i'm on a low-sodium/cholesterol lowering diet, any idea of what kind of foods are best to eat?

Question

By doctors orders i'm on a low sodium/cholesterol lowering diet...I want to know what foods and snacks I can eat that are best for this. I'm also told to cut way down on breads and trans-fats.

Answer 1

I had a severe stroke 23 years ago due to a hypertensive situation caused mainly by smoking. I also am extremely sodium sensitive, so If you listen to me I will give you some advice that has kept me out of the hospital and has confounded the cardiologists. I am a retired PhD who spent his career in the food industry.

Anyone should not have any problems in cutting their cholesterol level to below 200 mg/ 100 ml. The only exception would be someone who has familial hypercholesterlemia (genetics). The way to accomplish this is to control your fat level and the type of fat you are dealing with.

Adopt a diet in which the amount of fat inthe diet contributes a maximum of 25% of calories.
Avoid all foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. This will included all margarines (except the recently introduced no-trans oil types), all deep fat fried items like French fried potatoes, fried chicken, donuts, etc. Avoid cookies, cakes, any deserts containing fat.
Avoid butter and most dairy products. Use 2% milk sparingly.

As far as salt goes, you will find too much salt in almost everything that is served in frozen foods or in restaurants. Cut your sodium to the recommended 2300 mg per day maximum. Consult the food labels on everything you consume. Set your target at 1500 mg per day. This is unrealistically low but you will see how esaily it is to over consume.

A person whose cholesterol level is about 250 mg/100ml will normally drop to about 165 mg/100 ml in 2 weeks on a fat free diet.

You will probably say that this is too extreme. It sure is a lot safer than cholesterol lowering drugs. There are no side effects.

My normal 500 calorie breakfast is composed of !/3 cup of oatmeal served with about 2 Tbsps of brown sugar and 100 ml of 2% milk, 6 ounces of orange juice, 1 cup of black coffee, 1 medium banana, and one slice of bread with about 2 Tbsps of jelly. This meal contains about 5 grams of fat, and about 200 mg of sodium. It is a great start to a day since it puts you away ahead of your target levels.

I hope that you appreciate the time it has taken to compose this answer to your question and that you will adopt the suggestions.

Answer 2

Pork Rinds for snack, tuna with no mayo, string cheese for snack too. My husband and I used to go to a pizza place buffet and scrape all the toppings off and leave the crust. Wasteful I know by I had to go out to eat! Any burgers with any cheese. Steak and just about any green vegetables. Good luck. Do some research. There are lots of new food items out that help with low carb diets!

Answer 3

My dad's on a similar diet. His doctor recommended whole grains, oatmeal for breakfast, bananas, pears and apples (but any fresh fruit will do) and plenty of fresh or frozen veggies. Fish once a week and lean cuts of meat.

Instead of salt, try Mrs. Dash and other herbs. Switch to olive oil instead of butter and use sparingly.

Moderate exercise will do wonders as well.