How Can You Lower Your Cholesterol In A Healthy Way
Having massive levels of LDL bad cholesterol can cause a buildup of cholesterol in your blood vessels, increasing your risk of contracting heart disease.
Certain dietary or lifestyle changes can decrease LDL levels and offer a more favorable HDL to LDL ratio. Lets look at a couple of healthy ways to decrease cholesterol levels.
Eat Fewer Added Sugars
Its not just saturated and trans fats that can raise cholesterol levels. Eating too many added sugars can do the same thing .
One study found that adults who consumed 25% of their calories from drinks made with high-fructose corn syrup experienced a 17% increase in LDL cholesterol in just two weeks .
Even more troubling, fructose increases the number of small, dense oxidized LDL cholesterol particles which contribute to heart disease .
Between 2005 and 2010, an estimated 10% of Americans consumed over 25% of their daily calories from added sugars .
According to a 14-year study, these people were almost three times more likely to die from heart disease than those getting less than 10% of their calories from added sugars .
The American Heart Association recommends eating no more than 100 calories of added sugar per day for women and children, and no more than 150 calories per day for men .
You can meet these goals by reading labels carefully and choosing products without added sugars whenever possible.
Summary Getting more than 25% of your daily calories from added sugars can raise cholesterol levels and more than double your risk of dying from heart disease. Cut back by choosing foods without added sugars as much as possible.
What Are The Forms Of Cholesterol In Body
Cholesterol comes in two major forms:
- LDL , or bad cholesterol
- HDL , or good cholesterol
LDLs deposit one type of cholesterol throughout the body. This kind of cholesterol can build up in blood vessels and lead to serious complications. Thats why it is referred to as bad cholesterol.
HDLs, on the other hand, collect LDL cholesterol from the arteries and bring it back to the liver for disposal. For this reason, it is referred to as good cholesterol.
A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and good fats can help lower bad cholesterol. You have a greater chance of getting heart disease when your LDL level gets too high.
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Kidney Disease & Cholesterol Association
The clinical study reveals high triglyceride has an association with increased creatinine level. Additionally, it indicates a decrease in kidney function.
Low HDL cholesterol has associated with greater risk. But, total and LDL cholesterol is not associated with the risk of chronic kidney disease. Elevated levels of creatinine in the blood indicate a decline in the kidney function. The increase of 0.4 milligrams of creatinine/deciliter of blood indicates a decrease in kidney function.
Treatment For High Cholesterol
Making lifestyle changes, especially changing some of the foods you eat, and regular physical activity, are very important to help reduce high LDL cholesterol.
You may also need to take cholesterol-lowering medicines to help manage your cholesterol and reduce your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Talk to your doctor about finding the most appropriate treatment for you.
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Lack Of Physical Activity
Certainly related to the above, insufficient physical activity can also drive LDL higher. The good news, however, is that even modest increases in the amount of exercise you get can help a great deal. Ideally, doctors may want you getting up to 90 minutes a day of physical activity however, even 30 to 45 minutes regularly can be helpful.
At bare minimum, the surgeon general recommends that adults get 2.5 hours of moderate exercise every week. This can include:
- Biking
Heres a summary of the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans:
Avoid industrial trans fats.
Replace saturated fats with polyunsaturated fats, and aim to get less than 10% of your calories from saturated fats.
Reduce calories from solid animal fats with plant oils when possible.
Prioritize seafood , lean meats, poultry, eggs, legumes , nuts, seeds, and soy products over red and processed meats as sources of protein.
What Is A Healthy Cholesterol Level
According to the NHLBI, your risk for heart disease and other health problems, such as diabetes, increases if you have an HDL cholesterol level of 40 milligrams per deciliter or less for men and 50 mg/dL or less for women. The institute recommends that total daily cholesterol intake be less than 200 mg/dL, and that LDL cholesterol be less than 100 mg/dL.
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Swap Processed Meat For Fish
Salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna and other fatty fish are some of the best foods to lower LDL and reduce heart disease risk. According to a 2016 review featured in , fish may help prevent cardiovascular problems thanks to its high content of bioactive compounds and polyunsaturated fatty acids , such as omega-3s. Research suggests that the fats in fish have little or no effect on total cholesterol but affect HDL and LDL cholesterol.
The study also points out that PUFAs may lower blood pressure, improve endothelial function and reduce inflammation, leading to better cardiovascular health. Processed and red meats, on the other hand, have been shown to increase the risk of death from all causes. Researchers believe that these side effects may be due to the nitrites and nitrates in red meat as well as to the toxic compounds released during cooking.
As the American Heart Association notes, red meat is higher in saturated fat than fish, chicken and vegetables. Processed meat contains trans fats that raise bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol levels. That’s why health experts recommend limiting red meat consumption and eating more fish and white meat.
Sample Meal Ideas To Lower Ldl Cholesterol
Breakfast
-
Oatmeal, 100% rolled oats or steel-cut, 1 cup cooked with 1% milk with 2 Tbsp. walnuts, 1 tsp brown sugar and 1 medium banana
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1 hard-boiled egg, 1 slice whole wheat toast with 1 tsp jam and 1 orange
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1 cup whole grain cereal with 4 oz. 1% milk and ½ cup fresh or frozen berries
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1 slice of whole wheat toast with 1 Tbsp. natural peanut butter and ½ cup sliced strawberries
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2 egg whites scrambled with 1 cup fresh spinach, seasoned with black pepper or salt-free seasoning, and a medium apple
Lunch and Dinner
Snacks
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Avoid Artificial Trans Fats
While trans fats occur naturally in red meat and dairy products, most peoples main source is artificial trans fat used in many restaurants and processed foods .
Artificial trans fats are produced by hydrogenating or adding hydrogen to unsaturated fats such as vegetable oils to change their structure and solidify them at room temperature.
Trans fats make a cheap alternative to natural saturated fats and have been widely used by restaurants and food manufacturers.
However, substantive research shows that eating artificial trans fats increases bad LDL cholesterol, lowers good HDL cholesterol and is linked to a 23% greater risk of heart disease (
31 ).
Summary Artificial trans fats are linked to higher LDL cholesterol levels and an increased risk of heart disease. Recently, the US banned their use in restaurants and processed foods, making them easier to avoid.
What Causes High Cholesterol
Some causes of high blood cholesterol include:
- Low intake of foods containing healthy fats healthy fats tend to increase the good cholesterol.
- High intake of foods containing unhealthy fats such as fatty meats, full-fat dairy products, butter, coconut oil, palm oil and most deep-fried takeaway foods and commercially baked products . Foods high in trans-fats include most commercially baked products and deep-fried takeaway foods.
- Low intake of foods containing fibre foods that are high in dietary fibre, particularly soluble fibre, can reduce the amount of LDL cholesterol in your blood. Include fibre-containing foods in your diet by choosing vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, nuts and seeds every day.
- Cholesterol in food this has only a small effect on LDL cholesterol -saturated fats and trans-fats in food have a much greater effect.
- You can also eat up to 7 eggs a week as part of a healthy, balanced diet low in saturated and trans-fats, without increasing your risk of heart disease.
Some people will have high cholesterol even if they follow a healthy, balanced diet low in saturated fats and trans-fats. These people may need to take cholesterol-lowering medicine as prescribed by their doctor.
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How To Choose Heart
Who doesnt want to sample everything in sight at a holiday party? Staying away from the partyfood can be tough on everyone. However, if youre working on lowering or maintaining yourcholesterol levels, making thoughtful choices is crucial.
Avoiding saturated fats and trans fats as they raise your LDL-C cholesterol. Trans fats are particularly unhealthy because they also reduce HDL-C cholesterol.
If youre hosting a party, try offering grilled or roasted foods. They are tastier, in my opinion,than fried foods and a lot healthier!
While cholesterol is vital for many processes in the body, too much cholesterol can build up in your arteries, which may lead to a heart attack or stroke. Cholesterol is made by your liver, but it also comes from the foods you eat, which is why its important to make smart food choices to help manage your cholesterol levels. The great news is that my hummus recipe below is perfect for holiday gatherings and to keep in your fridge at all times!
Can My Diet Help My Cholesterol
Eating certain foods can help improve your cholesterol and overall heart health.
The best place to start is to eat a wide variety of plant foods. These include:
- vegetables
- nut
- seeds.
Eating plant foods will help you get a range of nutrients, heart-healthy fats and fibre. These all promote optimal heart health.
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The Dietary Guidelines For Americans Summarized
Heres a summary of the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans:
Avoid industrial trans fats.
Replace saturated fats with polyunsaturated fats, and aim to get less than 10% of your calories from saturated fats.
Reduce calories from solid animal fats with plant oils when possible.
Prioritize seafood , lean meats, poultry, eggs, legumes , nuts, seeds, and soy products over red and processed meats as sources of protein.
Eat Plenty Of Avocado
An avocado a day keeps heart disease away. Despite its high fat content, this delicious fruit can improve blood lipids and make weight loss easier. A 2015 clinical trial published in the Journal of the American Heart Association indicates that eating one avocado daily as part of a moderate-fat diet may lower total and LDL cholesterol and boost cardiovascular health without affecting good cholesterol levels.
