High Cholesterol Foods to Avoid

If your doctor has prescribed a low fat diet, high cholesterol foods to avoid ,foods to avoid high cholesterol include fatty cuts of meat, oils, salad dressings, and whole milk products. A daily serving of approximately 3 ounces of red meat or pork is adequate for most adults.

Reducing cholesterol in your diet may help prevent cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association recommends a cholesterol intake of less than 300 milligrams per day, which equals about 1 ½ eggs.

causes

The 2 main sources that cause high cholesterol are the food you eat and your family genetics. Maintaining a healthy diet begins with knowing which high cholesterol foods to avoid. Foods high in saturated fat and Trans fats raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. The average American gets 37 percent of daily calories from fat. A much healthful level would be 15 percent.

Symptoms

As you get older, your arteries can lose flexibility and become stiff. This condition is often a precursor to cardiovascular disease. Research indicates that stretching your muscles can increase flexibility and help decrease arterial stiffness. In clinical studies, researchers found that those with the highest blood pressure also had the poorest flexibility.

Here is a simple test to gauge whether your arteries might be dangerously inflexible. If you cannot touch your toes while sitting with your legs held straight, your flexibility is poor. Physicians suggest flexibility exercises such as yoga, Pilates, or basic stretching daily to help prevent arterial stiffness.

Diagnosis

Doctors stress that people diagnosed with high cholesterol should not immediately begin taking statin drugs, due to potentially harmful side effects. If you receive a diagnosis of high cholesterol through blood test screening, first consult with your doctor about making lifestyle changes. Although you may not be able to control risk factors such as aging and genetics, you can help prevent age-related disorders by eating healthier, exercising, and controlling stress.

The American Heart Association advises those who do not work out regularly to stretch for 10 to 15 minutes every day. Those who do exercise routinely should begin and end each workout with a few minutes of stretching exercises. Note: Check with your doctor before starting any new exercise regiment.

High Cholesterol Foods to Avoid

* Read food labels to estimate the fat content and sodium of the foods you and your family eat.

* Cut back on desserts and animal products like eggs, milk, cheese, and other whole dairy products.

* Switch from using butter or margarine in cooking to small amounts of olive oil, which appear to reduce bad cholesterol.

* Aim for less than 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day. Besides table salt, sodium is used in baking soda, baking powder, and soy sauce. Snack foods and processed foods tend to be especially high in salt content.

Effects

Researchers determined in a medical study that those who had had high cholesterol when screened in their 40s had a 57% higher risk for developing Alzheimer's. Cholesterol is a compound in blood made by the liver and essential for life. It helps build cells, certain hormones, and nerve coverings. While some cholesterol comes from the food you eat, the remainder is made in your body. In addition to making wise food choices, your doctor may recommend medication if you have a family history of high cholesterol. The best advice is to keep in mind high cholesterol foods to avoid.

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