➖What Is the TLC Diet?
The TLC diet, or Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes diet, is a healthy eating plan designed to improve heart health.It was developed by the National Institutes of Health to help lessen the risk of heart disease and stroke.

The goal of the diet is to minimize blood levels of total and “bad” LDL cholesterol to keep the arteries clear and optimize heart health.It works by combining components of diet, exercise and weight control to help protect against heart disease.

Unlike other diet programs, the TLC diet is intended to be followed in the long term and should be considered more of a lifestyle change rather than a fad diet.In addition to lowering cholesterol levels, the TLC diet has been associated with a range of other health benefits,from enhanced immune function to reduced oxidative stress and more.

➖Heart Health and Other Benefits: In addition to helping lower cholesterol levels,the TLC diet has been associated with a number of other health benefits, including:
▪️Improving immune function: One small study in 18 people showed that following a TLC diet improved immune function in older adults with high cholesterol.
▪️Promoting weight loss: Getting regular exercise, keeping calorie intake in check and increasing your soluble fibre intake can all be effective strategies to help promote sustainable weight loss.
▪️Stabilizing blood sugar: The TLC diet includes upping your intake of soluble fibre,which can slow the absorption of sugar in the blood to help manage blood sugar levels.
▪️Reducing oxidative stress: A study in 31 adults with diabetes showed that following a TLC diet high in legumes reduced oxidative stress,which is believed to be linked to the development of chronic disease.
▪️Lowering blood pressure: Studies show that increasing your intake of soluble fibre can lower levels of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

➖Potential Downsides: Although the TLC diet can be a useful tool to help improve heart health, it may be associated with some potential downsides. It can be a bit tricky to follow and may require you to track your intake carefully to ensure you’re staying within the strict guidelines set for dietary cholesterol,saturated fat and soluble fibre.