Introduction
High cholesterol is a major health concern for many people, and it can lead to serious health problems if left unchecked. Eating the wrong foods can be a major contributor to high cholesterol levels, so it’s important to know which foods to avoid and which ones to eat. This article will discuss the #1 cause of high cholesterol and provide tips on what to eat instead. We’ll also discuss the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle in managing cholesterol levels. By the end of this article, you’ll have a better understanding of how to keep your cholesterol levels in check.
This is the #1 Cause of High Cholesterol — Eat This Not That
High cholesterol is a major health concern for many people. It can lead to serious health problems such as heart disease and stroke. But what is the #1 cause of high cholesterol?
The answer is simple: an unhealthy diet. Eating too much saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol can raise your cholesterol levels. Eating too many processed and sugary foods can also contribute to high cholesterol.
The good news is that you can lower your cholesterol levels by making simple changes to your diet. Eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help lower your cholesterol. Eating lean proteins, such as fish, chicken, and beans, can also help. And limiting your intake of saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol can make a big difference.
So if you want to lower your cholesterol levels, start by eating more of the right foods. Choose foods that are low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol, and high in fiber. And don’t forget to exercise regularly and get plenty of rest.
High cholesterol is a health concern that affects an alarming amount of the U.S. population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Nearly 94 million U.S. adults age 20 or older have total cholesterol levels higher than 200 mg/dL. Twenty-eight million adults in the United States have total cholesterol levels higher than 240 mg/dL. 7% of U.S. children and adolescents ages 6 to 19 have high total cholesterol.” The CDC adds, “Having high blood cholesterol raises the risk for heart disease, the leading cause of death, and for stroke, the fifth leading cause of death. High cholesterol typically does not have symptoms so many don’t realize they’re at risk for major health issues. A blood test is the only way to check cholesterol levels so seeing a physician annually is always recommended. Knowing the causes of the high cholesterol is vital so you can help avoid the preventable condition. Here’s five ways high cholesterol can happen. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.
The Mayo Clinic states, “Drinking too much alcohol can increase your total cholesterol level.” The CDC says, “To reduce the risk of alcohol-related harms, the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults of legal drinking age can choose not to drink, or to drink in moderation by limiting intake to 2 drinks or less in a day for men or 1 drink or less in a day for women, on days when alcohol is consumed.”
The Cleveland Clinic explains, “Stress triggers hormonal changes that cause your body to produce cholesterol.”
The CDC says, “Smoking damages your blood vessels, making them more likely to collect fatty deposits. Smoking may also lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or “good”) cholesterol levels. If you don’t smoke, don’t start.”
The CDC recommends exercising at least 150 minutes a week and the Cleveland Clinic states, “Physical activity like aerobic exercise improves your cholesterol numbers. If you have a desk job or sit a lot in your free time, your body won’t produce enough “good cholesterol.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Eating too much saturated fat or trans fats can result in unhealthy cholesterol levels. Saturated fats are found in fatty cuts of meat and full-fat dairy products. Trans fats are often found in packaged snacks or desserts.”
Lifestyle choices play a large role in high cholesterol, which you can modify, but some risk factors you can’t change.
Age
The Mayo Clinic says, “Even young children can have unhealthy cholesterol, but it’s much more common in people over 40. As you age, your liver becomes less able to remove LDL cholesterol.”
The CDC states, “Everyone’s risk for high cholesterol goes up with age. This is because as we age, our bodies can’t clear cholesterol from the blood as well as they could when we were younger. This leads to higher cholesterol levels, which raise the risk of heart disease and stroke.”
Gender
According to the CDC, “Until around age 55 (or until menopause), women tend to have lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) levels than men do. At any age, men tend to have lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or “good”) cholesterol than women do.”
Family History
The CDC explains, “Some people have an inherited genetic condition called familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). This condition causes very high low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol levels beginning at a young age that, left untreated, continue to worsen with age. FH is relatively rare in the United States. An estimate of 1 million U.S. adults have confirmed or probable FH.1
If someone in your family has a heart attack early in life, talk to your health care team about your own and your other family members’ risk for FH and whether your family should get tested.”
Heather Newgen