This fruit is loaded with fiber, antioxidants and monounsaturated fats. These nutrients support cardiovascular function and overall health. Soluble fiber, for example, binds cholesterol in the GI tract and eliminates it from your body. According to the National Lipid Association, eating 5 to 10 grams of fiber daily can lower bad cholesterol levels by up to 11 points.
A large avocado boasts 13.5 grams of fiber, which is more than half of the daily recommended intake, and also provides 19.7 grams of monounsaturated fat milligrams per deciliter and 221 milligrams of omega-3 essential fatty acids. Compared to other fruits, it’s lower in sugar and carbs, so it doesn’t cause insulin spikes. Thanks to its high fiber and fat content, it keeps you full longer and curbs hunger.
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Foods That Lower Cholesterol
A persons diet plays a crucial role in how healthy their cholesterol levels are. Eating foods that keep cholesterol within a healthy range can help prevent health issues, including a heart attack or stroke.
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that travels through the bloodstream as a part of two different lipoproteins: low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein .
People sometimes refer to LDL cholesterol as bad cholesterol because it causes fatty deposits to build up in the blood vessels. These deposits can block blood flow and cause heart attacks or strokes.
HDL, or good, cholesterol helps remove cholesterol from the body through the liver. High levels of HDL cholesterol can reduce the risk of heart problems and strokes.
Life After High Cholesterol
Unfortunately, for a small number of people the only way they can control their LDL cholesterol level is by taking medication, known as statins, for the rest of their life.
However, it is possible in the majority of cases for individuals to reduce their cholesterol through lifestyle changes on their own.
Avoiding high cholesterol foods and taking part in regular exercise will help maintain a healthy cholesterol level, as well as improve an individuals overall health.
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Duck: Okay In Small Quantities
It makes sense to assume that duck should be relatively low in cholesterol like similar meats such as chicken and turkey. In small quantities duck isnt particularly harmful, but since its typically served as part of a large meal its easy to take in a large quantity of cholesterol from a duck meal. This is the case regardless of whether the skin is removed.
Its not unusual for a serving of duck such as one you might get at a Chinese restaurant to contain over 100 milligrams of cholesterol in the meat alone, not including cholesterol in gravies and cooking oils.
Common Causes Of High Cholesterol And What To Do About Them
High cholesterol, a well-known health condition among Americans, is on the decline but remains a threat. The percentage of U.S. adults suffering from high cholesterol dropped by an impressive 6% between 2000 and 2016, from 18.3% down to just 12%. This is a step in a positive direction, but higher-than-recommended cholesterol is still a serious condition and prevention depends on a thorough understanding of its causes. High cholesterol is a key risk factor for heart disease and remains the leading cause of death in the United States.
High cholesterol is largely governed by lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and smoking and that means its both treatable and preventable. The following list will explore the five most common causes of high cholesterol and the best ways to achieve healthy levels.
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What Is The Difference Between Good And Bad Cholesterol
Cholesterol is classified as good or bad and its important to understand the distinction when choosing your diet. Cholesterol travels through the body in two types of lipoproteins:
The United States Department of Agriculture recommends that we limit saturated fats to less than 10% of our daily calorie consumption. This means restricting our intake of bad cholesterol.
Turkey Breast: 136 Mg 45% Dv
Turkeys popularity might peak around Thanksgiving, but it deserves more time in the spotlight. While a 6-ounce serving of roasted turkey breast has 45 percent of the DV for cholesterol, it only has 1 gram of saturated fat . Because saturated fat is the type of fat you want to limit, turkey can be a healthier option for meat lovers.
Try it as a lean alternative to ground beef in these creative ground turkey recipes.
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Whole Milk: 488 Mg 16% Dv
Whole milk is rich in cholesterol and saturated fat, providing 16 percent of the DV for cholesterol and 46 percent of the saturated fat DV per 16-ounce serving.
Whole milk can increase HDL more than skim milk, according to a February 2018 study in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The study also found that whole and skim milk had similar effects on LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, even though whole milk has more cholesterol and saturated fat.
Salmon: 1037 Mg 35% Dv
Salmon is one of the healthiest proteins despite being a high-cholesterol food. A cooked 6-ounce fillet of sockeye salmon has 35 percent of the DV for cholesterol and 108 percent DV for omega-3. This fatty fish is also an excellent source of protein, vitamin D, selenium and B vitamins.
The AHA recommends eating two 3.5-ounce servings of fatty fish like salmon each week. Try it in these air-fryer salmon recipes for a quick and easy dinner.
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