;
• eating a lot of fiber;
• fractional meals in small portions;
• compliance with the drinking regime.

What you can and cannot eat if you have high cholesterol

Avoiding dietary cholesterol is the first thing you need to do to reduce blood cholesterol. This organic compound is found in animal fat, which is part of fatty meats, lard, smoked meats, dairy products, egg yolk etc. Trans fats, one of the by-products of the food industry, a type of unsaturated fat whose molecules are in the trans configuration, have a negative effect on cholesterol levels.

Note! The intake of “food” cholesterol into the body is not a necessary process: even with a long-term plant-based (but balanced!) diet, a person remains healthy.

Meat and offal

Meat can bring both benefit and harm to a patient with atherosclerosis. In addition to high-quality protein, it contains animal fat, which reduces the concentration of “good” HDL and increases the atherogenic fraction of cholesterol.

Is it possible to include meat in a diet against atherosclerosis? It’s possible, but not all: in this food group they are high in cholesterol:

• brains – 800-2300 mg/100 g;
• kidneys – 300-800 mg/100 g;
• chicken liver – 492 mg/100 g;
• beef liver – 270-400 mg/100 g;
• pork fillet – 380 mg/100 g;
• chicken heart – 170 mg/100 g;
• liver sausage – 169 mg/100 g;
• beef tongue – 150 mg/100 g;
• pork liver – 130 mg/100 g;
• raw smoked sausage – 115 mg/100 g;
• sausages, sausages – 100 mg/100 g;
• fatty beef – 90 mg/100 g.

These foods are a real cholesterol bomb. Consuming them even in small quantities leads to increased dyslipidemia and disorders of fat metabolism. Fatty meats, offal and sausages should be completely excluded from the low-cholesterol diet.

In addition to the cholesterol content itself, other substances in the product also affect the development of atherosclerosis. For example, beef fat contains a large amount of refractory fats, which make it even more “problematic” in terms of the formation of cholesterol plaques than pork.

The cholesterol-lowering diet allows the consumption of the following meat products:

• lean lamb – 98 mg/100 g;
• rabbit meat – 90 mg/100 g;
• horse meat – 78 mg/100 g;
• lamb – 70 mg/100 g;
• chicken breast– 40-60 mg/100 g;
• turkey – 40-60 mg/100 g.

Lean meat of lamb, rabbit or poultry is considered a dietary product. They contain moderate amounts of cholesterol and are loaded with quality protein. Doctors note that boiled or steamed foods from this group can be eaten 2-3 times a week.

Thus, the anti-cholesterol diet has the following rules for eating meat and poultry:

1. Completely exclude beef, pork, offal and sausages from your diet.
2. While on a cholesterol-lowering diet, you can eat lean lamb, rabbit, chicken or turkey.
3. Always remove the skin from poultry as it contains a high percentage of cholesterol.
4. Avoid “harmful” methods of cooking – frying, smoking, salting. It is preferable to boil, bake or steam the meat.
5. It is recommended to include lean meat in the diet 2-3 times a week.
6. It is better if the side dish is fresh/cooked vegetables (except potatoes), and not simple carbohydrates - white rice, pasta, etc.

Saturated fatty acids and trans fats

• margarine;
• cooking fat;
• salomas;
• palm oil (can even be found in chocolate).

Regardless of the level of cholesterol in their composition, they saturate the body with “bad” lipids, contribute to the formation of new atherosclerotic plaques and the rapid development of acute and chronic vascular complications.

Experts advise replacing harmful saturated fats with vegetable oils:

• olive;
• sunflower;
• sesame;
• flax, etc.

Vegetable oils are classified as products that reduce the risk of the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, since they do not contain cholesterol, but are saturated with healthy polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Note! A large amount of saturated fatty acids are formed during frying, so patients should categorically avoid this method of cooking.

Fish and seafood

A diet for high cholesterol in men and women must include eating fish at least twice a week. The content of the organic compound in question in different varieties of water bodies varies:

• mackerel – 360 mg/100 g;
• stellate sturgeon – 300 mg/100 g;
• carp – 270 mg/100 g;
• oysters – 170 mg/100 g;
• shrimp – 114 mg/100 g;
• pollock – 110 mg/100 g;
• herring – 97 mg/100 g;
• trout – 56 mg/100 g;
• tuna – 55 mg/100 g;
• pike – 50 mg/100 g;
• cod – 30 mg/100 g.

