Apr 21 2009

Low Carb to Lower Cholesterol Diet

Learn More About Low Carb Meal Plans

by Jacob

It has been long established that the consumption of excessive carbohydrates and a low fiber diet leads to unwanted weight gain. When processed by the bodies digestive enzymes, carbohydrates become glucose, which are essentially the bodies fuel. Excessive and unused glucose eventually become fat, which is the bodies way of storing energy.

Low carb diet plans have long been a favorite among all diet plans as it is not only effective, but also safe for the body (if carried out in moderation). Here is a quick look at some of the more famous low-carb meal plans.

The Atkins Diet

The meal plans in the Atkins Diet incorporates a system that is separated into four phases. It involves a restriction of certain types of foods and requires accurate measurements when it comes to portions of foods consumed. Some of the foods that are off-limits in the Atkins Diet include unprocessed carbohydrates such as white pastry, pasta and certain fruits and vegetables. The meal plans in this diet also includes the consumption of healthy food supplements.

Phase 1:

The first phase incorporates meal plans that run a course of 2 weeks. During this period, the daily consumption of carbohydrates is reduced to a maximum of 20 grams. This limited intake of carbohydrates will cause the body to enter into a state called ketosis where excessive body fat will be burned and expelled.

Phase 2:

The second phase involves the maintenance in the rate of weight lost through a series of specially formulated meal plans.

Phase 3:

The third phase is known as the pre-maintenance stage. This stage commences once you are 5-10 pounds away from your ideal weight.

Phase 4:

After achieving the target weight, this final stage introduces a healthy meal plan that helps you maintain the weight.

The South Beach Diet

This diet plan is very different from the Atkins Diet plan. It recommends eating 6 small meals a day and does not involve the measurement of portions and counting calories. The South Beach diet is divided into three stages to involve a general guideline what you should or should not eat. In the first stage, you are to restrict your diet to a specific group of carbohydrates. In the second stage certain nuts, whole grains and fruits are introduced to the diet. The final stage involves a meal plan that would help maintain a healthy weight.

Among the two diet plans, most experts prefer the South Beach diet, as the meal plans there are more wholesome and balanced, thus healthier for the body. The introduction of several small meals throughout the day is also less stressful on the body, reducing the urge to binge and preventing hunger pangs.

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Feb 24 2009

What To Eat To Reduce Cholesterol

by Adrian Fletcher

Cholesterol What To Eat To Reduce Cholesterol

Along with a diagnosis of high cholesterol what to eat can cause a true sense of confusion as you try to sort out what you can and can't eat and what you should do to get that cholesterol level under control. There's a lot to it, but fortunately, it is a step-by-step process that doesn't have to be accomplished all at once.

A doctor can give you cholesterol lowering medications, but you can also do a great deal to control your cholesterol with diet. In fact, your doctor will often insist that you change your diet first before taking medication. And in many cases this will do the trick. When you speak with your doctor about your initial diagnosis of high cholesterol, what to eat should figure highly in your discussion. He or she can to give you some ideas about the best diet to follow.

Stop by a bookstore or a library in your neighborhood to find some informative books about the subject of nutrition and cholesterol. There is a lot of material available on cholesterol what to eat and ways to develop a diet program to decrease your levels of cholesterol. It is essential that you find a diet that you can feel comfortable with so that you can continue to stay on it and become healthier.

A great way to identify and select healthy foods you will enjoy is to consult with a nutritional expert or dietitian. The nutritionist is trained in finding foods that suit you best. And a dietitian can develop a tailor made plan for your needs and objectives. Following the advice of these experts will go a long way to help you follow a consistent and nutritious plan, resulting in good health. You will discover that for cholesterol what to eat can help you lose weight while cutting cholesterol levels. In addition to the health benefits, an improved diet will make you feel and look better, too.

Healthy habits come with built-in motivation: looking better causes you to feel better, and vice-versa. The spring in your step and the bright shiny face in the mirror will help keep you on track. The feelings of satisfaction and contentment you will gain from a healthy diet may be all you need to encourage you to continue. With the habits you learn as you reduce your cholesterol what to eat will soon become second nature, so once ingrained, you will not have to spend a lot of time reminding yourself to follow your plan.

If your concern is to decrease your cholesterol what to eat should be the first and foremost action you need to take. After you include those foods in your diet plan, the next action is to go for some kind of exercises. It is no exaggeration that only thirty minutes of exercise, five times a week, will be very helpful in lowering your cholesterol.

Once you have lowered your cholesterol what to eat should be those foods that bring you the best results, so stay with them. Having your cholesterol level in the normal range is not just a goal, it is a lifestyle. When you have achieved normal cholesterol levels, continue with your good work and resist backsliding!

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Learn more about low cholesterol and the importance of low cholesterol recipe for lowering your cholesterol level.

Feb 12 2009

Cholesterol And Diet

Starting Today You Can Reduce Cholesterol

by Adrian Fletcher

There are many people out there who need to reduce their cholesterol levels. A blood test that is administered by a doctor, will determine whether your cholesterol is too high and if it is what can be done to correct this. Since cholesterol and diet go hand in hand, your doctor may recommend that you follow a low fat diet that is high in nutrients.

In most cases, cholesterol levels can be reduced and controlled by diet and exercise alone so that there is no need to resort to any form of medicine. When first diagnosed with high cholesterol this is the first strategy employed. The doctor will advise you to control your diet and give you some general good eating guidelines. They may also suggest a suitable exercise program. You can manage your cholesterol and diet on your own or for a more tailored plan, you can consult a nutritionist.

Nutritionists are able to show you which foods correlate with an increase in cholesterol levels. You will learn what foods to avoid and which ones are helpful for sticking to healthy levels of cholesterol and diet guidelines. You should learn everything you can about maintaining a healthy diet so that you can keep your heart healthy.

You will want to learn which of your preferred foods are truly nutritious. Dieting is often unsuccessful because dieters are unable to face eating the same foods over and over. You want to work at coming up with new cholesterol and diet-friendly recipes that will make it easier to stay with the things you should have. Adding a variety of herbs and spices to flavor otherwise bland foods can help you in this effort.

When you're ready to tackle your cholesterol and diet and are armed with solid goals, it's a good idea to find appropriate cholesterol friendly recipes. Try teasing your taste buds with something different. You may find that you enjoy the new taste. Variety in your diet can keep you on the right track for lowering your cholesterol.

There is no doubt that the link between your cholesterol and diet will influence your cholesterol reading, however you must also take on a certain amount of exercise to increase your chances of reducing cholesterol and improving your general health. Exercising can be fun and stimulating and you should search for physical activities that will fit into your schedule and fitness level.

When attempting to regulate your cholesterol and diet, select the foods that you actually like and types of exercise that you actually enjoy doing. You will be more likely to keep true to your lifestyle changes, rather than falling back into old behavior patterns and risking high cholesterol levels.

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Find out more about cholesterol testing and what information you get in a cholesterol test result .

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