Keep Your Cholesterol Happy During the Holidays

Enjoy the holidays and keep your cholesterol happy following these medical-approved tips! 

Along with home-cooked food and treats, families get together, holiday decorations are stocked on shelves, and customs start to make their way into holiday parties. Holidays are made more enjoyable thanks to delicious foods, but those who have high cholesterol should pay particular attention to what they eat to avoid raising their risk of heart disease.

Well, then this translates as “no happy holidays” for ill people, you may be tempted to say. Here at Healthy Reads, we say that you don’t have to miss out on any holiday fun just because your doctor has advised you to watch what you eat.

Making sure you take in more good cholesterol and less bad cholesterol is the most crucial thing to do if you have high cholesterol issues. It will be a little easier to deal with holiday parties if you know which foods can help with this.

In this article, we will get through a list of safe foods that you can indulge in and keep your cholesterol happy. Spoiler alert: with so many delicious foods mentioned, this article might make you crave some treats, so grab a snack beforehand or keep one handy while you read!

Opt for a colorful plate

The term “rainbow plate” is probably familiar to your ears, and with the risk of being boring by mentioning it again, if you want to create a solid nutritional foundation, you need to add to your diet both fruits and vegetables.

When thinking about festive dishes if you want to keep your cholesterol happy, choose to put together a plate that has the majority of its space occupied by ingredients like salad or crudites, vegetable soup, and holiday charcuterie favorites like dried fruit and nuts.

These foods are tasty and satisfying, but they don’t raise cholesterol like buttery cookies, cheesy fondues, or dishes high in saturated fat like gravies and sauces.

Go for sweet potatoes instead of yams

Instead of candied yams, use baked sweet potatoes. For natural sweetness without the need for added sugar and butter, season with cinnamon and a little honey.

Swap meat for fish

If you desire to keep your cholesterol happy this season, instead of serving turkey, how about making a salmon roast the centerpiece of the table? Omega-three fatty acids, which are abundant in fish, are essential for heart health. More precisely, omega-3 fatty acids lower blood pressure, triglyceride levels (a type of blood fat), and the rate at which arterial plaque accumulates.

Replace casseroles and potlucks

The most popular and go-to dishes for Christmas dinner are potlucks and casseroles. It’s been a tradition for years among many families, but if you have trouble with high cholesterol levels, you might think of replacing them with something more suitable for you.

A lot of casseroles contain a lot of sugar, cheese, cream, and sodium. Instead, if you still want to indulge in a delicious casserole, look for an alternative recipe that is healthier and lower in fat.

Make mashed potatoes with olive oil

For creamy, low-saturated-fat mashed potatoes, use low-fat Greek yogurt or olive oil instead of butter and cream. Although mashed potatoes typically contain a lot of sodium, you won’t have to worry about your intake of fat and salt if you limit the gravy and avoid the extra salt.

Fiber broth could be a great choice

For many people, beef broth is a favorite for the winter holidays; however, this might be a bit too greasy for those who have trouble with high cholesterol levels. So, instead, opt for a tasty veggie broth that is also high in fiber. Squash and pumpkin, for example, is the way to go!

Beta-carotene and fiber are abundant in pumpkin. Comforting and heart-healthy is a warm pumpkin soup made with vegetable broth and a dash of spices.

Of course, you can have dessert!

Even with high cholesterol issues, you will always be tempted to take a bite of a savory and sweet cake. After all, wouldn’t it be Christmas without cake, right?

To keep your cholesterol happy and without going overboard with the sweets, try sampling a few of the desserts rather than choosing just one large piece of cake. You can try a few different things without going overboard with the sugar if you only have two or three tiny bites.

Be mindful about drinking too!

You might want to curl up with a book and a mug of hot chocolate as the weather cools off. Or perhaps preparing eggnog is a holiday custom in the family. Even if you are watching your cholesterol, you can still enjoy both.

Try diluting eggnog and making hot chocolate with low-fat or nondairy milk instead of whole milk. To cut down on the amount of sugar and fat you eat, you can also decide not to use the whipped cream that is typically added to the top of both drinks.

It should come as no surprise that many of us like to have a few drinks during the holiday season, especially on New Year’s Eve but since alcohol raises blood cholesterol, it’s crucial to watch how much you consume.

To reduce the total amount of alcohol consumed during the holiday season, doctors advise switching between alcoholic beverages and alcohol-free wine or beer.

Thinking about what dishes you can make this Christmas to keep your cholesterol happy, but you don’t know how to start? 500 Low-Cholesterol Recipes: Flavorful Heart-Healthy Dishes Your Whole Family Will Love is a great book that you can order from Amazon at the great price of $16.49. 

This book shows that lowering cholesterol doesn’t have to mean sacrificing flavor or variety or spending a lot of time in the kitchen creating complicated recipes. There are low-cholesterol versions of every dish you can prepare this holiday season, ranging from savory stews to sweet treats. 

Don’t neglect your prescribed medication

You should not skip or postpone taking your prescribed medicine for high cholesterol at this time. Even if you’re exhausted after a long day of work, Christmas shopping, family visits, and housework, make sure you adhere to your doctor’s instructions regarding the timing and dosage of your medication. Consistency is key, and it only takes a minute, so be sure you take care of yourself!

Additionally, research has linked stress to high levels of cholesterol, and November through January is the best time of year to try to fit too much into each day and night.
Therefore, make sure to set aside a few hours to simply unwind and do nothing in between visits, cooking, and shopping for gifts. To slightly increase your energy levels, you can also take an hour or so of sleep.

Do a little bit of movement too!

One of the many advantages of exercise is that it can actually keep your cholesterol happy and at normal levels. Of course, you won’t have the time to hit the gym or do heavy lifting at home but how about proposing a stroll on Christmas morning to start the day, followed by a feast of those roasties?

You can enjoy the holidays to the fullest without stressing about your cholesterol or feeling guilty about indulging in your favorite foods. Just remember the helpful tips we’ve discussed, and you’ll be all set for a joyful celebration!

Related article: 5 Changes I Noticed After 30 Days Without Fast Food.