The main points of the diet

• Reducing total dietary fat intake
• Choosing the right fat sources
• Including sterols in the diet
• Eating more fibre
• Limit sugar and alcohol

The benefits of the diet

• Reduce hypercholesterolaemia
• Avoid the risk of cardiovascular accidents
• Adopt good habits to prevent relapses
• Knowing which foods lower cholesterol and avoiding those that raise it
• Achieve and maintain a healthy weight
• Learn to make good food choices

If the cholesterol level should not be exceeded, what should be done?

Several public health organisations have issued dietary recommendations for the management of high cholesterol, including the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Committee (NCEP 111), which is endorsed by the American Heart Association.

The following recommendations are based on the findings of these expert committees:

• Reduce total fat intake to no more than 35% of total calories.
• Avoid trans fats.
• Cut saturated fat to less than 7% of total calories.
• Reduce dietary cholesterol to less than 200 mg/day.
• Prefer monounsaturated fats, which can account for up to 15% of total calories.
• Moderate consumption of polyunsaturated fats, especially omega-6 (up to 10% of total calories).
• Increase your intake of soluble fibre (from 10g to 25g per day).
• Prioritise unrefined complex carbohydrates and reduce concentrated sugars.
• Include 2g of sterols per day in your diet.
• Achieve and maintain a healthy weight and incorporate moderate physical activity.