The doctor told how to lower cholesterol

According to the World Health Organization, high cholesterol is one of the ten leading causes of death worldwide and is estimated to kill about 2.6 million people annually.

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Elevated cholesterol can lead to coronary heart disease and other diseases of the heart and blood vessels. But, as a rule, it does not show outwardly visible symptoms. The only way to find out that everything is not right with a person is to take a cholesterol test. New research published ahead of World Heart Day has revealed that 37% of respondents are unaware that they have high cholesterol.

The study, commissioned by cholesterol experts Benecol, highlights the public's serious misunderstanding of the importance of this issue , moreover, every fifth adult (20%) believes that regular exercise will help prevent high cholesterol. City dwellers were especially ignorant.

According to doctors, one of the key causes of high cholesterol is eating a diet high in saturated fat: fatty dairy products, fatty and processed meat (for example, sausages). 25% of respondents do not know that their favorite butter can lead to a sharp increase in blood cholesterol.

And 62% of respondents said that they do not think about cholesterol at all. The testing also highlights that people under the age of 30 are the least concerned about cholesterol of all the age groups surveyed, with the common cold causing them more concern.

“A large number of young people also have high cholesterol – around one in the sixth is between the ages of 16 and 24. Therefore, it is very important that people start thinking about how to manage their cholesterol earlier in order to avoid risks to their long-term health,” Express quotes British nutritionist Helen Bond as saying.

The rise in popularity of “ultra-processed” foods and takeaways, full of sugar, saturated fat, salt and nutrient-poor, means that many more people than ever before are living with unhealthy cholesterol levels in today's world.

< p>Answering the question of what can be done to maintain control over your cholesterol, the doctor advised to change your eating habits. “People need to know that with just a few simple changes to your daily eating and lifestyle habits, you can move your cholesterol level in the right direction,” emphasized the expert.

Yes, Dr. Bond recommended replacing saturated fats in the diet, such as butter, whole milk and fatty meat, with healthier, unsaturated fats – vegetable oils, including olive, skim milk or fatty fish. “You can also increase your fiber intake by making sure you eat five meals a day, choose whole grains and oats whenever possible, and try snacking on nuts and seeds,” the doctor said.