There are two types of cholesterol:
- HDL (high density lipoproteins) is good cholesterol from nuts and fruit
- LDL (low density lipoproteins) is bad cholesterol from meat and animal products
Another way to think of it is the H in HDL stands for ‘Healthy’ fat and the L in LDL stands for ‘Less healthy‘ fat. Both HDL and LDL transport fats and protein around the body to nourish cells. The difference is the LDL stick to the cell membranes (walls) and clogs them up. The HDL, on the other hand, penetrates the cell membranes to deliver proteins and other nutrients.
To make the cells of your body more healthy you need to improve the HDL/LDL ratio of the food that you consume. Our body produces 80% of the cholesterol we need. Animal products contain bad cholesterol. Plant products contain good cholesterol. To reduce cholesterol eat less meat and more vegetables. When you do eat meat select white meat (poultry and seafood) or leaner cuts of red meat where possible.
This will reduce your weight and give you more vitality as well because your cells are “happier”.
All vegetables contain no fat, but it’s the way you cook it that makes it more or less healthy. Steaming or boiling them with a bit of salt and other herbs n spices is much better for your body than using butter or oil to add flavour to a dish.
Some vegetables actually absorb bad cholesterol (LDL) and take them to the waste unit (your kidneys) for recycling or disposal. Think of white spongy foods like mushrooms, onions, garlic and eggplant.
- Oats and legumes are good for mopping up bad fats in the body.
- Grapefruit and oranges have pectin in their pith. This is a natural gelatine that combines with bad fat so that it can be taken away.
- Soybeans and soy products (eg. Tofu) break down fattyb deposits so that they can be flushed out of the body.
