High-Cholesterol Foods To Avoid
High cholesterol is a term used to describe a person's total amount of cholesterol in their blood. This can be measured by an HDL score, which is calculated by taking the HDL cholesterol out of the total cholesterol and triglycerides and dividing it by the total number of particles. The higher the score, the better.
Most people have some
level of LDL and HDL cholesterol in their bodies, but high levels of LDL and/or
low levels of HDL can cause serious health problems, including heart disease. High cholesterol
levels are related to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD
includes:
In fact, excess LDL cholesterol is a major cause of CVD. While many factors contribute to high blood cholesterol levels, including genetics and diet, research shows that changes in lifestyle habits may help you lower your risk for CVD.
For those of you who
are looking to reduce your cholesterol, here are some foods that you should
avoid.
Fried Food
Fried food may not be
the answer if you're looking for a way to reduce cholesterol. Fried foods high
in fat and cholesterol, such as french fries, chips, and fried chicken, tend to
be more unhealthy than other types of food. Researchers have found that when
people add extra oil to their meals, they tend to eat more food overall.
Refined Sugar
First, it's essential
to understand that refined sugar is not the same as natural sugar. Refined
sugar has been processed in a way that removes most of the nutrients and fiber
found in unrefined sugar. It's often called "white" sugar because it
has been stripped of nutrients.
Second, refined sugar
is addictive—and can cause health problems if you consume too much of it over
time. In addition to raising your cholesterol levels, refined sugar can lead to
obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic diseases.
Refined sugars are
usually found in things like white bread and pasta, so it's best to avoid them
as much as possible.
High-fat Dairy
Products
High-fat dairy products
include cheese and cream products (such as cream cheese), butter, and full-fat
yogurt. These foods contain saturated fat and cholesterol, which could lead to
high cholesterol levels in the body and increase the risk of developing heart
disease or other health problems.
Trans Fats
Trans fats are found
primarily in processed foods like pizza dough, French fries, doughnuts,
pastries, cookies, cakes, etc. They're also in some margarine and fast foods!
It's important not to consume trans fats because they increase the risk of
heart disease by lowering HDL cholesterol levels in the bloodstream, which
leads to plaque buildup on arteries leading to heart attacks & strokes.
The American Heart Association recommends that adults over 20 must check their cholesterol levels every 4 to 6 years if they're at low risk. If you're suffering from cholesterol, visit Springfield Medical Clinic to get yourself checked and treated.