Effectively lower your cholesterol with this diet. Essential guidelines to follow

High cholesterol levels pose a significant risk, leading to atherosclerosis, which may trigger heart attacks and strokes. It's alarming to note that 18 million people worldwide succumb to these ailments annually. Therefore, doctors are increasingly advising their patients to modify their lifestyle promptly and adopt a diet that helps reduce cholesterol.

This diet is primarily advised for patients with hypercholesterolemia, a condition characterized by elevated cholesterol levels in the blood. Devised by Prof. David Jenkins of the University of Toronto, this diet incorporates foods proven to lower cholesterol levels, as validated by research. The diet's emphasis is on substituting animal proteins with plant proteins gradually, leading to an improved lipid profile.

It's crucial to understand that formulating the portfolio diet can be quite complex. It calls for the right balance of calories and nutrition. Accurate pairing of food items to ensure appropriate meal composition is also essential. Implementation of this diet should be supervised by a proficient dietitian.

The diet should consist of components rich in plant proteins and soluble fractions of dietary fiber. Nuts, phytosterols, and monounsaturated fatty acids are also endorsed. The diet should include:

• legume seeds,
• soy and soy products,
• vegetables and fruits,
• nuts,
• almonds,
• seeds,
• groats,
• oat products.

The portfolio diet recommends eliminating the following:

• meat and meat products,
• high-fat dairy products,
• sweet and salty snacks and baked goods,
• juices.