Despite their relatively high cholesterol content, fish and seafood are rich in unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids. In addition, the lipid composition of freshwater and marine inhabitants is represented mainly by “good” high-density lipoproteins. Therefore, regular consumption of boiled, steamed or baked fish will help reduce the manifestations of existing atherosclerosis and prevent the formation of new cholesterol plaques.

Milk and dairy products

Milk and dairy products, especially if they are made from whole milk, should be consumed with caution by patients with high cholesterol. The content of this substance remains quite high in them:

• Gouda cheese, 45% fat – 114 mg/100 g;
• Cream cheese, 60% fat. – 100 mg/100 g;
• sour cream, 30% fat – 90-100 mg/100 g;
• cream, 30% fat – 80 mg/100 g;
• fatty cottage cheese – 40 mg/100 g;
• goat milk 30 mg/100 g;
• milk, 1% - 3.2 mg/100 g;
• kefir, 1% - 3.2 mg/100 g;
• low-fat cottage cheese – 1 mg/100 g.

Thus, patients with atherosclerosis are recommended to exclude aged hard cheeses, fatty sour cream, and cream from the diet. But 1% milk, kefir or low-fat cottage cheese will provide the body with a sufficient amount of protein and calcium with a low cholesterol content.

Eggs

Eggs are a controversial product for patients with atherosclerosis. Healthy and dietary protein is adjacent to the yolk, which contains a large amount of cholesterol:

• chicken eggs – 570 mg/100 g;
• quail eggs – 600 mg/100 g.

With such an amount of fatty alcohol, it would seem that these products should be strictly contraindicated in atherosclerosis. But this is not so: the fact is that the yolk contains mainly “good” lipoproteins, as well as the unique biological substance lecithin. It helps normalize lipid metabolism and removes excess cholesterol from the body. Thus, it allows the consumption of eggs, but not more than 1-2 times a week.

Simple carbohydrates

Interestingly, excessive consumption of carbohydrates can in some cases lead to increased blood cholesterol levels. This complex biochemical process is a chain of reactions of the breakdown of polysaccharides into their glucose, and then triglycerides and adipose tissue.

Therefore, during therapeutic diet Patients are advised to limit their intake of:

• potatoes;
• pasta;
• white rice;
• sweets, cookies, other confectionery products.

It is better to replace them with difficult-to-digest carbohydrates (most cereals, brown rice), which, when digested, release dosed portions of glucose. In the future, it is spent on the needs of the body, and is not transformed into fat. A pleasant bonus of including such foods in your diet will be a long-lasting feeling of fullness.

Vegetables and fruits

Fresh seasonal vegetables and fruits are what should become the basis of nutrition. During the day, patients with atherosclerosis are recommended to consume at least 2-3 different fruits and 2-3 varieties of vegetables. Plant foods are rich in fiber, which cleanses the intestinal walls of toxins, restores impaired digestion and helps to lose excess weight.

The most antiatherogenic properties have:

• garlic – for a positive effect, you should consume 1 clove of garlic for 3-6 months;
• bell pepper is a leader in vitamin C content, which is a powerful antioxidant;
• carrots are a source of vitamin A;
• kiwi and pineapple are fruits that help normalize metabolism and reduce body weight.

Note! Special foods can also be a source of fiber in the diet. nutritional supplements– for example, oat or rye bran.

Beverages

Compliance with the drinking regime is an important stage in normalizing metabolism and reducing body weight. The main assistant in this matter is clean drinking water. A diet for high cholesterol in women involves drinking 1.5 to 2.5 liters of water (depending on height and weight). In men, this figure can reach 3-3.5 l/day.

It is also useful to drink for atherosclerosis:

• rosehip decoction;
• homemade jelly, unsweetened compotes;
• green tea.

Coffee and alcohol in any form remain prohibited. The aromatic invigorating drink contains the substance cafestol, which can indirectly affect cholesterol levels in the body, increasing it. Alcohol provokes the development of metabolic disorders and damage to the vascular intima. All of these are predisposing factors for the development of atherosclerosis.

Cholesterol-free diet: menu for 7 days

Breakfast is one of the most important meals. It is he who gives energy for the entire first half of the day and helps to wake up. Even in patients with atherosclerosis, breakfast should be quite hearty and include porridge/eggs/cottage cheese (your choice), as well as fresh fruit or vegetables.

