That's Fit

You know that eating foods like greasy burgers and fries can give your cholesterol level an unwanted boost. But there are foods you can eat that will lower your cholesterol.

After the "fat-free" frenzy of years past, it's no wonder that some people are scared off of eating any fats. But look around... did the fat-free trend solve the obesity problem? Nope... not at all. That's because food manufacturers raced to label their foods as "fat-free" in big, bold letters on the front of the packages, but they failed to mention other unhealthy ingredients such as high sugar or high sodium or unpronounceable chemicals that really have no place in our diet whatsoever.

The truth is we need fat in our diets. (Not as much as most people consume, of course, but we do need it.) Our bodies can generate a certain amount, but the rest must be consumed. The trick is eating foods prepared with the good fats. That's right... I said good fats. A recent survey revealed that more than half of Americans have no idea that there are some fats you should be including in your diet. To help people better differentiate between good and not-so-good fats, the American Heart Association has launched Face the Fats.

There are four types of fats: saturated fats, trans-fats, monounsaturated fats, and polyunsaturated fats. While all four varieties have the same number of calories (9 calories per gram of fat), they have different effects on health. Saturated and trans-fats are the culprits to avoid -- they can raise your "bad" cholesterol (LDL). But monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are beneficial for health when consumed in small amounts; they help reduce cholesterol levels and provide essential fatty acids (omega 3 and omega 6) that your body needs but can't generate on its own.

If you like eating shrimp, you may be pleased to know that chitosan (derived from shrimp shells) might be useful in the fight against obesity and high cholesterol. So, continue eating that shrimp (with the most appropriate cocktail sauce, mind you).

The study concluded that the effect of chitosan on the body weight, plasma lipid profile, and fatty acid composition of rats led to reductions in weight gain and blood cholesterol levels in the rats.

Even when taken as a dietary supplement, chitosan increased the ratio of 'good' versus 'bad' cholesterol levels. Now, where are those chitosan pills...

Sounds like a food, but none I've ever eaten. Could be an ingredient for making gluten-free bread, I suppose. Maybe it's a variety of nutritional yeast?

None of the above -- It is actually a natural remedy, being touted as possibly better than statin drugs for controlling high cholesterol.

Red yeast rice actually works in much the same way as a statin drug: it inhibits cholesterol production in the body. Few studies have been done, but nonetheless, they have shown that red yeast rice significantly reduces LDL, triglycerides and total cholesterol.

But are there possible side effects from taking red yeast rice? Yes, and they are similar, but not as many or as severe as some of the side effects of statin drugs, ranging from bloating and gas to muscle pain.

Some experts still say that red yeast rice should be avoided, even though it may be a natural alternative to statin drugs, because supplements aren't regulated. There would not be a sure way for you to know exactly what you are getting, say some experts.

But is it worth trying to avoid the dreaded statin drug? Is the battle to lower cholesterol fought in vain anyway? Some say that cholesterol is not the true cause of heart disease and that lowering cholesterol through drugs is far from the answer, and actually contributes to more heart disease in the long run.

It is a controversial and complicated question. What would you do if you were told by your doctor that your cholesterol needed to be lowered to reduce your risk of heart disease? Would you use a drug daily? Would you try red yeast rice? Would you try some other means of lowering your cholesterol, like restricting sugars from your diet? Chime in and leave a comment on this important issue.

Ready . . . set . . . go! If you are looking to lower your cholesterol fast, WebMD offers four easy steps to do just that. OK, maybe not easy, because eating right, exercising, losing weight and possibly taking medication are only huge lifestyle changes. But the article does break it down into doable steps.

Eating right? They say increase fatty fish, nuts and oatmeal. That's easy, right? Oh, then there is that part about avoiding trans fats and processed foods, along with fatty meats, egg yolks and whole milk dairy products. The processed foods I can agree with; no one benefits a lick from eating processed foods. But grass fed beef, organic eggs and raw, unpasteurized milk eaten in moderation aren't a problem, according to various sources they can even help lower your "bad" cholesterol. It seems to me that as long as a whole food is as close as possible to what nature intended that you shouldn't worry about eating it.