Diet Important to Lower Cholesterol Even When Taking Medication

f you’re taking a drug to lower cholesterol, you may wonder if you still need to watch your diet. The answer is yes.

Low-density lipoprotein is the most important type of cholesterol to treat. It’s also the most responsive to treatment with cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as statins. However, many people taking these drugs have not reached their target LDL cholesterol level. Other strategies -such as diet changes -that can be safely combined with drug therapy are usually recommended.

The November issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter offers these diet changes to help lower cholesterol:

  • Maintain a diet with a fat content between 10 percent and 20 percent.
  • Minimize saturated and trans fats and High cholesterol foods.
  • Consume adequate soluble fiber. Good sources include oat bran, dried beans, carrots, apples and citrus fruits.

Mayo Clinic Health Letter is an eight-page monthly newsletter of reliable, accurate and practical information on today’s health and medical news. To subscribe, please call toll free 800-333-9037, extension 9PR1.

Provided by ArmMed Media
Revision date: July 9, 2011
Last revised: by Janet A. Staessen, MD, PhD