When compiling a sample lunch menu, follow the following rule:

• ½ of the food volume should be fresh or cooked vegetables;
• ⅔ of the food volume comes from complex carbohydrates - cereals, brown rice;
• the remaining ⅓ is meat, poultry, fish or vegetable protein.

When planning dinners, these proportions are maintained, except that the entire volume of the side dish is filled with vegetable salad. Eating carbohydrates at night, even complex ones, is not recommended.

If you have difficulty choosing meals, contact your healthcare provider. He will be able to answer your questions and recommend the optimal therapeutic nutrition plan. An approximate menu for the week, which is suitable for those who strive to normalize metabolism, is presented in the table below.

	Breakfast	Snack	Dinner	Snack	Dinner
Monday	Low-fat cottage cheese with raisins and kefir, apple.	Nuts.	Steamed minced chicken cutlets, brown rice, cabbage and carrot salad.	Apple juice.	Cod fillet baked with vegetables.
Tuesday	Oatmeal porridge with skim milk, raw carrots.	Kiwi.	Bean lobio.	Low-fat kefir.	Vegetable stew.
Wednesday	Boiled egg with fresh salad of tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs.	Unsweetened crackers, berry juice.	Stewed rabbit meat, buckwheat, carrot salad.	Nuts.	Rabbit with salad.
Thursday	Buckwheat porridge with carrots and mushrooms, tea, pear.	Any fruit (your choice).	Braised cabbage.	Rose hip decoction.	Fish baked in foil, radish salad.
Friday	Fruit salad.	Kefir/yogurt (low-fat).	Easy vegetable soup, toast.	Kiwi.	Vegetable stew.
Saturday	Millet porridge, nuts.	Apple juice.	Turkey schnitzel with lentils and fresh cucumber salad.	Nuts.	Schnitzel with salad.
Sunday	Baked apple with cinnamon and honey.	Kefir 1%, apple.	Seafood soup.	Berry jelly.	Baked chicken breast, vegetable salad.

Despite the reduced cholesterol concentration, diverse and balanced menu will allow you to get all the necessary vitamins and microelements, get rid of excess weight, but at the same time you won’t go hungry.

For the results of therapeutic nutrition to be noticeable, it is necessary to adhere to such a diet for a long time - 3 months or more.

High cholesterol and somatic diseases

Often atherosclerosis is combined with other somatic pathologies. How will the nature of nutrition change in this case?

Diabetes

Atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus are two serious pathologies that often go hand in hand. Moreover, which of them needs specific treatment. In addition to limiting animal fats, a diet for high cholesterol and sugar includes:

• calorie restriction: on average, the patient should consume 1900-2400 kcal per day;
• nutritional balance: the ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates should be approximately 90-100 g, 80-85 g and 300-350 g per day, respectively;
• complete exclusion of sugar and all sweets from the diet: if necessary, replace them with sorbitol or xylitol (widely used sweeteners).

• low-fat cottage cheese;
• fish;
• lean meat (chicken breast, turkey);
• c/w bread.

Chronic cholecystitis and liver diseases

If a person develops atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus simultaneously, therapeutic nutrition will be based on the following principles:

1. Eat meals at the same time every day.
2. Mandatory snacks between main meals, which will help the gastrointestinal tract work better and avoid stagnation of bile in the gastrointestinal tract.
3. It is necessary to maintain a balance between protein and carbohydrate foods.
4. Do not eat food that is too cold or too hot.
5. Replace rich meat or fish broths with light vegetable soup.
6. Eliminate cabbage, legumes, and grapes from your diet.

Chronic pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is another common pathology of the digestive system. With simultaneous damage to the pancreas and undergoes a slight correction:

• fasting on days of intense pain is necessary to restore the functioning of the pancreas.
• refusal of foods that reduce the pH of gastric juice and increase the production of enzymes - rich broths, fatty fried, smoked dishes, sweets;
• refusal to fry foods: all foods are steamed or boiled.
• limiting the intake of animal fats into the body: vegetable oil is added to a ready-made dish.

As with atherosclerosis, the basis of the diet of patients with pancreatitis consists of cereals, vegetables and fruits. If necessary, add a drop of vegetable oil directly to the plate with the dish.

