TLC Diet

Do you have a cholesterol problem leading to heart disease or want to prevent one?
The Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) Diet is recommended by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

If you already have heart disease or are at high risk for developing it, the NHLBI says that you should start on the TLC Diet right away. The TLC Diet is a low saturated fat, low cholesterol diet that will help to reduce your blood cholesterol level to decrease your chance of developing heart disease, future heart attacks, and other heart disease complications.

TLC Diet Guidelines -- you should eat:

* Less than 7% of the day's total calories from saturated fat.
* 25-35 percent of the day’s total calories from fat.
* Less than 200 milligrams of dietary cholesterol a day.
* Limit sodium intake to 2400 milligrams a day.
* Just enough calories to achieve or maintain a healthy weight and reduce your blood cholesterol level. (Ask your doctor or registered dietitian what is a reasonable calorie level for you.)

FOOD GROUP


NUMBER
OF
SERVINGS


SERVING SIZE±

Lean Meat, Poultry, Fish, and Dry Beans


< 5 ounces
per day
(leanest cuts
only)


* 5 ounces maximum per day lean meat, poultry and fish
* ½ cup cooked dry peas or beans
* ½ cup tofu

Eggs


< 2 yolks a
week*


* 1 whole egg
* Egg whites or egg substitute, unlimited

Lowfat Milk, Yogurt and Cheese


2-3


* 1 cup fat free milk or 1% milk
* 1 cup nonfat or lowfat yogurt
* 1 ounce of lowfat or fat free cheese that has 3 grams of fat or less in a serving.

Fats and Oils


< 6-8*


* 1 teaspoon soft margarine or vegetable oil
* 1 tablespoon salad dressing
* 1 ounce nuts

Fruits


2-4


* 1 piece fruit
* ½ cup diced fruit
* ¾ cup juice

Vegetables


3-5


* 1 cup leafy or raw
* ½ cup cooked
* ¾ cup juice

Breads, Cereals, Pasta, Rice and Other Grains


6-11


* 1 slice bread
* ½ bun, bagel, muffin
* 1 ounce dry cereal
* ½ cup cooked cereal, potatoes, pasta, rice, or other grains

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/index.htm