While working it into my Weight Watchers plan with a variety of veggies, lean protiens, healthy fats, plenty of exercise.
As far as Cholesterol levels, there is only so much diet and exercise can do. The rest is generated by heridity and hormones. My LDL is 134, which is high for me, but my HDL is 87, Triglycerides at 70. Which means despite the higher LDL reading, I am not on Statens. Though High Cholesterol runs in my family, my healthier lifestyle is keeping me off medications. Also with having had a complete Hysterectomy in 2007, I lack the Estrogen needed to keep my LDL down.
What keeps us satisfied between meals and stabilize blood sugar levels is the quality of the protien and carbs. Not all carbs are bad, same with fats. With carbs, it is knowing the difference between them and how long it takes for them to be digested and utilized. Empty carbs like processed flours, sugars, white rice, bread, pastas, get used up quickly, causing sugar spikes or drops. What is not used, gets stored as fat. Brown Rice, whole grains, and yams are actually good carbs eaten in moderation because they also contain fiber and thus break down more slowly.
As for Protien, Chicken, Fish, and Turkey give you more bang for the buck. They contain the lowest amounts of Saturated fats per ounce, and contain higher levels of Omega 3 fats. Beef, Pork and Lamb are higher in Saturated fats, and thus be eaten in moderation, with fat trimmed.
As for Fats, they are not the enemy per se if you know which ones to injest. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the healthiest. I am still cautious about Coconut Oil, which is a Palm Kernel Oil that is high in Saturated fats. Like Butter, I use that too in moderation.
The purpose of eating low carb, is to force the body to use up its fat stores for energy, rather than storing more fat through eating empty carbs like pastries, processed foods, etc. Not all calories are equal either. There are 9 calories per gram of Fat. 4 calories per gram of Carbs and Protiens. If one is Diabetic, the amount of Carbs and the quality of that Carbohydrate is of the utmost importance. Being healthy, eating healthy, and living healthy is more than just about weight loss and keeping it off.
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