Nutritionists have named the most harmful foods for cholesterol
Excess cholesterol in the blood is the main factor in the development of atherosclerosis.
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that circulates in the blood. It is not necessarily dangerous in itself: we need cholesterol to build cells and produce hormones . But too much of it can cause problems, writes huffpost.com .
As Eleanor Avenatti, a preventive cardiologist at Houston Methodist Hospital, noted, excess cholesterol in the blood, for example, is a major factor in the development of atherosclerosis.
Experts reveal the foods you should avoid if you have high cholesterol, as well as some factors that may be even more important than the food you eat.
The most harmful foods for cholesterol
Fatty dairy products . Full-fat dairy products are high in saturated fat, which is harmful to LDL, often called “bad” cholesterol. Dairy does have some health benefits, so you can reduce this problem by including low-fat dairy products in your diet.
Red meat (beef, pork or lamb) is not very healthy for people with high cholesterol. According to Philadelphia-based nutritionist Beth August, red meat is high in saturated fat, which, as mentioned above, makes it difficult for the body to break down cholesterol.
Skin on meat . As the nutritionist noted, there is also a lot of saturated fat in meat skins. This applies to the skin of any meat.
Highly processed products . Such foods are typically high in unhealthy fats and salt and low in fiber, vitamins and minerals, which is a bad combination for cardiovascular health, Dr. Avenatti said.
Fried food . Nutritionist Michelle Rutenstein says avoid fried foods if you have high cholesterol. It contains trans fats, which can increase bad cholesterol levels as well as your overall risk of heart disease. According to the Mayo Clinic , this includes both sweet and savory fried foods, such as fried chicken, donuts and French fries.
