TLC Diet

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TLC Diet

Definition

The TLC diet follows these dietary guidelines

Research and general acceptance

Resources

Definition

Although there are several diets that will result in lowered LDL cholesterol, the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) set forth guidelines for medical professionals to follow when instructing patients on a medical nutrition option for lowering cholesterol. Termed the TLC diet or the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes Diet it emphasizes heart healthy lifestyle choices.

The Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes diet (TLC) is a cholesterol lowering diet that refers to a cholesterol-lowering treatment that lowers a person’s low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level and raises their high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level enough to reduce their risk of a heart attack or other chronic disease caused by hardening of the arteries.

The TLC diet follows these dietary guidelines

Less than 7% of the day’s total calories from saturated fat.
25-35% of the day’s total calories from fat.
Less than 200 milligrams of dietary cholesterol a day.

TLC diet tips

Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans, Eggs, and Nuts

Limit the total amount of meat to 5 ounces or less per day
Choose chicken and turkey without skin or remove skin before eating
Eat fish, like cod, that has less saturated fat than either chicken or meat
Dry peas and beans and tofu (bean curd) are great meat substitutes
Limit egg yolks to no more than 2 yolks per week, including egg yolks in baked goods
Substitute egg whites for whole eggs

Milk, Yogurt, and Cheese

Eat 2 to 3 servings per day of low-fat or nonfat dairy products
Choose varieties that have 3 grams of fat or less per ounce, including low-fat (1%) or nonfat cottage cheese
Buy frozen desserts that are lower in saturated fat, like ice milk, low-fat frozen yogurt, sorbet
Try low-fat or nonfat sour cream or cream cheese blends

Fats and Oils

Replace saturated fats with unsaturated fat and limit the total amount of fats or oils
Use liquid vegetable oils that are high in unsaturated fats (canola, corn, olive, peanut, safflower, sesame, soybean, sunflower oils)
Use margarine made with unsaturated liquid vegetable oils as the first ingredient
Limit butter, lard, fatback, and solid shortenings
Buy light or nonfat mayonnaise and salad dressing

Fruits and Vegetables

Eat at least 3 to 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day
Buy fruits and vegetables to eat as snacks, desserts, salads, side dishes, and main dishes
Add a variety of vegetables to meat stews or casseroles or make a vegetarian main dish
Snack on raw vegetables (carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce)
Season with herbs, spices, lemon juice, vinegar, fat free or low-fat mayonnaise or salad dressing

Breads, Cereals, Rice, Pasta, and Other Grains

Eat 6 to 11 servings of foods from this group each day
Choose whole grain breads and rolls
Buy dry cereals, most are low in fat, and limit high fat granola, muesli, and oat bran types made with coconut or coconut oil and nuts
Buy pasta and rice to use as entrees and eliminate the high fat sauces (butter, cheese, cream)
Limit sweet baked goods that are made with lots of saturated fat

Sweets and Snacks

Choose sweets and snacks only every now-and-then
Buy snack foods low in fat
Some sweets and snacks may be low in fat, but most are not low in calories
To reduce sodium intake, look for low sodium or unsalted varieties

(Illustration by GGS Information Services/Thomson Gale.)

Limit sodium intake to 2400 milligrams or less per day.
Just enough calories to achieve or maintain a healthy weight and reduce your blood cholesterol level.

The NCEP classifies blood cholesterol levels as:

Total Cholesterol less than 200 mg/dL, desirable; 200-239 mg/dL borderline-high; 240 mg/dL and above high.
LDL Cholesterol less than 100 mg/dL as optimal or ideal; 100-129 mg/dL near optimal/above optimal; 130-159 mg/dL borderline-high; 160-189 mg/dL high; 190 mg/dL and above very high.
HDL Cholesterol less than 40 mg/dL as a major heart disease risk factor; 60 mg/dL and above gives some protection against heart disease.

