ne of the first things you should consider when lowering your LDL cholesterol is improving your diet. The American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health have made recommendations for a heart healthy diet:

The National Cholesterol Education Program’s Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) recommends a multifaceted lifestyle approach to reduce risk for coronary heard disease (CHD). This approach is designated therapeutic lifestyle changes (TCL) and features the following recommendations.

• Less than 7% of the day's total calories from saturated fat
• Up to 10% of the day’s calories from polyunsaturated fat
• Up to 20% of the day’s calories from monounsaturated fat
• 25 - 35% percent or less of the day’s total calories from fat
• Less than 200 milligrams of dietary cholesterol a day
• Limit sodium intake to 2400 milligrams per day
• Only enough calories to achieve a healthy weight and reduce your blood cholesterol level

Knowing how to choose healthy foods when you eat out will make it much easier to maintain your healthy diet. There are several guides to help you choose healthy foods when eating out. Ask your doctor or registered dietitian what is a reasonable calorie level for you.

The recommendations for total and saturated fat are based on the percentage of calories you eat; and can vary depending on how many calories you eat. You can get an estimate of the amount of calories and grams of fat your diet should contain using this online calculator.

Knowing how to choose healthy foods when you eat out will make it much easier to maintain your healthy diet. There are several guides to help you choose healthy foods when eating out.