Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) Diet
Dietary conceptAbout
The Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) Diet is a comprehensive program designed to improve heart health by lowering cholesterol levels. Developed by the National Institutes of Health, it focuses on dietary changes, physical activity, and weight management. The diet emphasizes reducing saturated fat intake to less than 7% of daily calories and limiting dietary cholesterol to less than 200 mg per day. It also encourages increasing soluble fiber intake to 10-25 grams daily and consuming plant sterols and stanols to help lower LDL cholesterol. Key components of the TLC Diet include eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. It suggests limiting foods high in saturated fats and cholesterol, such as red meats and full-fat dairy products. Regular physical activity, like brisk walking, is also recommended. While the TLC Diet is effective in lowering cholesterol, some of its recommendations have been deemed outdated. Nonetheless, its core principles remain beneficial for heart health and can be combined with other lifestyle changes for optimal results.
