Why should we choose the healthy food option?

Most health experts believe that cholesterol and fat are guilty and bad enemies to the heart. Every year 180,000 people in Britain die of heart disease. It's the single most common cause of death for men and growing for women. Heart disease occurs when cholesterol builds up on the inside walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart. The arteries become narrower and get blocked so that the heart is being starved of blood.

 What is cholesterol and why is it so important?

We all need some cholesterol, but we don't need much. Every day our body manufactures about one gram of cholesterol and we take in a further 0.5 grams from our diet. This is about four times as much as our body needs. If the body doesn't process it properly a little cholesterol will stick around in our system, slowly building up until the cholesterol levels in our blood become dangerously high.

 Why bother cutting down on cholesterol?

The level of cholesterol is dependent on your diet. In countries where there are low levels of cholesterol in people’s diet, there is very little coronary disease. So the circumstantial evidence to cut down on fat is very strong.

 There's nothing I can do about cholesterol. It's in the genes anyway.

It is believed that no more than 5% of the population has some fairly strong inherited component. People who have inherited high cholesterol should be careful not to smoke and keep a check on their fat intake. Certainly if you have a history of heart disease in your family you would be wise to watch your diet carefully. Remember that cholesterol can start to build at any age. So be careful to introduce your children to the benefits of low fat eating.

 Is dieting worth it?

Evidence has shown that as many as 70% of people can bring down their cholesterol by 15 to 25% by changing to a low fat, low cholesterol diet. Your diet, to reduce cholesterol should be of a high fibre, low fat variety. Foods originating from an animal source should be reduced. This includes red meat, saturated fat in particular, eggs and dairy products. Fish oil has the affect of lowering cholesterol levels. Eskimos, whose diet is mainly fish based, have one of the lowest incidences of heart disease in the world. So rather than restricting, fish should be increased in your diet, in particular oily fish. However, shellfish such as prawns and lobster are saturated with cholesterol and can seriously boost your blood levels,

especially if eaten with rich avocado. Our Fatbuster diet would be an ideal diet if trying to reduce cholesterol.

 What are safe levels of cholesterol?

It is estimated that nearly three quarters of the population have cholesterol above the recommended limits. A simple blood test will prove your level. Whatever your level is, it is better if it is as low as possible. The figure regularly quoted as good is 5.2. Between 5.2 and 6.5 the risk is still there, but is relatively slight. Over 6.5 is more severe, but levels in excess of 7.8 may require drugs if diet fails.

So, stick to your Super Slim eating plan and your cholesterol risk will be slight.