The connection between food and cholesterol levels is a topic of much interest. If you have high cholesterol or are attempting to maintain the health of your heart and blood vessels, understanding this relationship will be extremely helpful. Or perhaps you want to alter your lifestyle without using medicine, or you want your diet to help your medication work as effectively as possible.
You've come to the perfect place if you have any questions regarding any of these heart-healthy subjects. Cholesterol is essential. It is an essential component of the hormones, cells, and vitamins your body uses to maintain your life and health. However, a lot of people have high cholesterol levels, which increases their risk of developing heart disease and stroke.
To carry out necessary processes, your body requires some cholesterol. However, your cholesterol might reach harmful levels if you ingest an excessive amount of it. Low-density lipoprotein, sometimes known as LDL, is typically to blame for harmful cholesterol levels.
Cholesterol is carried by two distinct lipoproteins via the blood:
- HDL- The "good" cholesterol is known as high-density lipoprotein (HDL). These lipoproteins aid in the removal of extra cholesterol that is not required for healthy body function.
- LDL- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), on the other hand, is regarded as "bad" cholesterol. When there is an excess, these lipoproteins are not eliminated. Instead, they help your arteries accumulate plaque.
The Common Foods That Increase Your Cholesterol:
Whipped Cream:
Although it can prove to be a delectable treat, whipped cream is made with whole milk and is high in fat. Instead, consider making your own with Greek yoghurt, coconut milk, cashews, or almonds.
Cheese:
Choosing substitutes is preferable to fully eliminating cheese. Low-cholesterol cheeses include blue, parmesan, and goat cheese. Alternately, choose low-fat choices.
Fried Foods:
Fried foods are high in cholesterol and should be avoided whenever feasible, such as deep-fried cheese sticks and meats.
That's because they have a lot of calories and might include trans fats, which can make you more likely to develop heart disease and have other negative health effects. Heart disease risk has also been connected to a high diet of fried foods.
Junk Food:
Junk is what it is for a reason. Before it gets to the supermarket in your neighbourhood, junk food is kept for a very long period. The food is very processed, loaded with salt and preservatives, and is therefore quite likely to cause problems with your cholesterol levels. Fruit-flavoured beverages, nachos, potato chips, milk chocolates, and sodas are a few examples.
Processed And Red Meat:
Foods high in bad cholesterol like processed meats use chemical stabilisers and preservatives to extend their shelf lives. People purchase frozen meats to simplify their lives and reduce waste. However, many are unaware of how unhealthy the food they put into their bodies is. Limit your consumption of processed meats like frozen kebabs, hot dogs, and sausages if you want to prevent problems with cholesterol. Given that it is a strong source of saturated fats, red meat is at the top of the list of foods that raise cholesterol. Red meat that has been processed and contains preservatives may be much more harmful.