LOWERING HIGH CHOLESTEROL - Part 3

The TLC Diet

As written by Gloria Tsang, RD, The Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes Diet or TLC Diet was introduced in May 2001 when the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) released new diet guidelines for people with high cholesterol and risk with heart disease.

The American Heart Association (AHA) accepted and indorsed this report and began incorporating these recommendations into its materials on dietary and lifestyle change for people with high cholesterol. For people at high risk or who have known cardiovascular disease, NCEP and AHA now recommend the new TLC Diet to replace the “old” Step 1 and Step 2 diets.

The Therapeutic Lifestyle Change (TLC) Concept itself is a comprehensive approach in lowering and maintaining cholesterol levels. TLC includes dietary guidelines as in combination with weight management, physical exercises and the administration of cholesterol lowering medicine.

The dietary aspect in TLC is the most critical in high cholesterol therapy, as it cut the one and only course of fat intake. It is also the most difficult to implement and need a strong will and high motivation of the person. Especially in over-weighted individuals with great appetite, following a diet (which might be strictly) is really a battle against them selves.

The TLC Diet limits which attempt to lower High Cholesterol as summarized below::

Total Fat	20% - 25% total calories
Saturated Fat	< 7% total calories
Poly-unsaturated Fat	up to 10% total calories
Mono-unsaturated Fat	up to 20% total calories
Carbohydrates	50% - 60% total calories
Protein	15% total calories
Cholesterol	< 200 mg/dL
Plant steroids	2 g
Soluble fibre such as psyllium	10 g - 25 g

Examples of food in the TLC Diet

Lean meat/fish/alternatives	<5 oz/day
Eggs	< 2 yolks/week (whites unlimited)
Low fat diary	2 - 3 servings/day
Fats/oils	< 6 - 8 teaspoon/day
Grain especially whole grains	> 6 servings/day
Vegetables	3 - 5 servings/day
Fruits	2 - 4 servings/day