TLC Diet

The National Cholesterol Education Program of the National Institutes of Health developed the TLC (Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes) diet with the intention of lowering cholesterol as part of a heart-healthy eating plan. It suggests consuming a lot of fruits, vegetables, bread, cereal, pasta, and lean meats. You will have a lot of flexibility with your diet because the recommendations are so open-ended.

Based on the idea that dietary cholesterol can affect blood cholesterol and the risk of cardiovascular disease, the TLC diet was developed. According to Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian with Cleveland Clinic's Center for Human Nutrition, dietary cholesterol has a modest effect on low-density lipoprotein ("bad") cholesterol and very little impact on CVD risk. However, more recent studies and reviews of earlier studies have shown the opposite.

Pros:

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• Nutritionally sound.

• Filling – it's rich in high-fiber foods.

• Has proven health benefits.

• Diverse foods and flavors.

Cons:

• Recipes, resources lacking.

• Lots of rules to remember.