The doctor told how to lower cholesterol levels

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

High cholesterol can lead to coronary heart disease and other heart and blood vessel diseases. But it usually doesn’t show any visible symptoms. The only way to know if something is wrong is to get a cholesterol test. A new study, published to mark World Heart Day, has found that 37% of people don’t know they have high cholesterol.

The study, commissioned by cholesterol experts Benecol, highlights a serious lack of understanding among the public about the importance of the issue, with one in five adults (20%) believing that regular exercise can help prevent high cholesterol. Urban dwellers were particularly unaware.

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

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

“A large number of young people also have high cholesterol – around one in six aged 16 to 24. So it’s really important that people start thinking about how to manage their cholesterol earlier to avoid risks to their long-term health,” Express quotes British nutritionist Helen Bond.

The rise in the popularity of “ultra-processed” foods and takeaways, which are full of sugar, saturated fat, salt and poor in nutrients, means that more people than ever before in the modern world are living with unhealthy cholesterol levels.

When asked what they can do to keep their cholesterol under control, the doctor advised changing their 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 levels in the right direction,” the specialist stressed.

So, Dr. Bond recommended replacing saturated fats in the diet, such as butter, whole milk and fatty meats, with healthier, unsaturated fats – vegetable oils, including olive, skimmed milk or fatty fish. “You can also increase your fiber intake by making sure you eat five meals a day, choosing whole grains and oatmeal when possible, and trying to snack on nuts and seeds,” the doctor said.