Cholesterol…does the name scare you reminding you about the ailments that one of your relatives had due to having Cholesterol?
Well, we all have cholesterol and it is nothing to get scared of the name. It is only the amount of cholesterol in your blood that matters. Like every other nutrient, cholesterol also plays a very important role in our diet.
It is cholesterol that when breaks up, provides us with the regular requirement of energy. There are also other benefits that are bestowed on us, thanks to cholesterol.
Here it becomes important to understand that there are primarily two different kinds of cholesterol in the body, one is the good cholesterol and the other, the bad cholesterol.
While the good cholesterol helps to improve different functions in the body, the bad cholesterol brings about an array of problems, if it is not controlled the very offset.
One of the best ways to control bad cholesterol is by reducing the consumption of high cholesterol foods. These increase the level of unwanted cholesterol in the body, leading to a number of unhealthy and unwanted conditions in the body.
The Disadvantages Of Bad Cholesterol:
The over consumption of food items that heighten the cholesterol level in the body can lead to the occurrence of a number of unhealthy circumstances that can prove to be highly detrimental to the body. Some of the major ill effects of high cholesterol are-
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Heart Diseases
The first and most common ill effects brought about by high cholesterol level are a heart disease. The excess cholesterol in the body floats around in the blood cells.
These are carried to the different parts of the body with the blood. This blood also travels to the heart, where the floating cholesterol can block the openings of the arteries and valves, causing a number of issues and diseases related to the heart. If this is not paid immediate heed to, the situation can worsen and result in a heart attack.
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Strokes
Similar to the clogging of the arteries in the heart, there can be a blockage or plaque build-up in the blood veins carrying blood and oxygen to the brain as well. This cuts off the blood and oxygen supply that may lead to a stroke.
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Obesity And Diabetes
Two of the most common ill effects of high cholesterol in the blood are obesity and diabetes. Both these diseases walk hand in hand. With one entering your body, the other is ought to follow. The over consumption of foods that are high in cholesterol will welcome both these conditions simultaneously. Both of these can prove to be detrimental in the long run and make way for other painful conditions and other dangerous diseases.
Now that you know all the disadvantages of high cholesterol level in the blood, it is important that you be aware of all the foods to avoid with high cholesterol.
Foods To Avoid That Are High In Cholesterol:
It is necessary that you avoid food items that are extremely high in cholesterol level. In case that you are wondering, what foods are high in cholesterol, here is a list that will prove helpful-
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Bacon
Bacon often makes itself a part and parcel of our meals. They are favourites on the breakfast table and are always accompanied by bread, dairy products and eggs, all of which too have quite a bit of cholesterol content in them. Since bacon has the highest amount of cholesterol content, it is a good idea not to consume it on a daily basis. Having bacon once a week shall not influence your cholesterol level in any which way. You can also go for a brisk run after having a few strips of bacon, to burn off the excess cholesterol.
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Cheeseburgers
Cheeseburgers might be absolutely heavenly for your soul but definitely not for your body. The combination of bread meat and all the grease is detrimental to your cholesterol level and can boost it right through the roof. It is the wisest to avoid them. You can succumb to your cravings once in a while, though, but make sure you get enough exercise afterwards.
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Macaroni And Cheese
It is one of the most popular comfort foods invented ever and does a great job in comforting you. But they can be equally nasty when cholesterol comes into the picture. A whole lot of dairy products, like milk, heavy cream and a delicious combination of cheeses adorn the preparation that also has flour in it. All these ingredients contain a high level of cholesterol and when additionally teamed with butter, heighten the cholesterol level.
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Ice Cream
Ice cream is a heavy dose of the finest quality dairy products. It has oodles of milk and cream in it with reduce away sloppily with equal amounts of flavouring and sweetening agents that make it extremely fattening and high in cholesterol. An occasional nibble of your favourite ice cream is fine, but having them on a regular basis is a strict no.
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Steaks
If you want to cut down on your cholesterol, a sensible way is to cut down on the consumption of steaks. While “Saturday night steak night” seems like the best phrase in the weekend, you should also team it up with a hearty work out on Sunday mornings.
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French Fries
The French fries are an absolute favourite. They match their popularity in terms of their cholesterol content. Cut back on the fries those are literally served with everything.
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Bakes And Cakes
Another comfort food we succumb to is cakes, cupcakes and other bakery products. Limit them as much as you can for a healthy and low cholesterol life.
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Seafood
Seafood has a lot of things working for it, like protein and a variety of proteins. Then there is the cholesterol. Do not consume a lot of seafood and surely ignore the butter to stay on the healthier side.
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Fried Chicken
Chicken is one of the healthiest sources of protein. But even chicken can be high in cholesterol if you fry it, with a lot of oil or other dairy product like buttermilk, butter, etc.
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Liver
Liver though is a hearty supplier of protein; it is also high in cholesterol. Hence, if you have borderline heart disease, stay away from any kind of liver.
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Oily Snacks
Chips, pretzels and other fried snacks are detrimental for your cholesterol level.
Stay away from these 10 food items to control your cholesterol level and stay away from heart diseases, strokes, diabetes, obesity and other such unhealthy conditions.
I doubt whether all sea food contain high cholesterol. I have read a lot about sea fish containing Omega-3 which are beneficial in lowering cholesterol level. Crab and prawn are responsible for high cholesterol. Kindly clarify.
Hi Gopal you absolutely right when you say that all sea foods are not high in cholesterol but then it is not possible for everyone to judge and select in particular good one’s also the making of seafoods are normally fried which again incorporate lot of cholesterol and hence included in that list but yes if you are well aware which one are good and as far as you are eating it boiled and grilled you can go ahead and have it. Crab and prawn contains cholesterol but as same as sea food they are not saturated fats and hence all seafoods and crab and prawns should not be overdone