Tag Archives: cholesterol

15 Foods That Can Worsen High Cholesterol

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Cholesterol is a waxy substance produced by lipids in the bloodstream that helps the body build healthy cells, but when cholesterol levels raise too high, this waxy substance starts building up in your arteries and can lead to cardiovascular disease. It is important for those with high cholesterol to make lifestyle changes that can help lower the numbers. Making dietary changes is an important step in lowering cholesterol.

Foods That Can Raise Cholesterol

Some foods that can contribute to high cholesterol and should be avoided or limited include:

  1. Saturated fats like butter, lard and bacon grease (use extra virgin olive oil instead)
  2. Coconut and coconut-based products are high in fat and can raise cholesterol levels
  3. Hydrogenated vegetable oils like those in shortening, condiments and junk food
  4. High-fat meats such as beef, sausages, processed meat or bacon
  5. Organ meats like liver or kidney meat
  6. Alcohol can drive up triglyceride levels
  7. Dried fruit as it is high in sugar
  8. Oil-Packed Fish (choose water-packed or fresh instead)
  9. Certain snacks like chips or microwave popcorn (aside from being starch-based, it is loaded with chemical butter substitutes)
  10. Starchy veggies like corn or potatoes
  11. Rich desserts such as milk chocolate and puddings
  12. Sugar – try having your coffee black and consider baking with substitutes for sugar such as stevia
  13. Sugary drinks like pop or juice
  14. Full-fat milk products (stick to low fat choices)
  15. Simple carbs such as those found in muffins, crackers or white bread

Limiting these foods is a good start toward lowering your cholesterol. Keep an eye out for the best foods to help control high cholesterol in the future! Thanks for visiting DocChat.

 

Fast Facts About Cholesterol

Heart disease, Illness, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , ,

  • Over 73 million Americans have high LDL cholesterol
  • High cholesterol can manifest itself physically, causing ‘xanthomas’ (discolored fatty growths) on the skin.
  • Not all cholesterol is ‘bad’ for your heart. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the dangerous kind, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is beneficial for your body.
  • Cholesterol climbs with age, especially in women. It can significantly rise with menopause.
  • Even children and teens can have high cholesterol. There is nothing wrong with getting your child checked, especially if there are genetic risk factors present.
  • If you could take a look at cholesterol-clogged arteries, you would see that they are lined with a thick yellow substance that highly resembles butter!
  • Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs, eating foods with ‘good’ HDL cholesterol just adds extra.
  • While high levels of LDL cholesterol produce dangerous plaque buildups in the arteries, target levels of HDL cholesterol can actually lower your risk of cardiovascular disease.
  • If you have high cholesterol and are also obese or overweight, losing just 5-10% of your overall weight can potentially make a significant difference in your cholesterol levels.
  • 1 in 500 people are afflicted by a genetic disorder called familial hypercholesterolemia, marked by a defect on the 19th chromosome. FH causes dangerously high LDL cholesterol levels, even in young children with the mutation.
  • Ingesting more soluble fibre (such as that found in oatmeal, legumes and vegetables) can help lower your cholesterol.
  • Having high cholesterol (especially if it goes untreated) can nearly double your risk of developing heart disease.
  • Nearly half of people with high cholesterol are not taking medications as prescribed, which significantly increases their risk of heart disease.
  • Losing weight, taking prescribed medications and taking dietary changes such as limiting meat intake (choose protein rich alternatives like beans instead) and increasing your intake of fatty fish high in omega fatty acids can help control your cholesterol and keep it from climbing any higher.

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