Recommended Dietary Therapy to Lower Cholesterol
Recommended dietary therapy to lower cholesterol
How to use “dietary therapy” to reduce cholesterol? The “dietary treatment” we refer to differs from general “food therapy.” “Food therapy” uses food to improve health, while “dietary treatment” involves much more than just food therapy.
Dietary treatment is primarily conducted by registered dietitians, including: (1) thorough assessment and analysis of the patient’s nutritional status, health condition, and eating habits; (2) identifying underlying causes; (3) designing personalized meal plans based on individual needs; (4) offering recommendations covering not only diet but also exercise and behavioral improvements; (5) setting goals and monitoring progress. Typical dietary treatment lasts one to three months and applies to chronic conditions beyond high cholesterol, including diabetes, gout, kidney disease, hypertension, and obesity.
Dietitians must ensure patients improve their condition while maintaining balanced nutrition to avoid unintended consequences. For example, a person with high cholesterol who only restricts red meat without replacing iron-rich foods may suffer from anemia due to reduced hemoglobin.
Here are some dietary therapies proven helpful in lowering cholesterol:
1. Oatmeal: Research shows that consuming about ¾ cup of oatmeal daily can reduce total cholesterol by 4–8%. This is due to its high content of soluble fiber. Besides oats, apples, citrus fruits, dried legumes such as kidney beans, soybeans, and mung beans also contain abundant soluble fiber.
2. Isoflavones in soybeans help lower cholesterol. Therefore, increase intake of soy milk, tofu, and soybeans.
3. Fish (especially salmon and tuna) contain omega-3 fatty acids, long proven to reduce cholesterol. It is recommended to eat fish two to three times per week as an alternative to meat.
4. Finally, traditional Chinese foods like black fungus and winter mushroom also help lower cholesterol.