Origins

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found only in foods of animal origin such as poultry, beef, fish, eggs, and dairy products. Cholesterol can be made from the liver and thus is not needed in the diet for normal cellular processes. Cholesterol must be combined with fats, proteins, and lipoproteins, before it can be transported through the body within the blood. There are many different lipoproteins that vary in size, function and composition. One of which is low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Commonly referred to as the “bad” cholesterol, it composes relatively two-thirds of total circulating blood cholesterol. Because the LDL transports cholesterol through the bloodstream, in high levels, it is associated with plaque deposits on the walls of the arteries resulting in a higher risk for cardiovascular events. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) referred to as the “good” cholesterol, scavenges excess cholesterol from the blood and brings it back to the liver for excretion. Research! shows that higher levels of HDL levels are related to lower levels of certain cardiovascular events. Another class of lipoproteins, the very-low-density-lipoproteins (VLDL), is responsible for carrying triglycerides through the bloodstream.

Evidence is clear that the major dietary contributors to elevated cholesterol are saturated fat, trans fat, dietary cholesterol , and an imbalance in caloric intake and energy expenditure resulting in weight gain. In some cases elevated cholesterol may be due to an underlying medical condition or certain prescribed medications as listed below, but not limited to:

Hypothyroidism
Nephrotic syndrome
Chronic liver disease
Cholestasis
Monoclonal gammopathy
Cushing’s syndrome
Oral contraceptive use
Anorexia nervosa
Acute intermittent porphyria
Protease inhibitor use

Other factors known to influence a persons blood cholesterol level include:

KEY TERMS

Cholesterol —A soft, waxy substance found among the lipids (fats) in the bloodstream and in all your body’s cells.

Lipoprotein Particle —A lipoprotein particle is composed of an outer shell of phospholipid, which renders the particle soluble in water; a core of fats called lipid, including cholesterol and a surface apoprotein molecule that allows tissues to recognize and take up the particle.

Lipoproteins —Their density characterizes types of lipoproteins- high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very-low-density-lipoproteins (VLDL).

Hypercholesterolemia —The presence of an abnormal amount of cholesterol in the cells and plasma of the blood is associated with the risk of atherosclerosis.

Hyperlipidemia —Presence of excess lipids in the blood.

Coronary Heart Disease —A progressive reduction of blood supply to the heart muscle due to narrowing or blocking of a coronary artery.

Heredity. Genetic factors play a large role in the amount of cholesterol in a person’s blood.
Age.As a person ages, their cholesterol level tends to rise gradually.
Sex. Men tend to have higher LDL and lower HDL than premenopausal women.
Menopause. After menopause, estrogen levels fall and women’s LDL cholesterol levels tend to rise.
Weight. As weight rises, so does cholesterol. Usually LDL levels rise as HDL levels lower.
Smoking. Smoking can lower a persons HDL levels.
Exercise. Regular exercise raises a persons HDL levels. As well as help in weight loss or maintenance.
Alcohol. Studies suggest that no more than one drink for women and two drinks for males may help in raising HDL levels.

In November 1985, in order to standardize the medical approach to treating high cholesterol blood levels, The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) launched the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP). The overall goal of the NCEP is to “reduce illness and death from coronary heart disease (CHD) in the United States by reducing the percent of Americans with high blood cholesterol”.

In their first approach, the NCEP designed the Step 1 and Step 2 diet to lowering cholesterol. Designed as an initial diet for people with high dietary cholesterol, the Step I diet restricted total fat to no more than 30% of total calories, saturated fat to no more than 10% of total calories, and cholesterol to less than 300 mg/day. If this approach did not result in a lowering of cholesterol or for people post-myocardial infraction or at high risk of one, the Step II diet goals were instituted. They recommended less than 7% of total calories for saturated fat and less than 200 mg/ day of cholesterol.

For the general population, the NCEP still recommends a diet following the Step 1 recommendations. However, in May of 2001, the NCEP issued the Third Report of the Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III [ATP III]) which recommended the new TLC dietary therapy for subgroups of people with specific medical conditions and risk factors listed below:

High LDL cholesterol or other lipid disorders, coronary heart disease or other cardiovascular disease diabetes mellitus , insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome.

Soon after the report was issued, health organizations such as The American Heart Association (AHA) began to accept and endorse these recommendations. Now a majority of organizations have incorporated the TLC diet into materials on dietary and lifestyle change for people with high blood cholesterol.

