Cholesterol refers to a waxy substance present in the body of human beings and also present in animal products such as meat, eggs and other dairy products. It is one of the most misinterpreted of our body. It is necessary for the body as it helps in producing important hormones, vitamin D and the bile juice which plays an essential role in the digestion of food.
Cholesterol also strengthens the cell membrane of every cell present in the body and increases its flexibility of the cell membrane. All the cholesterol required for the bodily functions is produced by the liver and it can also be added in the body by consuming cholesterol-rich food products.
Cholesterol has a different chemical composition; therefore, it does not gel well with other body fluids. Eventually, it gets converted into high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL).
LDL is also known as bad cholesterol as it can make a plaque in the arteries which leads to arteries blockage and eventually heart diseases. HDL is known as good cholesterol as it helps in the elimination of extra cholesterol from the body.
Let us look at the top 10 foods that you must avoid to keep your cholesterol level in a healthy range as these products can prove to be harmful to your health if you are already having high cholesterol level in the body.
1. Eggs
The egg is considered to be a highly nutritious food but it also contains a high amount of cholesterol. Some people consider consuming egg to be more threatening as it can shoot up the cholesterol levels. However, the whole egg is good for health and increases the quantity of HDL in the body. If you eat 1 to 3 eggs on a daily basis, then it is considered to be absolutely safe.
2. Organ meat
Eating heart, kidney or liver is also beneficial for health but these organ meats are a rich source of cholesterol. For instance, chicken heart contains a strong antioxidant namely, CoQ10 and other essential vitamins and minerals. But if you have a high cholesterol level, then you should not consume this product as it can harm the body by increasing the cholesterol levels further.
3. Shellfish
Shellfishes such as clams, crabs and shrimps are known to be a rich source of proteins, vitamin B and other minerals such as iron and selenium. But these are a good source of cholesterol also. Those individuals who are already suffering from any heart disease or have higher cholesterol levels in the body should avoid consuming shellfishes.
4. Fried food items
If you are fond of eating chicken sticks and deep-fried meats, then chances are high that you have elevated levels of cholesterol in the body after a certain period of time. Because these fried foods are full of calories and contain a huge amount of Tran’s fats, one should avoid eating them frequently. This can increase the risk of getting heart diseases and can harm your health in other possible ways. An individual can also suffer from obesity and other problems such as diabetes if keeps on eating fried food.
5. Fast food
One of the leading causes of heart diseases, blood sugar problems and obesity is increased consumption of fast food items. These items contain high cholesterol and increase fat in the stomach region, disrupt blood sugar level and cause higher inflammation also. Therefore, alternatively, if you are worried about your health, then you can replace this fast food consumption with home cooked meals. It can help you in lowering your body weight, lowers the body fat and reduces the risk of getting any heart disease also.
6. Desserts
Are you having a sweet tooth? Well, many people cannot resist cookies, ice cream, pastries and other sweet dishes. All these sweet food products contain a high level of cholesterol with added sugars and lots of calories.
If you keep on eating desserts for a considerable period of time, then you will notice the weight gain in your body. Moreover, you are also at a higher risk of getting heart disease, a decrease in cognitive abilities, obesity, diabetes etc.
Also, these food items do not contain any other health supplement essential for growth of the body such as vitamins, minerals, proteins and fats.
7. Butter
Whatever you eat, butter makes the dish better. You must have tried it with popcorns, pancakes, mashed potatoes and many such things. But if you are dealing with high cholesterol levels in the body, then avoid taking butter rather add some vegetable oil to make the food delicious and healthy.
8. Saturated vegetable oils
Those oils that contain saturated fatty acids cause higher cholesterol levels in the blood such as coconut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil etc. if you are already suffering from some cardiovascular disease, then you should avoid consuming these saturated oils. Saturated fats increase the level of bad cholesterol in the body.
9. Ham cheeseburger
Burgers loaded with extra cheese contains a very large amount of cholesterol ranging up to 175 mg. so, rather than eating this extra cheese containing burger, one can order a plain burger instead. Cheese makes any food taste better but if you are struggling to maintain your cholesterol levels then you should avoid eating such products. Burgers contain Tran’s fats which are produced by an artificial process known as hydrogenation. These are not good for health maintenance.
10. Dairy products
Whole milk is also rich in cholesterol as it contains saturated fats therefore if you are having elevated levels of cholesterol, then you can try having low-fat milk or 1 percent milk. Once you become comfortable with drinking this, you can further lower it down to skimmed milk or non-fat dairy substances.
Conclusion
Therefore these are the 10 food items that are rich in cholesterol which you can avoid in case of high cholesterol levels. Also, you can replace these food items with healthier options and other nutritious recipes. Opt for more such choices that are healthy for the heart.
