Anti-cholesterol treatment: What diet you should follow

When the levels of cholesterol rise dangerously, doctors prescribe some drug hypolipidemic treatment, usually with statins.

Many sufferers, however, rest on the medication, believing that it is enough to lower cholesterol levels, regardless of what they continue to eat.

Experts point out that even if you are taking statins, it is important to make some lifestyle changes, adopting healthy eating habits and exercise, in order to maximise the benefits of the drugs.

Mediterranean diet

Follow the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, nuts, legumes and fish. It has been shown to reduce blood lipids and thus the risk of cardiovascular disease by 30%.

No to low fat, yes to low carbohydrates

People who replace fat in their diet with processed carbohydrates and sugars are at greater risk of weight gain, diabetes and increased triglycerides. Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that people who followed a low-carbohydrate diet that even included saturated fats lost twice as much weight as those on a low-fat or calorie-restricted diet, while maintaining good cholesterol levels.

Beware of «hidden» sugar

Certainly a paste contributes to higher blood sugar levels, but the same is true of a processed yoghurt with added sugar or a soft drink. Sugar consumption triples the risk of lowering «good» cholesterol levels. Those who cut back on sugar have higher «good» cholesterol and lower triglycerides, the blood lipids linked to cardiovascular disease.

Avoid grapefruit

Eating grapefruit can turn the statins you take into an enemy of your health. This is due to furanocoumarins, a group of chemicals naturally present in grapefruit that when combined with statins can become toxic to your body. According to the UK Department of Health's medical website, grapefruit is completely contraindicated for those taking simvastatin, and in large doses can affect those taking atorvastatin.

Don't skip breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for your heart. By skipping it, you can raise cholesterol. A Harvard University study showed that men who regularly skipped breakfast had a 27% higher rate of heart attack or death from heart disease.

Drink 1-2 glasses of wine

Drinking alcohol in moderation can raise good cholesterol levels, but drinking too much can be harmful to your heart and liver.

Prefer good fats

Replace the trans fats from processed foods such as biscuits, frozen pizzas, creams and anything containing hydrogenated oils with the good fats found in nuts, olive oil, avocados and oily fish, which improve cholesterol levels and lower triglycerides.

Dark chocolate

Dark chocolate can be part of a heart-healthy diet. Research from the University of San Diego has shown that eating a little dark chocolate daily reduced bad cholesterol by 20% and increased good cholesterol also by 20%. This is due to its antioxidants that are linked to heart health.

Eat Parmesan

Danish researchers found that people who consumed about 140 grams of Parmesan cheese daily for 6 weeks did not raise their levels of bad cholesterol. The experts recommend not to go for low-fat cheeses, but to consume full-fat cheeses, but in less quantity.