High Cholesterol: Doctor Explains the Most Important Factor in Lowering Levels

0

High cholesterol puts you at risk of a higher risk of serious health problems, from heart problems to strokes, so it's important to keep your levels under control. Whether it's through lifestyle changes or medication, your doctor explains the “important” factor that can affect your levels.

“Many people have high cholesterol without even knowing it, and only discover it through a blood test,” said Dr. Sarah Brewer, Healthspan's medical director. “Most people don't have warning signs of high cholesterol, so it's important to get checked every year because it can increase as you age.” your cardiovascular health is at risk. The expert shared that a plant-based diet can help.

Dr. Brewer added:

“For most people, dietary cholesterol has very little effect on blood cholesterol, but some other dietary factors affect blood cholesterol levels. One of the most important is the amount and type of fat we eat.

According to Heart UK, the reason why fat plays such an important role lies in the cells of your liver. The charity explains that there are so-called LDL receptors on liver cells.

However, research shows that excess saturated fat prevents the receptors from 'working as well', causing the fat to build up in the blood.

Recommends reducing consumption of this type of fat, found in foods such as:

• Meat pies, sausages and fatty meats
• Oil, lard and ghee
• Cream and hard cheese
• Cakes and cookies
• Products containing coconut or palm oil

Studies show that eating foods that contain unsaturated fats instead of saturated fats can help improve your levels. This type of fat can be found in vegetable oils or fatty fish, including mackerel and salmon.