Yogurt and cholesterol
High cholesterol levels in human beings are dangerous and deadly. They are a leading cause of heart disease, and often result in paralysis and even death. The overweight are in danger of high cholesterol levels, but even people who are not overweight are at risk. It is possible, after all, to have a fast metabolism, eat a lot of junk food, and still stay slender. Junk food, bad food, is a leading cause of high cholesterol. It is also possible to inherit high cholesterol and not know it.
Many people, after seeing their doctor and discovering that they do indeed have high cholesterol levels, want to start eating healthy immediately, want to exercise and diet, etc. It is easy to know which foods are bad - processed foods, such as potato chips and cookies and ice cream and cheeses and creams, are obvious. Less obvious, but still well known, are high-fat meats such as beef and pork. But when it comes to eating healthy foods, such as vegetables and fruits and grains, and especially when it comes to eating healthy fats, such as can be found in olive oil and nuts, the question seems to become more complicated. What should I eat, and when should I eat, and how much? The best way to not be overwhelmed at first is to take your healthy foods one by one and learn what there is to know about them.
Let us start, for example, with yogurt. Studies have shown that yogurt is a healthy food source that may be good for lowering your cholesterol. Take a close look at yogurt, learn what there is to know, and then move onto the next food, and the next. Soon you will have put together quite a pile of facts about the most nutritious foods available and how to prepare them.
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- Yogurt is a great source of calcium. Calcium builds your bones, makes them strong. Calcium is good for your teeth, and also your muscle and nerves.
- Yogurt is a great source of protein. Protein builds muscle and helps to burn fat. Protein helps to you to have long-lasting energy and it also helps build your muscle tissues back up when you have worn them down through use.
- Speaking of protein, for you vegetarians out there, yogurt makes a fantastic replacement for meat. Yogurt as a snack or as part of a balanced meal is the perfect alternative to chicken, beef, or fish. In fact, the U.S. Government lists yogurt as a replacement for meat in school lunches.
- Yogurt helps you to digest your food better. Better digestion means more energy, deeper sleep, and less weight gain.
- Yogurt helps to prevent ulcers.
- Yogurt can strengthen your immune system, making you less likely to get sick. A strong immune system means less disease, even a reduced risk of cancer.
- Yogurt may help you lower your cholesterol. Studies have shown yogurt includes ingredients that help to combat high levels of cholesterol. The most effective way of doing so is to find yogurt full of live cultures and try to eat it at least once every day. The way to tell if your yogurt has live cultures is to look at the label. If the label reads "active yogurt cultures," you know you can proceed.
- Make sure that the yogurt you buy isn't high in sugar. After all, if reducing cholesterol is your goal you don't want to be eating a lot of empty calories.
- The fresher you eat your yogurt, the better it is for you, and for your chances of lowering your cholesterol.
- Heat will kill the live cultures in your yogurt. Once the cultures are dead, so are your chances for reducing your cholesterol. It's best to eat it cool and refrigerated.
- You can try yogurt as a replacement for mayonnaise or sour cream.
