7 Heart Healthy Diet Tips Part 2 – Choose Low Fat Protein — Healthy Eating Series
Choose Low Fat Protein
Lean meat, poultry and fish, low-fat dairy products and egg whites or egg substitutes are some of your best sources of protein. But be careful to choose lower fat options, such as skim milk rather than whole milk and skinless chicken breasts rather than fried chicken patties.
Fish is another good alternative to high-fat meats. Some types of fish such as cod, tuna and halibut generally have less total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol than do meat and poultry. And certain types of fish are heart healthy because they’re rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can lower blood fats called triglycerides and may reduce your risk of sudden cardiac death. You’ll find the highest amounts of omega-3 fatty acids in cold-water fish, such as salmon, mackerel and herring. Other sources are flaxseed, walnuts, soybeans and canola oil.
Legumes beans, peas and lentils also are good sources of protein and contain less fat and no cholesterol, making them good substitutes for meat. Substituting soy protein for animal protein for example, a soy burger for a hamburger will reduce your fat and cholesterol intake.
Best Sources of Protein:
Skim or low-fat (1 percent) milk
Fat-free or low-fat dairy products, such as yogurt and cheese
Egg whites or egg substitutes
Fish, especially fatty, cold-water fish, such as salmon
Skinless poultry
Legumes
Soybeans and soy products, for example, soy burgers
Lean ground meats
Poor Sources of Protein:
Full-fat milk and other dairy products
Organ meats, such as liver
Egg yolks
Fatty and marbled meats
Spareribs
Cold cuts
Frankfurters, hot dogs and sausages
Bacon
Fried, breaded or canned meats