Above, we tried to figure out how to lower blood cholesterol through diet. In addition to correcting nutrition and lifestyle, treatment of atherosclerosis involves the use of a whole range of measures - taking lipid-lowering drugs, increasing physical activity, and, if indicated, surgical restoration of impaired blood flow in the arteries. Compliance with all doctor’s recommendations will help achieve stable compensation of the condition and reduce the concentration of total cholesterol in the blood, as well as reduce the risk of complications.

The fact of elevated blood cholesterol levels is not as scary as the consequences of this condition. Numerous studies show that the higher the blood cholesterol level, the higher the risk of getting sick and dying from diseases associated with atherosclerosis. First of all, this is coronary heart disease, heart attack, disruption of cerebral blood supply - stroke.

The blood cholesterol level should not exceed 5.2 mmol/l. If this happens, be sure to consult a doctor, he will choose tactics for further measures, but you need to pay close attention to your diet.

Basic principles of nutrition for high cholesterol:

1. A diet for high cholesterol is prescribed for a long time, for at least 6 months, and in many cases its principles should be followed throughout life.
2. Limiting fats. Animal fats cause particular harm to the body, their sources are fatty meat (lamb, pork, goose), fatty dairy products - sour cream, cream, butter.
3. Meat and poultry should be cooked in such a way that they are not covered in fat; free fat should drip off.
4. The skin must be removed from poultry before cooking.
5. Meat or chicken stock must be cooled to remove any hardened fat from the surface. Or cook soups with 2 broths, draining the first one.
6. For salads, you can use low-fat dressings - lemon juice, low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese, etc.
7. Replace dairy products with low-fat or low-fat dairy products in all recipes. Use low-fat cheeses.
8. You can stew vegetables in meat broth instead of butter or margarine.
9. Egg yolks should be consumed in limited quantities, no more than 2 yolks per week. Proteins do not contain cholesterol, so they can be used more often in nutrition.
10. Add foods rich in dietary fiber to your diet: fruits, vegetables, whole grains - cereals, bread. You can additionally use bran by adding it to dishes.
11. Some products on the menu can be replaced with soy analogues. Soy is free of cholesterol. For example, you can use soy tofu.
12. A sufficient amount of complex carbohydrates in the diet - cereals, porridge, grain pasta, whole grain bread, vegetables, fruits. In this case, there should be a minimum amount of simple carbohydrates. Sources of simple carbohydrates: sugar and all products containing it, white bread, pastries.
13. Include foods that are sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids in your menu: sea fish, nuts, vegetable oils. It is important that these products are present in the diet, but their quantity is moderate. Sea fish per week should be about 3 servings of 100-120g each, nuts should be consumed dried, without any additives, you can eat no more than 1 handful per day - about 10-12 pieces, use 5-6 teaspoons of vegetable oil in a day.
14. For most people increased level cholesterol is associated with overweight body, so reducing it most often leads to lower cholesterol levels.

You must add fresh fruits and berries to the above menu. They are perfect for a snack between breakfast and lunch.

The effectiveness of diet therapy has been confirmed in various international studies, which allows its use in all groups of patients with atherosclerosis.

In this article we will look at nutritional features for high cholesterol, sample menu, prohibited and recommended products.

A cholesterol diet without pills normalizes lipid metabolism in a few months. The only drawback of such nutrition is the mandatory compliance with all the rules and restrictions provided for by the diet.

The basic rule of cholesterol-lowering diets is the mutual replacement of vegetable and animal fats, as well as a reduction in the consumption of quickly digestible carbohydrates.

According to the latest statistical studies by the Center for Disease Control (USA), rapidly digestible carbohydrates provoke an increase in triglycerides in the blood serum, which steadily leads to the development of atherosclerosis.

The main types of dietary rations should consist of 70% fibrous plant foods. Coarse fiber not only improves digestion processes, but also removes excess cholesterol from the intestines. The rest of the menu should be supplemented with protein foods and slowly digestible carbohydrates.

Prohibited Products

The list of prohibited foods is compiled taking into account all the biochemical properties of food, food containing an abundance of quickly digestible carbohydrates and monosaturated fats. Most prohibited products have a high glycemic index, calories. With a cholesterol diet, the menu excludes:

• fatty meats: pork, lamb, animal by-products (liver, kidneys, brain), lard, waterfowl meat;
• factory-made semi-finished meat products, sausages;
• egg yolks;
• high fat cheeses;
• fatty dairy products: butter, full-fat cottage cheese, whole milk, sour cream (fat content more than 20%), cream;
• sweets;
• baked goods;
• products of the highest grade wheat flour.

