Cholesterol is a fat-like material present in your body. Your body requires cholesterol to make steroid hormones, vitamin D, bile acid, and substances that aid you in digesting food. Your liver naturally produces cholesterol. Animal foods such as meat, cheese, and egg yolk arevo high in cholesterol.
Types of Cholesterols
There are two main types of cholesterol known as HDL and LDL.
| HDL | LDL |
| High-density lipoprotein (HDL), also called good cholesterol because it fetches bad cholesterol from arteries and drives it to the liver for expulsion from the body | Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is also referred to as bad cholesterol because it leads to the build-up of plaque (fatty deposits) in your arteries. |
| Unsaturated fats are found in plants, nuts, seeds, beans, vegetable oil, and fish. It can increase the rate at which the liver breaks down bad cholesterol. | Saturated fats are seen in meat and dairy products. They command the liver to produce more bad cholesterol. Trans fats are solidified vegetable oils. Mainly packaged and processed food contain trans fat that raises bad cholesterol levels. |
Foods to Eat with High Cholesterol
Fatty fish, Legumes, Chia and Ground Flaxseeds, Fruits, Vegetables, Whole Grains (Oats, Barley), Leaner Cuts Of Meat, Soybean, Peanut, Almonds, Olive, Canola, Avocados, Fat-Free Milk, Avocados, Cashews, Pecans, Hazelnuts.
Foods to Avoid with High Cholesterol
Fatty Cuts Of Meat, Poultry With Skin, Pork, Lamb, Lard And Shortening, Full Cream Milk, Cheese, Butter, Cream, Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Deep Fried Meats, Fast Foods, Hot Dogs, Pastries, Cakes.
FAQ’S
• Red meat
• Sausage
• Bacon
• Organ meats, such as kidney and liver
The leading cause of high cholesterol is an unhealthy lifestyle and genetics. It can include eating unhealthy foods, smoking, and lack of physical activity.
Too much cholesterol in the blood combines with other substances in the blood to form plaque (fatty deposits). Large plaque deposits in arteries can cause a blood clot, and finally, it can block the blood flow. As a result, it can lead to coronary heart disease, heart attack, or stroke.
