One very important thing to remember is, in a short a time as within a month, meaning from Thanksgiving through Christmas, this is enough time to indulge in all the wrong foods, putting incredible amount of stress on your body. Therefore, allowing ourselves to over indulge during the holidays is a terrible thing, especially if your have high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Small and simple approaches can work wonders when you come face to face with the buffet filled with delicious food. A few things to keep in mind, (especially if you have high cholesterol and high blood pressure) to make certain that your holidays are happy yet healthy and safe is to be prepared, be selective with the types of food you're consuming and minimize stress as much as possible. The following suggestions will help with lowering blood pressure, limiting fats in order lower cholesterol intake and even trying to maintain a healthy weight.
Being prepared / Planning ahead:
Try to eat a small healthy snack before attending the holiday parties. Nuts, vegetables dips, and tomato juice are always considered to be healthy filling snacks. Avocado is also a good choice. It is known for reducing the LDL (bad cholesterol) while increasing the HDL (good cholesterol) levels. If the party is a potluck or you're planning on bringing a dish, be sure to bring a healthy dish that you will be able to enjoy.
Be selective in your choice of food & Eating smart:
Stay away from the saturated fats. Foods that contain cheese are the number one source of saturated fat. Avoid fried foods, chicken skin, duck, goose, gravy, and turkey. White meat of turkey and chicken can be eaten in moderation. Other healthy alternatives are nuts, vegetables, salmon, avocado, tomato (fresh, dried, or in sauces), oatmeal, and fruits.
Eat many smaller meals and don't skip a meal. Eating often will keep you full and avoid over indulging or binge eating. Drinking a lot of water and other calorie free drinks will also make you full. The main thing to remember about eating smart is not to arrive hungry at a party or event.
Consider adding heart healthy vitamins and arginine supplements to your diet as well. Speak with your physician about this option.
Watch what you drink:
Not only do you need to watch what you eat, but it's very important to maintaining a low cholesterol level by selecting the right beverages. Therefore, creamy delicious eggnog is not the best choice for those with high cholesterol. This is also true for any beverage that is high in sugar such as Frappuccino drinks with whipped cream and caramel or sodas, fruit punch, and alcohol which is high in calories. Instead, a glass of red wine is a better choice since red wine is known for reducing cholesterol. Drinking red wine and calorie-free drinks are the better options.
Exercise & Keep stress to a minimum:
One of the most important things to not avoid is exercise. Continue your exercise routine. This will help burn the extra calories consumed as well as help the HDL (good) cholesterol. More importantly, exercising helps with stress relief. Avoiding stress at all cause is a benefit, since stress can lead to increased levels of cholesterol. Exercising also helps clear the mind.
The holidays can be an absolutely stressful time of year. From all the parties to attend, the temptation of indulging in delicious food, to maybe even hosting your own party, it can be very easy to let ourselves go and over eat. For those with high cholesterol and high blood pressure, there are just a few simple things to keep in mind and practice. Making good choices in food and beverages along with eating smart and exercising to help reduce stress levels will ensure that everyone enjoys a happy and healthy holiday.
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