Foods that lower cholesterol

A diet to reduce endogenous lipid concentrations involves including a large number of plant-based products in the menu.

If you follow the rules, the diet reduces total cholesterol levels within a week.

Biochemical elements of products with a hypolipidemic effect:

• Molecules of oleic acid, which olive oil is so rich in, linseed oil prevent the development of atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome. Olive oil is an essential element of the Mediterranean diet.
• Polyunsaturated fatty acids (Omega-3,6,9) eliminate hypercholesterolemia through antagonistic interaction with cholesterol. Omega-3 acids contain sunflower and corn oil. Sea fish contains enough Omega-6 to meet your daily requirement. For example, in 100 grams of Atlantic salmon the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids reaches 4.4 grams. 1 gram of fish oil protects blood vessels from cholesterol deposits, thereby preventing the development of atherosclerosis.
• Phytosterols, flavonoids, phytosterols. These elements contain wheat germ, coconut, corn, pine oil, pumpkin seeds, flax, sesame, pine nuts, avocado, rice bran. Daily consumption of 20 ml of olive oil can reduce endogenous cholesterol levels by 10-12%.
• Pectin. Apples and pears are rich in this element. The substance binds and removes excess lipids through the intestines. 2-3 apples/day helps reduce cholesterol levels by 20%.
• Polyphenols. A feature of this nutrient is its stimulation of the synthesis of “good” lipoproteins. You can find polyphenols in all vegetables and fruits with a rich red or purple hue: blueberries, viburnum, raspberries, lingonberries, rowan, cranberries, eggplants, beets, pomegranate. Freshly squeezed juices are beneficial.
• Natural "statin". Garlic phytoncides act like classic hypocholesterol drugs (Rosuvastatin, Atorvastatin). They reduce the activity of the synthesis of the “bad” fraction of lipoproteins, which also has a beneficial effect on vascular health.
• Microelements iodine, selenium, chromium have not only hypocholesterol activity, but also reduce blood sugar levels. In addition, microelements are powerful antioxidants and eliminate oxidative stress of damaged vessels, which prevents their further deformation.
• Lactic acid bacteria. These microorganisms normalize the flora of the large intestine, which utilizes excess cholesterol.

The listed nutrients work at the biochemical level of metabolism. Daily intake of the proper norms of these elements effectively copes with hypercholesterolemia.

Menu for the week

Let's consider an approximate menu compiled according to the recommendations of nutritionists, taking into account the biochemical composition of food products.

Day 1

• 1 slice of rye bread;
• 30 grams of low-fat cheese (Adygei, “Zdorovye”, Philadelphia low-calorie);
• fresh tomato (in season) or a portion of sauerkraut;
• two-egg omelette;
• 2 pcs. biscuits;
• a cup of green tea.

• a glass of Greek yogurt;
• fruit;
• bread (1 piece);
• decoction of dried fruits.

• boiled chicken breast;
• a portion of durum wheat spaghetti;
• a portion of fresh vegetable salad;
• a glass of freshly squeezed carrot-apple juice.

• spoon oat bran;
• a glass of low-fat kefir.

• 200 grams of baked vegetables, you can take frozen ones (zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, asparagus).
• baked veal;
• vegetable salad;
• Herb tea.

Day 2

• 30 grams of low-fat cheese (Adygei, “Zdorovye”, Philadelphia low-calorie)
• cranberry juice.

• sandwich made from whole grain bread, boiled chicken fillet;
• coffee/tea without sugar.

• boiled chicken breast;
• mashed potatoes;
• Chinese cabbage salad.

• a glass of low-fat kefir;
• 1 apple.

• vegetable broth;
• bread;
• a serving of salad from any fresh vegetables.

Day 3

• buckwheat porridge seasoned with olive oil;
• hard-boiled egg;
• berry juice.

• carrot and cabbage salad (portion);
• freshly squeezed orange juice;
• biscuits (2-3 pcs.)

• baked hake or pollock fillet;
• couscous, olive oil;
• sour cabbage;
• Apple juice.

As a snack, you can drink a glass of kefir and eat an apple. Such recommendations are saved for the following days.

• portion of cottage cheese, 1 tsp. honey, bran, berries (raspberries, strawberries);
• fruit compote without sugar.

