The few thing lead to high cholesterol . what you eat, how physically active you are, and your genetics.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy fat-like substance that’s naturally made in your body, by your liver. It’s needed to make hormones and vitamin D. Cholesterol is also used to make a substance, called bile salts, that helps to digest some of the food you eat.
Do I need cholesterol?
Everyone needs to have some cholesterol in their blood, but having too much LDL can increase the risk of developing heart disease. Keeping your cholesterol levels within the normal range is one way to help prevent disease later in life.
What foods can increase cholesterol levels?
The cholesterol found in food (dietary cholesterol) is different from the cholesterol found in your body (blood cholesterol). You may have heard the recommendation to avoid dietary cholesterol to help lower blood cholesterol levels. However, recent research shows that dietary cholesterol has minimal, if any, effect on blood cholesterol. Nutrition facts labels still list the amount of cholesterol in a food. If you look at labels you may notice that eggs and meat are two foods that contain cholesterol.
On the other hand, other foods that are high in saturated fats and trans fats may increase blood cholesterol levels. Saturated fats are found in animal products that we eat and drink such as milk, cheese, ice-cream, butter, fatty meats like bacon and sausage, poultry with skin, and egg yolks. This does not mean that you need to avoid these foods, just eat them in moderation. Trans fats, which are artificially made by food manufacturers, can show up in foods such as french fries, chips, crackers, muffins, and cookies. Check the nutrition facts label to see if any amount of trans fat is listed and try to avoid foods that contain any if you can. Avoiding foods with “hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils” listed on the ingredient list will also ensure that you are not eating any trans fat.
Why do I have high cholesterol?
Sometimes, genes passed down from your family can cause you to have high cholesterol beginning when you are young. This is because your body may make too much cholesterol. Other times, you may have high cholesterol because of what you eat, how active you are, or whether you drink alcohol or smoke.
How can I lower my cholesterol?
If you have high cholesterol you can work towards lowering it by maintaining or reaching a healthy weight, exercising, not smoking, and choosing healthy foods and drinks.
- Make your meals look more like MyPlate with whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, veggies, and low-fat dairy.
- Read the Nutrition Facts Label on food products you buy to keep the amount of saturated fat and trans fat in your diet low.
- Choose unsaturated fats such as olive oil, canola oil, nuts, seeds, and avocado in place of saturated and trans fats.
- Eat more fiber from fruits, veggies, beans and whole grains. Aim for 25-28 grams of fiber per day. Foods with soluble fiber in them grab onto cholesterol in your digestive system and drag it out before it has a chance to get into your blood.
Girls ages 9-18 should get 30% of their calories each day from fat. Most fats should be from foods with unsaturated fats (like nuts, fish, and vegetable oils) and with less fats coming from foods with saturated and trans fats (like desserts, fried foods, and meats like bacon and sausage).
0 comments: