Heart Health and Diet
These general guidelines provide basic information to help you start lowering your cholesterol until your appointment with a registered dietitian, the nutrition expert.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy substance and a fat. Too much cholesterol leads to a build-up of fatty materials and debris (called plaque) on the walls of the arteries supplying blood to the heart and other organs. Some cholesterol is needed by the body. In fact, cholesterol plays a role in normal body functions, including the formation of cell walls, production of hormones, and manufacture of bile acids, which are needed for digestion. Because the liver has the ability to make all the cholesterol our bodies need, there is no need for extra cholesterol in the diet.
High blood cholesterol = increased risk for heart disease
Plaque can narrow the passageway inside the artery and block the flow of blood to the heart muscle, causing a heart attack. You can reduce your risk by eating foods low in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. Including foods that contain unsaturated fats, exercising regularly, and losing weight, if needed, can also reduce your heart risks.
What do the numbers mean?
Blood cholesterol levels are measured by a blood test called a lipid profile. The lipid profile measures total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoproteins (HDL - the "good" cholesterol*) and low density lipoprotein (LDL- the "bad" cholesterol**).
* HDL is known as the "good" cholesterol because it helps carry cholesterol away from the walls of the arteries and transport it to the liver to excrete it. The higher your HDL number is, the better.
**LDL is known as the bad cholesterol because it carries a large amount of cholesterol in the blood and is responsible for depositing cholesterol in the walls of the blood vessels. The lower your LDL number is, the better.
*** Risk factors include: high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, smoking, low HDL, high LDL, family history of heart disease, age, male gender, and a sedentary lifestyle.
| Desirable | Borderline | High | |
| Total cholesterol | Less than 200 | 200-239 | Greater than 240 |
| Triglycerides | Less than 150 | 150-199 | 200-400 |
| HDL | Greater than 60 (Less than 40 is considered a risk for heart disease) | ||
| LDL | Less than 100 (or less than 70 if you have 2 or more risk factors***) | 130-159 | 160-189 |
Goals for healthy lifestyle eating
Cholesterol-lowering goals:
- Decrease the total amount of fat you eat to 20-35% or less of your total daily calories.
- Decrease the amount of saturated fat to 7% or less of your total daily calories. For a person eating 2000 calories a day, this would be 55-65 grams or less of fat and 16 grams or less of saturated fat per day.
- Decrease the amount of trans fat to 1% or less of your total daily calories. For a person eating 2000 calories a day, this would be 2.5 g or less of trans fat per day.
- Substitute polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat for saturated fat and trans fats. Saturated fat is usually solid at room temperature and comes from animal fats, coconut and palm oils. Some sources of saturated fat include butter and lard.
- Trans fatty acids are found naturally in animal products, snack foods, and baked goods. Check the ingredient list on the label; if it lists partially hydrogenated oils, the product contains trans fats.
- Unsaturated fat is liquid at room temperature and comes from plants. Some sources of unsaturated fats include olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, and corn oil.
- Limit cholesterol found in food to 200 milligrams (mg) or less per day.
- Choose foods high in starch and fiber such as whole grain breads, cereals, pasta, rice, fruits, and vegetables.
- A dietary fiber goal is 25 grams a day for women and 38 grams a day for men, with at least half of those grams being soluble fiber. Good sources of soluble fiber include fruits, vegetables, oatmeal, whole grain breads, and cereals.
- Eat a variety of foods to get all the nutrients you need. Try to include two fish meals per week (salmon, mackerel, trout, sardines). These fish are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which can help lower your risk of heart disease.
- Try to include 2 grams of plant stanols/sterols per day.
- Achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.
- Engage in moderate exercise. Calories burned are based on a 150-pound person:
- 60 minutes of moderate walking burns 272 calories
- 45 minutes of moderate swimming burns 306 calories
- 60 minutes of moderate resistance training burns 340 calories
- 45 minutes of a light aerobics class burns 306 calories
- 60 minutes of golf (walking) burns 272 calories
- 60 minutes of moderate yoga burns 300 calories
- 30 minutes of moderate biking burns 286 calories