Day 4

• oatmeal, 1.5 tbsp. l. bran, 1 tsp. honey;
• 50 grams of lean ham;
• whole wheat bread;
• Orange juice.

• carrot and apple salad;
• a portion of fresh berries (cranberries, raspberries, currants, blueberries) according to the season, Greek yogurt with honey, bran;

• veal baked with vegetables;
• seasonal vegetable salad seasoned with olive oil;
• cranberry juice.

• 2 whole grain toasts;
• 100 grams of fresh salted salmon;
• half an avocado;
• 50 grams of red wine, if there are no contraindications.

Day 5

• a sandwich, a slice of homemade ham, a slice of fresh tomato;
• berry juice.

• potato zrazy, olive oil;
• cucumber.

• durum wheat spaghetti;
• Black tea.

• rice vermicelli or Shirataki pasta;
• a portion of salad;
• Herb tea.

Day 6

• cottage cheese casserole;
• Apple juice.

• fruit;
• a spoonful of oat bran, a spoonful of flax.

• soy goulash;
• seasonal salad;
• biscuits (2 pcs.)

• mackerel baked with vegetables;
• stewed vegetables (portion);
• seasonal salad;
• herbal soothing tea.

Day 7

• vegetable stew;
• sandwich with a piece of cheese, whole grain bread;
• cranberry juice.

• fruit slices;
• Greek yogurt.

• chicken fillet, assorted vegetables;
• whole wheat bread;
• peach juice.

• skim cheese;
• bread;
• Herb tea.

The diet is optimized for patients suffering from hypercholesterolemia, but can be changed to suit the individual characteristics of the patient.

Recipes

Dietary nutrition should not be monotonous or meager. The patient should not constantly feel hungry, since such psychological stress increases the risk of breakdown and worsening the clinical picture.

• Homemade cheese “Zdorovye”. To prepare it you will need 1 liter of skim milk, 1 liter of skim kefir, 3 chicken eggs, salt, spices to taste. Pour milk and kefir into an enamel pan; when the whey begins to drain, pour in lightly beaten eggs, add salt and spices. Bring to a boil, simmer for 7 minutes. Strain the separated cottage cheese through cheesecloth, tighten it tightly in it, and place it in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, healthy cholesterol-free cheese is ready.
• Homemade sausages. If you are on a cholesterol diet, store-bought sausage products should be replaced with homemade ones. 1 kg of minced fillet, a spoon of corn starch, 3 chicken eggs, salt, spices to taste. From the arsenal - cling film. The ingredients are mixed and then laid out on cling film. The film is used to form sausages; the ends of the film must be secured with thread. Cook homemade sausages for no more than 15 minutes.
• Low cholesterol lobio. To prepare, you need to take half a kilogram of beans, fresh basil, 3 onions, olive or sunflower oil (30 ml), 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, parsley. Boil the beans for 50-60 minutes over low heat. The onion is fried. After which the boiled beans are poured into a frying pan with onions, basil is added. Add spices to taste, simmer for 15 minutes. The dish is ready.
• Vegetable puree soup. You need to take 300 grams of cauliflower, 3 large potatoes, an onion, one carrot, 30 ml of olive oil, 1.5 liters of water, salt, spices to taste. Place washed, peeled vegetables into boiling water and cook for half an hour. Fry finely chopped onions and grated carrots until a pleasant aroma or golden brown appears. Herbs, spices, fried onions and carrots are added to the vegetable broth. The puree soup must be ground in a blender and then boiled again.

Cholesterol-free desserts:

• Fruit and berry mousse. To prepare the dessert you need 2 chicken proteins, 200 grams of fruit, berries of your choice, 10 grams of gelatin, 150 grams of sugar (can be replaced with honey or a sweetener). Beat the egg whites until foamy, then add finely chopped fruits and berries. Pour the mixture into molds and leave to harden in the refrigerator. After 2 hours delicious, healthy dessert ready.
• Oat cookies. You will need 300 grams of oatmeal, 50 grams of sultanas, a glass of low-fat kefir, 2-3 tablespoons of honey (sugar or a sweetener if honey is tolerated), a bag of vanilla sugar, 1 tsp. cinnamon. Cereals Pour in kefir and leave for an hour. Kishmish must be steamed with boiling water. Bake cookies for 20 minutes at 180 degrees.

Delicious dishes prepared specially dietary recipes, help reduce high cholesterol levels to normal levels.

Last updated: August 22, 2019