Encyclopedia of Diets - A Guide to Health and Nutrition

Dry peas, beans and tofu can be used as meat sub-
stitutes that are low in saturated fat and cholesterol.
Dry peas and beans also have a lot of fiber, which can
help to lower blood cholesterol.

Egg yolks are high in dietary cholesterol. A yolk
contains about 213 mg. They should be limited to
no more than 2 per week, including the egg yolks in
baked goods and processed foods. Egg whites have
no cholesterol, and can be substituted for whole eggs
in recipes.

Like high fat meats, regular dairy foods that contain
fat, such as whole milk, cheese, and ice cream, are
also high in saturated fat and cholesterol. However,
dairy products are an important source of nutrients
and the diet should include 2 to 3 servings per day of
low–fat or nonfat dairy products.
When shopping for hard cheeses, select them fat–
free, reduced fat, or part skim.

Select frozen desserts that are lower in saturated fat,
such as ice milk, low–fat frozen yogurt, low–fat fro-
zen dairy desserts, sorbets, and popsicles.

Saturated fats should be replaced with unsaturated
fats. Select liquid vegetable oils that are high in unsa-
turated fats, such as canola, corn, olive, peanut, saf-
flower, sesame, soybean, and sunflower oils.

Limit butter, lard, and solid shortenings. They are
high in saturated fat and cholesterol.

Select light or nonfat mayonnaise and salad
dressings.

Fruits and vegetables are very low in saturated fat
and total fat, and have no cholesterol. Fruits and
vegetables should be eaten as snacks, desserts, salads,
side dishes, and main dishes.

Breads, cereals, rice, pasta, grains, dry beans, and
peas are high in starch and fiber and low in saturated
fat and calories. They also have no dietary choles-
terol, except for some bakery breads and sweet bread
products made with high fat, high cholesterol milk,
butter and eggs.
Select whole grain breads and rolls whenever possi-
ble. They have more fiber than white breads.

Most dry cereals are low in fat. Limit high–fat gran-
ola, muesli, and cereal products made with coconut
oil and nuts, which increases the saturated fat
content.

Limit sweet baked goods that are made with satu-
rated fat from butter, eggs, and whole milk such as
croissants, pastries, muffins, biscuits, butter rolls,
and doughnuts.

Snacks such as cheese crackers, and some chips are
often high in saturated fat and cholesterol. Select
rather low–fat ones such as bagels, bread sticks,

cereals without added sugar, frozen grapes or

banana slices, dried fruit, non–oil baked tortilla

chips, popcorn or pretzels.

Therapy

Generally, drug therapy is considered when:

the LDL cholesterol is 190 mg/dL or higher.

the LDL cholesterol is 160 mg/dL or higher and there

is one risk factor for heart disease.

the LDL cholesterol is 130 mg/dL or higher and there

are two risk factors for heart disease or diabetes.

the LDL cholesterol is 100 mg/dL or higher and there

is heart disease.

the LDL cholesterol is greater than 70 mg/dL and

there is recent heart disease along with diabetes,

smoking, high blood pressure, or high triglycerides,

low HDL, and obesity.

There are several types of drugs available to help

lower blood cholesterol levels, and they work in differ-

ent ways. Some are better at lowering LDL choles-

terol, some are good at lowering triglycerides, while

others help raise HDL cholesterol. Lipid–lowering

medications include:

Statin drugs, such as lovastatin, that prevent the liver

from manufacturing cholesterol;

Bile acid resins, such as cholestyramine and colesti-

pol, that prevent the body from reabsorbing the

cholesterol present in bile;

Fibrates, such as bezafibrate, fenofibrate, or gemfi-

brozil, particularly effective in treating high trigly-

ceride levels;

Niacin (vitamin B 5 ).

Prognosis

Prognosis depends on the presence any additional

risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes, high

blood pressure, being male and over age 45 or female

and over age 55, having a first–degree female relative

diagnosed with heart disease before age 65, or a first–

degree male relative diagnosed before age 55 andobe-

sity. Outcome is also highly related to early diagnosis

and treatment and compliance with therapy.

Prevention

Hyperlipidemia can be prevented by keeping a

healthy diet, maintaining a normal weight, and being

physically active. Everyone can take steps to maintain

proper cholesterol levels. The most important are to

eat foods that are low in saturated fat, to exercise

Hyperlipidemia