Lower LDL Cholesterol Naturally Drug-free with Greek Yogurt

Need to lower your LDL cholesterol? Want to do it without drugs? I got mine down to normal with diet. One change I made was eating more Greek yogurt. Yogurt and kefir (fermented yogurt drink) have long been used in the Mediterranean world for health.

One 8 ounce serving of plain skim milk Greek yogurt contains zero fat, is low in cholesterol, high in acidophilus and provides 20+ grams of protein. Nutrition Data (click here) shows that one cup of plain skim milk yogurt contains 45%  RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) of calcium., a mineral women and elderly don't often get in sufficient quantities.

Acidophilus or bifidus (l. bifidum), is good bacteria which restores healthy flora to the digestive tract. It's especially important to eat it after taking antibiotics which kill all bacteria, good and bad. Yogurt is an excellent source of acidophilus, l. bulgaricus and l. thermophilus, other healthy live bacteria cultures.

The popular Mediterranean Diet, based on the dietary foods pyramid Mediterranean region dwellers, relies on yogurt and kefir as diet staples. For those working to reduce triglycerides and LDL (low density level lipoproteins) or 'bad' cholesterol, yogurt is an excellent dairy substitute. Being fermented, it helps clean clogged arteries. To get the most health benefit, choose Greek yogurt or kefir skim or lowfat.

Plain yogurt substitutes for cottage cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, cheese spreads, shredded cheese and milk in cooking and baking. Bake with plain yogurt in breads, rolls, cakes, cookies, cream pies, muffins and donuts, in place of milk. Blend into dressings and sauces. For snacks, blend with honey or raw sugar. Add salt and vanilla for to substitute for frosting, topping or icing.

  One of my children's favorite treats was dip made by blending peanut butter and plain yogurt half and half. Now I used PB2 peanut powder. Dip fruits, vegetables, crackers, pretzels and other salty snacks. If you prefer a sweeter dip, add honey, raw sugar, pure maple syrup or blue agave syrup. Cinnamon, ginger or cardamom make tasty add-ins for yogurt-peanut butter dip.

  For more great food and health tips, visit my blog www.greatfood4u.blogspot.com.

Health Problems I Lost After Losing Weight

I've lost 71 pounds gained. I didn't crash-diet. I cut fat, transfat, sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, starch and meat. Happily, losing weight lost health problems too.

High LDL Cholesterol: My low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol wasn't dangerously high, but it was getting there. Losing just 20 pounds got it down. I hadn't even started seriously dieting yet. What worked was cutting transfat and hydrogenated fat, eating less fat overall and switching to olive oil for cooking. Taking Omega-3 helps. I changed to light olive oil margarine and mayonnaise, nonfat milk and yogurt. I cut dairy, spreads and fat-based condiments. 90 percent of my protein intake is fish, chicken breast and lamb. I rarely eat beef or pork.
   Health Problems I Lost After Losing Weight 

Dairy Food Swaps to Lower Cholesterol, Cut Calories

I started dieting 18 months ago. Along with losing weight, I needed to lower my LDL-low-density lipoprotein, "bad" cholesterol. Wanting to avoid medications, I tried reducing cholesterol with diet. A big step was lowering dairy consumption. Here are food switches that reduced LDL cholesterol and helped me lose weight. These food swaps cut 500-1,000 calories a day.  Dairy Food Switches to Cut LDL Cholesterol, Lose Weight