High Cholesterol Foods That You Should Eat In Moderation

High cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease that is primarily caused by obesity, physical inactivity and an unhealthy diet, especially increases the risk of heart disease and stroke in certain groups which are sensitive to dietary cholesterol. Some other causes of high cholesterol include high intake of foods containing saturated fats and trans-fats (low intake of foods containing healthy, protective fats- polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats- that increases HDL “good” cholesterol in your blood), low intake of foods containing fiber, cholesterol in food (dietary cholesterol), and genetics (your family history may affect your cholesterol level).

Eating a variety of foods promotes good heart health, including fruits and vegetables; grain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain and high fiber varieties; lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds, legumes/beans; and milk, yogurt, cheese and alternatives, mostly reduced fat.

Here’s a list of foods high in cholesterol that you should eat in moderation when following a heart-healthy, low-cholesterol diet:

Fast Food- Try and avoid hamburgers, fries and fried chicken, or eat in small quantities if at all as these are often cooked in hydrogenated oils, which are very high in trans fats.

Dairy Products- Watch out for dairy products with high saturated fat content as these can raise your cholesterol. Switch whole milk with lower-fat varieties, and look for low-fat cheese to go on your next sandwich.

Fatty Red Meat- If you wish to maintain good heart health and keep your cholesterol in check, it is best to avoid or limit the consumption of fattier red meats, including corned beef, lamb chops, butter burgers, etc.

Egg Yolks- To get rid of some cholesterol from your diet, swap out whole eggs with egg whites in order to limit intake of egg yolks. If you have high cholesterol, avoiding eggs or limiting yourself to 1 per day is a good idea.

Other foods highest in cholesterol:

1.      Pan-frying condiments (substitute butter with margarine or olive oil, since butter, bacon drippings, shortening and coconut oil are high in saturated fats and cholesterol)

2.      Liver (most organ meats are high in cholesterol and should be avoided)

3.      Desserts (chocolate mousse)

4.      Whipped Cream

5.      Bacon

6.      Cheese

7.      Butter

The above-mentioned foods do not have a place in a heart-healthy diet because they are high in cholesterol and include saturated and trans fats. Choose your food wisely and increase your consumption of foods that are high in polyunsaturated and monounsaturated (healthy) fats, including margarine spreads and oils such as sunflower, soybean and safflower, oily fish, some nuts and seeds, and avocados. Following a nutritious, balanced diet is an effective way to help moderate cholesterol levels, and hence reduces the risk for coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

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