Description

The three cornerstones of the TLC lifestyle modification diet are:

Dietary Changes. Reduction of saturated fat, trans-fat, and cholesterol within the diet. Addition of plant stanols and sterols. Increased consumption of soluble fiber.
Weight Management. Weight loss can help lower LDL and is especially important for those with a cluster of risk factors that includes high triglyceride and/or low HDL levels. For those with a large waist measurement (more than 40 inches for men and more than 35 inches for women) it is important to lose weight to decrease the risk for developing heart disease.
Physical Activity. Regular physical activity, at least 30 minutes on most, if not all, days is recommended every day of the week. Physical activity can help raise HDL and lower LDL and is important for those with high triglyceride and/or low HDL levels who are overweight with a large waist measurement

The TLC eating plan is one that advises less than 7% of calories from saturated fat and less than 200 mg of dietary cholesterol per day. There should be no more than 25-35% or less of total daily calories coming from total fat intake. A limit of 2400 mg of day of sodium is recommended. The TLC diet recommends weight maintenance and avoidance of weight gain through caloric homeostasis. If LDL cholesterol is not lowered through reduction of saturated fat and cholesterol intakes, then it is suggested that the amount of soluble fiber in the diet be increased.

The TLC Program is adjusted using a set of four categories that are based on ones heart disease risk profile to set LDL goals and treatment steps. For a person who has heart disease or diabetes, they are considered a category I, carrying the highest risk. For persons free of those conditions, their needs are based upon their personal risk of having a heart attack in the next 10-years based upon the Framingham Heart Study. The higher a persons risk category, the more important it is for them to lower their LDL and control any other heart disease risk factors (including smoking and high blood pressure) they have.

Function

The TLC diet is prescribed for people who need to reduce their risk for heart disease. The main goal in treating high cholesterol via the TLC program is to lower a persons LDL level. Research has proven that a lowering of LDL levels can prevent or decrease the risk of heart attacks and reduce deaths from heart disease in both men and women. The TLC program can decelerate, stop, or reverse the buildup of plaque. When followed, it can also lower the cholesterol content in unstable plaques, making them less likely to burst and cause a heart attack. For those who have already experienced a myocardial infraction, the diet can reduce the risk of another heart attack, possibly prolonging life.

Benefits

By following the TLC lifestyle approach, a person is following a healthful lifestyle that has a synergistic effect on other disease risks. The TLC program has been shown to help control other risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure, overweight/obesity, and diabetes, as well as decreasing the possibility of the blood to form clots. Research has shown that for every 10-percentage points cholesterol is reduced, the risk of death from heart disease drops by 15 percent. For those who take cholesterol-lowering medications, following the TLC program can ensure that they take the lowest dose needed to achieve results.

Precautions

Along with a qualified physician, making sure that qualified professionals who can assist with safe dietary and lifestyle changes should include registered dietitians, doctors, nurses, psychologists, and exercise physiologists.

Risks

According to the NCEP Guidelines, all adults 20 years of age and older should have their total cholesterol as well as HDL-cholesterol measured every five years.

Positive Risk factors for heart disease:

Male greater than 45 years of age
Female greater than 55 years of age
Female with premature menopause without estrogen replacement
Family history of premature coronary heart disease having definite myocardial infarction or sudden death before age 55 in father or other first-degree male relative, or mother before age 65 years of age
Currently smoking or history of cigarette smoking
Blood pressure greater than 140/90 mmHg or on antihypertensive medications
HDL cholesterol less than 35 mg/dl
LDL cholesterol greater than 130 mg/dl
Diabetes Mellitus

Research and general acceptance

Scores of research articles support a direct relationship between LDL cholesterol levels and the rate of coronary heart disease (CHD) in a person. Within-population studies such as the Framingham and MRFIT studies and between-population studies, most notably the Seven Countries study support this research as well. Studies on familial Hypercholesterolemia, a genetic disorder characterized by high levels of LDL cholesterol, have an exceedingly high rate of premature atherosclerosis. The majority of research from experimental animals, laboratory investigations, epidemiology, and genetic forms of hypercholesterolemia indicate that elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is a major cause of CHD. In addition, clinical trials demonstrate a reduction of coro-

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR

When should I start having my cholesterol level checked?
What is my risk of developing heart disease?
When should cholesterol-lowering drugs be used?
When I begin making changes, when can I cut my dosage of cholesterol lowering drugs?
When should I expect to see a difference in my cholesterol profile?
How long should I try the TLC diet before medication is prescribed?

nary heart disease risk when low-density lipoprotein-lowering therapy is instituted. For these reasons, the NCEP Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III) continues to identify elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol as the primary target of cholesterol-lowering therapy.